The Untitled Echelon

The Screen Door..with Anthony Kuzminski: 30 Seconds to Mars: A Cinematic Call to Arms

2011-06-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

The Screen Door..with Anthony Kuzminski: 30 Seconds to Mars: A Cinematic Call to Arms

formspring.me

2011-05-14T15:20:00.001-07:00

I might surprise you. It's what I do. http://formspring.me/ProvehitoNAltum

Echelon Party: the 3rd

2011-03-14T14:26:00.001-07:00

As you all know by now, over here in Holland we get together as a group of friends, as family to mostly talk about and listen to our favorite band 30 Seconds to Mars!
We did this for the 3rd official time on March 5th at Marianne's place!

We all got together and the fun started right away. Some people you hadn't seen in a while, other you had never met before!
The family grows at every party it seems ;)

We had some delicious snacks and Marianne was spoiled with a few lovely presents!
That's kind of become a tradition too, the one hosting the party get's all sorts of creative gifts made by other Echelon! I think, those are the best gifts in the world! ;)

While the music was playing away in the background and drinks were pouring, everybody was talking and having fun. All memories from parties before were brought up and stories that hadn't been told already were now! It fels like the last time we all sat together was just a week ago, but it had actually been a good 3 months!

We went outside to take a few pictures, what we always do! All of us together with some MARS-related things. In this case it was the AMAZING Triad and banner brought by Patti, still amazins me everytime I see them! And we had a poster to send a little message to Shannon, cuz it was almost his 41th birthday! Lighting all the candles for the glowing Triad did prove to be quite a challenge, but it created some more fun too!

Most of us spend the night and we were all cosily put together as a puzzle in the bedroom! And yes, it was a fairly large bedroom! :p It was about 4 am when we called it a night...

The next morning we enjoyed a lovely breakfast and talked some more. About our dreams, made some jokes here and there as we always do! Time to admit that the guys are quite often the centre of our jokes, but since Marianne has 2 large posters of them on both sides of the dinner table, you had a few awkward moments staring at the guy you're joking about! All innocent jokes, don't get me wrong, we love them! But we all have a good (and most importantly, the same) sence of humor!!!

Later that afternoon, when most people left, we decided to try the coconuts Nancy brought along!

We put some cute straws in them and had a little sip to try and see how they tasted...

No comment needed.

You can imagine the fun we had though... It (by the way) turned out to be that the coconuts were "funky", they were over-ripe... Oh what the hell, there was freaking fungus all over the bastards! They were all GREEN! And it was a bitch opening them too, I eventually smashed mine on the floor outside!!! But it was worth all the fun ;)

When everybody left, Marianne made a cute liitle box with a picture of the guys on it and the glyphics and a nice piece of chocolate in it.
By the time we left, Jared was all gone!!! I wonder why... :p I took Shannon home and I nicked Tomo from my brother HA!

It was SO much fun! And I wanna thank Marianne for opening her place to us, letting us sleep in her bedroom (where did she end up sleeping anyways?) It was great looking at your home-made scrap book photo albums! They're all little masterpieces! Thanks for the hospitality and the yummie breakfast (and dinner for Jamie and myself) And thank you to all my sistahs and bro's for coming and sharing the fun! It was another night to remember!

And as always: THANK YOU JARED, SHANNON AND TOMO! We owe you big time!

Want Skinny Genes? Vote 4 Eliza and get it on mtvU's The Freshmen!

2011-02-23T00:18:00.000-08:00

Want Skinny Genes? Vote 4 Eliza and get it on mtvU's The Freshmen!

How I started liking 30STM and how I met them :)

2010-08-16T02:56:00.000-07:00

It all started when I was 10 and I had just heard From Yesterday on Kerrang TV when I went shopping in my local town with my dad. We were walking around when I asked him to go into HMV and I picked up A Beautiful Lie and kinda waved all in my dad's face saying 'Can I have this!?' and he said 'haha, fine...' and I have been an Echelon ever since :)

I met 30 Seconds To Mars on June 13th 2010 and it was the best day of my life! I hopped onto the train to London and got on the London Underground to Leicester Square and walked to the outside of the hotel where I met some of the UK Echelon who I'd met before and had known on twitter. We were sitting outside Starbucks for about 4-5 hours before Tomo came out at 3pm, after he'd just woken up, and we shouted 'IT'S TOMO!' and he looked and laughed at us. We all got a picture with him and a hug, and he also signed my [ECHELON] wristband. After he came out with 2 coffee's for him and Vicki, I got another picture with him. At about 4pm we could see Shannon inside the hotel talking to Emma and his mum Constance. He went to sit down on a chair which was directly opposite us but inside the hotel and we took pictures of him but he turned his chair round to talk to his mum. Shannon strolled outside to go shopping with Constance, and I was like 'Hey Shannon!' and he waved at me! :O. Jared came out an hour after that and my friend tapped me on the shoulder saying 'it's Jared!' so I turned around and said 'Hi Jared! :D' and he motioned 'come on' with his hand and all of us gave him a hug :D but he wouldn't have any pictures :(, he came back after some shopping though and pictures with all of us and he signed my wristband :D.. at 7pm Shannon finally came back and we had pictures with him too and he said 'Ok, you can have a hug' and I rushed in :L, and gave him a huge hug and the other Echelon hugged him too :) Shannon smells lush!! After that I got home and nearly died when I got home xD

2010-08-05T21:16:00.001-07:00

I have let people set me aside, and trample on me as if it was a daily routine all my life. But throughout the past few years I have started on a voyage, and reached out of my hermit type personality. With some kind advice and words of wisdom I no longer struggle being weird and unusual. Alongside the songs by 30 Seconds to Mars I now applaud my sense of creativity, they may seem outer worldly. I have notice a lot of my own traits within the band, as the like to focus on bigger things than themselves, they are all very selfless, and cherish the simple things. I remember a time when I was a small child and my mother asked me what I wanted to be when I got older, and I replied “I want to be mother nature”, she than asked “Why”, I said “Because being surrounded my something that is bigger than yourself makes the world not so horrible”. I feel like I have lived by this philosophy my whole life, and have the impression that the band also lives this way. Knowing that their music is so much more than just a song, it’s a scripture of poetic words reciting are own feelings. Knowing that it’s bigger than the band, it’s a way of life for some people, and it’s a group of fellow companions who you can confide in. This maybe a cult, but who cares when it reaches into people and allows them to understand things they may have been afraid of once before. Jared, Shannon, and Tomo give you a sense of comfort in your own skin, and want to help you break down those walls and show people the real you. That is what I believe this band has done the most for me, knowing I can step back for myself and smile as well as feel happy for the things I have accomplished. No other band gives you that soft of impact on your life. Ill finish this story off with two of my favorite quotes, “Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix” by Christina Baldwin. “They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself” by Andy Warhol

By Brittany Adler

2010-08-03T07:25:00.001-07:00

I discovered 30STM in 2005. LOST 250LBS! and noticing changes. I turned to Q101 FM Chicago, and "THE KILL" was playing. I called the station immediately after I heard the lyrics,"i tried to be someone else....this is who I really am. That was me. I was told 30SECONDSTOMARS. I said 30 Seconds to who baby? The DJ fell out laughing told me where to find their music & I saw them about 5 times. They launched a bigger tour in the US for about 2yrs. I saw them at least 30 times. Those were the great old days.

30SECONDSTOMARS changed my life in a simple way. I didn't know who I REALLY WAS. I knew who Angela Love was for many years. There was another side of me that I didn't know existed until I lost the weight. "THE KILL" helped me realize that.There were times I felt like the song "SAVIOR". There is a song on A Beautiful Lie for everyone. I always knew to follow my dreams, & that I could do anything with GOD. The band helped me by cementing all my hopes and dreams. If they could do it, I can too. I've always wanted to be an actress so I Have bit parts in MERCURY RISING with Bruce Willis, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE with David Schwimmer. I have also met Morgan Freeman, Keanu Reeves, Richard Gere, Laurence Fishburn, Brad Renfro just to name a few. I've met a lot of Rock Bands, and I love to write and have tons of stories.When someone says no to me that makes me more determined to prove them wrong.
30SECONDSTOMARS has been a big part of my l'm thankful for the echelon.

-Angela Love

The face behind the pierrot mask

2010-07-21T07:04:00.001-07:00

My name is Maria. I live in Tampa Florida. I was one of the luckiest to be picked to be interviewed by Jared.

At the concert in Orlando, on April 28th, I told him that 30 Seconds to Mars changed my life.

And that is true!

I depend on the band every day for some sort of smile, or happiness. I feel like part of a family that no one else understands but the members itself.

I could tell you my life story. I could tell you the events, the feelings, the anxiety, depression- all of that. But that isn't important. What is though, is that I have been taught to follow my own dreams and leave all of that behind. To launch forth.

The music: There is no way in hell that I could find any band similar to 30 Seconds to Mars. They are unique in every way- especially the sound. Every song has it's own meaning, it's own connections to your personal history, and they all just flow the right way. Every album has it's own purpose, and they are beautiful. This is War is probably most important to me, to teach me to fight against the hardships of life.

The band: Tomo. Tomo, you are a sincere person that I just love to follow on twitter. You always have something good to say, and you're awesome with your fans. It must be an honor to be your friend. Someday I'll get to meet you for more than a couple seconds and it'll be such a cool experience.

Shannon. The way you treasure your family, and your brother, is amazing. I admire that about you, and I also admire how much life you bring to every song, recorded, or live. You will always be one (or the one) of the greatest drummers I've ever seen.

Jared. Oh, Jared. I'm actually writing a letter to you now, to give to you at the concert on October 15th. I really hope and pray you read it, because I've never written such a heartfelt letter to someone I don't know so personally before. I wrote,

"You are the one that put in perspective that living up to your dreams is a necessity in life. You woke up the dreamer side of me. Thank you Jared, for being my hero, and living up to the title. "

The Family: The Echelon is somewhere that I can finally fit in. I've met so many new people, had experiences, and everything. We are a group of people who have turned to music for comfort, who have gotten lost, and jumped into a sweaty crowd (by the way, Jared, thanks for telling everyone to push and squeeze in. I was in the center front of the crowd, and keep in mind that I am only just a small person) to just forget about everything for a night.

I can't even begin to express the amount of gratefulness I have for all of 30 Seconds to Mars. Without it, my life would be colorless.

Love, Maria.

What Mars means to me.

2010-07-08T20:41:00.000-07:00

Hi there my fellow Echelon, I'm Keri from Massachusetts.

Everyone has good and bad days, it is a fact of life. On my bad days music is my escape. I know that I can just turn up the radio and dance and sing and that everything for that moment will be ok. Music talks to people; it is universal language like a math equation. From their first album I knew 30 Seconds to Mars was a great band. I knew that because they made music that spoke to me. Like Pink Floyd, The Beatles, U2, NIN, and Nirvana, they have been added to a lists of bands that, playing a song can bring me back to a moment in my life that makes me smile or cry or just remember. When I saw them at the Boston House of Blues in April it was a spiritual experience. I have been to a lot of concerts but none with the life and tenacity of this band. They interacted with the audience on a level I have never seen before and it comes from the fact that they really do love their fans. The fans are a whole other subject. During the show we all became one and looked out for each other. I am proud to be part of the Echelon; even though I am older then most of the fans I am glad to be a Mars Mother. I laugh at the fact the my 3 yr old son Damien thinks everyone with a Mohawk is a "Rock Star" and even sported a blue Marshawk himself for a while. He has started to play drums too. I love that I can share their music with my son like my father shared his music with me.

So 30 Seconds to Mars means just that; loving music I can share with the people I love.

Fight To The Death

2010-07-08T18:58:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I’m Jennie, 21 from North Carolina.

I jumped in on this and then realized that I don’t even know how to put my story into words. I’ve never told anyone my story, just that the 30 Seconds to Mars and their music was simply amazing. I first heard the self titled album when I was a freshman in high school so around 2003. Love at first listen. I picked up A Beautiful Lie later and once again, love at first listen. In the fall of 2004 my cousin died just outside of Fallujah Iraq. I still don’t know how to put into words the feelings there. There was so much going on in my head so many questions; so much pain; it was awful. He was more like a brother than a cousin and to lose him so young I practically shut down. It was the first time I ever got less than a C in my classes; to my mother's dismay I became less active in church which was something I had always participated in. I couldn’t listen to anything; the album I had planned on listening to with hopes of getting me by went missing. But there were these 30STM’s albums and I would put them on and just disappear. I would sit in my living room and stare out my window and just get lost in the music. I would listen to them on the way to school, after school, whenever I could find a moment. They were the lowest darkest moments of my life to that point and the only light in my life was 30 Seconds to Mars.

I eventually broke out and rejoined my family in the world of the living. But I knew I would never ever be the same. Through various other hard times during my high school career I leaned on the music of 30 to help me when I didn’t think I would make it. My best friend’s mother lost her fight with cancer my senior year, going off to college and picking up a lifestyle I had never known before. All these things were killing me inside but I’d put on 30 on my way to class and I would find my calm and my center.

But this fall is the past year is the second time when I have desperately needed them and clung to the music to help me. I decided to come out to my friends at school and certain members of my family. This decision completely changed my entire life. It also changed the way I heard the music. On this new personal level it was not about healing but about coming to terms with who I was; a part that I had denied within myself my whole life for one reason or another. The self title album became for me the beginning of my struggle to come to terms with who I was. It was fighting against what I knew to be true. A Beautiful Lie was the part of me that had come to terms with myself; the part that saw myself as whole. This Is War to me is a victory album. I’m not restricted by the confines of what I have always been told anymore. It gave me so much hope and peace; so much security. When it was made apparent the relationship that had given me strength to be myself was ending I struggled; I am struggling still. 30 Seconds to Mars brought us together; I will always be grateful for that but sometimes it is like ripping open a scab and cutting deeper but I know that I must to heal properly. I must get through this painful step to begin to move on with my life.

Through this struggle the music is once again taking on a new shape a new meaning. I know that my life is very likely nowhere over and I know that 30 Seconds to Mars (even if they never gave us another album) would be with me for the rest of my life. Their music is not constricted by a mood, or a time, they are perfect for almost every situation. I have found in the Echelon a family that I didn’t know was as strong as it is. I hear the fraternity and sororities on campus talk about how close they are but they have nothing on us. I’ve never been more proud to be part of something as I am to be part of the Echelon.

I cannot believe how much the music has impacted my life. I don’t think I have ever allowed myself to look back at the pain that was there and feel it again from this side; the side of healing. I met 30 in DC as part of the VIP packages and I wish I had been allowed the time to tell them all of this. To tell them that while I never was on the verge of suicide they were there during my darkest times. The words gave to me the strength to get up and face the day; to see the world as beautiful again. They gave me the strength to pour myself into something and to become the strong woman I am; I can accomplish anything so long as I dream big enough! That is what I have learned three albums, two tattoos, and countless tears later.

All my devotion;

Jennie!

In Defense of our Dreams

2010-07-02T16:53:00.000-07:00

Dear 30 Seconds to Mars,

I think I should introduce myself first. Hi, my name is Jen.

I'm a 20 year old college student, my program being Tourism and Travel - Flight Service; I hope to be a flight attendant one day. I'm absolutely enamoured by life, and I savour every moment, cherish every breath, and live every second to the fullest. I live without regret, and I wake up every day with a smile, Kings and Queens blasting as my 6AM alarm clock. I look outside to see that I beat the sunrise again, and all I can say to the world is 'Carpe Diem, bitches' with a grin. There isn't any other place I want to be except here or any other life I want to live except mine.

And I have you three to thank.

So, thank you.

I would never expect to be like this 5 months ago. I didn't necessarily hate myself or was suicidal, but I was scared to live, scared to breathe, scared to even think of going somewhere in life. I didn't feel allowed to express myself, to be myself or to even accept myself. To put things simply, I had a life, but I wasn't inspired to live, and just ‘living’ didn’t feel like an accomplishment anymore. Existing wasn’t enough.

Ten or so months ago, I got it in my head to just do something with my life; So I applied to college, but mostly out of fear that 'living pointlessly' would give my mother a reason to hate me more. I made my decision on logical choices, such as what would bring me away from my mother fast enough and effectively enough. So I told her I wanted to be a flight attendant. When she heard that, she just scoffed; She asked me questions about it sarcastically, and would refer to the program as another embarrassment (it’s a college program and not a university program; there’s a difference in Canada), despite her friends being thoroughly impressed with me. I just think it wasn’t what she wanted of me.

