Famous Rock Bands That Are Sober

While there are many songs about drug addiction, songs about alcoholism, and songs about addiction recovery they are all heartfelt tales about what people have been through. While rock stars are known for their hard-partying ways, there are also musicians who are now known for their recovery. Most of the songs on the radio now are laden with drug references; many rock bands are sober and have been in long-term recovery for decades. We’ve compiled a list of bands that aren’t writing songs about drug addiction and alcoholism anymore. Make a playlist of these bands for the gym, to listen to while you’re doing step work or a BBQ mix! Check out GateHouse’s recovery playlist that we’ve made with the artist in this list and more.

Sir Elton John and his Sobriety

Elton John is one of the most celebrated musicians in the world. Elton John was in active drug addiction and alcoholism heavily during the 80s, and it took him 16 years to say he needed help. He struggled for almost 2 decades to open up and say that he needed help because he thought that since he had a successful life, that he wasn’t “that bad.”

Two huge turning points caused John to get help and reach out for recovery. The first turning point was the death of Ryan White. Ryan White was an Indiana teenager who contracted AIDS from a tainted blood transfusion. When that happened, it helped Elton realize that he was doing nothing to help those struggling with HIV/AIDS and that he needed to do something as an openly gay man who had many friends dying from AIDS-related health problems. Elton also had a partner who had gone to treatment and that helped him realize that he had a problem as well and needed help.

Elton John has been sober for over 2 decades now. He has said that finding his sobriety and entering treatment: “was the best thing I ever did…But, you know, those three words – I need help. If only I’d said them earlier.”

Nikki Sixx from Motley Crüe

Nikki Sixx and Motley Crüe were poster children for rock n’ roll excess in their early years. Addiction and alcoholism ran rampant throughout their bandmates and friends at the time. Nikki Sixx was often looked at as the “problem child” of Motley Crüe. His descent into and rise out of active addiction and alcoholism were also documented in his book, “The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star.” Sixx was famously pronounced dead for 2 minutes after a heroin overdose. While Sixx has written many songs about drug addiction, he has completely changed his life since the days of the Heroin Diaries.

Sixx has gone on to become a recovery advocate, he has opened a program for runaway and at-risk kids and continues to express himself through music. Sixx is about to celebrate 17 years of continuous sobriety. Sobriety has given him the opportunity to be a father and a person who isn’t scared to be alone in his mind anymore.

David Bowie, Ziggy Stardust and Major Tom

David Bowie made a huge impact on music, through his many personas and characters he invented for himself, he embodied them fully. His style from his music, to his clothes and hairstyles, constantly changed. Many of his persona changes were all in a whirlwind of addiction and alcoholism. There were times when Bowie lost himself “the first – ‘emotionally and spiritually’ – in the Seventies when he became mired in drug-sodden isolation.”

Bowie got sober in the late 70s and maintained his sobriety until he lost his battle with cancer and passed away in early 2016. Bowie has helped many other musicians step into sobriety or at least offered them his experience, strength, and hope until they came out on the other side of addiction.

Welcome to the Jungle: Slash of Guns n’ Roses

Slash born Saul Hudson in London, England. Slash has been listed as one of the top guitarists of all time on multiple lists. Slash rose to fame very quickly in the late 80s with the band Guns N’ Roses, and his addiction rose just as quickly. While Guns N’ Roses had many songs about drug addiction such as ‘Mr. Brownstone,” Slash later documented his entire life and his addiction in his autobiography. His autobiography is “Slash” and chronicles his life from the beginning, to when the book was released in 2007.

From childhood experimentation to his crippling heroin and cocaine addiction where he was hallucinating and couldn’t function in daily life, it has been documented in his book. One of the most prominent points of his book was when Slash had finally quit heroin but switched his addiction to alcohol. Switching addictions is a spot where many struggling to find sobriety have experienced.

Slash has been sober since 2006 after a brief relapse on prescription pills, he continues to make music and is a father and a husband today.

While countless other rock stars and musicians have achieved long-term sobriety, this is just a short list. If you are ready to turn your life around and chase your sobriety, call us today at 855-448-3638. You can live a life beyond your wildest dreams; we can help you get there.