Justin Steward Furstenfeld (born December 14, 1975 in Houston, Texas) is a recorder producer,
artist, and the lead singer, guitarist, lyricist and frontman of the American rock band Blue October.
When not touring with his band, Justin resides with his wife Lisa and daughter Blue (born in 2007) in San Marcos, Texas.
He is the brother of Blue October drummer, Jeremy Furstenfeld. Justin is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic and has battled with bipolar disorder through most of his life.
He has gotten better, saying in an interview that "I’m not a danger to myself [anymore]".
While running the bases at a minor league baseball game, he broke his leg and required surgery, which resulted in the postponement of several concert dates and had many stand-ins playing guitar while he just sang.
According to a VH1-online article about the band, "Into the Ocean" has had an impact on many listeners who may have been contemplating suicide.
Growing up, he listened to hip-hop, rock, country, dance and artists such as Sidney Jackson, Marvin Gaye, The Smiths, Red House Painters and Pink Floyd.
His first musical memory was Roy Orbison's ballad, "Crying".During his high school years at Houston's prestigious The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), he met Ryan Paul Delahoussaye, to which they played in a band The Last Wish
from the age of 13 until 1995 and uses the moniker 5591 when performing solo. 5591 refers to the patient number that he was given when he was admitted to a mental institution due to a break up with his girlfriend Maimie.
"5591" was his number in the institution. Justin tells this story on the "Argue with a Tree" DVD in the confessionals in the special features section. He said that he was away recording an album about his and Maimie's relationship,
when he got word of her cheating on him with his best friend. He had a mental breakdown and went from working in a mental institution, to being a patient in a mental institution.
He has written over 500 songs and counts among his influences: Michael Stipe, The Cure, The Smiths, The Pixies, Peter Gabriel, Idaho, Elliott Smith, Blue Miller, George Winston, Jean Michel Basquiat and U2.