Billy Idol Embraces A New Lifestyle, He Says He’s “California Sober”
In a candid conversation with PEOPLE, Billy Idol opened up about his journey with substances and his transformation into what he calls “California sober” at the age of 68.
Reflecting on a pivotal moment in his life, the iconic White Wedding singer, recounted a 1990 motorcycle accident that nearly cost him his leg. It was this brush with mortality that spurred him to reassess his relationship with drugs. “I really started to think I should try and go forward and not be a drug addict anymore and stuff like that,” he revealed, acknowledging the profound impact the accident had on his perspective.
Over the years, Billy has undergone a remarkable transformation, shedding the identity of his drug-addicted past.
“It took a long time, but gradually I did achieve some sort of discipline where I’m not really the same kind of guy I was in the ’80s. I’m not the same drug addicted person,” he stated.
While acknowledging the lingering label bestowed by programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, he attests to his newfound discipline.
“I mean, AA would say, ‘You’re always a drug addict.’ And that may be true, but I don’t do anything that much anymore. I got over it somehow. I was really lucky that I could get over it because a lot of people can’t.”
Despite his past struggles, Billy now finds himself in a place of moderation and balance. “I can have a glass of wine every now and again. I don’t have to do nothing. But at the same time, I’m not the drug addict that I was in the peak ’70s, ’80s,” he said.
This newfound equilibrium, the singer attributes to the support of his sober friends, including bandmates like Steve Stevens and Billy Morrison.
“A lot of my friends from the old days are sober. [My guitarist] Steve Stevens is sober and [guitarist/singer] Billy Morrison in my band is sober. There are people around me who are sober. That helps a lot,” he shared.
Describing his lifestyle as “California sober,” Billy elucidated his approach to self-imposed boundaries. “I just tell myself I can do what I want, but then I don’t do it. If I tell myself I can’t do anything, I want to do it. So I tell myself, ‘You can do anything you like.’ But I don’t actually do it,” he revealed.
Acknowledging his fortune in navigating this path, Billy remains cognizant of the individual nature of recovery. “Not everyone can be ‘California sober,'” he acknowledged, expressing gratitude for his unique journey and the lessons it has imparted.
