Side by Side: A Journey With Depression

Side by Side: A Journey With Depression – is a funny look at serious survival that chronicles comedian Brian Wetzel’s twenty year struggle with clinical depression and the humor he tapped into in order to survive. Wetzel takes his audience on a unique journey of laughter, painful truth and finally, hope.

Brian Wetzel had a typical suburban San Jose, CA upbringing in the 60’s and 70’s complete with a paper route to make money to buy 8mm Laurel and Hardy movies. As a teenager he was obsessed with the rock band KISS and dreamed of being an entertainer. Through the 1990’s he had a successful comedy and public speaking career, touring the Western United States, until depression began haunting every aspect of his professional and personal life. In 2002 Brian ended up at an emergency clinic being interviewed by a psychiatrist with a thick French accent making him feel like he’d landed in the middle of an absurd comedy. After years of having depression freeload off him, Brian finally told the depression to "Get a job!" Since then he and his depression have been touring the United States with his autobiographical one-man show, playing such diverse venues as Stanford University and Napa State Hospital. When Brian’s not on the road he’s an avid fan of classic Hollywood and a cappella harmony.