There Goes I…
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
Johnny Cash
The man in black
Phil Lynott
Lead singer of Thin Lizzy
Joe Walsh
Eagle’s guitarist, song writer and one heck-of-a cool guy
Joe Walsh of The Eagles is living life “One Day At A Time”..
The Eagles singing “One Day At A Time”.
Click here to read about Joe’s new life. I’m excited for him
Jackson Pollock
Abstract Artist
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
Chuck Negron
Lead Singer of The Three Dog Night
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
It 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. “