Townes Van Zandt at UTMB, Galveston

The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston changed the course of Townes Van Zandt’s life. In 1962, at age 18, he arrived here for psychiatric evaluation and treatment. Doctors at UTMB diagnosed him with manic depression, now known as bipolar disorder. Moreover, they administered insulin shock therapy, a treatment that caused lasting damage to his memory.

The diagnosis and treatment at UTMB set Townes on an altered path through life. Furthermore, the experience deepened his sense of isolation and intensified his artistic vision. He later wrote songs that wrestled with darkness, transience, and the fragility of the human mind. Therefore, the UTMB experience is inseparable from the themes of his greatest work.

The Weight of a Diagnosis on a Young Songwriter

Insulin shock therapy fell out of medical favor by the 1960s due to its harmful side effects. Nevertheless, it remained in practice at some institutions during Townes’s treatment. Consequently, he lost significant portions of his early memories. In addition, those around him noticed permanent changes in his personality after the treatment.

Today, the Ashbel Smith Building — known as Old Red — stands as the oldest structure on the UTMB campus. Thus, it anchors the campus’s history to the era when Townes received his treatment. Visitors to Galveston can walk the same grounds where his life took its fateful turn. Ultimately, UTMB Galveston represents the crucible that forged one of Texas music’s most profound voices.