|
Post by AeroCooper on Feb 16, 2018 12:28:46 GMT -5
Steven Tyler: ‘I’m very grateful for being sober’ Aerosmith founder addresses Drug Court Local News Feb 16, 2018 Lila Fujimoto Staff Writer lfujimoto@mauinews.com
WAILUKU — Although he was introduced as a singer, songwriter and founding member of the legendary rock band Aerosmith, Steven Tyler offered another description when he spoke to Maui Drug Court graduates Thursday.
“My name’s Steven,” he said. “I’m an alcoholic and a recovering drug addict.”
“My hats off to you,” he told the graduates. “You’re my heroes here today because you have come from somewhere that I lived myself. To come out through the wormhole like you’re doing today is a true beyond-belief miracle. I’m so proud of you, each and every one.”
Tyler, a Maui resident, wasn’t on the program but had asked to speak at the graduation, the 62nd for the program that offers criminal defendants intensive treatment and supervision as an alternative to incarceration.
Those who successfully completed the program had criminal charges dismissed or terms of probation ended early.
Some were surprised when Tyler showed up shortly before the ceremony began in the courtroom of 2nd Circuit Chief Judge Joseph Cardoza.
Tyler took a seat between Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu and 2nd Circuit Judge Peter Cahill to join them and 2nd Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo, Cardoza and Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Michael Wilson in congratulating the seven graduates.
“I’m honored, so honored to be surrounded by such higher-ups — Judge Cardoza and everybody here who, back in my heyday, I would have been scared to death of,” Tyler said.
Tyler read a passage from a Daily Reflections book, which he said dates to 26 years ago when he entered an addiction treatment program.
He touched on his addiction struggles, including four stays in rehabilitation.
“I’ve got my reasons,” he said, referring to his addiction days.
“It was the thing to do back then and then it became a thing to do” after operations on his feet and knees, he said.
Drawing on his experiences, Tyler offered advice to the graduates.
“If you have to take any drugs, do not hold them yourselves,” he said.
“And if you’re in a 12-step program, keep going to meetings.
“You stop going to meetings, you’re going to use again. The way to share this program is with others at meetings. That’s what saved my life. So I want to pass that on to you guys.”
Tyler said he “lost so much” because of his addiction.
“It ruined my life,” he said. “It took away everything I loved and cherished.”
“The problem for me was I got high for so many years,” Tyler said. “After I did Madison Square Garden, I got high. That’s what I lived for. But how did I change it? By working a 12-step program.”
Tyler said he still goes to 12-step meetings and has two sponsors — one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast “’cause I don’t trust myself.”
“One of the most important things AA has given me, in addition to freedom from my drug addiction and booze, is the ability to take right action,” he said.
“They say if you stay sober, your wildest dreams will happen. You wind up being best friends with a judge,” said Tyler, who received a United Nations award for humanitarianism.
“I have a family that loves me, a girlfriend who loves me, all because I’m sober, all because of sobriety,” he said.
He said people often compliment him on a song he’s written.
“That’s nothing compared to being sober,” he said. “That’s nothing compared to having my kids love me.”
Tyler said he visited Maui in 1976 after writing “Walk This Way.”
“Now I live here,” he said. “Now I can say I’m kamaaina. My life is beautiful.”
“Even though your whole life you may have lived another way, magic is going to come to you,” he told the graduates. “I’ve got this life today because I go to meetings.”
It was the third time Tyler has spoken at a Maui Drug Court graduation.
Second Circuit Court Judge Richard Bissen, who is friends with Tyler, usually introduces him, said Les Maeda, clinical supervisor of the Maui/Moloka’i Drug Court program.
When Maeda asked Bissen for advice on how to introduce Tyler, he said the judge responded: “Just keep it simple and say he’s the most down-to-earth person you will ever meet and he’s a devoted family man.”
Tyler stayed after the ceremony to talk with graduates and pose for photos with them and their families.
“I’m very grateful for being sober,” he told the graduates. “I need coming here and talking to people. I need you for me. Because if I can’t give it away, I can’t keep what I got.”
www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2018/02/steven-tyler-im-very-grateful-for-being-sober/
|
|
|
Post by gwb on Feb 17, 2018 21:26:58 GMT -5
To be honest, I'm so tired of his drug stories. My hat is off to him for kicking his demons. But to many old school Aerosmith fans like me, he is only trying to keep himself in the headlines while doing nothing important musically.
As I've said many times (and suspect many other old school fans feel), I am perfectly happy if they never write another song in their lives, but rather they focus on playing the same great 70s-80s songs which made them famous.
|
|
|
Post by RiffsOnRuts on Feb 18, 2018 16:09:58 GMT -5
Sorry, I get tired of this 100% sobriety talk. Sounds cultish. Why can't we celebrate when people have just learned to moderate and control their drinkin' and druggin' instead of completely giving it up? Why does it have to be that the goal is always 100% sobriety?
