Despite suffering bipolar disorder (he has admitted to attempting suicide), life couldn't be better for the eyeliner-loving rocker, aka Mr Ashlee Simpson. Back on top with Fall Out Boy's fifth album, Folie a Deux, the proud dad of 4-month old Bronx spoke to WHO's Alicia Neil, and proved he's alive and rocking.

On your trip to Australia, you addressed internet rumours that you had died.
Yeah, sorry, I'm alive. It used to be really weird, but now most of the time I ignore them. Except when it gets too big and crazy - then I'll address them.

So it got too big?
Yeah. I was actually in Sydney and my drummer [Andy Hurley] was in Melbourne. He called our security and was like, "Is Pete alive?" I was like, ah, I should probably address it now.

You've said you're convinced you'll be murdered. Does mortality weigh heavily on your mind?
Yeah. I mean, I'm a little bit less dramatic than I used to be, so it's not that big of a deal. I'm growing up, which is a good thing. Before, I would've freaked out. I get people that want me dead, there's people that want me alive, there's people that say I'm dead but know I'm alive. That's kind of how life goes. People definitely want you to be big and dramatic; what they envision a rock star to be.

Did you grow up wanting to be a rock star?
Yeah, but I also wanted to be an astronaut, and that didn't really work out. I was probably a bit of a dreamer.

You live a nomadic life. What can't you travel without?
I can't travel without my computer or my phone, because that's how I keep in touch with my family. Other than that, I'm pretty easy.

Are you easygoing by nature?
I'm an over-analyser. I always have been. I was probably a stressed-out little baby.

Have you learnt to relax with age?
I think I've become more complete, and I've been able to rely on other people, and have more patience. But I'm definitely a pressure cooker.

Is life what you expected it would be at 29?
Nah, it's better. I had the grandest dreams on the planet, but I still think life's bigger and better than what I expected.

How do you want to be remembered?
I just don't want to be forgotten.

By Alicia Neil