Beartooths Caleb Shomo Opens Up About His Past

He shot to fame in the late 2000s as a teenage member of the electronic-metalcore band Attack Attack! and went on to form his own multi platinum rock band Beartooth.

But Caleb Shomo's journey to the top has been anything but smooth sailing, having battled with suicidal thoughts, and an eating disorder.

These struggles have heavily defined his early career and inspired his refreshingly honest songwriting.

Earlier this week, the rock star revealed that he is a 'proudly gay man' after ending his marriage of nearly 14 years to wife Fleur Shomo. 

In a statement released to his fans, he noted that his strict religious upbringing contributed to years of internal struggle.

Caleb was born and raised in  born in December 1992. His dad worked was a pastor of a church, while his mum works as a nurse.

'My parents worked super hard, we didn't have tons of money, but we got by just fine,' he told Revolver.

His grandfather was a well-known gospel singer in his community and as a result, he grew up going to church every Sunday. 

'I was involved in a lot of that stuff then growing up. I saw a lot of damage it did to people in my life, certain situations and even my family,' the musician said in a previous interview. 

'I'm not trying to say that religion itself was the issue. 

'I will always have a respect and understanding of it because of the big part it played in my life, but that's not what my world revolves around anymore.'

He began getting into music at the age of four and started taking piano lessons, before quitting to learn guitar, bass and drums all at the same time when he was ten.

From the age of ten, Caleb has suffered from depression and anxiety, and was misdiagnosed with ADHD since he had trouble concentrating.

Speaking about his schooling experience, he told Revolver: 'I was very quiet, very to myself, very shy and reserved in a lot of aspects.

'I didn't have a long school experience, you know? Freshman year was my last year at school.'

When he was in high school, he met and befriended Attack! Attack! member Johnny Franck.

He dropped out of high school at the age of 15 to focus on the band and touring full-time.

In 2006, Caleb joined Attack Attack!, after he was asked by his friends who were looking for a keyboard player.

Two years later the band signed to Rise Records and released their debut studio album Someday Came Suddenly on November 11.

It peaked on the Billboard 200 at number 193.

In late 2009, Caleb became the group's primary vocalist, following the departure of Nick Barham.

They released their self-titled second studio album on June 8, 2010, and peaked at number 27 on the Billboard 200.

In November 2011, the band announced their third studio album titled This Means War.

It was released on January 17, 2012, and has since become the band's best charting Billboard topping album, debuting and peaking at number 11 on the Billboard 200.

Despite the band's growing success, Caleb left the group later that year due struggling with suicidal thoughts and also grappling with eating disorders and self-image problems since becoming Attack Attack!'s front man.

He wrote in a statement to fans: 'I have horrible clinical depression and have for years. 

'As you may have heard from my speeches i gave during about the last 6 months or so of my touring career with AA i have been suicidal since middle school. 

'I've struggled on and off with eating disorders, self image problems since i was announced as the frontman a few years ago, and various substance abuse and addictions for about the past year. 

'Having thousands of people tell you your a 'fat piece of sh*t' isn't exactly the easiest thing to deal with at 17, and i could imagine ever. 

'I am very scatter brained and just kinda am ranting so deal with me for this being so all over the place. 

'I love all of the guys that have ever been involved in AA. Great dudes, very supportive as well. Starting about a year ago i started to really go into a downward spiral mentally. 

'Having panic attacks, mental breakdowns, cutting myself off from the world for weeks at a time, writing insanely depressing songs, not too fun.

'I had a lot of stress in my life/demons haunting me and in no way wanted to face it head on and deal with it. 

'As you may have guessed this doesn't help problems in the least. 

'2012 has easily been the darkest year of my life overall. Its had some of the most amazing things happen (getting my life together toward the end along with getting married to my lovely wife fleur) but generally filled with a lot of pain and attempts to cope with them. 

'I left on good terms with everyone and they were very supportive of my decision. It wasn't easy, but trust me, if you have known me for the past year you'd be understand as well. I am still fully going to be making music.'

He finished off the Statement, adding: 'There has been plenty of good and plenty of bad, but i wouldn't trade the last 5 years for anything.

'PS: i apologize for the awful grammar I'm sure is in this. Writing Isn't exactly my forte.' 

Following his exit from the band, Caleb went and saw a therapist for the first time.

He said in a previous interview: 'Whoever [the therapist] it was, no disrespect, they just didn't understand what I was going through and how to help me deal with it.

'It kind of burned me, I had a really bad experience. 

'I do therapy once a week now. The person I'm with now is fantastic and it's a really important part of my life and helping me stay in control.'

Later that year, Caleb formed Beartooth, a personal studio project and mental health outlet for himself.

The following year, he announced that the band was now signed to Red Bull Records, with it releasing its debut EP Sick for free on their website in July,

He then brought in a group of musicians to perform live and help expand the band's lineup.