It seems Lemmy lived a whole life of controlled drinkin' and druggin'. Seems like he lived a pretty long, fun, and fulfilling life. Why isn't this the goal?
|
|
|
Post by krawhitham222 on Feb 18, 2018 18:33:47 GMT -5
Sorry, I get tired of this 100% sobriety talk. Sounds cultish. Why can't we celebrate when people have just learned to moderate and control their drinkin' and druggin' instead of completely giving it up? Why does it have to be that the goal is always 100% sobriety? It seems Lemmy lived a whole life of controlled drinkin' and druggin'. Seems like he lived a pretty long, fun, and fulfilling life. Why isn't this the goal? Because some people like Steven (Samuel L Jackson, Stephen King, etc.) have addictive personalities. If they drink they will continue to drink until it kills them. So for them the only option is to just stop. It takes a special kind of asshole to knock someone who was strong enough to turn his life around. I'm sorry you're tired of it. I'm glad they're alive.
|
|
|
Post by RiffsOnRuts on Feb 18, 2018 18:52:26 GMT -5
It takes a special kind of asshole to knock someone who was strong enough to turn his life around. I am certainly not knocking them for turning their life around. I am critical of their public statements about it and the expectation of a pat on the back from society.
|
|
|
Post by AeroCooper on Feb 18, 2018 19:57:33 GMT -5
It takes a special kind of asshole to knock someone who was strong enough to turn his life around. Review the forum policies before commenting like this again. Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by bartman2001 on Feb 18, 2018 19:58:45 GMT -5
Sorry, I get tired of this 100% sobriety talk. Sounds cultish. Why can't we celebrate when people have just learned to moderate and control their drinkin' and druggin' instead of completely giving it up? Why does it have to be that the goal is always 100% sobriety? It seems Lemmy lived a whole life of controlled drinkin' and druggin'. Seems like he lived a pretty long, fun, and fulfilling life. Why isn't this the goal? Because some people like Steven (Samuel L Jackson, Stephen King, etc.) have addictive personalities. If they drink they will continue to drink until it kills them. So for them the only option is to just stop. It takes a special kind of asshole to knock someone who was strong enough to turn his life around. I'm sorry you're tired of it. I'm glad they're alive. I like this post apart from the highlighted part for the exact reason RiffsOnRuts mentioned. However I do believe, in this and a lot of instances, Steven did not do this for attention from the press. It's a small local story if he's at a place like this someone is going to notice. It's when Aeropress repeatedly mentions what everyone already knows about their sobriety that becomes tiring for me. But that is only because of its redundancy any time I hear of Steven or anyone else in the band stepping out to help others I have no problems with it. As for Lemmy. I do recall Lemmy boasted to Alice Cooper he was only drinking clear liquors now and Alice replied something to the effect of "your liver doesn't know the difference".
|
|
|
Post by VoodooMedicineMan on Feb 18, 2018 23:26:23 GMT -5
I think Steven's sobriety message can serve as a helpful counter balance to the amount of boozing we are exposed to. I agree that moderation is the goal, but when people fall short of that and chose to re-evaluate the situation... Hey if this worked for Steven Tyler then why not? There is a lot of pressure to drink, and you can certainly feel like an outcast for not drinking during most social situations.
I gave up drinking nearly 4 and 1/2 years ago. I've never gone to any meetings, there was no rock bottom moment, I wasn't in imminent danger, but I just felt my drinking was unhealthy and my priorities in life had changed. I did a few 3 month breaks in my early 30's, then would try to ease my way back but there was always some cookout, party, concert, sporting event, dinner etc and I'd end up drinking more than I wanted to again. Strangely after a few weeks of not drinking, I didn't miss it, but then when I started drinking again I'd miss the times it was totally out of my system, so at 33 years old I decided to retire from drinking.
It wasn't something I ever went out of my way to announce, but I eventually had to tell family, friends and co-workers. I let them know all was good, that I was feeling a lot better and it was all positive. A lot of people that I know meant well were shocked, and almost horrified when I told them. It was like I had accepted a life sentence of un-quenched thirst that would worsen by the day, what possessed me to torment myself like this? Some told my they were sorry, reminded me that I wasn't that bad, and asked how I expected to handle the various social situations where drinking alcohol was nearly required.
I think a lot of people find themselves at these same crossroads I was at, and weigh the pros and cons of whether to make a change. There is a lot of pressure to continue carrying on with an unhealthy life-style. Then everybody has seen the super preachy sober people that go on about the devil and demons, and appear to still be tormented as bad as any drunk or addict. So hearing the doubts of others about the feasibility of being sober on top of my own doubts, it's easy to just say this is too hard and not worth it. Searching for and reading testimonies from the likes of Steven/Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Eric Clapton, Slash and others provided insight that it wasn't all that difficult to boot any bad habits and thrive afterwards.
So who knows, most likely you'll never need their advice for yourself, but chances are you'll know someone at some point who could benefit from their stories.
|
|