Former I Prevail singer Brian Burkheiser recently opened up about his mental health struggles and what led to his departure from the band. He shared his personal story on Instagram.
Burkheiser detailed his journey from Grammy nominations to hospitalization. He explained the challenges he faced throughout his career.
“My name is Brian Burkheiser. This is my story. You don’t write the start, but you control the ending,” he said. “I was nominated for a Grammy. I also ended up in a mental hospital. Over ten years ago, I dropped out of college and started a band. I got a job at Domino’s and spent the next year chasing my dream.”
He described how the band’s early success brought unexpected pressures and health challenges.
“A year later, our cover went viral. So I quit my job and hit the road full time. It was surreal. But imposter syndrome is real. As the band got bigger, the pressure grew. Then my voice fell apart. A vocal polyp forced me off tour,” Burkheiser continued. “I got really depressed and asked myself, ‘Is this all worth it?’ But I rebounded. I focused on my mental health and opened up about my trauma. That led to the best years of my life. Grammy nominations. #1 songs. Thousands of people who knew every lyric. I was on top of the world. Until my body started breaking down.”
The singer revealed he was later diagnosed with a rare condition that required multiple surgeries.
“I had debilitating pain in my neck and throat. Doctors couldn’t figure it out. Eventually I was diagnosed with rare disease, Eagle syndrome. Years later, I finally got the surgeries. But I needed more time to recover before playing shows again. Needing more time created tension. Tension turned into silence. This industry moves fast,” he explained.
Burkheiser described how his departure from the band and subsequent legal battles took a severe toll on his mental health.
“The next year was a blur. The band and I parted ways. Everything I worked for vanished. Behind the scenes, things got ugly. Lawyers. Contracts. Chaos. The stress was eating me alive. I was broken. Resentful. Lost Exhausted. I was checked into a mental health facility,” he said. “I got the help I needed and since then, I’ve worked on rebuilding myself. I’ve focused on my family and started a new project. It’s called Scatterbrain. My first original song is ‘Phases.’ You don’t write the start, but you control the ending.”
Burkheiser’s candid revelation provides deeper insight into the circumstances that led to his official departure from I Prevail. It also sheds light on the ongoing challenges he has faced in the music industry.
AXS TV reported that I Prevail officially announced their split with co-vocalist and co-founder Brian Burkheiser on May 15, 2025, after what the band described as “10 epic years” together. The departure was characterized as a mutual decision. The band expressed gratitude for Burkheiser’s contributions while confirming that all scheduled shows would continue as planned with Eric Vanlerberghe taking over as the sole frontman.
The timeline of Burkheiser’s health struggles extends back further than his recent revelations suggest. Loudwire noted that his challenges began with a serious vocal cord injury that required extended rest and a hiatus from performing. This was followed by his recovery and the band’s release of “Bow Down.” In May 2024, he stepped away from touring until July due to ongoing health issues. He later revealed that Eagle Syndrome had “broken” him and forced him to focus entirely on healing.
Following the official announcement of his departure, Burkheiser initially remained largely silent about the circumstances. However, Loudwire revealed that he eventually addressed his exit through a series of Instagram Stories. He acknowledged communication breakdowns and described a “falling out” with the band. Despite his personal feelings about how the situation was handled, he urged fans to continue supporting I Prevail without creating division. He expressed that he “didn’t deserve how things went down.”
Since the split, both parties have moved forward with their respective projects. Loudwire confirmed that I Prevail has released new music including tracks like “Violent Nature” and “Into Hell.” These releases showcase Vanlerberghe’s expanded role as both clean and screamed vocalist, with guitarist Dylan Bowman joining him for live performances. Meanwhile, Burkheiser has launched his new musical project called Scatterbrain. His debut single “Phases” marks his return to creating original music after his recovery and departure from the band that brought him international recognition.
