“I used to be able to enjoy every second of shows like this and I\u2019d hoped 3 weeks away would sort me out,” he said in a statement posted to social media. “But the truth is, I\u2019m still learning to adjust to the impact of my Tourette\u2019s and on Saturday it became obvious that I need to spend much more time getting my physical and mental health in order, so I can keep doing everything I love for a long time to come.”<\/p>\n
![\"GLASTONBURY,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0022cb75-614.jpg\"\/)
\nLewis returned to Glastonbury 2025 in triumph<\/p>\n
Given how Capaldi had been pitched as the jovial p*ss-taker with a sense of humour who didn\u2019t seem to take the music industry too seriously – an image at odds with his solemn balladry – it was a big, but undeniably crucial decision. Here was an artist with a huge fanbase, primed for megastardom, knowing when to say ‘No. This isn\u2019t right. I need to step back from this.\u2019 His statement gained over 2.5 million likes on Instagram, and he acknowledged the overwhelming support from fans in an update in December 2023. “The support was like nothing I\u2019ve ever experienced,” he wrote. “It has made me more excited than ever to return to doing what I love at some point in the not too distant future.”<\/p>\n
\nYes, we all love a happy ending – and what Capaldi demonstrated was that it sometimes takes putting yourself first in order to achieve one.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Capaldi\u2019s experience goes some way to illustrating the pressures that young musicians face these days, particularly regarding their mental health. True: successful artists – and even those who aren\u2019t quite at Glastonbury-headlining level – may have privileges, experiences and money that many of us could only dream of. Still, there is also an enormous amount of expectation on their shoulders, a pressure which has been compounded since the advent of social media, where everyone is encouraged to post, post, post, engage with your fans, show how great your life is. And if you don\u2019t know how to handle the often rapid ascent to fame and fortune, it can really do a number on you.<\/p>\n
\n
Capaldi\u2019s time off was roundly accepted by fans, but was that partly because that first Glasto clip went viral? Everyone could clearly see that he was a man coming apart at the seams, but what about the artists who are hiding their turmoil behind closed doors? As we all know, the history of music is littered with far too many tragic stories of artists who pushed themselves – or perhaps were pushed by their labels, management or fans – to the point of no return. UK mental health charity Mind<\/a> claims that musicians are three times more likely to suffer from depression than non-musicians – citing pressure from labels and fans, access to addictive substances and the precarious nature of an unstable income.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, things seem to be changing for the better. You have artists like Chappell Roan, arguably the biggest new pop star in the world right now, making no excuses for her bipolar II diagnosis as she cancelled two festival dates last year. “Things have gotten overwhelming over the last few weeks, and I am really feeling it,” she wrote. “I feel pressures to prioritize a lot of things right now, and I need a few days to prioritize my health. I want to be present when I perform and give the best shows possible. Thank you for understanding.”<\/p>\n
\nChappell Roan<\/p>\nSam Fender, too, pulled his run of US tour dates with Florence and the Machine in 2022, admitting that he was “burnt out”. “I\u2019ve neglected myself for over a year now and haven\u2019t dealt with things that have deeply affected me,” he wrote. “It\u2019s impossible to do this work on myself while on the road, and it\u2019s exhausting feigning happiness and wellness for the sake of business. My friends and colleagues have been worried about me for a while and it\u2019s not going to get better unless I take the time to do so.” He added: “It seems completely hypocritical of me to advocate for discussion on mental health and write songs about it if I don\u2019t take time off to look after my own mental health.” Other artists, including rapper Kid Cudi, Demi Lovato and Lady Gaga, have been open about their own mental health issues, helping to destigmatise the issue by normalising it.<\/p>\n
\nCapaldi’s time off was roundly accepted by fans, but was that partly because that first Glasto clip went viral?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
There are also some fantastic organisations, including Music Minds Matter <\/a>in the UK, and our own Minding Creative Minds<\/a> here in Ireland, that are doing fantastic work in the field of safeguarding mental health. The latter organisation offers a free 24\/7 counselling service, as well as various therapies, workshops, mentorship programmes and various other support systems for Irish artists and creatives who may be struggling.<\/p>\n
\nGlastonbury it’s so incredible to be back, thank you so much for having me x pic.twitter.com\/32n6S99fCw<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Lewis Capaldi (@LewisCapaldi) June 27, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
So when Lewis Capaldi stepped back out on stage at Glastonbury last weekend, two years after his last disastrous appearance, it felt like a victory lap for everyone involved. His adoring fans were still there, and even more appreciative that they were watching an artist who had prioritised his health in order to, as he said himself, continue doing what he loves for a long time.<\/p>\n
Yes, we all love a happy ending – and what Capaldi demonstrated was that it sometimes takes putting yourself first in order to achieve one. As he put it himself as he wrapped up his short Glasto set: “My name is Lewis Capaldi and I’m f**king back, baby.”<\/p>\n
If you have been affected by issues raised in this story, please visit www.rte.ie\/helplines.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n
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