Mild Mannered Moby Admits Alcoholism And Addiction

When I think of boozy drug addled rock stars, images of Nikki Sixx with needles hanging out of his arm, Scott Weiland in handcuffs, and Amy Winehouse disheveled and emaciated come to mind; but not light spoken uber geek and famous vegan Richard Melville Hall, better known as ambient music master Moby.  But as we all know, addiction is an equal opportunity affliction and Mr. Moby has opened up about his struggles with drug addiction and alcoholism in a recent interview with People Magazine.

I’m clean and sober now, but I’ve spent most of my adult life not being that. What fascinates me about addiction and obsessive behaviour is that people would choose an altered state of consciousness that’s toxic and ostensibly destroys most aspects of your normal life, because for a brief moment you feel okay. It’s a response to the human condition that, when it works, is incredibly effective. I think it’s really odd when people ostracize addicts, and someone says, “That dirty alcoholic,” or “That dirty drug addict,” when all they’re trying to do is get through the next 48 hours and not feel terrible.

I couldn’t agree more.  Here’s the first video from his new album ”Destroyed” , in which an Angel slays the demon of addiction (well, that’s my take on it).

Moby factoid – Herman Melville was his great-great-great-granduncle and the nickname Moby was given to him by his parents.