I got a lot of encouragement from the rest of my family but really, behind closed doors, it was like walking into a minefield with a blindfold on; I was pretty scared. Was it the right thing to do? Would I disappoint myself this time, instead of disappointing my just mother? I had only begun to actually to accept myself as a person and not just a thing, a tool, to live out someone else’s dream. With my own teenage dreams of being a screenwriter, ones I had put all my love and energy into, thoroughly crushed, I didn’t know if I could put the same fragile confidence and hope into this new, relatively unknown dream I had.

During the winter holidays, as the date of first day of class drew near, my smiles got brighter and my nervous shaking could more easily be mistaken as jitters of excitement. I was afraid to fail again but in retrospect, I was more afraid of what would happen, anything that would happen. But one night, I was browsing through a friend's tumblr page and found her spazzing about This is War and the 'Kings & Queens' video; She had a youtube link up, I believe. Curious me, I clicked it and watched.

It was the most well-spent 5 minutes and 48 seconds of my life.

There's a line in the song, 'In Defense of our Dreams', that really spoke to me. For a time, dreams were all I had, and even those were taken away from me. Dreams are precious, and I learned the hard way that they are something to be protected, cherished, and pursued. Everything I already learned and knew, you confirmed and told me "Yes, that's true. We stand with you, and behind you."

Every day that I wake up and watch the sunrise from the window of a plane, I'll have no one else to thank, but you. You can see the sunrise, but unless you love life like how you've taught me, I would never have felt the sunrise.

Forever grateful,
Jen.

Toronto, Canada

Decadent.pastry@gmail.com // @decadent_pastry

A Battle of One, A Battle of Billions

2010-06-30T03:03:00.000-07:00

An open letter to 30 Seconds to Mars,

On March 14, 2010, a friend and I received the horrible news that someone we had recently met, a soldier in the Canadian Army, had been killed in combat in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The feeling was so horrible--a numbness in my brain, an absolute ache in my chest.
Solace found its way to me in your music. I had been listening to "This Is War" since the release, and this horrible reality suddenly made your music all the more personal to me. Karma threw me another curve ball when I won tickets to your show the next night at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.
And so, that next night, my friend and I found ourselves in the second-to-last row at the Greek, checking out Shiny Toy Guns, sipping on some beers. Karma was not finished though! A staff member from the Greek (and if I ever see this man again, I will shower him with thanks anew) came and offered us pit passes. The rest became concert history...I've been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to check out many live shows. Without a doubt, you guys have raised the bar to a seemingly untouchable level!
I found myself five feet away from the stage and sensory overload took over! Seeing the show, hearing the music, feeling the pulse of the crowd...It was the most unforgettable experience ever! Any song I hear now from the show swells my heart and takes me back--every time! And there's more. Though I've been a fan of your music for a while, perhaps this experience solidified my connection to your art, your music, and made me want to do so much more! I'm a little new to the game, but I 'm an extremely proud member of the Echelon now!
I was mistaken to think your music was your greatest gift! Don't misunderstand, it has been my healer--challenging me to overcome the pain of death, the struggle with my father's cancer, the eight years of writer's block (as hopefully evidenced here). But your band has given me an even greater gift--the family, the cult, the Echelon! I laugh more, I think greater, I do more good in my life because of this beautiful reality, this glorious cult!
Before I end this letter, you should also know that your art and talent has given me one more extraordinary benefit. Having always had a passion for the environment, I studied marine biology and have spent almost six years at a local aquarium in Los Angeles, teaching people about marine life and how their actions shape the survival of this earth. I've watched the "A Beautiful Lie" video many times over the years and my opportunity to share it with others has finally arrived. I've been given the chance to develop curriculum on climate change and ocean acidification to middle and high school students. And it all begins with your video! I may have many facts to share, but I could never express myself as beautifully and as creatively as your video allows. So, thank you for offering a medium that will enable me to connect students with the immediacy, the danger of climate change, and the joy in the ability to do something about it. I suppose an additional shout out to Bartholemew Cubbins and Angakok Panipaq for all their hard work and exemplary vision!
And so, as I conclude this letter to 30 Seconds to Mars the unit, and to its individual members, I wish to express my endless gratitude. Your music makes Los Angeles traffic bearable, it focuses me in my education; your craft contributes greatly to my mission to empower others to take a stand in saving this planet; and it has given me the gift of a creative, strong-willed, unstoppable tour de force that is the Echelon!

With all the gratitude in my heart and soul,
Melanie Ani Vartabedian
(@mermaidmelo)

YES THIS IS A CULT.

2010-06-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

My name is Rebecca and I am 15 years old. I am from the middle of England. I am a very new member of the Echelon family. I first discovered this AMAZING band we call 30 Seconds To Mars at the end of 2009. I was watching the Scuzz music channel and Kings And Queens came on. I loved what I was hearing and seeing. Kings And Queens was my new favourite song, and I listened to it non-stop. Then I HAD to listen to more of their music. I got all 3 of their albums and learnt every lyric as I listen to them so often. All of the lyrics actually have meaning, unlike most artists out there. They mean the world to me, and really put me in a great mood. When school's depressing me, I'll turn to my 30STM CD's. Jared, Shannon, and Tomo are 3 GENIUS, AMAZING, TALENTED, BEAUTIFUL men who I love so much words can't describe. I love Jared Leto so much it hurts. And is there anything he CAN'T do? He writes songs, he sings, he plays guitar, he acts (he's an AMAZING actor. I've seen 4 of his films so far; Alexander, Panic Room, Urban Legend, and Mr Nobody. Wow. :P), he directs, and he has breath-taking looks, with beautiful hypnotic blue eyes and a cute button nose. :) I love Jared's individuality, and his pomegranate mohawk is amazing. ;D And before I knew it, I was an Echelon. :D

30 Seconds To Mars give me the feeling that I actually belong somewhere and have a purpose in life. Before I came across them, I got depressed and thought "What is the point? Why am I even here??" But Mars taught me that you should follow your dreams and always fight for what you believe in no matter what. I realised I can get through this, it's not that hard. They help me, and give me the courage to do so. Jared's lyrics to Alibi "I fell apart but got back up again" showed me that you will fall and have problems in your life, but you've always got to have the strength to get back up again and do what's got to be done. Jared's lyrics speak to me. 30STM have been through so much to get to where they are today, and they got there by not giving up. I've always been the quiet one who is has serious confidence issues and has trouble believing in myself, but I know I've got to believe in myself, just as they did. You won't get anywhere if you don't believe in yourself, no matter how hard it is.

It was my 15th birthday on the 10th February, and it honestly was my best birthday ever. I was lucky enough to go and see 30 Seconds To Mars live for the first time ever on the 19th at Nottingham Trent FM Arena. I bought my This Is War t-shirt from the official merchandise stand and wore it with pride. I wasn't standing unfortunately, but I was in the tiered seating. We waited ages for them to come on, but it was so worth the wait! The atmosphere was absolutely amazing, and I really felt like I belonged there, amongst the Echelon. I've never made so much noise in my entire life, and honestly don't know how I still had my voice when I woke up the following morning. That was the best night of my life, and 30STM are amazing live! They certainly know a thing or two about showmanship! They don't just stand there singing like most artists do; they put so much effort and hard work into their shows. Mars return to the UK in December, and I plan on seeing them again! I'm struggling for money at the moment, but I WILL get there one way or another! And I'll hopefully be standing (on the front row preferably! ;)) and I'll have a good view of them!!

I know none of the Echelon personally, but I have many Echelon friends online. Thank god for the internet, right? I wouldn't have met any of the amazing people I've become friends with. And they're not just my friends, their my family. All of you. I love you all. If it weren't for Mars we wouldn't have this amazing family and group of people. I wish we had our own Echelon Country. That'd be awesome. I live in a town where their are no Echelon. I am living in the wrong place altogether. I feel like I don't belong here at all. They all think I'm a freak, but I don't care. I'm proud to be an Echelon and forever will be. And like I said, thank god I can escape to the internet.

I try to be the best Echelon I can possibly be. I do as much as I can to promote them; I wear my t-shirt everywhere with pride (people will be thinking I haven't got anything else to wear! lol), I tell my friends of new Mars releases, I even introduced my email friend from Sweden to them. And I will continue to do this.

I recently watched 30STM's most recent music video for Closer To The Edge. Wow, what a song, and what a video. For starters, the song is genius, legendary, and in my opinion one of the best on This Is War (although I love every track). I've been listening to it alot lately, and I can't stop watching the music video. Wow. It made me emotional. I cried. It took my breath away. Simply amazing.

Music is my escape. Especially Mars. I was born to be an Echelon. I just wish I'd discovered them sooner. But at least I have now. :) They have brightened my life, made it feel worth living. My biggest dream is to meet the Mars men and tell them how much their songs mean to me, and how much I love and care for them. I want to thank them for everything. I really do appreciate them, just as much as I appreciate my second family.

Thank you so much to every single Echelon out there.
YES THIS IS A CULT. ECHELON TILL I DIE. PROVEHITO IN ALTUM.

I found tomorrow in today

2010-06-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

I can’t think of when I discovered 30 Seconds To Mars. If I really try and remember, it actually feels as though they’ve been a constant in my life since my first minutes of coherence. Those three faces have become so familiar to me, I feel I’ve seen them on the street hundreds of times.

The self-titled album became for me an escape. Songs like ‘Capricorn’ and ‘Edge of the Earth’ helped me retreat into myself and discover whole new sides of my personality that I never knew existed. When EOTE launches into “Stand out, on the edge, of the earth”, I can feel my skin prickling as I delve into my deeper states of consciousness. ‘The Mission’ courses through my veins, as if I were in some strange army situation, defending my spirit against countless enemies.

“Yeah I’ve been to Jupiter, and I’ve fallen through the air. I used to live out on the moon, but now I’m back here down on Earth. Why are you here? Are you listening? Can you here what, I am saying?” These lyrics were such a huge deal to me when I first heard them. As I listened, I was reading over the CD booklet, and I spied the mission set for us - “Find the Argus Apocraphex” - and I truly believe I found my answer in that instant. I’m still ‘searching’ now, but every day I feel that step closer to fully discovering myself.

Having been a Buddhist for over 8 years now has really, weirdly, taught me more about the music than anything else. So much ties in, makes perfect sense, and I feel a deeper connection with the lyrics through my faith.

The second album, ‘A Beautiful Lie’, signalled the dwindling in my faith. Despite some amazingly profound tracks hidden away on the CD, such as ‘From Yesterday’ (still one of my favourite music videos by far), ‘Battle of One’ and ‘Was It a Dream?’, this marked their ‘sell-out’ for me. ‘The Kill’ upset me, made me angry, and ‘A Beautiful Lie’, whilst being an unbelievable song, melted into one horrible mess with ‘The Fantasy’, also grossly overplayed. I tried hard to keep my love alive, and my faith in the band - ‘Attack’ was a great song and video, and I really loved the first three aforementioned tracks to death. Especially with ‘The Kill’, I saw people all around me trying to claim "rights" to the band, but they didn’t even know what ‘Echelon’ meant. All those awards and accolades fell on my deaf ears, and I almost lost conviction altogether.

However, I stuck with them. They were, are, have always been, my favourite band, and I couldn’t just leave them by the wayside because of one (in my opinion) poor album. I listened to other stuff, tried out new genres, and slowly forgot the pain the second album had brought. After a while, I went back to it; I fell in love. I rediscovered that tingle on my skin, that kick in my stomach, that feeling that makes us Echelon. It’s safe to say I never looked back.

Their third and current album has “reinstalled” in me that sense of belonging. I really feel a part of the Echelon when I listen to it. Songs like ‘Kings and Queens’ fill me with jubilance, and ‘This is War’ makes me want to scream to the world about Mars. I feel that personally for me, "the war" so often referenced to is against their second album, and what they became in that era. They didn't seem like themselves to me, and this album seems like their 'f*** you', to all that 'emo hype' and stereotyping. I can't get enough of it. This album makes me feel so alive within myself.

My feelings are still arising with regards to the third album, and it’s currently in my car being played every time I drive. I feel, as I go through songs one to twelve, as though I’m on a journey - like if I lay down on my bed, with headphones in, and listened intently all the way through the album, that I’d feel awakened and refreshed afterwards, with new insight into a new me.

There’ve been tough times where the music has helped me, but I wouldn’t say there were too many - mainly because since I discovered Mars, my life has changed - they have forced me to rediscover, (r)evolve, alter my (misguided) perceptions and seek the true ‘me’. I won’t ever say something as naïve as ‘this band changed my life’, because it was more indirect than that - their lyrics spoke to me in a way that helped me realise, opened my eyes to things I’d never seen.

As you can see, it’s hard for me to tell my Mars story in a short form. I’m sorry this gone on so long; this wasn’t what I was planning on!

In as little as I can: 30 Seconds To Mars have managed to re-define me as a person, to help me ‘launch forth’ into the depths of my human awareness and realise what goes on around, and within, me. Without them, and their music, a lot of things may have overcome me, and I might not be the person I am today. All I have to say is one great big thank you. To the band. To the music. To the lyrics. TO THE ECHELON.

THE FIGHT IS DONE, THE WAR IS WON. YOU GUYS ARE MY FAMILY, AND I THINK OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WITH LOVE AND RESPECT.

Writing this has been amazing. I hope you can get a sense of what I was trying to convey - my life, my learning, my experiences, me. I LOVE YOU.

@emibd
₪ ø lll ·o.

In defense of our dreams

2010-05-30T03:17:00.000-07:00

I actually don't know where to start, so I will start anywhere in the hope it will make sense in the end. English is not my mother tongue so please be lenient with me :-)

My entire childhood and youth were affected by parental drug and alcohol abuse, physical and mental cruelty, sadness and loss. I lost my parents at a very young age and remained alone with a mass of responsibilities, and a broken personality.

The years after I lived under a glass-cover. I was like unconscious, just tried to function. I was not able to feel anything - no happyness, no anger, no sorrow. I only pretended to have feelings. During this time I did not even recognize it.

And then these three guys entered my life and changed everything... I have been listening to 30 Seconds to Mars for years, but it was only one of the bands I liked and had no special meaning to me. Today I think that I was not ready to understand the message earlier. Then I was at a concert and my whole world turned upside down. Suddenly I started to understand and every song became a perfect meaning for me and my personal situation.

The weeks after I listened to every song again and again and again and the messages became clearer and clearer. I suddenly realized that I was wasting my life by trying to fulfill other peoples expectations in me. I never thought about what I wanted from life. I made decisions for other people not for myself. And I haven't even realized it for years.

The songs of 30 Seconds to Mars allow and encourage me to be the person I really am. They tell me that it's right and good to struggle with my inner demons every day. I now have the feeling that I became a stronger and more valuable person by all the pain I went through. I am different and it's nothing false in being different. It's better to be authentic than adapted 'cause this is who I really am.

I want to thank Jared, Shannon and Tomo, for being the f.cking most brilliant artists in the world. Their music touches me in a way I never expected. These three men changed everything and I did'nt even ask them to do so. I can't say that my existence has become easier through their apperance. I have to struggle even harder, but I do struggle instead of watching my own life passing by. Their music hurts...it hurts in my bruised soul every day. It hurts so much ,that there are often tears running down my face while listening, but it makes me think and forces me to go on. It is my inspiration to get my ass up and at least try to become a kind of happy.

I will be thankful until the end of my days, because these guys definitely saved me. At the moment I'm not sure what to do with my recovered life, but the lyrics will show me in a while, I guess...

One more important thing I want to thank Jared, Shannon and Tomo for are the Echelon. When I first heard of them I found it kind of strange. But then I entered the world of Twitter and within two or three days I understood. I was searching for current information about 30 Seconds to Mars and found... amazing friends, a big family.

While everyone in my so called "real life" finds my addiction to 30STM and my changing personality weird, the Echelon understand and support me. Some of them are also fighting against tortures and harms of life (as well as I read here) and made similar experiences with the music of Mars. I found my personal soulmate amongst the Echelon, my sister, my counterpart. (You know that you are meant sis, my refletion :-) ) I am so thankful to be a part of this big crazy crowd. 30 Seconds to Mars have opened a new world to me - the Echelon make this world alive.

Thank you dear brothers and sisters for understanding, for supporting, thank you for simply existing. I won't miss any day I spent time chattering, laughing or even crying with you!!! Some time ago I wouldn't have believed that I'd ever share my personal story, my most intimate secrets with anybody. 30 Seconds to Mars and the Echelon made me a person that releases these thaughts in the internet. I am so proud of this person I developed with your help. Thank you!!!

I will do my best to defend my dreams in every single day of my life. Some days may be harder than others, but I'm alive again and I promise to live!!!

