Matt McGee ([email protected])
Sat, 14 Nov 1998 00:48:23 -0800
An interesting article, albeit a brief recap of what must be a heavy
interview in Hot Press. Have a copy of Hot Press on the way, but hopefully
someone in a bigger city (New York/Boston) can pick up the new HP at a good
newsstand and transcribe the whole article for us. <hint, hint> :-)
The doctor's "mouthguard/face mask" that Adam wore on the PopMart Tour was
his symbol of being clean - "none of that stuff allowed in the mouth
anymore" kind of thing. I think the fact that he wore this for every show
over an 11-month period as a way of reminding himself and helping himself
stay sober is a testimony to just how strong that addiction can be. I'll be
curious to see if this is discussed in the full Hot Press story. In any
case, let's all hope he stays cleans and on the right track!
Here's the story. Hope everyone has a good weekend!
Matt
------------------------------
The Mirror
November 12, 1998, Thursday
HEADLINE: I'm Rock's Mr Clean; U2's Adam Beats Battle With Booze
BYLINE: Neil Michael
U2 bass player Adam Clayton has beaten his battle against drink and drugs.
After years of struggling against the effects of his much publicised rock
'n' roll lifestyle, he admitted: "I was an addict but I'm completely clean
now."
And the musician, whose boozing nearly led the band to split, even said he
has given up partying.
It is the first time Clayton has spoken so openly about the problems he has
faced in the band over the years.
"I am one of those characters that has an addictive personality," he said.
"It's an emotional problem as much as it is a physical one and I had to
start dealing with that.
"The avoiding substances of any kind is hard but, okay, it's not that hard.
It's facing the devil inside you, that's the tricky bit."
Clayton, who was busted for drugs and drink-related offences, admits in Hot
Press magazine that failing to turn up for the Sydney leg of the 1994 Zoo
Tour of Australia was a "bad moment". He said: "It was one of those
mornings you wish you'd never woken up.
"Again a lot of very complex emotions, and to some extent it was about
letting down the other guys in the band and the audience. But in many ways,
it was actually the effect it has on yourself, of letting yourself down or
realising that you've crossed a line and saying that it's not acceptable.
"I did examine what it was all about and it was not a very nice conclusion
that I came to."
And he added: "There are members in the band who seem to be able to cope
quite easily without sleep, with a large amount of alcohol inside them.
They seem to be fine but I just wasn't one of those people."
So desperate was Clayton to give up on drink that he even lived in New York
for a time where he believed the temptation to drink was not as strong.
While there he was said to have spent most of his time reading, exercising
and making music. The superstar also joined Alcoholics Anonymous to help
him beat his drinking problems. But it was only after the rest of the band
gave him an ultimatum that he decided to get his act together once and for
all.
Clayton also blamed booze for the highly-publicised break up between
himself and ex-fiancee Naomi Campbell.
_________________________________
Matt McGee / [email protected]
@U2 Web Page Curator
http://www.atu2.com
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