Here Comes the Sun The Love Story That Saved a Man from Destruction and Reunited the Sunnyboys

by Oxley, Jeremy; Oxley Griffiths, Mary

• ISBN13: 9781760110093
• ISBN10: 1760110094
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2015-11-01
• Publisher: ALLEN & UNWIN

Summary

Jeremy Oxley was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 22, at the height of his fame as singer of the popular band Sunnyboys. Terrified and in denial, he tried to hide his diagnosis from family, band mates, and friends, who attributed his erratic and sometimes terrifying behavior to drug and alcohol abuse. Following harrowing experiences with the woeful mental health services of the day, Jeremy took himself off his prescription drugs and self-medicated with alcohol, gradually alienating friends and family alike till he became a hermit living in a small town in New South Wales, shut off from any kind of life or support. A Sunnyboys fan, Mary Griffiths was a widowed nurse with young twin boys. After being shocked to discover how Jeremy was living, she and her sons determined to find him and help him. At their first meeting, Mary was able to see through Jeremy's illness and recognize signs of the sensitive, beautiful, and frightened man within. Her boys instantly loved him and he in turn was immediately calm around them. Jeremy's willingness to get well under Mary's guidance was driven by a deep desire to have the things we all mostly take for granted: a loving family, security, and control of his health and life. Slowly, painfully, but together, Jeremy and Mary put everything into reclaiming his life and building a family.That struggle is told here for the first time by Mary and Jeremy, whose distinctive voices trace Jeremy's remarkable journey from darkness to the light, and from the depths of despair to hope and love. It will move and inspire all who read it.

Author Biography

Jeremy Oxley attended art school in Sydney, but quickly dropped out to play music full-time with his band, Sunnyboys. Sunnboys enjoyed rapid success with hits "Happy Man" and "Alone With You" from their bestselling debut album. After endless touring and three albums, the band disbanded when Jeremy was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 22. While secluding himself to quiet country life, prolifically painting and trying to battle his illness, he met Mary, whose support ultimately lead to Jeremy's first successful medication in 2008. The couple married and the band reformed in 2012, enjoying great success once again. Mary Oxley Griffiths became a nurse and married John "Griffo" Griffiths in 1994, who passed away in 1998. In 2008, she met Jeremy Oxley. The couple fell in love and with Mary's guidance, embarked on the lengthy journey to rebuild Jeremy's life and the start of their active and creative life together. In 2011, the couple was featured, along with Jeremy's brother Peter, in the documentary The Sunnyboy directed by Kaye Harrison about Jeremy's struggle with schizophrenia. Since the film launch in 2013, Mary has made more than 20 appearances as a guest speaker and is an active advocate for Mental Health reform.