Wisconsin musician Brian Bethke is tuning in to life 

Brian Bethke, an Eau Claire-based musician, shares his love for local music while reflecting on his struggle with a rare autoimmune disease that has impacted his life and career

Ask Brian Bethke about his early music influences and he admits to finding himself reminiscing about a time when the crackle of a radio station was his gateway to a world of dreams. Growing up in Wisconsin, Bethke’s love for music was ignited by the college radio stations he would tune in to whenever possible. 

“I’m 44 now, and reflecting on those days, turning the dial just right to find something good in the middle of the static,” the Eau Claire area artist recalls. His childhood included the thrill of discovery, building antennas in his room to catch signals from distant cities. “Every station around me played top 40 or country, but I wanted something different,” Bethke says. “I would stay up late, my ear pressed to an old alarm clock radio, trying to catch a hint of Milwaukee’s hard rock station.”

“I’ve been on the radio, but they rarely play my original songs. Tonight, you made a dream come true.”

Musician Brian Bethke

Bethke’s musical journey kicked into high gear when his mother, a church pianist, signed him up for a solo. “I didn’t like going to church, and I was terrified to sing,” he laughs. “But the applause and newfound attention from my classmates changed everything.” Despite his high-functioning Asperger’s, music finally offered Bethke a way to connect and express himself.

Eventually, he convinced his parents to buy a guitar from the JCPenney catalog. It was a Harmony guitar which he calls far from perfect, but it was his. “I still remember the day I smashed that guitar playing Nirvana’s ‘Territorial Pissings,’” Bethke says.

Nirvana played a pivotal role in his life. “Smells Like Teen Spirit was the reason I wanted to play guitar,” he says. “The connection to Kurt Cobain’s music was so deep that it inspired my song, ‘Just Like Cobain,’ a reflection on the lives of us who embraced the grunge era’s spirit.” Bethke’s song is also a commentary on addiction and the search for meaning, and it resonates deeply with the Max Ink Radio show hosts and listeners.

Bethke isn’t afraid to discuss the challenges he’s dealt with along his path. Diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes severe spinal pain and other debilitating symptoms, he has faced immense physical and emotional hurdles. “It’s like having COVID all the time,” he explains. “The pain, headaches, and tremors have sometimes made performing and even daily activities difficult.”

Despite these struggles, Bethke finds ways to manage his condition. He initially turned to cannabis, which provided relief until he developed a reaction to THC. Now, he relies on CBD products from his own hemp company, Hawkweed Hemp, to manage his symptoms without the use of prescription painkillers.

Music remains his sanctuary. In his studio, Bethke experiments with new sounds and styles. One led to the creation of “Sunshine,” a pop song inspired by imagining a collaboration between Justin Bieber and Billie Eilish. Initially a fun project using AI-generated vocals, it quickly became a fan favorite, prompting him to record and release it using his own voice.

Listen to the full podcast interview including more original songs, learn about the unique way Bethke and Max Ink Radio connected, and where you can see him performing this summer here.

Bethke also considers performing live as a treat due to his condition. But when he does, it’s clear his passion for music is undiminished. His songs are a testament to his resilience and absolute love for his craft.

“I’ve been on the radio a million times, but they rarely play my original songs,” he says. “Tonight, you made a dream come true.”

From a young boy tuning into distant radio stations to a musician battling a debilitating disease, Bethke radiates the transformative power of following one’s dreams and the healing power of music.