witola.com

One of my all time favorite singer-songwriters, hero and an inspiration for my personal recovery is fighting the demons once again.

Steven Tyler issued an official statement saying that he is entering a rehabilitation facility for his addiction to prescription medication:

"With the help of my family and team of medical professionals, I am taking responsibility for the management of my pain and am eager to be back on the stage and in the recording studio with my band mates."

This might explain the erratic behavior, lack of interaction with band mates and recent firing of long time manager. I pray he gets the help he needs to live a sober final twilight.

Tyler's addiction arose from suffering many injuries over the last 10 years of performing. I feel like if he can come out of this again he can deliver some insightful lyrics once again.

Here are lyrics to one of my favorites, Amazing:

I kept the right ones out
And let the wrong ones in
Had an angel of mercy
To see me through all my sins
There were times in my life
When I was goin' insane
Tryin' to walk through the pain

And when I lost my grip
And I hit the floor
Yeah, I thought I could leave
But couldn't get out the door
I was so sick n' tired
Of livin' a lie
I was wishing that I would die

It's amazing
With the blink of an eye
You finally see the light
Oh it's amazing
When the moment arrives
You know you'll be alright
Yeah it's amazing
And I'm saying a prayer
For the desperate hearts tonight

That one last shot's a Permanent Vacation
And a how high can you fly with broken wings
Life's a journey - not a destination
And I just can't tell just what tomorrow brings

You have to learn to crawl
Before you learn to walk
But I just couldn't listen
To all that righteous talk oh yeah
I was out on the street
Just tryin' to survive
Scratchin' to stay alive

It's amazing
With the blink of an eye
You finally see the light
Oh it's amazing
When the moment arrives
That you know you'll be alright
Oh it's amazing
And I'm saying a prayer
For the desperate hearts tonight

Well my rock 'n roll hero Steven Tyler had a recent fall and broke some bones... resulting in the cancellation of Aerosmith's Summer Tour. Here is an interview from their fan site where questions arose of a possible relapse in sobriety as a reason:

Steven Tyler:

“Do I sound fucked up or stoned?” Steven Tyler asks, calling from his home in New Hampshire on Monday. In his first comments to the press, Tyler wants to set the record straight about what happened when he fell off the stage in South Dakota on August 5th — followed by a cancellation of Aerosmith’s summer tour and subsequent reports of band turmoil. “Truth be known, I jumped off the stage on purpose,” he jokes at first. “Figured we hadn’t gotten any new press in so long.” But then Tyler got serious.

How’s your health?
I’ve been better. I’ve got my arm in a sling [from a broken shoulder]. I’m on all the drugs I’m not supposed to be on. But I’m dealing with the pain pretty good.

What happened that night?
I don’t really know. There was a torrential downpour and the guys [at the campground] said, “Look, it’s still slippery.” I watched myself on YouTube, and it could have been my knee buckling or any ankle. The last thing I remember before I hit the ground was people grabbing for me, but they couldn’t reach me because of the barricade. At any other Aerosmith show I probably would’ve been caught and thrown back onto the stage — naked and without jewelry [laughs]. I stood up and couldn’t raise my arm and knew I’d broken something.

Were you sober?
As sober as you can be.

Care to comment on that clip on TMZ of you in a liquor store?
Oh, Jesus Christ. A good friend of mine and Joe’s — the brother of the guy who works on my house, my housekeeper — passed away. I was at the funeral. And after the funeral, they’re Italian and had a feast at the house, a wake, and I stopped at the liquor store and paid for the booze. I did not buy any for myself. It was never proven that I did. Some kid whipped out a phone and took a picture. Anything to sell papers. It was for the wake. I would do it over and over a million times.

How do you look back at Aerosmith’s cursed summer tour?
Every once in a while we gotta be human [laughs] and get Joe’s knee or Brad’s head or whatever done. I’m Italian and I don’t believe in talking about my bandmates. I’m just so pissed it was such a great tour. I had to ruin it all by falling and I’m sorry. I’ve said that to the fans and my band and everybody else. I fucked up. I get in the zone when I’m onstage. I don’t really have to explain anything. I love what I do. The world knows what I do. And I only hope they forgive me for having to cancel such a fucking awesome tour.

How do you respond to reports of dissent within the band?
Someone is leaking stuff, pretending to know, and you know, I don’t even care. Has the band done things to me where I’ve wanted to quit? Positively. But I’ve stuck in there for the sake of a few sounds we got. I respect the power this band has in and of itself regardless of who says what.

When did you last speak with the other guys?
Two days ago. Shit’s good. I’m not the leader. No one’s the leader, we’re just one for all, all for one. It’s probably why we’ve never quit. No one’s got enough money! We split it evenly.

But you have signed with a different management company than the band, and you’re working on a solo album.
I would imagine … I can’t tell you for sure, but I think there’s a little animosity that I went with another management agency. Which is for me to know and you to find out. I’m certainly not in outs with the guys. But look, I do what I do. The easiest thing in the world is to say he’s drunk or stoned. But what are you gonna do?

It just breaks my heart when a sponsee decides to go out. I mean it is a decision, a choice. No one pours that drink back in you or makes you swallow that pill, hit that pipe, or shoot that syringe. It is the insanity prior to taking that action that baffles me.

I thank my God on a daily basis for the willingness to keep an open mind, the desire to stay in the solution, and that the obsession to drink has been removed for the past eleven years now. In working with others I find myself fulfilled and also engaged in making a difference in someone else's life. Where did that come from? I was a seriously selfish and isolating individual for years and years.

This is not saying that for years prior to getting sober and being in recovery I did not relapse time after time on my own. I mean please, make note of the fact that it was on my own. Sure it was with Dave, we both tried... but it was without any guidance and support. The 12 Steps have changed my life forever.

I know in my heart that I cannot keep anyone sober and I cannot get anyone drunk or to use. It is their choice. I just need to continue to work my Program to the best of my ability, listen to my sponsor, and to be of service for those who need and want me. I will remain an example that this works for when and if they choose to come back and live a life that is happy, joyous and free.