During our recent chat with Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix about the band’s celebrations around new music and current anniversary tour, he dove deeper into his own struggles with addiction and how he has managed to keep positive through all of the highs and lows.
I’m Listening: Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach on when ‘enough is enough’
“I'd say it's not easy. It's a really tough step to just say, ‘I gotta make a step in the other direction,'” says Papa Roach’s Jacoby Shaddix, “‘cause, you know, I was spiraling and it wasn't an easy decision… I tried to control and enjoy my drinking for years, and I could never control and enjoy it. It always just got out of hand. It was like, all or nothing and that's kind of a reflection of who I am. So sometimes it's like, it's that hard decision of going, ‘enough.’ And, and I’d get to that point multiple times over, and then I fell off.”
He adds, “What I'd say is, that when you come to that point when enough is enough, just state that and then do it. It's a hard thing. And then if you fall off, get back on, ‘cause I'll be straight with you, when I first tried to get sober, it was 2004. 2004 was the first year that I tried to put the bottle down, and it took me until 2012 to finally just say ‘enough.’ So, from 2004 to 2012, I'd sobered up for a year and then I fell off for a week. I'd sober up for 6 months and then I'd go on a two day bender, then I would sober up for two years and then I would go on a month bender.”
“It was a long, hard road for me but I kept getting back on, and that's, I would say, my best advice,” says Jacoby. “Shoot for the stars and land on the moon, and when the going gets rough and you fall off, you gotta get back on, and you have to forgive yourself and be like, ‘You know what, I messed up, but I have to… I'm doing the right thing. I made a mistake, let me get back to doing the right thing.'"
“I think that I apply that in a lot of different areas in my life because I'm never gonna be perfect,” Shaddix admits. “I think the idea of us making a change in our lives and being perfect -- that's a hard thing to achieve. But I can say that there is one thing I've done perfect since 2012, is not pick up again. I think when you know, you know, and when enough is enough and I just, I got burnt by that flame so many times that I learned my lesson. I'm like, ‘I'm good, I'm cool. I'm good, straight up.’”
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Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988. Find a full list of additional resources here.
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