All my love - up to the stars and back down to earth. Prohevito in altum!!
Aoide

I will live my life

2010-05-26T05:56:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a few words on how 30 Seconds to Mars have impacted my world and me as a person.

I remember when I first got introduced to 30 Seconds to Mars' music. I was studying my Psychology degree at university in 2007 when my twin sister came to me and said "30 Seconds to Mars are playing Hammersmith Apollo next year, we have to get tickets!" I knew who 30STM were because my sister was a huge fan but I hadn't really heard any of their music. I remember the first 2 songs I heard by them were "A Modern Myth" and "The Story" and that was it, I was instantly hooked. We booked tickets for Feb of 2008 in London and I got to experience them live which was incredible! The way Jared engages with the audience is like nothing I've seen before, most artists would fear actually getting up close and personal with their audience, but the way Jared plunges in to the crowd, it's clear he revels in it and I love him for that.

After that performance, Jared came outside and chatted to us for a while and again that's something you rarely see so he was earning mega brownie points in my books! I will always remember someone saying to me that it was cool that he stayed and chatted however don't expect it to last too long, because as they get more successful they won't care as much about the people at the shows. That person was VERY wrong. I recently went to see the guys again at Wembley, they delivered a mind-blowing performance and it is an experience in which I will carry with me forever. Again, after the show my sister and I hung around and again Jared came out and had a chat with a few of us. From that moment onwards, I knew my dedication to the band would be just as strong as what they show to us and my loyalty was unwavering.

My life at the moment is slightly monotonous as I am working hard to save up money to continue my studies at university in order to get to where I want to be in life. Some days it's hard to wake up and feel inspired or motivated because every day is such a routine. But when I listen to 30 Seconds to Mars, I can hear the passion and conviction in Jared's voice and it makes me think they have had to work so hard to be as successful as they are. If you want to get anywhere in life, you have to put in the work. The music of 30STM is so inspiring, I listen to "This is War" in its entirety everyday for motivation. "Closer to the Edge" particularly resonates with me as I find this a hugely powerful song. From this song, I take away the message that you should do whatever it takes in order to live your life and to feel purpose behind your actions. When I hear the words, I know that every day I'm getting closer to my goals which will ultimately lead me to where I want to be in life, and it's through 30STM' music that I realise this.

I now have all 3 albums from 30STM and their music is something I will always cherish and I look forward to expanding upon it!

The dedication and passion that Jared, Shannon and Tomo commit to their shows and to their interaction with audiences (whether it be an arena full of people or a group of 20 outside) is something that most artists can only dream of achieving. 30 Seconds to Mars delivers above and beyond all expectations and it is the reason that the Echelon family continues to grow. It is the reason why I am proud to say that 30 Seconds to Mars has had a profound effect on me as a person and the way I look at life. I can merely say thank you for that but those words can only describe a fraction of what's in my heart.

Laura De Rosa, UK
(@LauraDeRosa)

They MADE my life

2010-05-25T12:20:00.000-07:00

I don’t know how to start this. But maybe I should tell you my story to start with?

Most of this can I not remember because is such a long time ago, so I have got it told by my family.

My story begins back in the Christmas 2001 when I was 7 years old. My uncle, who lived in USA at that moment, gave me a demo cd from a band called 30 seconds to mars. It was a cd he have got from he’s friend who knew the drummer in the band – Shannon. I fell admittedly in love with the music. I have been told that I only could fell a sleep when I was listening to the cd.
Short time after Christmas my grandfather died. I had a really good relationship with him. I was so sad that I was close to get a depression. But I was lucky and I am still sure that the cd I had got is the reason till that I not got that depression. 8 month after Christmas I, and the rest of the world, so lucky that 30 seconds to mars’s album came out. After some years became I more and more an Echelon and I have now been it in 5 years I think.
After being a fan in 9 years the day of my life came. It was March 9th 2010, the day Shannon turned 40 yeas old, in Copenhagen, Denmark. I still have the feeling that it didn’t happen! Aging were I closer than never to get a depression and stress because the concert was over and I had so much going on in my life. But because of the amazing Echelon came I through that and I am now happier than ever!

I don’t want to say that 30 seconds to mars changed my life, because they MADE my life. I can’t remember how my life was before I heard 30 seconds to mars the first time. Mostly because I was so young but also because they have made such a big influence on whom I am to day. They are the reason to all the amazing friends I have made because of the Echelon. They are properly the reason till that I not am a girl in trouble and with a depression to day.
They are my life!
And I am not afraid to say that they HAVE made the life I am living.
Jared is the reason till I am an actor now. When I have been close to quit I have been seeing a movie with him and I got my passion back of acting.
30 seconds to mars is the main reason to I am playing music today. When I sow how amazing Tomo and Jared are on a guitar I wanted to bee just half as good as them and I am close to be that to day.
Then are you properly thinking “what have Shannon done to you”, he gave me the desire of want to photographer more and more.
I own the guys my life. Because they gave me my life.
I can’t thank 30 seconds to mars enough for being the band they are!
I love them so much and they will always be a part of my life.
I can feel my life when I hear their music, it’s the soundtrack till my life and who I am. 30 seconds to mars is who I am, always have been and always will bee.
Thank you 30 seconds to mars and the Echelon for doing all this to me.

I love you more than words can describe!

Marie, Denmark
@mariebulken

This is the Story of my Life....

2010-05-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

Ok, maybe this isn't the story of my life...that would take too much space and time. You see, I've been around almost double the life span of most Echelon, sometimes more. I'm old enough to be Jared and Shannon's slightly older sister. But we're going to skip ahead several years to the first moment I heard Attack on the radio.

It was early summer, 2005. I was fresh out of the hospital, after having a pacemaker/defibrillator "installed"...no, I'm really not that old, yes it was early, I was only in my 30's. The previous year my doctors had found that I had a condition that was most likely caused by a virus that made my heart beat strangely...out of rhythm, and my left ventricle didn't pump by itself. Anyway, I was pretty weary from surgery, and all the new medications I was on when I heard Attack for the first time. I loved it instantly. I went to look online to see who the band was, because the radio hadn't said anything about the song.

I remember sitting at my step son's computer, looking at a picture of 30 Seconds to Mars....and having the distinct feeling that I knew one of the band members. I even said out loud, "Hey, I know that guy!", and my step son replied, "Uh huh, sure you do." and walked away. I then started digging for names of the band members online, and realized where I knew that Jared guy from...My So Called Life. I LOVED that show! I even have that book they put out after the show was over! I was amazed...of course I hadn't seen him in anything in over 10 years...or so I thought. A quick look at IMDB told me that I'd seen plenty of Jared, I just hadn't recognized him.

A little more information online, and I found out that I couldn't buy the cd that had Attack on it, as A Beautiful Lie wasn't out yet. It was a long wait (it seemed like) until the release date when I ran out and bought it. I carefully unwrapped it and kept the great wrap that had the rose on it. I listened to that cd until I thought my family was going to kick me out of my own home. I also bought the self titled cd, but I couldn't even locate it in town, I had to order it online.

Somewhere the next year, 30 Seconds to Mars was on tour and coming to a standing room only smaller venue here in town. I was still pretty sick. I called the venue to see if there was anywhere to sit, and they could only accommodate me if I were in a wheel chair, which I wasn't. It broke my heart to not go see them live. I vowed then that one day I would get to see them live.

I spent a few years with some pretty serious health problems. There are so many parts of my life that were touched because of 30 Seconds to Mars, and Jared's other work as well. I started reading Hubert Selby, Jr because of Requiem for a Dream. Last year I became vegetarian. Last year I had three surgeries, and one of the things that helped pull me through was knowing that soon there would be a new cd, and a new tour...and I was determined I would see them this time!

There wasn't a summit near where I live, but I watched online and wondered what the guys were going to do with everything that was being sent to them. I couldn't believe it the first time I heard Kings and Queens. I was listening online to the premier on KROQ. I felt so happy and so proud ... proud of the guys, proud of the fans, and so proud to be a fan. I remember downloading the cd in December, and crying several times. Between Alibi, and 100 Suns...especially the "beating of our hearts" line, and even lines like "One day it'll all just end", it seemed like my "birthday buddy" as I've been calling Jared for a while now, as we share the not so stupendous December 26th birthday, was writing pieces of my soul for lyrics.

I watched tons of youtube footage of the tour that was happening in Europe. The day the tour dates for America were announced, I called my friend who lives in Arizona. I've known her since I was 11! I was scheduled to go stay with her for 10 days, and the tour was starting in that part of the country while I was there! She said, "They sing that Face is a Map of the World song, right?" (This was actually better than I had hoped for, most of her iPod is 80's haha) I told her we could go to Tuscon, and there was also a Mesa show at that time that was later rescheduled to Phoenix later in May. I also told her the tour was kicking off in Las Vegas, and it was at that moment I knew how much she loved me...she told me to get tickets, she was taking us to VEGAS! There's something about someone who's known you 30something years. They REALLY know you.

I had been kicking around the idea of a tattoo since the end of 2009. Before I went on vacation, I got cherry blossoms on my left lower arm to signify how life is short and beautiful, and only lasts a moment, and underneath I had Beautiful Lie in Kanji, because that album, and that song, kept me going through so much.

The Vegas show was great, so great that when I got home from vacation, I bought tickets to go to Orlando to see them at the House of Blues. This year I have taken three people who were not familiar with 30 Seconds to Mars to concerts, and they have left there blown away, and die hard fans. I met the guys before the show in Orlando, and they are awesome. I took my booklet from my A Beautiful Lie cd with me to get them to sign it.

A few years ago I was so ill, and not able to do half the things I've done this year. Day after tomorrow, I go in the hospital for another surgery...a big one this time. Part of the reason I lived it up so much in April was because I knew this day was coming. But it's ok, Jared, Tomo, and Shannon will be in the hospital with me, on my iPod shuffle, that is only loaded with 30 Seconds to Mars. Their music calms me when nothing else can. The rhythms, the lyrics, everything feels like home.

Thank you, 30 Seconds to Mars...you've helped me in ways that I only touched on the surface here. You are part of my soul, part of my life. And thank you SO MUCH for making This is War so much about the fans. Though my heart beats mechanically, it beats stronger because of you. (and a special thanks to Jared...you inspire me to be a better Capricorn.)

"I believe in nothing, but the beating of our hearts." ~Jared Leto

Me too, birthday buddy, me too.

i believe in nothing, but the truth and who we are.

2010-05-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

There's a lot to be said for the value of a family, but there are not enough words for the value of the Echelon. We are more than a community; we are the friendliest cult out there. We are more than a family; we are each other's spirits. We bring each other hope, while gently relaying tragedy. We bleed together. We also prosper together. When one is down, there are a thousand virtual hugs being squeezed into their being; whether we know each other or not, the Echelon is always there. The band is our light, our sun, the thing we orbit around and live our lives for. We hold more value to each other than we will ever realize. My recent experiences with the person manning this project showed that to me.

I found 30 Seconds to Mars when I was only 10; still awfully young, new to the world despite being alive a decade. They caught my attention with the music video for "From Yesterday". To me, it was art. An interesting plunge into the world of music that didn't lurk on the radio, played time and time again. During the summer, I snuck A Beautiful Lie from the library, unsure how my mother would react to the thought of her daughter listening to...heavier music. I felt so rebellious; I laugh at that now, and it brings me a sliver of joy. I wasn't as in to music as I am now, so the CD merely impressed me and didn't stick with me. It was on my iPod as good thinking music, inspiration for the poetry I was writing. Time passed, and I grew up. Music became an obsession, and I discovered how amazing 30 Seconds to Mars was, and still is. Each of their songs became my favorite (though I will say, it's "Capricorn" that has held me rapt these days) while I plunged into the world they created. Each glyph, each "goodbye" screamed to the plucking of guitar strings was magic, and the joy this band was brought me is incredible.

30 Seconds to Mars helped me survive my depression, which is something I can never pay them back for. Months ago, during the summer going into my eighth grade year, I fell into a state of sadness that I kept to myself for quite some time; nothing spurred it, yet is was consuming and maddening. Each day it threatened to eat me alive, gnawing on the beings of my sanity. Even my family couldn't, help, so I resorted to falling back into my shell. By that time, MARS was my favorite band, much loved and admired. Music was now an obsession, rather than an interest. This marked a major shift in my life, the turning point of maturity. When they say, "depression hurts", they're not lying. It bites harder than any wolf and cuts deeper than any blade. I never felt compelled to end my life or injure myself, being terrified of gore and slightly hesitant toward pain, but the suffering I went through still chills me to this day. Simply listening to their music was a step away from the real, harsh world. "Attack" told me to forget those who had hurt me, while "A Beautiful Lie" displayed to me that everyone suffers at some point. "The Kill" taught me how to face myself. In a twisted way, "The Fantasy" was telling me to remain hopeful, that there was always that best case scenario. "Do you live...do you die...do you bleed...for the fantasy?" Yeah, I would do anything to get back to normal, my fantasy. Anything. As we prepped for This Is War, I saw that scenario coming to life-being so hopeful for something so mundane that it hurt.

My countdown started at 100 days, and so did my healing process. Some faith ignited within me, because I knew this album would not falter. Sure, the release date changed a million times, but it was still looming around the corner. Around days 95 through 80, I was at my lowest points. The epitome of sorrow. These were the days where instead of sobbing, I'd sit in stony silence. "Are you okay?" A blink, a nod. Nothing more. Rarely talking even in class. Eventually, I broke out of that. Can't remember why. The lyrics from "Kings and Queens" kept vibrating through my head, and I vowed not to let myself become the victim of myself. I was the queen of promise. I saw the Mithra seal, and I was the phoenix, being born again.

On low days, I'd sit inside my raincloud, listen to music. Listen to interviews where I was constantly being told by Jared, Shannon, and Tomo that I was loved. It's surprising how much that meant; I had never met them, and the chances of me ever doing so were not great. Yet I felt a strange kinship with them, like they would patch me up if I was bleeding. I felt the same with the Echelon; my family, a Primordial soup filled with eccentric and lovable people. No one has any idea how much an "I love you" from a stranger means until you've heard one. Incomparable.

So, basically, in the end I fixed myself. And the music of 30 Seconds to Mars was the main cause for that. It taught me hope and faith. It also let me know, through screaming lyrics, that I was not alone in my problems. A seething voice, a singing guitar, thrashing drums layered upon heavenly synthesizer doesn't really seem like a good medication for depression. But trust me, MARS is the best drug out there. You're never alone, and their music, however angry, however soaring and epic, is a comforting hand placed on the shoulder.

Shannon, Tomo, Jared-Thank you for making this music. Thank you for supporting me, though chances are you'll never know what you did. You guys are good people, regardless of what anyone says. Your talent can never be exceeded, and the way you treat us, your fans, is something every musician, every celebrity, every minor coffee house poet should respect.

Echelon, you guys mean so much to me. My family, built off of familiar strangers. I'm here for you, always will be. Each of you are kind, brilliant people, and we can all learn so much from each other. I love you, and you guys have my blessing for the rest of your lives.

I'm falling back into that state now, but I'm not so afraid. I have faith in myself and my world, and I know that that is the very thing that will pull me out of the abyss.

This Is Who I Really Am!

2010-05-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

This Is Who I Really Am Inside, The lyrics from "The Kill" let me find who I really was.
I was searching for myself, even though im a christian, finding yourself still takes a whole lot out of you, doesnt matter what faith, race or creed In the end I found who I really was and this song helped me and encouraged me and is sort of a song that related to me at the time.

Here is My Mars Story:

It was near the end of 2006 and I was transitioning into the EMO scene when I saw this band performing in China, I thought to myself "This is a music video?!", I kept watching and really got into them, the melody, chords, the drums driving. I fell in love instantly, the only thing was I forgot their name.

I then kept sitting in front of the TV hoping to watch the music video again, it was like an addiction, I finally knew the name of the band and decided to buy the album (A Beautiful Lie) listning to it for the first time I knew this band was going to be the "IT" factor for me and from then on I was hooked.

Early 2007 I decided to join the Echelon, being christian I was reluctant at first since I was fearing of the "Cult" label, but I joined and it opened my mind and at first I was new and like a baby to the "Official Boards" but most of you welcomed with opened arms and the one that stands out is the forumer known as JETO even though were in different places we grew a friendship and he helped me out with everything.

Mid 2007 came the Music Awards in Australia and being able to see them there and watch the NZ Vodafone Select Live interview them was great, even though our guy was late and kinda left a bad vibe with the Mars guys, it was awsome.

