A new interview uploaded to the popular YouTube channel Soft White Underbelly has brought the tragic decline of Cameron Heacock, former frontman of industrial nu-metallers American Head Charge, into the public eye. Heacock, looking unrecognizable from his heyday with the band, revealed he has been homeless for years and is currently battling fe****yl addiction while living in the streets around Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park.
The candid, unfiltered interview conducted by Mark Laita has sparked a massive emotional response from the global metal community, friends, and former associates of the band, prompting immediate calls for support and assistance.
When asked how long he has been living on the streets of Los Angeles, Heacock admitted: “I’ve lost track, it’s been a long time. At least five or six years.” Despite the devastating circumstances, Heacock still clings to his lifelong passion for music, hinting that his artistic drive remains intact.
“It sucks, because I love music, I love making music, I love the whole process, I love touring, I love everything about it…” Heacock shared. “I still have so much music in my heart. I pour everything into the records when I make them. I have at least two, three records in my head that I wanna release. I mean, I only really wanna make these for myself. It’s like my therapy.”
The interview serves as a heartbreaking postscript to the turbulent career of American Head Charge, a band once hailed as one of the most innovative acts in the nu-metal movement. Signed to Rick Rubin‘s American Recordings in 2000, the release of their second album, The War Of Art, propelled them into the international circuit. During their early years, American Head Charge toured with giants like System Of A Down, Slipknot, and Rammstein. Slipknot‘s Clown even featured in the video for their single “Just So You Know.”
However, the band’s career was tragically marred by loss and addiction. Guitarist Bryan Ottoson died from a prescription drug overdose during a US tour in 2005, and founding member and bassist Chad Hanks passed away in 2017 following an illness.
Heacock himself last made headlines in 2018 when he was arrested for the possession of stolen guitars—an incident he openly discusses in the interview—and has been largely absent from the public eye since. The band’s final album, Tango Umbrella, was released in 2016.
The video’s comments section has become a forum for friends and fans attempting to reach out and offer help, with many commenters spanning the singer’s history in Baltimore and Minneapolis.
“If you’re reading this Cam, there’s a lot of people in Mn [Minnesota] who still love you and we’re rooting for you,” reads one supportive comment from a Minnesota native. Another friend from Baltimore wrote: “if you ever scroll through the comments from this video and you happen to stumble upon my post, reach out to your old friends from Baltimore. We’re here for you man, if you need us.”
Resources for anyone in need of help regarding addiction and homelessness can be found via the official US government Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website or by calling the American Emergency Substance Abuse Hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Ogorthul: Immersed in the bone-shattering world of death metal and beyond. I’m here to excavate the latest news, reviews, and interviews from the extreme metal scene for you.
