PAPA ROACH singer Jacoby Shaddix is celebrating twelve years of sobriety. Earlier today, Shaddix shared on social media: “Grateful…. Today, Feb 19th, marks 12 years free from alcohol. I am humbled and grateful. Thanks to all the people that have supported me on this journey.”
In a November 2020 interview with “Emo Nite Radio,” Shaddix reflected on how his rock and roll lifestyle almost cost him his family. “It wasn’t till I went on tour for [PAPA ROACH’s 2000 album] ‘Infest’ that the alcoholic lifestyle really took over,” he said. “We wanted to rage, and we had people that co-signed it. I thought I was in the ’80s for a couple of years.”
When asked if he misses his drinking days, Jacoby responded: “I had a lot of great times and a lot of not-so-great times. The volatility within that really messed me up. I wasn’t good to myself, my wife, or the people closest to me. I destroyed hotels and was not a good guy.”
On whether staying sober gets easier or harder over time, Jacoby said: “[It’s] way easier. It’s not an option for me anymore. Not to sound dark, but I’d rather put a gun in my mouth than a drink. The drink is a slow way to a miserable, lonely death. There’s so much in this world that inspires me: music, creativity, friendships, spirituality, family, my children, my band. When something’s wrong, I’ve got to figure that out.”
Three years ago, Shaddix revealed on the “Hardcore Humanism With Dr. Mike” podcast that he had a slip-up during the pandemic. “I fell off the wagon and was smoking pot,” he admitted. “I got caught up, depressed, and stuck. I wasn’t working an active recovery program and found myself with a joint. It’s legal in California and medicine to some, but not to me. Any mind-altering substance isolates me from the world and the potential of who I can become, putting me in a space of inaction. That’s not a good place for me to be.”