Over these years my Mars library has grown alot, Cd's, Posters, and Magazines, My Mars Satchel (bag) and soon to be aquired, This Is War Photobook, Dogtags, Echelon T-Shirt, Echelon Wristband (red), and an Arrow Patch.

To 30 SECONDS TO MARS: Thank You for your music, your fan interaction, the inspiring lyrics you touch people all over the world, I Pray that you keep doing this till the end of time. I also welcome you to our country on behalf of all New Zealand Echelon and hope you have a great time in New Zealand. Explore, photo, video, and learn all there is to learn about our place, since we know how much you guys like culture and this will all be a new experience for you guys. I think Provehito In Altum sums this up very well.

To the Echelon: We are the Keepers of the Gate, The Kings and Queens of Promise, the army that fights and believes in this band called 30 Seconds To Mars. Thank you all for the experience and oportunity to be apart of this army, fan base, but to me we are Family! THANK YOU!

To The NZ Echelon: Thank you all for an awsome experience that is past, and is yet to come. You are all like family to me, and let's have one awsome time in AUGUST!

Thank You all for this experience, and blog to share and inspire those reading.

PROVEHITO IN ALTUM!

Aaron Livingston
Porirua, New Zealand

(Twitter: Aaron_EcheloNZ)

(Forum Name: The Valiant)

Don't Be Afraid

2010-05-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

Jared, Shannon, and Tomo,

I know you have heard this from thousands of people since you guys began this incredible journey as 30 Seconds to Mars more than 10 years ago, but I can’t help repeating the sentiments of others when I say that your music has changed my life.

I went to a show of yours over four years ago not knowing what to expect. It was March 26, 2006 at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo, NY and my sister was dying to go. She talked me into going with her, even though I had never heard of 30 Seconds to Mars before. It was my first concert, and I was nothing short of completely blown away. It didn’t matter that I had never heard the music before. It didn’t matter that we were stuck in the back. I came home with my head spinning, an autographed CD, and memories that will last a lifetime. From the moment you guys went onstage, I was instantly a part of the incredible, loving family that makes projects like this happen. One of the best decisions I have ever made was to say yes to my sister that March afternoon.

After that beautiful, magical night, I knew that I had found something important. Something had changed during that show. Music had always been important to me - I had played different instruments for as long as I could remember and music was regularly discussed in our family - but after your show, music was everything. For years I had had my heart set on becoming an architect, but I suddenly couldn’t see myself spending the rest of my life behind a desk drawing buildings. It wasn’t enough. It was then that I chose the path that led me to study Music Industry at Syracuse University. I realized that I may not be cut out to be a performer myself, but I need to be involved in the industry in some form or another to be happy.

About seven months after that night at the Town Ballroom, a childhood friend of mine passed away at the age of nineteen. His life had been one of many difficulties that he seemingly did not know how to overcome, and he had turned to drugs at a young age. We had grown apart a couple of years prior to his death, but when I heard of his overdose, I was stunned and heartbroken. We had different groups of friends at the time of his death, and I found myself unable to talk to my friends about it. They didn’t grow up with him, they had no memories with him, they were not affected by his passing. They couldn’t understand my pain, so I turned to the one thing that I knew could help: your music. I listened to A Beautiful Lie, especially “A Modern Myth” and its chorus of goodbyes, on repeat for months as it was the only thing that made the pain lessen and my anger, fear, and sorrow be released. Unfortunately, I have had a few more friends die before they reached the age of 20 since then, and I have consistently turned to your music as therapy.

As cliche as it sounds, that experience truly made me realize the fragility of life. I came to absolutely despise the idea of doing anything except what made me happy, because who knew when it could all be over? As much as I enjoy architecture as a hobby, music is my greatest passion, and it needs to be the focus of the environment in which I work. Upon reflection, I came to the conclusion that I want to help people experience something similar to what I did at your show in 2006. I want to be one of the people responsible for bringing music to the public because I know the power it holds and the ways in which it can change lives for the better. I truly believe that I have no one to thank but you guys - Jared, Shannon, and Tomo - for where I am in my life right now and where I see myself going in the future.

If you’ll allow me one request, it would be that you guys keep doing what you’re doing. You have changed the lives of countless individuals, and you will continue to do the same for others, I know it. Your music is forever a part of who I am, and I am more grateful than I can even express for your creativity, passion, and dedication. I have found who I am and my place in the Echelon family, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Love love love,

Laura Dumitru

Buffalo, NY, USA

L490 for better times

2010-05-19T04:37:00.000-07:00

At first i wanna say thank you for this amazing project . Because it´s our project and we are doing it together . And that makes me happy . it really does. I mean , I don´t know anybody of you but I love you all ! When I wake up in the morning , I know that i´m not alone in this big world because there are some great people , who understand everything what i´m talking about (now ) . And we have all one big love : 30 seconds to mars .

Yesterday , I woke up. Looked on new tweets in twitter.
And screamed. jumped. I was freaking out.
I think you know what I mean : Tomo & Vicki are engaged .
My friend looked at me and asked What?

“What ? “I hear this question so often in my life.
And that´s why I write this blog now .

I can´t imagine what I would do without Jared , Shannon , Tomo and their music . I listen to their music all the time , before school , after school , before I go sleep , when I do my homework …every time .
I´m a fan since 3 or 4 years now . But time isn´t important for me . I don´t know what you think about it … The first song I heared was “ A Beautiful Lie “. I visited my friend Noura and we watched “ Alexander “ on Tv . I googled the movie & I read about Jared Leto . I saw that he is the singer of a band and so I listened to them on youtube. After that I was like , omg what a great song ! My friend thought “ what ? “ . She didn´t understand it . But I couldn´t stop to listen their music . “from yesterday” , “the kill “ …. I was so happy to found a music like this.
But than I noticed that I haven’t heared them on the radio or on tv. I was a little bit sad about that .
I thought : I have a favorite band and can only listen to them on youtube ( all the albums where sold out) .
But the 2009 , the amazing moment . Kings and Queens came on the radio. I was freaking out . I jumped & was so happy . A few weeks later I talked to my sister :” hey , in October it´s my birthday . I only have one wish . Please go with me to the 30 Seconds to mars concert in munich “ she said “ maybe . We´ll see. “ . The concert was in march .December … no tickets . January .. no tickets . February .. again .. no tickets. I was really sad .But one day my sister was on the phone. She said “ Pia , i´m so sorry . the tickets were all sold out….no , i´m just joking . You´ll see them “ “ what ??? really ? Omg that’s amazing .” It was the best birthday gift .
I was so happy …. But now i´m sad again because I wanna go to the concert in summer . and you know what ? I have school & it´s a long way to this citys . Tzzz.
Another day wich had made me happy : the day , I bought the This is war Cd . I was in 3 different cities . Sold out . Sold out. Sold out. But I never gave up. And now I have the best Cd on the world .

Now I ´ll write about the music & how the music helps me .
I have a broken family. I cry really often . Every day problems & something like that .
But theres one thing what helps me to forget it. Music . Their music .
When I cry and sit on my window , I listen to L490.No lyrics , only a beautiful melody . i can forget all .
It makes me feel better . The next song is 100suns . I belive in nothing , but the truth and who we are .
Next song Hurricane . Yes I would kill to save a life. And then the moment when I think “ so what , i´ll be better . And if not …you have a second family . a great family . And they´ll understand you.” ( I mean you , echelon )

Sometimes when I talk about 30STM with other people who don´t like them , I only look in their eyes and say : Do you have a second family ? Does your favorite band help other people ? Does your favorite band change lifes ? Do you think about the other fans although you don´t know them ? Do you know this Feeling : To be together although you don´t know anyone of them and know who they really are ?Could you trust people you don´t know ? Well I can trust them .
Because I trust my family.And I don´t know anyone of them.
But I don´t care . Maybe you don´t like them . But I love them.

There are 3 things In my life which mean all to me .
My best friend Nelli , the echelon & 30 seconds to mars .
Thank you for being there . Thank you for let me feel not alone . I know that I dream a lot , but 30 Seconds to mars makes these dreams a little bit realistic.

Thank you Jared, Shannon & Tomo for making me happy When I feel sad. Thank you for giving me a seconds family . Thank you for making music. Thank you for all these funny interviews.Thank you for the great shows. Thank you for giving me L490.

I´m proud to be an Echelon & a part of this family .
I can be crazy without any shame. I can tell you all I want .
& you can tell me what you want. I´ll be there :)
For me it´s important to know that , although you are all over the world , we are one big family .

So , you are the first persons who read this now . I never talked about this before .
If you would see me now … u can see some tears.

There are so much more things I wanna say , but I don´t know how . Maybe on day I can tell you .

By Pia
Aalen , Germany
Twitter: Pia94L

Thank you : @ZuzannaBucko
@EmeraldMoon21 , @marslover32 @IsiLoveMars
…

FINALLY... TIME TO GO TO WAR!!! ₪ ø lll ·o.

2010-05-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

"Has been a little over a year that my life went through a big turn. I’m facing the challenge of living all by myself, in an unexpected moment.
I wasn't prepared for that, I didn't even decided what I wanted for life or what goals to fight for. Everything was becoming increasingly difficult, it was like a snowball, the unsolved problems were accumulating. In fact, they had been building for 10 years, but this last year was so hard that I have even developed psychosomatic illnesses. As an only child, used to rely on parents for everything, I was forced to grow, it was a need, but this way was harder and painful.

I even got into therapy, but what helped me most was music. I always expressed myself through it more easily and got to understand things around me, too.
The fact is that I always loved 30STM music, but it never spoke to my heart so strong as now, with "This is war" album. It helped me to see the answers exactly when I most needed it.
The crucial moment, when a light came on before my eyes, was when I first heard the songs "This is war" and "Vox Populi". I couldn't hold back the tears, first because of the thrill of hearing the active participation of Echelon in the recording (it was like I was there), joining us to the band once and for all as part of this experience and as family. Second, listen to those strong lyrics being sung with the peerless energy of our brothers from around the world, made them to invade me with all sense, as something alive.
I went to College, I work, I date and hang out with my friends, I thought I could get everything I wanted here in Brazil, but I always felt kinda empty and never found out why.
So, at that magic moment, I figured out that my soul is so infinitely bigger than this little space, I wanted to earn the world and know it all, but never had the courage! Plus, I always felt this need to help others but never found the real motivation.
I just don't know how this idea came out from my mind, but I did what I hope will change my future, my life and my soul to a dream came true!
I signed up on United Nations Volunteers and my head is taken by great plans, like never before!
And all this inspired and enlightened by this magic songs and this wonderful experience of being a 30STM Echelon. I feel the strenght, the courage and the freshness of an ex-convict, ready to start over and give a new direction to my story!
So, I just wanna say THANK YOU 30 SECONDS TO MARS, for changing my life in a so amazing way!
I love you and I'm proud of being ECHELON!

Lou_from_Mars

Echelon_Brazil

I Will Never Forget, I Will Live My Life

2010-05-16T17:32:00.000-07:00

I first became a fan of 30 Seconds to Mars when I saw the "A Beautiful Lie" video. I couldn't believe that a song could describe me so perfectly, and that I could relate to every single word. Just that song alone has helped me so much.

When I was 16, I was abused by a member of my family. I tried to pretend that this never happened, and I tried to forget about it, because I didn't know what other ways to deal with it. I was really depressed and felt completely alone at the time. Then I saw the video for "A Beautiful Lie" on youtube one day, and I bought the cd soon after that. I could relate to every single song, and the lyrics described everything I was feeling. I listened to the songs over and over, and that really helped me feel better about things. It didn't change what had happened, but it got me through a lot of it, and motivated me to keep going and to keep fighting.

Because of 30 Seconds to Mars, my life has changed so much. They have inspired me to keep fighting even when it seems impossible, and my life is a thousand times better.

I'm really proud and grateful to be part of the Echelon for being such a great and awesome family. I can't see myself ever not being part of the Echelon, I don't know what I would do, and I think you're the only ones who can understand what it means to be a fan of 30 Seconds to Mars and part of the Echelon.

Kathryn (k_obecny)

New Hampshire

R-Evolve

2010-05-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

Well, sharing my feelings about 30 Seconds to Mars is yet another way of expressing my love for their music.

The first time I heard about them was when The Kill was released as a music video. I remember watching it for the first time while chatting with my best friend online. We were both watching MTV. I still remember the thoughts that crossed our minds in that moment. Nice music. Cool video. Hot singer.

Then it came From Yesterday. I got the album A Beatiful Lie. By that time we were completely obssessed and deeply, deeply addicted to 30 Seconds to Mars.

However, the best moment of all was yet to come. In February of 2008, the opportunity to watch them live arose. It took me ages to convince my mother to just let me go to the concert. When I finally managed, the venue was sold out. Talk about disapointment. But proving to be the best guys in the world, a second concert was added to the tour, in May, this time in a bigger venue. The day I heard that I went completely out of myself.

So, in the 3rd of May, 2008, we headed to what would be the best day of our lives. We were already thinking it was being amazing when all of a sudden, a security guard sat next to us. Then when we realised why we nearly fainted. Jared was going to sing. In the middle of the crowd. Next to us. A metre or two away from us. That day I experienced a feeling of happyness that I sincerely probably have never reached again. No concert ever has surpassed this one.

Then, it came a less enthusiasthic period. I'm not saying that I forgot about them, but I simply was no longer into them in the same way. Somehow, other bands had took their place in the first position.

This lasted until last year when I went through a less than happy phase of my life. Things were pretty bad back then. The song R-Evolve was like an anchor in those moments. Sometimes I would spend the entire afternoon just listening over and over again to the very same song telling to myself that a revolution would be to come in my life followed by an evolution, just like those hopeful lyrics. I clinged to them as if they were a life vest.

It all ended up well and by the summer of 2009, things were again like before, happy moments shared which soundtrack was pretty much again 30 Seconds to Mars. By this time I also found out twitter. Guess how happy I was when I realised that a certain leadsinger also used it...

It was exactly through twitter that I realised they had a new song and a new album. When I heard Kings and Queens for the first time it was one of those cases when in the beginning you kinda like the song, by the first chorus you love it and by the second one you are singing along.

When I thought that I couldn't love an album more than I did with A Beatiful Lie, I was totally wrong. This is War is completely above all my expectations and believe me, they were already pretty high.

There are many albums that I can say I love many songs. But among those, few are the ones that I love and know by heart each lyric, that I link each melody to great moments and that are such a good example of good music as This Is War.

Apart from their music, what I really think is unique and fascinating about 30 Seconds to Mars are all the symbols and meanings that revolve around them as well as the Echelon. I must say I have never seen such an united and huge family of fans. Never. The Echelon is unique in its dimension, support and passion for the band.

I am really grateful to the Echelon for just existing and to the guys in the band for putting their hearts in every tiny piece of music they make.
Because you make an important part of my life. Believe me.
Thank You!

Edge Of My Heart

2010-05-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

Well, the first time i heard about the band, it was on 2005 on the Internet. With the single “Attack”. I can’t say that it was the love at the first sight. Honestly, it didn’t really catch me. BUT when The Kill was released, the Story began! I just discovered an amazing band. Jeez it was really powerful, and that’s something for me because most of the time i’m a difficult girl, that’s no really easy to catch AND keep my attention. But they did. Since this time, i just couldn’t stop thinking of them. This band means a lot in my life. I can say that they took a big part on my life. They were there when i was in trouble, with my family, and even more with friends.

Actually, it’s quite personal but i’ve a friend, who died last year. She hang herself. And i’ve seen her something like 2 days ago, smiling and full of happiness. But i was in a hurry and i didn’t talk to her. What’s the link with 30 Seconds To Mars? In fact they really helped me to surmount my pain. Because i felt really guilty, even if it wasn’t my fault. And now thanks to them, i’ve a song to describe her. A Modern Myth. It helped me to bring closure to her grief in a certain way. The “Goodbyes” that Jared sings louder and louder are just for me a way to express my pain, and to free myself. At the beginning i was always skipping this song when i was listening to ABL. Weird i know. But now that’s ok.

But in a more optimistic part, and i think that i’m not the only one to feel that, they allowed me to take part of one of the most wonderful family. I don’t need to named it, you already know it. The ECHELON of course. Thanks to them, to their music, to their investissement about us, i’ve friends all around the world! In Italy, Poland, Chile, Croatia, UK, USA, Brasil, South Africa, NZ, Australia, etc! We understand each other, and that’s what make the echelon one of the most amazing family in the word. Really. Sometimes i feel like they know me better than my friends, because we share the same passion and the same love for 30 Seconds To Mars.

