Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has spoken candidly about his battle to get his life back together in the aftermath of his drug addiction, admitting, “I lost everything”.
The singer has endured numerous stints in rehab over the last few years, and most recently sought treatment in 2009 to address his dependence on painkillers. The 65-year-old has now opened up about his struggles in a new interview on The Dr Oz Show, insisting drugs ruined his life.
“My sobriety cost me nothing less than everything. I lost everything. It’s serious. It’s serious when you lose your kids, your children, your wife, your band, your job and you’ll never understand why because you’re an addict. You can’t figure that out.
“Two of them (my children) never saw me high until about seven years ago. I had a bunch of operations and simply didn’t follow my program, and I kept the drugs by the side of my bed so I just did more instead of doing what was prescribed.
Remember I’m a very good drug addict because I’ve done it for so many years,” he said.
Tyler’s last battle with drugs was triggered by a stage fall in 2009, which prompted the band to cancel a number of tour dates, and his future with Aerosmith was subsequently cast into doubt as he briefly walked away from group. (PTI)