“People respond to the authenticity and vulnerability, rather than the role of the drunken rock star”: Koe Wetzel shed his party animal image to show who he really is on 9 Lives and found a new reason to play his battered Gibson J-200

This article is part of Guitar World Series of interviews and features with artists addressing and raising awareness of issues mental healthespecially with regard to musicians.

The new album by Koe Wetzel, 9 livesis not his first chart success – but his fastest rising. It landed at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and reached top 5 status on the Country and Americana/Folk Album charts.