And all these amazings experiences are possible thanks to the guys, Jared Shannon & Tomo. Honestly, i’ve NEVER seen a band who pays so much attention to their fans. I had the chance to see them for the first time in Paris on march 5^th. 11 hours of waiting outside with a freezing wind, 1 month of illness, but if i had to do it again i’ll do it. And again and again and again haha. The best day of my (short) life. And i hope that i’ll have new marsian pieces of my life to share thanks to them :)

Anna (France)

Nothing Is Over

2010-05-16T11:37:00.000-07:00

I'm not exactly sure how to begin this post. There is so much I could say, yet so little I can put into words.

It all began in 2007, when the video for The Kill appeared on my TV screen. At that point, and every time a 30 Seconds To Mars video popped up from then onward, everything around me was cut off and the TV had me hypnotised. This band already meant more to me than any other band before, and I made it my mission to become a part of their world, a world which seemed so perfect. I was 13, and it already felt like my life had purpose. I got to know the band as best as I could, I just couldn't shake the incredible feeling they had given me, I just had to know everything. They became the reason for my existence.

I introduced my best friend to 30 Seconds To Mars and together we became fanatics. We would go to each others houses and sit watching interviews on YouTube to the point where we could quote every word, or put on the making-of DVD that came with our A Beautiful Lie albums and laugh when Bartholomew Cubbins "didn't show up", acting like we were the only ones in the world that were in on the secret. We would text each other whenever anything, no matter how small, reminded us of 30 Seconds To Mars, everything from snow to a car horn. The band became more than just a band for both of us, it was a lifestyle.
But her life was troubled, and over time she became unstable. She gave me hints at what she was planning to do, and despite my efforts to talk her out of it her mind was dead set. One morning I turned on my phone to find a text sent from the previous night, saying she was headed to the bridge at the edge of town, and goodbye. Within seconds I was on the phone to her, and it was only when her voice croaked at the other end of the line that my heart started beating again. She told me that she had walked to the police station instead and begged for them to take her in, but they refused and took her home. Ultimately, it was a final listen to Buddha For Mary that saved her, and the sweet memories that it held. For weeks I was afraid of falling asleep again, in case she changed her mind, but she never did. To this day I am eternally grateful for that song, and every song by 30 Seconds To Mars, for keeping her, and as a result me, on this earth.

Even then, some half a year later, something slipped. I became extremely shy and introverted while my friends changed around me. I would refuse to talk, mostly because those I was with weren't used to talking back. As much as I hated it, I drifted further and further apart from the rest of the world as I shrunk into myself. Eventually, someone I thought was my friend claimed I had been badmouthing those I cared about the most, and even my best friend chose to believe her. I lost everyone, I became completely alone. For another month people would only talk to me to shout abuse, and I could do nothing but lie alone and feel... void.
It was only after a chance hearing of Praying For A Riot that I emerged from the hollow bubble I surrounded myself in. The sheer beauty of the music in my ears and the tragic truth behind the lyrics was enough to rekindle the love that had been lost for so long, and even though my life was broken, I tried to believe nothing was over.

As much as it feels weird talking about these personal experiences, in fact every time I listen to 30 Seconds To Mars it becomes a personal experience. The music in itself is so beautiful, so enlightening, so powerful... Many times I have been hypnotised and experienced what I can only describe as hallucinations while listening to them late at night.
Aside from that though, there is something deeper. It is as if this band holds a vital part of me, as if without them I would stop breathing. As much as it seems like a cliché to say that this band, 30 Seconds To Mars, means the world, there is no other way I could express the love I feel for them.

Since the start of the year it has become... a ritual, I guess, to listen to 30 Seconds To Mars at the end of every day, and at least then, for about half an hour, I can believe that the world is perfect, because for half an hour I am on Mars.

Jenni (DontSaveMee)
Scotland

Tell me would you kill to save for a life?

2010-05-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

My name is Susie (Zuzanna) and I’m from Poland. I’ve got so much to say (or rather write) that I have no idea how to start. I’m sure that after posting my blog I’m going to say: Why didn’t you write it. Stupid MOFO!!!! Anyway, I hope I’ll share everything what is important for me. So now I’m going to start from the very beginning!

It was something about 5 years ago. I was sitting on the coach watching something like Polish MTV and suddenly I saw IT. I was totally shocked. My heart was broken. I watched “From Yesterday” video. I would never thought that this moment will change so much in my life! Then, I showed it to my dad and he liked our great 30 Seconds To Mars too (by the way I always say our 30 Seconds To Mars and feel so fucking awesome with that). I started listening to Their music. It was like lifeline for me and still is but every day stronger! But these times are somewhere far away. With GUYS I learned not to look back. Only the future and present is important. So now I’m going to write about future. J

5 months ago I’ve found out that new album is going to be published. I was so happy when I heard new songs! They were all like magic! I just can’t describe feeling when I’m listening to them. I’m not getting bored at all. I can do it 24 hours per day and still want more and more. Anyway, what I wanted to say… first months of these year were terrible for me. I can’t describe how many tears I cried! I was so lonely with no real friends, no support and lots of problems with myself. And when I was getting back home thinking about GUYS I felt quite better. But only watching interviews, videos and listening to songs make me feel great! I start every day switching on my MP3 and the same ending it. It just gives me soo much positive power!

The most important and the best day in my whole life was 18/03/2010 in Prague. Awesome show and amazing experience. Here I have to mention my dad. He’s one of the best person in my life. I remember moment when I said: ‘Do you know that 30 Seconds To Mars are going to play in Prague?’ (we live in Poland and it was quite near). Honestly, I was just joking. Of course it was always my dream but I would never thought that he could say: ‘So why won’t we go there?’. But he DID. It was like a dream. Guys were simply awesome. I think it was only day in my life when I felt this way. Awareness that They were in the same place were gorgeous! I still can’t believe that I was there and that so much time went pass!!! I even have got a box with all things which remind me about this day!!! But there is still one thing which I can’t stop thinking about. I see photos of people together with our fantastic GUYS in Internet every day. It’s for me the biggest dream!!! I can’t imagine it but I don’t stop believing that it will happen sometime and somewhere!

And now after not so long period of time I’m totally different person! I’m part of Echelon family. Nobody will be able to understand it if he is not so deep into it! We’re just one huge community. Everybody is so nice and crazy. We can chat all night long and don’t feel passage of time. I met so many amazing people and I really want to mention them here! I want to thanks @CynthiaEchelon and @EmeraldMoon21 for being the most amazing older sisters in my life which I never had! Since I met them my life is much more colorful! I can share all happiness and sadness with them and they never let me down! @Pia94L with who I can chat all the time! And of course my lovely @SunnyFromVenus. Thanks to her I joined her mission and now every Friday we tweet our topic of the week! All #Echelon is together and tweets as hell! I can’t describe it. You have to see it to understand! These people are just so important for me now. I understood it during 5 day without Internet! I was going crazy without them!

And now I want to say something about GUYS! They’re amazing of course. They give us so much time and they don’t really have to. They could like other ‘stars’ don’t care about their fans. They support us and post so much photos. We can feel part of them! It’s awesome. Thanks to them I believed in my dreams. I always thought that I simply can’t reach some goals but it disappeared. Now I know that impossible is nothing. I’ve got power to do and believe! I get up every day thinking about it! They say it in interviews and really encourage me to feel like that! I can just say THANK YOU but it’ll never be enough! But thank you Jared, Tomo and Shannon.

And they are so hardworking! They really do it for us (Echelon)!!! We appreciate it and that’s why we try to show them support every fucking second of our life!!! On Twitter – the best place for Echelon!!!

I love you Jared, Tomo, Shannon and all my Echelon family. My life would be empty and with no sense without you!

Zuzanna Bućko

Jelenia Góra, Poland

bucko815@yahoo.com

It's Just A New Beginning

2010-05-15T12:25:00.000-07:00

I'm delving deep into my soul as I write this, because I've never expressed myself this thoroughly about my life relating to 30 Seconds To Mars. 30 Seconds To Mars has done something incredibly special for me, something that I never would have expected. No other band or artist has ever touched me and altered my life the way 30 Seconds To Mars has. Jared Leto, Tomo Milicevic, and Shannon Leto have indirectly saved my psychological state of mind, therefore saving my entire life.

THE VERY BEGINNING

It was 2006, I was 11 years old. When I first heard "From Yesterday", I was unknowing to the fact that this unknown band would ultimately save my life. I remember thinking how great of a song it was, and how I wanted to get the whole album. It might sound weird, but listening to 30 Seconds To Mars back then made me feel as if I had some extra strong power, as if the lyrics and the band were somehow connected to me and were a part of me. I'd never experienced any feeling remotely close to that, and since I was young and immature, I brushed it off as nothing.

Thinking back, a memory is popping up in my head of joking around with my best friend about the lyric "on his face is a map of the world". I now understand so much more meaning behind the song, and it will always have a deep place in my heart. I just can't help but wonder if that strong, questionable feeling I had was insight and a clue that this band would have such an impact on my life in later years.

THE BORING MIDDLE

I really did love 30 Seconds To Mars back then. But, those years of transitioning into a teenager made me try to find myself. I went back and forth with music preference and taste in genres. Regretfully, I left most of my love for this band behind. I still occasionally listened to them, but it was nothing like "the very beginning".

NO THIS IS NOT *THE END*, IT'S JUST A NEW BEGINNING

I am so thankful for the day of December 5, 2009.

I woke up at my best friend's house, with the TV still on from the night before. As we were talking, on came an advertisement/preview sort of thing for Kings And Queens. I remember the exact conversation.

her: "Oh wow, I haven't seen or heard 30 Seconds To Mars for a while"

me: "Yeah, I guess they have a new album! Wait.... did they change their name to "Thirty" Seconds To Mars, instead of "30" Seconds To Mars?"

(That makes me laugh now. I said that because on the screen it was written like that and I hadn't seen it spelled with all words before.)

That day as soon as I went home, I searched up the band that I used to love and have a strong connection with. I was curious to see what I had missed throughout the years. And boy, was I missing out.

DECEMBER '09 was full of re-entering myself into the world of 30 Seconds To Mars, getting to know so much about the band members, starting my obsession with Jared Leto, freaking out to my friends about my rekindled love, etc.

Now, here comes JANUARY '10, when this band helped me through the toughest time of my life.

My brother was admitted to a metal hospital because of severe depression and suicidal thoughts. He wanted to kill himself. It was a huge blow to my family. We loved each other so much... and never thought something like this could happen. He was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Just thinking back to going to a mental ward, and visiting my own brother, my older brother that I always counted on, and loved more than any one could ever imagine. It makes me cry. Just remembering him there, lifeless in a room with many other people. It breaks my heart.

I missed a lot of school, I shut myself away from my friends. The only thing I could turn to were my parents and music. But, my parents were suffering enough because they are incredible parents, and seeing their son go through this crushed their souls. So, I turned to music to save me. I was right to do so. Constant hours of doing nothing but listening to 30 Seconds To Mars, calmed my anxiety and fears. I had a deep connection to "Alibi", as many people probably do. the lyric, "I fell apart, but got back up again" was my psychological anthem. I did fall apart, and had to get back up again and fight for myself, my parents, and most of all my brother's well being.

From January to now, it's been a constant cycle of falling apart, and getting back up, and falling apart, and getting back up... so on and so on. It's a major struggle with anti-depression medications. A lot of things didn't work, and there were a lot of struggles with finding the right therapist for him. Even now, nothing has gotten better. Some days it seems like everything is going to be okay, then others it seems like the end of the world. I even had a huge psychological struggle trying not to go down the same path as my brother. I was spiraling down, and 30 Seconds To Mars pulled me back up.

Since I didn't want this to be a sob story, I want to get back to the way 30 Seconds To Mars has helped me, and now the Echelon has a huge impact in that. Every single song of theirs has touched me in one way or another.

Jared puts his heart and soul into the lyrics, and you can feel his passion in your bones.

Shannon, is an animal. Rightfully so, named SHANNIMAL. The way he plays the drums is so powerful and inspiring. Tomo is an all around great guy and talented guitar player.

I can honestly say I LOVE them.

When I met all three of them on April 18, 2010, it was the best day of my life. I went to the Toronto show with my mind set on going up on stage for Kings And Queens, meeting the band, touching Jared, getting a picture with Jared, etc. Absolutely EVERYTHING I had wanted, happened. I was second row, I got up on stage, I got a picture with me on stage with Jared behind me, I was the last to meet the band members after the show, I got a long hug from Jared. But, the best part of it all was that I got to have conversations with Shannon, Tomo, and Jared. I got to do what I had always wanted to do, thank them for everything (and also laugh with Tomo about how he's a crazy mother fucker, haha).

I owe my life to 30 Seconds To Mars and the Echelon. I will be forever grateful. I will always be a dedicated member of the Echelon. I don't know where I would be today, if 30 Seconds To Mars hadn't helped and saved me though my toughest times.

I, Madison Maria Vartanian, have "Finally found myself fighting for a chance, I know now, THIS IS WHO I REALLY AM" and this is who I will always be.

Madison Vartanian (@madisonECHELON)

-Innisfil, Ontario, Canada

the WAR is won

2010-05-15T12:03:00.000-07:00

I remember myself being 15 years old. I wasn't sure about what I like and what I want. I wasn't sure about anything.
I thought that I have to be just like everyone else, even though I knew I was looking for something different.
I was looking for a music that was different, I was looking how to express myself and I needed those people that could understand me.

Then, one day, I’ve heard of 30 SECONDS TO MARS, and they’ve changed everything.
30 seconds to mars is really the best band ever. They’re not just talented, amazing personalities, but they love their fans like no other band does. That’s why they gave us an amazing opportunity to be a part of their new record. No one had ever did anything like this before.
I’m not trying to be like someone else anymore. This band taught me how to be proud of who I am. I know that people might think bad things about me, but now I know how to ignore them. I don’t care what they say. Now I’m a better person.
I’ve met so many amazing people from all over the world and it’s even strange, because I love them so much, even though I’ve never seen them live.
When I feel sad or depressed I know I can always talk to someone from the Echelon, because that’s what Echelon does. They help each other. Echelon means a lot to me. It's much more than just a fan base. It’s my friends, my family. They’re people who love each other no matter what. It's a huge honor for me to be a part of it.

I’d like to thank Jared, Shannon and Tomo for EVERYTHING. For the support, for their creativity , for inspiration, for all these experiences, and for telling us to live our dreams…

Deimantė (@deimante_),
Lithuania

'Start Again..With A Brand New Name'

2010-05-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

My name's Rebecca. I'm 24, from Lancaster in the UK, and I'm a music fan. I've grown up listening to all kinds of artists, but never before have a band impacted me and my life in the way that 30 Seconds To Mars have. Their music and lyrics have gotten me through some of the hardest and most trying times of my life, and I've come out the other side a better person. This is my echelon story.

Music has always been a big part of my life; it made me smile and made me feel a bit better when things got rough. Until a few years ago I was a young woman being bullied for not being pretty or normal enough for people to like, and I had little self esteem and self belief. I used to dream that I'd one day find a band or a song that would change my life; I believed in it so badly, and yet, for the longest time, it didn't happen. That was until one day when a song came on the TV - and that song was 'Capricorn (A Brand New Name)' by 30 Seconds To Mars.

It didn't matter that the title was the same as my star-sign, although I couldn't help but smile at that; it was more what the song's lyrics expressed and empowered in me. The one stand out line for me has always been 'Start again, with a brand new name'. As a victim of bullying, it made me realise that despite how people spoke to, treated and judged me, I could do what I wanted, be who I wanted to be and be proud of those things.

I continued to listen to that song whenever things got to me; school, exams, arguements with friends - after listening to that song, everything seemed a little clearer in my mind and my outlook was a little brighter. Today, it is still one of the most played songs on my ipod - testatment to the impact it has had upon me, as it still does. My admiration for the band and their music has only grown stronger as they have gone onto achieve more and more of their dreams, ambitions and the success they've worked so hard for.

As a proud member of the echelon for some years now, in 2009 I joined twitter. There I could chat to and discuss things people on the other side of the world - and never before have I seen a community of people so dedicated not only to the band, their music and their messages but also to one another. Having found the echelon, and the online twitter community, I felt, for the first time in years, that I was where I was supposed to be. I will openly admit that to the many people I regularly chat to, I am closer to them than my true family; I do not wish to hide that fact, for my fellow echelon understand me, and for that I am grateful.

My first live 30STM experience was a night I will always remember. In November 2009 I gathered at Koko in London with a few hundred of my fellow echelon, made some great friends who I value dearly, and above all else, had an amazing time with people I share a common passion and acknowledgement with. I thank all those who were there for being part of the experience with me - like you, those memories I have will last a lifetime.

