Gavin Rossdale says Bush’s new album I Beat Loneliness is as much for his fans as it is from them.
The 59-year-old frontman credits Bush’s loyal following with inspiring the record, particularly the emotionally charged track “I’m Here To Save Your Life”. After decades of touring, Rossdale says the conversations he has with fans (often awkward, emotional and deeply personal) are what keep him grounded and creatively motivated.
“I get so much inspiration from all the people that I meet on tour,” Rossdale told Contact Music.
“You always run into people, because if I’m playing in the city and around the area, chances are when I go and get coffee, I’m going to bump into someone who’s coming to the show.”
Those spontaneous interactions have led to raw admissions. Fans often share how Bush’s music helped them survive struggles with mental health, depression, or even suicidal thoughts. For Rossdale, those moments are powerful reminders of why he still makes records.
“They sort of often kind of bluster through what they want to say, but it’s always connected to their mental health,” he said.
“All the way from suicide to just sort of depression to whatever it is.”
While Rossdale admits he’s sometimes wondered whether it’s time to step aside for younger artists, the message he hears again and again from fans is clear: please don’t stop.
“I could be forgiven for thinking, all right, enough is enough. Come on, make some room for the youth,” he said.
“But the story I hear all the time, and the most brilliant thing people can say to me, the greatest compliment ever is, ‘Please don’t stop making music.’”
That encouragement is the spark behind I Beat Loneliness, and the reason why Rossdale continues to write from the heart.
“The wild part is that they come up to me thinking I did a lot for them,” he added.
“But you gotta realise what you’ve done for me. You give me life by connecting with me and even caring when there’s a world of choices.”
Bush’s new album, I Beat Loneliness, is out now.
