# Conor Oberst Opens Up About Personal Struggles: “I Was Really Close To The Edge”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/conor-oberst-opens-up-about-personal-struggles-i-was-really-close-to-the-edge/
- Published: 2026-07-23T16:31:26+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-23T22:58:31+00:00
- Original publisher: Stereogum
- Original article: https://stereogum.com/2506114/conor-oberst-opens-up-about-personal-struggles-i-was-really-close-to-the-edge/news/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Oberst discussed being close to death and changing his lifestyle.
- His remarks shed light on Bright Eyes’ 2024 cancelled dates.
- Bright Eyes plan to resume touring this autumn.

## Summary

Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst has spoken publicly about a recent near-death experience and the personal difficulties that contributed to it, saying he was “really close to the edge”. His comments add context to the band’s cancelled 2024 tour dates, which were officially attributed to vocal problems, and indicate that he has since changed aspects of his lifestyle.

Oberst said he is doing much better but is not sober, having stopped what he described as “the worst” behaviour. In a New York Times Popcast interview, he said the experience made him consider the impact his death would have on his family and friends, and motivated him to continue making work; Bright Eyes are due to tour again this autumn.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.