I think it is great that John is taking time out of his schedule to help out with a project like this. I have no idea if he knew her but I do know that he has received treatment for his own addictions, which is what I assume part of his motivation is. Strangely enough, this fact about John and treatment for alcohol and drugs seems to be not always common knowledge within the fanbase as I continue to see questions tweeted to John related to drinking, in particular. Some of the questions I have seen are things like, “what is your favorite cocktail” or “what kind of wine do you like”. Even last week, after Simon talked about having a hangover, I saw a question to John about whether or not he, too, had one. As someone who observes fandom, I have to wonder why some people aren’t aware of this. Perhaps, they were thinking back to the 80s when most of us, I believe, were unaware. Maybe, it is because they aren’t like me in that I try to know everything I can about my favorite band. Some might even say that they have seen John drinking.
I think most fans in the 1980s were unaware of the extent to John’s drug and alcohol habits. I saw many, many interviews “back in the day” and never knew. Honestly, I think some of this was because I was a kid. I didn’t know what someone who was drunk or high would look like! I wasn’t around that at all! Yet, looking back at some of the interviews that I KNOW my parents saw, I have to wonder why they didn’t say anything. I watch some of those interviews now and it seems clear to me that John and the others weren’t always clean and sober. Did I just blindly believe what I read in print interviews as most of those had Duran denying their partying?! I think that is definitely possible. I also think it was possible that I didn’t really care as long as it didn’t mess up the band! Yet, the kid excuse doesn’t work today as most of us fans are far away from being kids. Do you think people don’t know that John has worked hard to be clean and sober and stay that way because they don’t care?
It is possible that some fans don’t really care if any of them drink or do drugs. Maybe those fans are just concerned about the music. That’s fair. Yet, I can’t seem those same fans, then, asking questions about John’s alcohol intake if they just focus on the music. Okay, so maybe it isn’t that they focus just on the music but that they don’t try to find everything about the band. That could be. Yet, if they have been following John’s twitter, they would have seen those same questions I have seen and would have seen that John refrains from alcohol. Of course, maybe they don’t read every tweet of his. That’s possible.
Some people, however, will claim that they have seen John drink in the last ten years. Okay. That may be possible. I don’t know. I am not around John, which really is too bad but another story completely. Even if that is true, I don’t understand the point in telling people this. What good does that do? Does it help John? If John is trying to remain clean and sober, which I have to believe based on everything he has said in the last decade, does making that statement help with that goal? What if John fell off the wagon once or twice? Does mentioning it help him get back on and stay there? I don’t think it does. I think that we, as fans, should support him in this very difficult task. We shouldn’t do anything that would undermine that, which would include mentioning if he did have a drink, in my opinion.
Personally, I think John should be proud of his personal accomplishments when it comes to sobriety and I think he should be proud for trying to help others with theirs. I think that the fans should do what we can to support both.
-A
I can only speak for myself, being a 12 stepper and really working on recovery at the moment, I can tell that John is the real deal. He has dm'd me on twitter about sobriety, he responds during interviews or appearances to offers or mentions of alcohol in a way that shows he does not care if it is awkward or not. He is obviously (to me, anyway) working the program. I wonder if a club soda in a glass could be mistaken for a vodka? I am please for his work with the Amy Winehouse Foundation. His response to her death was very genuine as well. He was clearly rocked and disturbed by it. I am sure he gets the whole 'there but for the grace of God go I” thing.
I have seen other celebrities touting their recovery, it is pretty obvious to us other addicts who is serious and who isn't. I would also like to point out that John was not a very functioning addict at the end. He would not be this healthy or doing this well if he were using. We all know, too, that you cannot indulge 'just a bit' if you were once an addict. You wind up right back in hell where you were before.
So that is why I am sure that John does not drink. Thanks for the post, thought provoking and insightful as alway!
Hello, is the first time I write, and I do because it hurts really a fan say that John drinks. I follow everything he does and says is sincere in all your answers, and I think it's impossible to drink a little and does not fall into the hell of alcohol. It has become a healthy person who eats healthy and play sports at his age if he were still with their old habits, would no longer be among us. We will never know who's in your glass when at a party but I'm sure it's not alcohol. And I thank God for it, keep it clean and healthy for many years. Sorry for my English
Ok JT is an amazing bass player and gorgeous. We all know that.
He is also a humane, kind, humble and incredibly compassionate person (both to himself and others). Watching his strength at staying on target and his self belief has actually helped me achieve some of my own goals in life.
Amanda- I won't be so kind as you. Even time I see someone ask John about drinking, I want to reach through the screen and slap them upside the head! John handles each question with class and grace and an amazing amount of patience. Like others said, a glass of club soda at a bar can easily be mistaken for alcohol. John has been a model of sobriety and I have a deep respect for him for doing so. – Michduran
Who the heck are these haters who spread filth? I suppose there will always be sh*t disturbers. I have to agree with anonymous, above; if you ask John a question on Twitter, research before you sound like a redundant fool.
John is a sensitive, heart-on-sleeve wearing, honest soul. He has shown so much depth over the course of his successful sobriety that I respect him more than ever.
I've had someone actually tell me that they've seen John with red wine at a bar within the last 5 years, never mind 10.
My answer is always the same – how DARE we assume anything, and how DARE we think we have the right to then go out and spread that news around as though it's some sort of juicy bit of gossip. It disgusts me. Seriously, it's none of my damn business as to what he does on his own time, and I'm kind of astounded that fans think it's our job to make sure he's telling the truth and then be completely rude about it when we don't think that he is. The key there is that “we don't think”.
I guess I just see where my boundaries are a as a fan – and I don't know the guy on a personal level, definitely not enough to feel comfortable calling him on the carpet with regard to anything but their music. – R
I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who is annoyed by any “fan” that in one way or another does not support John's effort to remain clean and sober. Makes me wonder what they think they are getting out of telling people about John's supposed drinking. Do they think they will gain status because they know something that other people don't or that they want to point out that they were in the same room as him. I just don't get it.
-A
Totally agree with R. Well said.
John's continued efforts to remain clean & sober are part of the reason I hold him so dear. He has truly worked hard at achieving his happiness and success, and I think the large majority of fans support him in that. I don't understand the people who want to spread rumors about him drinking. If he doesn't offer you a sip from his glass you don't KNOW what's in it. And I seriously doubt if he could have ONE drink, or a FEW drinks. It doesn't work that way for addicts. He's clearly a very healthy guy and he wouldn't be if he was drinking or doing anything else. He's even quit smoking now. . .
He's also been involved in the Road Recovery program (roadrecovery.com), which works with young people who have drug & alcohol problems.