Since then I have gone onto see the band three more times, and every time they take those first steps on that stage, I feel more and more closely connected to them and what they and their songs mean to me, both as an individual, and as a proud echelon member.

If I could say one thing to Jared, Shannon and Tomo it would be this. Your music has impacted, influenced and helped so many people around the world, thank you for sharing it with us. Because of you, even those of us who felt like outcasts, now feel we belong. Thank you for your dedication to your art and to all of us. You should be very proud of who you are and what you've achieved - I know that I speak for many when I say that we are so very proud of you.

Rebecca (januaryjem)

I believe in nothing, but the truth in who we are...

2010-05-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog yesterday, I had absolutely no idea what to write. How do you put this feeling into words? I don't even think I can, but I will try to do you all justice, because 30 Seconds to Mars and the echelon have changed my life so much.

I never for one second thought I would ever meet people like the echelon. I'm an only child; I didn't grow up having very many playmates, and even in middle school I only had a few people I considered real friends. High school followed a similar pattern, which was that people made fun of me for liking the things I liked, looking the way I looked, acting the way I acted....some people pretty much had a problem with me being myself.

I am not ashamed of who I am. I am not afraid to say that I love something, and if given the chance I would shout it from a rooftop. That's always the kind of person I have been, and I wouldn't change myself for anything in the world.

30 Seconds to Mars is one of the things I love.

I love the music. I love the creativity. I love the fact that Jared, Shannon and Tomo have an amazing bond that shines through in interviews, concerts, and in their music. I could go on for pages and pages about what I love about each and every one of them, because that is just how deeply they have impacted my life. I will list one thing about each though.

I love Jared's work-ethic. I love how hard he works, and yet still has time for all of us. Directing, writing, singing, acting, editing, touring, interviewing...and yet he still has time to talk to us on twitter and post pictures, and tell us to follow our dreams. He is a man of many talents, and if he has taught me anything, it is that you are the one who can make your dreams come true. You are the one who has to make it happen, and you can do it!

Shannon...oh what can I say about Shanimal? There is so much. I can honestly say that I love his spirit. He plays drums with such a passion that I can feel it in every song. Also, in almost every interview I have seen him in, he laughs at least once. It's contagious. And hearing him laugh always puts a smile on my face. It's to the point now where every time I think of Shannon, I am reminded to smile and smile often.

And Tomo...he is just so special. It's so inspiring to know that he was a fan before joining 30 Seconds to Mars. That is something that I honestly didn't think was possible just because all odds seem against. That's life, though, and the most important thing that Tomo has taught me is that odds mean nothing when you have talent and the guts to take chances. (Congrats to Tomo and Vicki on their engagement. Hope you live long happy lives together!)

And the one thing the band has collectively done for me is introduced me to the most amazing family I have ever known: The Echelon

With the echelon, I can be myself. I can be crazy and goofy and loud and playful...and know I won't be judged for it like my friends do. I can love 30 Seconds to Mars as much as I want, because I know I am around people who love them just as much. For the past month, I have been talking to hundreds of echelon around the world. I have been making plans, and being crazy, and being myself with no one telling me how I should be acting. Because of the echelon, I have finally began to enjoy being in my early twenties.

So, to all echelon reading this: Thank you.

Thank you @LilLaurenLeto for our crazy "disfunctional marriage"! Thank you @ZuzannaBucko for being the most amazing little sister in the world! Thank you to @claudiaicara for our talks! Thank you to everyone of the amazing echelon I have had the pleasure of speaking to, and to those I haven't met yet! I wish I could name every single of you, but this would be severely long if I did! This is the best family in the world, because we make each other so strong. Thank you all!

Andrea
Maryland (US)
Twitter: EmeraldMoon21

Talk to me anytime! I love you all!

Meaning.

2010-05-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

Words can not even begin to express how much 30 Seconds to Mars has impacted my life. I have been a fan since the beginning and have enjoyed every second of it. I was 13 when their first album came out and most people were listening to pop music and here I am listening to this alternative/dark music. To me it was never dark, but passionate. Every single song seemed to help me in one way regardless of what my emotions were at the time. It was the first time music had really touched me. Jared puts his heart and soul into every single lyric he writes, and you can tell. He wants his music to touch you, to move you, to make you feel alive. Shannon and Tomo are full of the passion as well. Everytime they play you can see it on their faces that there is no where else they would rather be. There were so many nights when I was a teenager that I spent locked up in my room blasting 30 Seconds to Mars because they were the only thing that would ease my emotional pain or calm me down when I would have an episode. I battled severe depression as a teenager, and yes (as many times as people tend to say this) they did in fact save my life. I was lucky enough to see them in 2007 when they were on the Taste of Chaos tour with The Used. I was also lucky enough to be able to see them at the Roseland Ballroom in NYC on April 21 and at The Tabernacle in Atlanta April 29. Some of my best memories are from those concerts, and some of my best friends have been made because this band brought us together. Jared, Shannon & Tomo are amazing men with HUGE hearts. They love their fans and they appreciate them. They even consider their fans as one big extended family, The Echelon. This band saves more lives then they could imagine and for that I am grateful. Its hard not to respond to their music. So much passion is just pouring out of every single song. People spend their entire lives wanting to belong to something, and with 30 Seconds to Mars they can.

Laurel Elise
Asheville, North Carolina

Gift of MARS

2010-05-14T22:16:00.000-07:00

This 11th phase of the Untitled Echelon project invited me to explore what 30 Seconds to Mars means for me personally, what impact the band and their music has in my life and how it has changed me.

Honestly, I never actually spent time to stop and think about this matter before, EVER

I thought that I already know what 30 Seconds to Mars means to me, it is very simple actually, it is my favorite band. It should mean more than enough, right? I purchase all their albums, even have multiple copies. I spent the money to buy A Beautiful Line on iTunes Store because the iTunes refused to import the songs from the CD and I am too lazy to burn a copy and then import the songs. I use Night of the Hunter as my ringtone (to my coworkers protest), my alarm is Edge of the Earth (even my brother memorize the beat), I follow all the members of the band on Twitter, and retweet any news. Not bad for a fan, right?

Of course, in the world of MARS, there is the ECHELON. I consider myself an Echelon, I help promote, I introduce their songs to my friends, heck, I even managed to ‘convert’ my cousin to the ‘cult’, which is a pretty good achievement if I say so myself. In any way that I can, I try to contribute even just a little.

But to tell you the truth, I have to admit that I never had any experience where the band or their music has helped me through a rough patch in my life, pick me up when I was down, and motivate me when everything else fails. I can say I truly admire anyone that can say that they have been helped by the band or any of their songs, because I never consider myself be personally attached to any song.

I love their music; I consider all their songs to be deep, meaningful, filled with beautiful (and sometimes tragic) imagery waiting to be explored. Some are disturbing, some are peaceful, some are beautifully performed that it invites you to get in touch with your feelings, but I cannot associate a song that helps me through this bumpy journey even when my life depended on it.

So why am I here? Why did I decide to join this Phase? Because lately I realized that 30 Seconds to Mars DID give me a very precious gift that I never took time to appreciate until a few weeks ago.

Without 30 Seconds to Mars, I would have never had the wonderful opportunity to get to know my ‘crazy, beautiful, dysfunctional family’, my brothers and sisters literally ALL OVER THE WORLD. I have to admit, if it was not for 30 Seconds to Mars and Echelon, I wouldn’t even think about befriending some of the people now regularly messaging me. I wouldn’t even consider sharing a sliver of myself with them if it was not for the entity that has called themselves 30 Seconds to Mars.

I guess 30 Seconds to Mars really did touch and change my life, even if it is not visible at first.

It would be unfair of me if I measure the impact they have in my life based on my ability to memorize their names, faces and the lyrics to their songs. Because that is not what being an Echelon means, for me being an Echelon actually means more than promoting and doing the 12 steps, or trending something on Twitter that has something to do with the band.

For me, Echelon means widening my horizons, spreading my wings, taking chances, even so much as sharing my life with people I never met in person.

So I guess I owe 30 Seconds to Mars a thank you. Not only for sharing their talent, music, words, feelings, and time, but also for the chance to experience MARS.

For all my brothers and sisters out there, this is dedicated for you. Because without each and every one of you, this experience will be incomplete, THANK YOU.

MIRANTI ( -M- )
JAKARTA, INDONESIA

Surrender To Nothing

2010-05-14T13:15:00.000-07:00

My name is Emma. I live in Scotland. Out of the 17 years of being on this planet I've been listening to Mars for 4, yet this band is my entire life. I've never put how I've felt in writing before, so here I go. This isn't everything I want to say, but it's a start.
I saw a few seconds of the video for From Yesterday in 2006-ish (I think) and loved it on sight. It was late 2007 when I saw The Kill on TV, and to be honest didn't like it at first. But then it grew on me and I realised it was the same band whose video I had fallen in love with a year before! I was in. I couldn't believe my luck when it was announced the band would play a one-off show in Edinburgh before Give It a Name '08. I remember squealing in a packed school corridor when I got the text to say the tickets had been bought. It was the most amazing gig of my life. Every single moment was pure magical. I was so depressed after seeing Metallica because they weren't better than Mars. And I love Metallica.
I never knew that one word could mean so much to me: Echelon. I can't put what it means to be Echelon into words, I'm not sure the right words exist, but it's my everything. I have met some amazing people because of Mars and I'm always smiling when I talk to them. I'm so honoured to be friends with such amazing folks. In my experience, with all the Echelon I've spoken to for the first time it's like we've known each other for ages. Weird.
In terms of my own experiences, I doubt I would have made it if it wasn't for Mars. For (extremely difficult) exam revision I always had s/t playing in the background and I had the motivation of another Mars concert to keep me going when I felt worn down, especially when my parents separated. Mars brought me out of my shell. I used to be so shy, but now I want to fight. This Is War represents a lot to me because I'm not a pawn, I'm a friggin' soldier.
This year, it came full circle. I was finally going to see Mars again. Another night I will remember forever. The proudest moment of my life was when the curtain came down and thousands of people screamed THIS IS WAR, and I was front row at a show for my favourite band.
Mars is something that is present in every aspect of my life. And I love it.
So this summer, I'm journeying to the homeland of Mars, California, and I'm going to get my first tattoo and it's going to be a Mars one. My small way of paying back what they have given me.
All of the things I've spoken about were summed up that night in February and Attack was played. I suddenly realised just how meaningful the lyrics were and it damn near broke my heart. I was screaming the words out with tears running down my face. I'm crying and shivering again as I write this because it was the most perfect moment of my life.
I've never been lucky enough to meet the guys, but someday I hope I'll be able to say thank you for everything. Here's to many great Mars moments in the past and many in the future.
When things get tough remember that if the door is locked then you can create your own door, and surrender to nothing.

Alibi

2010-05-14T03:54:00.001-07:00

Music to me is my haven. It's something that can help me escape! I'm a listener and a thinker, so words are very important for me. What does the artist talk about and can I in any way relate to it...
For the past couple of years I feel music has lost it's magic to me. The words all sound the same, the drums don't feel like the song's heartbeat anymore and all other instruments and sounds just fill up the space in between. It's just put together and not well thought of! Artists I used to look up to and enjoy, now let me down! Not even to mention the music-videos...
Then last year 30 SECONDS TO MARS shows up with THIS IS WAR and I am surprised to say the least! The music video for KINGS AND QUEENS is simply amazing! I looked up some old videos and came across THE KILL, FROM YESTERDAY and A BEAUTIFUL LIE... How could I have ever missed that?! The words are dark, synister, true, beautiful and well thought off. And most importantly it's all original, nothing you've ever heard before! The drums feel like a heartbeat again, something else, something magical! And the guitar tops it of perfectly in stead of just filling up the song. So many other elements just make it perfect. You can make out of it what you want, yet the message seems really clear to me and I can relate to so many words!!! The music-videos are inspiring and enjoyable, like watching a really good movie you can't keep your eyes off. I discover someting new in their videos everytime I watch them! And because I'm an Echelon, I in some way, always feel like I'm a part of it! Thank God there are still a few people out there who do their own thing no matter what, and end up with something as creative, emotional, magical, original and strong as THIS IS WAR! Never in my life have I enjoyed an entire album from beginning to end the way I do with THIS IS WAR. Never have I been touched by all possible emotions when listening to ALIBI and never have I wanted to jump up and down more than I did when I first heard NIGHT OF THE HUNTER... I could go on for ever and ever but the most important thing I wanted to say was that I think 30 SECONDS TO MARS is the most original, exciting and creative band I have ever heard or seen! They make me believe in music again and make me feel it! I understand it better now aswell, because of the interaction the band has with the world, it makes us all feel a part of it! A part of music! An Echelon!

I Fell Apart...

2010-05-13T23:16:00.000-07:00

I wanted to wait a little, and see what kind of stories would pop up here. I have to say, I was not disappointed. In fact, I'm rather proud of the courage everyone has. With a project as big as this, there will be tales from all corners of the human mind, from what I can see here. There's nothing I can think of that's more... anything. Just more.

Now, my own story could be as long as I am old, if I'm not careful, so I'll try to keep it short. My life, like many others', is the worst that I've ever lived. My father was paralyzed when I was very young (and is increasingly violent and terrifyingly strong despite it), I spent a good chunk of my life dealing with my mother's had issues with painkillers and tranquilizers, I've been betrayed and sexually abused by a family member I thought to be an older brother when I was 14, and I was mostly raised by my sister who is 7 years my senior (among other amounts of... pressure). I do feel the need to stress that as continuously bad as my life has been, there have been wonderful things that often help me past the bad. My family is close and loving, and my sister and I have a bond I hadn't seen matched until I saw Jared and Shannon, honestly.

I don't know how many times I've broken down, or went to laugh at a joke my friends made, and found myself sobbing instead. Whether it was from keeping my abuse a secret from my family for as long as I did, or simply from the strain of an argument, I've crumbled, and not known what to do. Unlike the things I heard from the people around me, the wounds don't heal properly, they never have for me. I've always simply picked myself up again, and kept pushing, because that's all I had left.

All these things leave lumps of scar tissue all over my mind, and I know that when I poke at it, I only make the wound open back up, and make the scar worse. There is no healing these things for me, at least not at the moment. Instead, I skim over these things and pretend they don't exist.

The only time that this process of "healing" that I have didn't hurt was this past December, when I was properly introduced to the band (Requiem for a Dream affected me long before now, and I never even knew it was Jared until a month or so ago.) by a wonderful friend. Suddenly the ability I had to keep moving felt like something to be proud of, and not something I should hate doing. The dream I had of being a painter has solidified itself in my mind, and the drive to just be who I am is stronger than it's ever been before. It hasn't been so long since I joined the Echelon (even when I hadn't known that I had), but you all are my family.

I got back up again. I fully intend to keep doing so.

-Holly Ann Bottom
Atlanta, GA
(Show no fear. I'll even take a lesson from Cynthia a few entries earlier, and add this: rag_doll013@yahoo.com)

Sometimes Life´s A Fairy Tale

2010-05-13T13:25:00.000-07:00

I have always been a girl with no attitude or self-confidence. I have been the invisible one, the one you see and forget. People, I called friends fooled me lots of times, because I allowed them to do it, I never had the feeling that I maybe could be worth to fight for my right to live the way I wanted to live. I was used to be the one that was allowed to show up with groups of people but not being a real part of it. That’s been my life for a very long time and I got an arrangement with that after a while. Of course that experience wasn’t a cheap one for my soul and heart, my life collapsed one day in complete and I felt like I shouldn’t feel anymore. I got numb and cold inside, every little real emotion hidden deep inside. No friends meant no hurt, no tears anymore- I changed into some kind of a zombie (I´m sure you know, what I mean).

One mess after another happened, I couldn´t react I only acted- No one should ever know about my situation. I´ve had been a liar and pretender, think I´ve had been a very good actor.

After some time it happened, I completely lost my mind and power. I had been sure that it would be better to leave that dark and aggressive planet with all its fear and desperation.

First time I failed and I swore to myself that the next time I would give all to make it better.

I remember that I have been visiting a party short time after and this night should become the last one. I drank a lot, pretending fun. But all my thoughts were concentrated, the very last step was near (think the rest of it shouldn´t be mentioned). I was ready. Than the “DJ” changed the music, he played a song I didn´t know but it touched me, the lyrics made me cry for the very first time since years. I was kinda shocked coz of the tons of emotions in me, shocked that I had that much life in me.