Lyrically, the first four Beartooth albums deal with depression. 

When asked if he was ever worried that it would define the band, Caleb explained: 'Not really because that's what Beartooth is.

'That was the whole point of Beartooth, to be this personal musical therapy session. 

'If people get it, they get it, if they don't, whatever.'

While Beartooth built a loyal following during the 2010s, their commercial success exploded with their fifth studio album, The Surface, in 2023.

It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums chart.

And Beartooth has no plans to slow down with them set to release their next studio album, Pure Ecstasy in August 2026.

Away from music, Caleb married his wife, actress Fleur Shomo, in 2012.

But earlier this week, the musician came out as gay in a candid, heartfelt post on Saturday.

The rock star took to Instagram and opened up about his sexuality amid 'a lot of speculation surrounding [his] personal life.'

Shortly thereafter, his wife of 13 years, actress Fleur, who appeared in medical drama The Pitt, shared a statement on her social media page and expressed support for Caleb while also discussing their 'disorientating and hurtful' split.

Caleb penned a lengthy message to his 213,000 Instagram followers and began by addressing 'something I've been unpacking and reckoning with in my life for quite some time now.' 

'I feel compelled to set the record straight before it affects those I love any further,' he wrote. 'I am a proudly gay man.' 

He then admitted it has been 'difficult' for him 'to navigate the feelings surrounding the subject and figure out what to do with this fact.'  

The couple tied the knot in 2012 and had been together for approximately two years before they got married. They have no children together. 

In his statement, Caleb explained that he 'always' put 'the deepest part of my soul' in his art and music. 

Then, he reflected on four 'very self-deprecating [Beartooth] albums' that he created before coming out. 

Caleb noted his past music explored 'his religious upbringing, depression, self hatred, self loathing, and hopelessness.' 

He said he 'will express [himself] whole heartedly and fully' in the music from his upcoming album.

'I am grateful for all these albums, yet feel embarrassed at times that I wouldn't allow myself to really dig up the roots for so long.

'I spent a decade burying feelings with alcohol, and honestly when I decided to put it down and focus on exploring why I felt this way for so long, it's been a direct path to me reconciling with my sexuality in hopes that it will eventually lead to me experiencing self-love,' he added.

Caleb said he has been 'trying to finally be proud of who I am and I think this is a massive part of that journey.'

'To those who have shown me love, empowerment through living life freely and openly in my presence, supporting the queer community, or simply telling me you love me whoever I am, I am forever in your debt and I hope you know what you mean to me.'

He also shared an encouraging message to other people and asked that they 'be honest' and 'do the hard work instead of burying it down as deep as you physically can thinking it will change like I did.

'Holding these things in only hurt you and those around you,' Caleb added. 'Love you all, and hopefully this is a step in the right direction to loving myself one day.'

Just hours after Caleb shared his candid statement, his wife Fleur penned a message of support while also opening up about their 'disorientating and hurtful' split.  

'Not really sure how to start this cause does anything even need to be said? But I guess I'll just dive right in,' Fleur began. 

She acknowledged that 'the past few months have been a very disorientating and hurtful time to navigate. For both of us.' 

Then, she emphasized that she 'will always want to love, protect and support Caleb. I have cared more about his well being over the years than anything else in the world.' 

She opened up about watching her husband experience 'the confusion and pain he went through' before he came out and 'wanting to help but not knowing how.'

She admitted she would 'ask [herself] constantly if [she was] a bad person for wondering wtf this means for your world & the anger you also feel.'

'I am the only person that is having to deal with the duality of this situation,' she wrote. 'To support him whilst losing everything has been incredibly hard to figure out.'

Fleur then added: You can love and support your person through the hardest time in their life, whilst also be completely demolished & lose yourself at the same time.'

She said she would not 'question [their] history' while honoring their love story and also grieving the end of it. 

'I have always wanted nothing more than for Caleb to be happy,' she wrote. 'Trying to help him go through this without having any idea what to do, has been a learning curve we never expected to experience together. 

She also admitted she had been experiencing 'isolation' and said her 'mental health has suffered' because she had been navigating her feelings privately 'as it has not been my story to share.'

'Our nearly 14yrs of marriage was wonderful and full of so much fun, adventure & love. Nobody will know anything about our marriage like we do,' she added.

'And no one can ever truly know what depths of love exist between two people unless they are those people.'

'I hope anyone in the world going through this finds hope & courage & I hope the fans can continue to support Caleb,' she wrote before concluding her statement.

Going forward, she said she will continue 'focusing on what I can control & continue living my life trying to achieve what I want to achieve. And if I keep saying hi to as many dogs as possible along the way, then I'm sure things will slowly get better, day by day, piece by small piece, bird by bird.' 

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