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Famous Rock Stars Who Have Battled Crippling Addiction and Found Recovery

Are you struggling with addiction? If yes, here’s some good news: there’s still hope. You can leave that life behind and start on a new leaf. How? For starters, raise money and enroll in a rehabilitation facility.  

And you are not alone; many other people have fought addiction and won, including high-profile celebrities like these rock stars:

Ozzy Osbourne

Otherwise known as the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne has enjoyed a career full of controversy and crazy moments.

Remember his infamous Veterans Memorial Auditorium performance, where he allegedly bit off a bat’s head? Or that one time he got bored and threw a TV out of a window while staying at The Four Seasons? And these are but a few. But we now know what could have fueled this rock star’s outrageous behaviors: drug addiction.

Ozzy had crippling ADHD and dyslexia and used various drugs to cope, including cocaine, LSD, alcohol, and hash. His constant use turned into abuse in no time. Luckily, he found his way back and has been sober for over seven years.

Ironically, Ozzy has become a prominent figure in the world of online slots in November 2019, when NetEnt released the Ozzy Osbourne™ Slot on the best new slot sites. The game featured a thrilling, music-filled experience centered around the iconic rock star. It included various elements associated with Ozzy Osbourne, such as his music and imagery, delivering an exciting gaming experience to fans and slot enthusiasts alike. 

Elton John

Elton John is an incredible British singer, composer, and pianist who sold over 300 million records. He has been showered with many awards, ranging from five Grammys to two Golden Globes and the Kennedy Center Honor.

But Elton also has a dark past. According to the legendary musician, shyness led him to unparalleled substance abuse. He was very fond of cocaine in the 70s. Elton John has also struggled with alcoholism and experimented with other drugs.

Elton John found recovery in 1990. He has been sober for over three decades. This musician has also helped many other celebrities with recovery journeys, including Eminem and Donatella Versace.

Steven Taylor

If you’re a fan of Aerosmith, you are familiar with Steven Taylor, the band’s sassy lead singer. This iconic figure is a singer, songwriter, filmmaker, actor, and record producer. Together with his band, Steven was inducted into the coveted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

As far as addiction goes, Steven Tyler has done it all. While opening up about his past issues, the singer said he has abused alcohol and drugs like heroin, LSD, marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine. His problem was so advanced that in 1988 his bandmates intervened and forced him to go to rehab.

But recovery hasn’t been easy for this rockstar. For instance, he relapsed in 2006 after being sober for over a decade. But he’s still committed to living a sober life.

Anthony Kiedis

Most musicians have surprising stories to tell. Some have been homeless and starved for extended periods; others, like Anthony Kiedis, have wrestled with crippling addiction for many years.

Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis is an adored American singer-songwriter. He formed a barely known band with two other bandmates while still in high school. It would later become an enigma in the late 1980s with the release of the infamous Mother’s Milk album.  

Throughout his earlier life, Kiedis battled addiction, his drugs of choice including heroin and cocaine. This issue was fueled by his father, a regular drug user. The singer chose sobriety in 1988, relapsed in 1994, and returned to the wagon in 2000. He’s been in recovery ever since.

Final Thoughts

Issues like drug abuse are prevalent in the music industry. Today, many artists have admitted to using different substances to enhance creativity and cope with the pressures of being a celeb. The stories you’ve just read involve people who were once addicts but are now sober. If you’re struggling with the same issue, use them for inspiration.