So this night became not the last one it was the very beginning of something new. I tried to figure out where the song came from. It took me days to find it out. It has been “From Yesterday”. Because I got so in touch with the lyrics I wanted to know more about the music and the band and bought “A Beautiful Lie”. This album changed my life from the bottom to the top. I got a Mars-addicted, first time just with the music. The lyrics helped me out of my imaginary never ending nightmare.

With my new power I wanted to support the band which helped me to get the strength for a new life. So I started to figure out who and what 30 Seconds To Mars really are. It should become the weirdest and most amazing thing I ever took part in. I got in contact with those wonderful people, the Echelon, and these people are the goddamn motherfucking best family in the whole world. I realized that 30 Seconds To Mars is more than just a band with good music and a full of love supporting , sorry no other word for, “fanbase”. This awareness flashed me.

30 Seconds To Mars seen as the whole thing is a never ending experience, it is sometimes a tutor, sometimes a fantasy but always a helping hand.

Without Jared´s, Shannon´s and Tomo´s love for the music, the engagement , their wonderful and sometimes crazy ideas, their connection with us, without the whole family I never could have become the girl I am now.

I feel, I breathe, I love...amazing and wonderful feeling. I am not afraid anymore

I know, I can never give back all that to you guys but I will do everything to make you proud of your Echelon.

Thanks so much for open my eyes and heart, thanks so much for my life, thanks so much for my fantasy….

I love you, my family, my heartbeat… we will never fade away

Provehito in Altum

aideen

The White.

2010-05-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

There have always been two things I have feared my whole life.

One is the dark.

The other is white.

White.

White is the ever growing numbness inside of you.

White is the afternoons spent alone.

White is feeling useless.

White is the constant fear of disappointing. Of annoying. Of failing.

White is all of my childhood anguish.

White is a bottomless pit.

White is something scary, something empty, something cold.

White is something that will drag you down.

White is something you must learn to compensate.

They filled it up, with their music.

You filled it up, by being the wonderful people you are.

Each in your own special way. Each of you with your words. Your compliments. Your expressions of love. You made me feel like I belonged somewhere. Each of you added a little something.

Each of you made it a little warmer.

A little safer.

A little easier to bear.

Each of you made it a little more precious.

Each of you gave me something amazing.

And no words will ever truly express all of my gratitude.

I love you, Echelon.

I love you for everything you gave me this past year, are giving me every day, will give me in the future, and I hope we will be together for many, many, many years to come.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Love,

Lily, Philadelphia-Milan

I BELIEVE IN NOTHING...BUT ECHELON!

2010-05-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

wow! I can't believe I'm letting you Echelon, my family read my story! Maybe, and that's what I think it's not a great story as most of yours, but this is my story and I want you to hear how 30STM and the Echelon have changed my life! My e-n-t-i-r-e life!

Well, I must say first of all, that I discovered, really discovered 30STM about a year ago (I'm not as "old" as most of you are!), it all started with The Kill video, which BTW is my favorite song on Earth! First, I got a huge huge crush on Jared! Then, I downloaded the song, and listened and listened again and again and again until I knew it by heart (it all happened in a day) so I thought "wow! this guys really rock! thay already have my soul!" and suddenly I downloaded almost all the songs! The next day I went to the store and bought the CDs. Suddenly I had fallen in love with all theis music! Then Kings and Queens came into my life! Kings and Queens has really changed my life!

All I wanted then was JARED, 30STM, Tomo, 30STM, Shannon, 30STM!! really I had a crush! but not on them! no! I loved the way they transmitted me all their feelings and I really felt them! I could feel for the first time with a single song what anger was, what happiness was, sorrow, despair and something really important what unity was! and for real, this is something that only they have made me feel!

I then, thanks to Twitter, knew about this great family, the Echelon. People may think that we are just a fan club or something like that! But I know now that Echelon means something else. Something that is really really hard to explain in words, words that people who are out of this will never understand! You have to live it and feel it in order to understand what Echelon really means!

On twitter like 3 months ago, I started following Jared, then 30STM, Tomo, Shannon, and then follow as much Echelon as I could! But, I mean we're too many many members of this great family! And I hope it keeps on growing full of believers! This has really changed my whole life! Now I feel like I'm really part of something! something more than wonderful! I used to believe in nothing, now the only thing that I believe in is 30STM's music, members and of course ECHELON!

Echelon has given me the ability to know people around the world who share my same feelings, thoughts, emotions and beliefs.

I finally would like to share the most important story of all! I know have a sister! Even though she's from Poland and I'm from Mexico, I mean, this has really turned into a sisterhood thing! Echelon made me know her, this Untitled Echelon Project made me closer to her and 30STM made this link even stronger!

That's what Echelon really means to me! No boundaries! No differences! NO nothing! But family!

Thank you all for allowing me being part of this big and great family! You're my life now!

I believe in nothing Not the end and not the start I believe in nothing Not the earth and not the stars

I believe in nothing Not the day and not the dark I believe in nothing But the beating of our hearts

I believe in nothing One hundred suns until we part I believe in nothing Not in sin and not in God

I believe in nothing Not in peace and not in war I believe in nothing But the truth in who we are

Cynthia Sarabia, Mexico
@cyndilupis
cyndilupis@hotmail.com
I'll be always here for you!

Echelon...thank you

2010-05-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

So, first of all, hello Echelon!

My name is Juliette and I'm 13. Yes, 13. Please don't think of me as a "fangirl" or anything of that kind.

When I was 10, I discovered Mars, and something just clicked. I know I was only 10, but I just felt something in their music that I couldn't explain.

Well, I guess I'll start writing about how they helped me out.

When I discovered them, I lived in South Africa (I don't anymore). I had a good life there.

My best friend was there, she was an Echelon was well, everything was going relatively well.

Until my father developped a drinking problem. I didn't know why he did. He had a good job, he was an ambassador. He was "the boss".

Not only that, but he was a heavy smoker, so he got tongue cancer, and had to go into surgery. I recall him crying the day of his operation, and one of the most awful days of my life was going to the hospital and seeing him in pain.

And years before, when i was 8/9 he had another illness...i forgot the name of it, but the circulation in his leg stopped and the ambulance came to our house and he stayed a few weeks in the hospital. I wish he could be more careful about his health.

I just kept quiet about it, I didn't tell anyone. I have huge problems expressing myself, so bear with me please, this isn't easy.

Life went on, and one day I remember i was at home, and my mother got a call from the dutch ministry. I was listening to her talk to the person on the line. They told her that my father's co-workers had realised about his problem, so the guy on the phone told my mom to talk to him about it.

My mom told my dad, and he stopped for about one week until he started again.

So we got another call from that guy, and he told us that my dad would have to stop working here.

I was completely crushed. We had one month to sort everything out and leave. We didn't even know WHERE we would go!

It all happened to fast. I remember telling my best friend about me moving and crying in the school toilets with her.

She was my whole life.

We decided to move to Turkey, because it's where me and my twin were born.

When i moved here, i felt so alone. I swear i never want to go through this stuff again.

I didn't know anyone, i didn't speak turkish, and it was a cold winter.

We were staying in a hotel and all i did was listen to Mars, which definitely helped a whole lot.

The songs "The Story", "Savior" and "93 Million Miles" were always on repeat.

One week after arriving here, we started school.

It was horrible, my first day.

Everyone spoke turkish outside of the classrooms, and i felt so lonely.

And my dad still didn't stop his drinking.

I joined twitter and found so many amazing people who had gone through so much, and were so optimistic. And i spoke to my best friend online constantly which definitely helped. And then she joined twitter and we all had fun talking to our amazing Echelon friends and hearing about their experiences.

But my mother was concerned. All i did was spend time on my computer.

She started fighting with my dad and all that crap.

We moved to another apartment, and life went on.

My dad didn't work anymore. And my mom was busting her butt off.

I'd like to thank her too. No matter how much we fight, I appreciate every single thing she has done.

And my twin too. Oh my god. Being a new kid alone? I could never imagine such a thing.

And ESPECIALLY ESPECIALLY my best friend, Chloe. Even though it was online stuff, it has helped so much, and we have dicovered so much about each other since we last saw each other.

Anyways, I still had trouble expressing myself, and i started having so much bad dreams, I still have them too, so i'm scared to sleep.

My mother seemed very upset that i couldn't open up. She told me my body language was a huge sign. I always fold my arms. And yeah...I don't know i can't help it.

I think it's much easier opening up to the Echelon, true family.

So, sorry if this post was depressing, be happy guys! No matter what trouble you're having, always find a reason to smile, a reason to wake up in the morning!

My reason? Chloe, The Echelon, Mars!

Thank you thank you thank you.

I'm happy now, and a reason to be happier is that me and Chloe will be reunited this august!

Again, THANK YOU! Wether you know it or not, you've helped me a WHOLE lot through everything.

And Seraphina, you're so amazing!

And everyone behind The Echelon Untitled project, you rock!

Provehito In Altum

Juliette, Istanbul, Turkey

This is a call to arms , my brothers and sisters

2010-05-13T03:42:00.000-07:00

I haven't been a fan of 30stm for that long , but I have to say , it has changed my life!
The very first time I ever heard about 30stm , was back in the day when ABL came out. The Kill was all over Belgian Television.
And I have to be honest , in the beginning I thought 30stm was something strange ^^. A couple of years have past , and when I would turn on my television , there they were again.
30 seconds to mars with their new song "Kings and Queens".
I can still remember the very first time seeing and hearing the song, it gave my chills ... goosebumps. The lyrics , the music , the image.
Something made a click in my head. I had to find out more about this band , about their music , about what they stand for...
... and than I really discoverd 30 seconds to mars and I was sold !
The first notes of Kings and Queens turned my world upside down ... and it's still kinda upside down I have to admit !
I've always been the kind of person that can get very touched and sucked in by music .... and that's exactly how I am feeling now.
30 seconds to mars brought a new perspective into my life and a whole lot of new friends !
Going on the boards , I joined the Belgian Echelon. This Saturday may 15th , I'm going to my very first Promoday ,and I'm so freaking excited. The Echelon , and especially , the Belgian part , have taken a whole lot off space in my life .... and I'm so glad to give that piece of my life , over to them.
I know there are fans out there , who have been with the band forever , have been supporting them through whatever , but this band means the world to me. And I do my best to contribute in making them even greater (than they already are).

Jared , you gave my life new perspective, this quote of him , changed alot for me : Q: What is the most important lesson life has thaught you
JL : " That Many things are not as big of a deal as they seem in the moment"
Thanks for just being who you are , and making the music that you love , cause your music means alot to me.

Shannon , whenever I have a bad day. I just look up some video's or some pictures of you and I smile ! You are such a funny man. And I have to add , love how energetic you always are !

Tomo , thanks for all the great / funny moments you share with us on twitter and thanks for following me ! The dedication you show towards your fans is immens! You have such a big heart !

As for all 3 of you , I cannot WAIT to see you guys play , July 2nd at Werchter ! Me and the Echelon will be very close to the stage , singing our hearts out !

By Lenaia (Cassie) , belgium

A Million Little Pieces To Start

2010-05-12T23:28:00.000-07:00

I am a million little pieces.
I am a complicated person with many complexities behind my brown eyes.
I am still the most uncomplicated person I know.
I am a rape survivor.
I have never spoken it out loud.
I wrote it for the first time, just now.
I am considering re-writing this already.
I ate through the pain.
I prayed every night that no one would want me again if I was big.
I broke apart.
I've fought my whole life.
I wage a daily battle with my mind.
I used to wallow in the beautiful heartache of Adam Duritz songs.
I moved cities, countries, always traveling, always starting over.
I kept every one at a distance.
I came home in 2008 because my mum was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.
I come from a one parent home. My mum is my world.
I fell apart.
I got back up again.
I liked Mars from "The Kill" days.
I rediscovered the beauty & healing power of Mars in 2008.
I decided I'm worth loving and that love had to come from within.
I know I'm more than the struggles of my past.
I ran through a mall on my lunch break with my BEB (Best Echelon Buddy) on Dec 7th to buy This Is War.
I realised that was the day life had became fun again.
I am 28, & my life has only just become exciting to live again.
I owe that to Mars, to the Echelon which is my family.
I sat on a beach at sunset, with two seals cuddling nearby & listened to Alibi for the first time.
I never felt more love within me than at that moment.
I refuse to lay down & let my past beat me.
I fought past the fear of not being good enough to live my dreams.
I now have my dream career as a photographer.
I never feel more like myself than when I listen to Mars, or with a camera in my hand at a concert.
I am daily in the gym with Mars on my ipod, not with the aim to be thin or perfect, but to be healthy.
I can't imagine life with out Mars and the Echelon.
I am striving to get my creativity flowing again.
I love a lot of different music but lately I find,
I listen to Mars almost constantly.
I love how it makes me want to be better, as a person, an artist, a friend, a sister, a daughter.
I fight for more in my life, for the right kinds of things.
I am still searching.
I am still discovering more of myself.
I don't think I'll ever be complete, but it no longer scares me. The war excites me.
I'm pushing back.
I'm moving forward.
I listen to the music of Mars.
I feel their words, because they are my words, they are the story of My life too.
I am so thankful to Shannon, Tomo & Jared for being true to who they are & sharing it with me.
I am so proud to be part of something bigger than myself.
I am Echelon.
I am on a crazy adventure of discovery and wonder and hope and faith and love
And the sum of my million little pieces.

<3 JAM (aka Sarah) Dunedin, New Zealand.

To battle is the only way we feel

2010-05-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

How to start? From the beginning. I came to know your music when A Beautiful Lie was released here in Argentina . I fell in love with the melodies of your songs and with the sweetness of your voice. The first song that got right into my soul is Was it a dream? At that time everything in my life felt like I was just having the most amazing time and suddenly woke up to find that it was just a dream. In my family everyone was very protective of me since I was really young.
Thirteen years ago I had a brain tumour and I barely make it from the surgery, the tumour was just caught barely on time. Growing up I felt like I was kept in a crystal bubble, they treated me like I was going to break, letting me do nothing. Finally that bubble one day burst out and I got to do what I needed to do, Grow Up.
That's when I found your music and it really helped me to stand up for my dreams.
I was really happy the day I bought This Is War, I can't explain how I felt the first time I listened it. I got goose bumps everywhere, a feeling of awe, admiration, gratitude, respect and love washed through my soul. The song I relate the most on this cd is Alibi. It has this special something that I feel so connected to. When you give everything you have 'till there's nothing left, just tinny little pieces of what you used to be, you try to put yourself back together and face life again. To feel again the only way is to battle everyday of our lives.
I would like to Thank You for being such an inspiration in my life. Your music is like the air that I breathe, I couldn't live a day without it. I would also like to thank you for giving me the opportunity of being part of your big family around the world, the Echelon. Thanks to you guys I have met two of the most amazing persons in this world, Jay and Mary, they will be in my heart forever.
And so will you, I will never forget what you have done for me. You are super sweet, talented, caring, lovely, you are the most amazing guys in the Universe.
I love you guys for being who you are. Thank you for giving me the best music of all times
Shannon, Tomo and Jared: Thank You for Existing.

"I know now, this is who I really am"

2010-05-12T15:26:00.000-07:00

30 Seconds to Mars have changed my life. It's more than a simple band for me. I loved many music bands, but never like now, like 30 Seconds to Mars. It's a universe. All is an entity, the music, the Echelon, Jared, Shannon & Tomo. It's a strong feeling, hard to describe, because it's unique. Only us, the Echelon and the band can feel that, can live that. Meetings of Echelon are like we meet some old friends, even if sometimes you see that person for the first time of your life, there is something very special, no competition but SOLIDARITY between us. Kings & Queens symbolize all I thought about, together we can go higher than ever, we're not a fan base, we're not friends, we're a family. Sometimes, I wanna leave everything, but Echelon keep me at my place, because they're too important, too close in spite of the distance … I feel their love, I feel OUR love, and I know, somehow, the love of the band himself …

Life is a fight, and 30 Seconds to Mars gave me reason to wake up everyday, and This Is War help me, I don't feel alone anymore, and I feel more stronger overtime I listen to 30 Seconds to Mars. They are in my blood, they are my strength.

First time I heard Vox Populi, I cried. Because this song is amazing, powerful, I felt the power of the Mars Army, the unity, and it was like I was attacked by million of soldiers. Voices are amazing, and in live, this song is more powerful than ever. The band in live is amazing, a vital oxygen and I feel happy only in their show, in a room full of Echelon and with the band in front of me. I could live just for that, and see them EVERY DAY without be tired by them. They saved me, somehow, and now I live only for them, for US …

« I believe in nothing, but 30 Seconds to Mars »

Emilie, France (Rouen)

Finally Found Myself

2010-05-12T14:06:00.000-07:00

How could I have ever imagined, when I first heard the name "30 Seconds to Mars," the profound impact the music would have on me? Even to attempt to put this effect into mere words seems like an exercise in futility...but here goes.

