Archive of people with known drug/alcohol problems. Some are my recovery hero’s… some did not win the battle… but for the grace of God, there goes I
Bobby Hatfield
of The Righteous Brothers
Bobby Hatfield was half of The Righteous Brothers. Bobby died of a heart attack attributed to a cocaine overdose. Click here to read more about Bobby Hatfield
Johnny Cash
The man in black
Johnny Cash fought his addictions. Here is Johnny singing Nine Inch Nail’s “Hurt”. Click here to read more about the man in black.
Phil Lynott
Lead singer of Thin Lizzy
PHIL LYNOTT – Lead Singer/Songwriter for Thin Lizzy. We lost Phil when he died of a complete system failure following a herion overdose. Click here to read more about Phil Lynott
Joe Walsh
Eagle’s guitarist, song writer and one heck-of-a cool guy
Jackson Pollock
Abstract Artist
Jackson Pollock was an alcoholic who died in a drunk driving accident at 44 years old. He was was an influential American painter and a major force in the abstract expressionist movement. He was one of the most influential twentieth century artists. His painting No. 5, 1948 just sold as the most expensive painting ever for 140 million dollars. Read about the sale of No. 5, 1948 here.
Sir Anthony Hopkins
Actor
You would never know accomplished actor Sir Anthony Hopkins was a raging alcoholic until 1975. He gave up alcohol when he woke up in a Pheonix hotel room with no recollection of how he came to be in Arizona. Anthony publically broke his anonymity to raise money for Alcoholics Anonymous. He is quoted as saying “There were some days when I’d drink a bottle of tequila and I didn’t care if I died. I was so washed up, so empty and feeling emotionally bankrupt.” Hopkins has been sober for 30 years. Click here to read his autobiography.
Ann Richards – Politician
Ann R. died 25 years sober. She was a great Texan, a wonderful Governor and a proud member of AA. Click here to read an appreciative farewell to Ann in the New York Times
Chuck Negron
Lead Singer of The Three Dog Night
Chuck Negron was lead singer for Three Dog Night. His addictions took him to legendary lows. Chuck survived and eventually triumphed over his addictions. His book “Three Dog Nightmare” is spotlighted in our Recovery Authors/Books section. Today, Chuck is active in the recovery community telling his experience, strength and hope through speaking engagements, singing and a new movie The Chuck Negron Story . Way to go Chuck! Click here to read more about Chuck Negron
Bon Scott
Original lead singer of AC/DC
In the beginning there was Bon Scott. Bon was lead singer for AC/DC. After a night of heavy drinking in London’s Camden Town, he passed out in a friend’s car and was left to “sleep it off”, but was found dead, at the age of 33, in the early hours of February 19th, 1980. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was “Acute alcoholic poisoning” and the verdict of the inquest “Death by misadventure”.
Bon died 10 days after the making of this video. Click here to read more about Bon Scott.
First Lady Betty Ford
With the death of President Ford it seems appropriate that we recognize Betty Ford as our Recovery Hero. Betty was an alcoholic and hooked on prescription drugs when her family staged an intervention. She was in denial and is quoted as saying “My makeup wasn’t smeared, I wasn’t disheveled, I behaved politely, and I never finished off a bottle, so how could I be alcoholic?” Once she became honest with herself she became known for her open and honest manner in dealing with her substance abuse and recovery. This led to an improvement in how Americans talked about addictions and alcoholism. Betty dedicated her life to helping others and opened the Betty Ford Center which models its programs on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. As a result she has helped thousands recover. In 1983 Betty wrote “A Glad Awakening” telling her story. In 2003 Betty published “Healing and Hope… Journeys of Addiction and Recovery”. This first lady walks the walk.
Gary Rossington
Guitarist with Lynard Skynard
Lynard Skynards Albert Collins and Gary Rossington
Lynard Skynard is the ultimate southern rock band featuring guitar God’s Albert Collins and Gary Rossington which have both had incidents of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Gary Rossington
As the co-founder of the legendary rock band Lynard Skynard, Gary Rossington is Rock and Roll Royalty. Gary Rossington is only one of two original members of Lynard Skynard in the current bands lineup.
Lynard Skynard has had mega hits such as “Freebird” and “Sweet Home Alabama” to name a few. There have been many tragedies in this bands life including a fatal plane crash killing their lead singer and guitarist Albert Collins DUI crash killing his girlfriend and resulting in Collins being paralized. Gary Collins ultimately died from pneumonia due to decreased lung capacity as a result of being paralized.
In 1976 Gary Rossington crashed his 1976 Torino into a tree, a telephone pole and a house after climbing behind the wheel drunk.
This driving drunk incident was part of the inspiration behind Lynard Skynard’s hit “That Smell”. The opening lyrics are “Whiskey bottles and brand new cars; oak tree you’re in my way.
Gary more recently had another DUI accident in October 2008. The police department’s Incident Report quoted Rossington as saying “I know I am drunk”. Gary take care of yourself and lay off the drinking and driving!
Keith Urban
This song, Tonight I Want To Cry, is from the time when Keith was still drinking. This song is identified by many and has many meanings for the Urban fan…the loneliness, emptiness and sadness of being alone strikes many a chord with us drunks.
Keith has been clean and sober since 2006. Keith states that since his recovery from addiction and alcoholism is been “the smoothest, easiest years of my life.” Keith went on to state “I was one of those guys who was always thinking about the past, or about the future, but never the here. I even made an album called Be Here, and I still didn’t get it – I was never really here . But now I love being in the present, because I have so much to be grateful for in the present.”
Keith appeared his life was picture perfect, but now Keith Urban says he’s been battling alcohol abuse and has entered a treatment rehabilitation center.
According to a statement issued by Urban’s publicist, the country singer checked himself in last night with Nicole Kidman, his wife of four months, by his side.
Urban says, “I deeply regret the hurt this has caused Nicole and the ones that love and support me.” He adds, “One can never let one’s guard down on recovery and I’m afraid that I have.”
Urban’s statement ends with this message: “With the strength and unwavering support I am blessed to have from my wife, family and friends, I am determined and resolved to a positive outcome.”
This is not Urban’s first stint in rehab. The singer sought help in late 1998 for drug and alcohol abuse. Urban, who has admitted to free Basing cocaine, once told USA Weekend Magazine “I had this house in Nashville where I used to do drugs. … I remember one night crawling around on my hands and knees, looking for these little rocks at five in the morning. “
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