Insomnia, anxiety, break-ups … musicians on the dark side of touring

Long hours in vans and solitary hotel rooms. Screaming fans when you're on stage, then back home to feed the cat. Musicians talk about the psychological dangers of life on tour

While many may envisage the life of a touring musician to be that of a glorified jetsetter, the reality is far from idyllic. A recent study by charity Help Musicians UK found that over 60% of musicians have suffered from depression or other psychological issues, with touring an issue for 71% of respondents.

Singer Alanna McArdle recently announced her departure from Cardiff punk band Joanna Gruesome for mental health reasons, her statement hinting that the strain of touring may have been a factor in her decision to quit.And when Zayn Malik broke the hearts of millions by pulling out of One Direction's tour of Asia - leaving the boy band shortly after - a source close to the band told the tabloid press: "Zayn went because he'd had enough. Have you ever been on the road for four years? "