Of course, the music itself is enchanting. Artistically, technically, it is dynamic, provocative, and extraordinary. But more than that...to put it bluntly, this shit moves me, like whoa. One of the main reasons the songs are so meaningful to me is not only their inherent aural beauty; but simply the majority of the subject matter. While there are, of course, the common themes of personal conflict and evolution, with some dark and sexual undertones, the songs themselves are lyrically open to interpretation; which makes it easier for listeners to apply the lyrics to their own lives. I think it's a pretty safe bet that countless people can relate to experiences of conflict and personal transformation; and I can certainly identify with them myself.

For years I have struggled, both with the demons inside my own head...and those on the outside. Depression, drug addiction, abusive relationships, rampant eating disorders; I was enmeshed in a seemingly never-ending cycle of personal destruction. Bottom line: I was killing myself, slowly but surely.

Somehow, some way...and certainly not overnight, I realized that I deserved better. I made the conscious decision to stop hurting myself--and indirectly allowing others to hurt me--out of self-recrimination for trauma I experienced at the hands of others; both as a child and young adult. As in "Alibi" (which moves me to tears, every time I hear it), "I fell apart...and got back up again."

Additionally, I know that "The Kill" is a longstanding fan favorite, with good reason. However, for me personally, "The Kill" is so much more than just a great song. I have been eating disordered for roughly 15 years, and, I'm happy to say, have been in recovery for about a year and a half at this time. "The Kill" basically overnight became what I think of as my "recovery anthem;" I feel as though in less than 4 minutes it basically tells my own story...about how I finally gained the strength to literally save my own life, to fight back even further against the monsters inside my own head and the illness that took over my world for too long...and, ultimately, to finally accept myself for who I really am, both inside and out.

Through several years of continued self-exploration and personal growth, I now know a level of safety and healing I can't remember having ever experienced prior to this. The music of 30 Seconds to Mars is, for me, a sensuously moving reminder of how far I've come from where I've been; and the strength I gained in the process.

Holding On, Letting Go, Moving Forward

2010-05-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

It was on January 28th 2009 that my mother was diagnosed with cancer. My dad called for a family meeting, and as usual, I thought nothing of it. I was expecting it to be about some new rules around the house since I had just finished with midterms week. My brother, who was only eight years old at the time, had no idea what was going on. So he and I both willingly sat down at the kitchen table, not knowing that what was about to take place would change our lives forever. Then he said it. Those three words that did the trick. Casted the spell. Altered my reality. "Mom has cancer." I didn't know what to do. Or say. Or think. My eyes just started overflowing with silent tears. I just sat there and stared out into space. My mind was blank. My brother had no idea what was going on still, but when he saw me and my mom crying he started to cry too. So I let my parents finish talking and telling my brother and I what was going to happen. What I am going to tell you next, is something I have never told anyone else before. The next three months of my life were some of the hardest three months I've ever had to go through. And it is very, very difficult for me to talk about. So, I ran in my room, closed and locked my door and dug out my iPod. Music. Artists. 30 Seconds To Mars. A Beautiful Lie. From Yesterday. From Yesterday was the first Mars song I had ever heard, and in the end, the song that ultimately changed my life. For the next 43 minutes and 57 seconds, and many months after that, ABL was all I listened to. On repeat, just that album (welll with a bit of their first album thrown in there as well). I really do believe that listening to 30 Seconds to Mars was what kept me sane; kept me grounded. They kept me from losing my mind. They helped me hold on, not only to myself, but to my family. My brother, my dad and most of all...my mom. There was a time though, in early February, (the time of my mothers surgery) where I almost lost myself completely. I was beginning to think that everything was my fault. That my mom had cancer because of me. I honestly have absolutely no idea what made me think this, but I did. Part of me was saying that I needed to stop being so ridiculous and that its not even humanly possible for it to be my fault that she has cancer. But the other half, the other half of me was saying that it was all my fault. This went on for days. Until one night. I woke up one night, at around three o'clock in the morning to my music still playing. I forgot to turn it off before i fell asleep. I had been listening to ABL on shuffle, and I awoke to the very beginning of The Kill, about thirty seconds in. And I just laid there, listening to the words. And not just listen like I would any other time, I mean, I really listened. I focused on Jared’s voice; I listened to each individual note he sung, every individual word that came out of his mouth. And it was over. Just like that. The song had ended and I was just laying there, in bed collecting my thoughts, just as From Yesterday started. I went back to the very first time I ever heard that song. Back to the very first time I ever heard 30 Seconds to Mars. I went back to standing in the center of a department store staring at the wall, watching the video for From Yesterday. And now I was lying in my bed, in my house, listening to that exact same song. “…on his face is a map of the world…”. Two minutes and forty one seconds. Two minutes and forty two seconds. I had to let go. Two minutes and forty three seconds. My blood ran cold. Two minutes and forty four seconds. Time stopped. Two minutes and forty five seconds. Life moved on. And so did I. Everything was okay. It was all okay. Maybe not right then, but eventually, I knew it would all be okay. And now here I am, just over a year later, and everything is okay. I can finally move forward.
Jackie
Commerce, Michigan

A New Light

2010-05-12T13:05:00.000-07:00

i've been a 30 Seconds To Mars fan for around 4 years now, but i only joined the echelon around 2 years ago. I researched the band when i heard The Kill on the radio, i instantly fell in love with the music.

In my second year of secondary school, i became suicidal and in depression. 30 Seconds To Mars' music helped me through this. This was around the time when i joined the echelon family. Finely i felt like i belonged somewhere and there were people here i could relate to, who understood me. I felt cut off from my friends, especially my family, and felt alone in the world.

My parents are really religious and brought me and my sisters up very strictly. I was tired of people expecting me to be like this or that, expecting me to do things and being tied down by all the rules. I wanted to end everything and be free from it all, and i even thought of running away from home, but the echelon and the guys, jared, shannon and tomo, helped me through all this. The kindness of the echelon and the amazing leadership of the guys made me open my eyes and see how big and wonderful the family is and life. Jared, Shannon and Tomo are all so inspiring and loving and amazing in so many ways and i look up to them so much.

Ever since joining the echelon, so many things have changed. I see that noone is perfect, but i still try and see the good in all and overlook their faults. I try to be grateful for what i have and help those in need of it. I always try to look on the brighter side of life. I am slowly reconnecting with my family and my friends mean the world to me. I still feel suicidal at times but 30 Seconds To Mars' music stop me feeling that way.

Sometimes i feel as if my depression will kill me, and other times it feels like im on top of the world. There seems to be a fortress around my mind. There's reality, and then theres a river and on the other side is me and my imaginary world, where everything is alright and there is no hurt. The bridge that connects the two worlds is the echelon. The only thing that keeps me sane is 30 Seconds To Mars. "Did you ever believe? Were you ever a dreamer?" yes, yes i am. I am still fighting the depression, but i know i will always have the echelon, forever in my heart.

All my love, Jasveer
Birmingham, UK

My haven during a difficult time

2010-05-12T11:38:00.000-07:00

Becoming a fan of 30 Seconds to Mars was quite an accident as I only wanted to see Linkin Park at that special day of the Nova Rock Festival back in 2007. As it happened, 30 Seconds to Mars played just before Linkin Park and I instantly fell in love with their music. I bought their albums a few days after the festival and I loved them.

30 Seconds to Mars´ music means a lot to me and it has helped me during a very rough time in 2008. My mum is an alcoholic and she had several heavy relapses that year. My younger half-brother couldn’t handle this situation and tried to kill himself twice but fortunately, he survived and could move to his dad’s place. Life has worked out quite well since then and my half-brother does very well now. Unfortunately, my mother is still an alcoholic but I have to come to accept that she has to want to become clean herself. As much as I want her to lead a better life than she actually does and I’m willing to help her as much as I possibly can, it just can’t work out without my mother wanting to become and – above all - stay clean.

The music of 30 Seconds to Mars was (and still is) my personal haven in this difficult time and especially „The Story“ and „A Modern Myth“ became my favourite songs as I could relate to the lyrics.

In the meantime I managed to go to three concerts in Amsterdam, Munich and Vienna and I can say that they were fantastic and I enjoyed every single concert.

Nice greetings from Vienna (Austria),
Manuela

You say you wanted more, what are you waiting for?

2010-05-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

While – of course - I’m a huge fan of the music, 30 Seconds to Mars didn’t really change my life until I had the opportunity to see them live. When I found out I would be meeting Jared, Shannon, and Tomo (okay, I paid for a VIP ticket to guarantee I would meet them), I resolved that I wanted to look and feel my best for them. These guys pour their hearts and souls into their art, and they have always been so kind and generous to their fans, it was only fair that I give them my best too.

Through the eight weeks leading up to the NYC concert (and I later added tickets to the Montclair, New Jersey show), I kicked my regimen of diet and exercise into high gear. For 12-15 hours every week, with a 30 Seconds to Mars playlist always blaring in my ears for motivation, I beat the hell out of myself at the gym. I managed to lose 20 of the 30 pounds I needed to get down to my ideal weight range. My blood pressure lowered into a healthy range too - not an easy thing to do with the kind of daily stress I deal with both at work and at home. I have also struggled with depression since I was a kid, and the combination of exercise-induced endorphins and the excitement of meeting the guys helped put that in check too. For the first time in about a decade, I felt good.

It only got better when I got to New York and New Jersey: the awesome experience of seeing 30 Seconds to Mars play live, the incredible opportunity to meet them in person (a few times – each time more wonderful and memorable than the last), and maybe the best part of all, being introduced to the community (the cult!) of the Echelon. I formed an instant bond with the people I met in New York and New Jersey; these people shared a mutual respect and admiration for 30 Seconds to Mars and their music, and I found myself suddenly rooted in a kind of family. I’m now connected to people all over the country – all over the world, actually – because of 30 Seconds to Mars. For that, I am eternally grateful. In a few weeks, I’ll be attending another concert, and while of course I can’t wait to see the guys again, or hear them play, I’m amazed at how excited I am (especially considering how unbelievably shy I am!) to reunite with other members of the Echelon.

To top it off, my concert-going experience triggered a kind of “enlightenment” for me. I have never been so sure of what I want in life, so determined to live my dreams. I have set aside fear and self-consciousness; I have fully embraced the spirit of provehito in altum (the phrase had the honor of being my first 30 Seconds to Mars tattoo – it won’t be the last, either) and carpe diem/carpe noctem. And while the entire This is War album could be said to represent how I feel, my anthem right now is more likely “The Kill”, because “this is who I really am” and I have never been happier or more proud to fight for it and to make the changes in my life that will allow me to be whom I want to be. Thank you, 30 Seconds to Mars. We love you too. :)

Fighting the Good Fight

2010-05-12T02:09:00.001-07:00

It started one day as I was sitting around my room listening to "The Mission." A thought entered my brain, "What if there was an Echelon project that included every single last person. A project that didn't have an boundaries or restrictions and that anyone could take part in no matter what country they were from, how old they were, or how long they have been a Mars fan." There have been so many amazing Echelon projects out there, but none like this. I wanted this to be as different as possible. I wanted to bend over backwards and bleed to get every single last person that wanted to be apart of it a chance, no matter what. Too many times in my life was I held back because of restrictions. I wanted this project to be a way to fully capture the essence of The Echelon and give the amazing people I call family a chance to express themselves to their peers, the band, and the world. The feeling of being a small part of something bigger needed to be captured visually. People needed to know even if they would never understand. It was a dream of mine. Day after day racing ideas would flood my mind. I would often burden my friends with my thoughts, and my enthusiasm to make this happen. It wasn't until I met Molly and Ziggy, two girls who I now know are my soul sisters, that I knew this could really happen. They not only encouraged and grasped the idea, but they inspired it to flourish. The Echelon discovered it, fell in love with it, and grasped it as there own. This is their project, their stories, their heart and soul being woven together as words in a blog entry or being captured on film or in a photo. These are the stories of the most amazing men and women to ever exist. They are stories of heartache, loss, war, and triumph. They are the brave and the beautiful. They are the creative geniuses who will never fully grasp how amazing they are. They are the people whose very existence I owe all my inspiration too. They will prove to the world that 30 Seconds to Mars is more then just a band. The Echelon are more then just a fan base. These CDs are more then just music. This is our hope to go on, a family of millions, and the soundtrack to our lives.

If your on the outside looking in, you may be confused, intimidated, scared, just plain lost. The Echelon may appear alien to you, not making much sense and from a completely other planet and breed of life. And maybe we are, just a little bit. But one look into the core of our souls, which we willingly pour out in our words, and you will see we are just like everyone else. The only difference is we aren't afraid to be afraid, and we don't care what you think about us. We will live our lives, and dream our dreams until our hearts stop beating and then our legacy will continue to inspire others. Because if anything is true about the Echelon its this: We will never fade away.

-Seraphina, Chicago

What 'Mars' means...

2010-05-12T01:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Mars,

When you hear a song that means the world to you its like you found the song of your life. For me, that’s Hurricane.

Hurricane was the first song I heard off of This Is War and it was as though something clicked. People can say how they hate the techno in the song, but for me the techno is what made the song.

Hurricane is the one word I can use to describe my life in 2009. No other word can capture my feelings as perfectly as ‘hurricane’ can.

In Feb of ’09 my grandmother died suddenly. She was only 70. I had 6 hours to say goodbye to a woman who had been a part of my life since the day my mother told her she was pregnant. I knew she had problems with her body. And it is likely I will inherit these problems. My life got worse from then on. Her funeral came and went. It was when my mother, my sister and I were driving to the shops because, well, everyone needs food to live right? In our letterbox was a letter. That letter made my life utter hell from that very moment to now.

My aunty had taken the action of getting lawyers involved and had said nastily in this letter that she would take us to court and force us to move. Not more than 2 weeks later my boy friend had dumped me by txt, and even had the nerve to get another girl to do his dirty work for him.

There is something unnerving when you hear your mother call her self a failure because she can’t protect her children.

In the end, we moved. We gave in. We could not take the pain and the pressure. Feb 1^st was my dear grandmother’s birthday, the day we moved, and the day I stopped talking to half my family.

That was my hurricane, not so techno but still. It felt as though I would never get to back Kansas, (that being my happy place- hahah).

In a way, becoming an Echelon saved me from myself. I am so grateful towards, you - Jared, Tomo, and Shannon. Because of you I did not do anything stupid. Because of you, I met these people who know what its like. I met these wonderful people who some of them I consider to be my best friends.

When I am asked what 30 Seconds to Mars means to me, I can’t answer because I know the answer is in my heart but I sometimes words fail me.

You could ask me what their music means to me and all I think of is From Yesterday and its sheer epic-ness and all I feel is speechless. All I can think is that Mars means so much I can’t breathe. I have even banned myself from watching any live videos, because all I can think is, I’m going to be there in August, I’m going to be watching 30 Seconds to Mars play live in front of my eyes. IN FRONT OF MY EYES! IN MY EARS! And it makes me cry.

People say that in New Zealand you cannot be sued, I beg to differ. Because I nearly was, and Mars helped to save me, (just not for 30 million).

Emma, Wellington, New Zealand

My inspiration during a rough time

2010-05-11T22:00:00.000-07:00

Hi 30 Seconds to Mars, I wanted to let you know how much your music has meant to me and how much it has inspired and helped me get through rough times over the years. This is not something that I talk about often, but I feel that you need to know how important your music is to your fans and me. I love all of your albums and songs, but one song that will always be close to my heart is "A Modern Myth". I am a Director in Early Childhood Education and many families and children touch my life, some more then others. About 3 years ago, one of the families I was very close with lost their 4 year old daughter from a rare heart condition no one knew she had. One minute she was laughing, the next she was gone, that quick. Having a daughter close to the same age and being as close as I was to this family and this little girl made things difficult. As you can imagine, this was an extremely hard time for me where I questioned many things in my life. I had just happened to purchase "A Beautiful Lie" a week or so prior and while listening, the lyrics of "A Modern Myth" really spoke to me and helped me through what I was dealing with mentally and emotionally. No one should ever have to experience the death of a child even if it is not their own, but I wanted you to know how important your music was to me during this time and how important it still is to me and all of your fans. You guys are amazing and your music is so important to so many! Your fans are important to you and you are important to them. Thank you for being so amazing and being true to the music and your fans!! You are truly one of a kind!

Sincerely,
Shannon
Denver, Colorado