Disturbed bassist John Moyer has officially reached a major personal milestone, celebrating one full year of sobriety. On Saturday, May 2, the 52-year-old musician posted a heartfelt video message on his social media accounts, reflecting on his lifelong struggles with alcohol and the crucial intervention from his bandmates that ultimately helped save his life and career.
“ Happy Saturday, May 2nd,” John Moyer began in his video. “So today is actually a really special day for me on a personal level that I wanna share with you guys. Today I am one year with no drinking, no alcohol. It’s a big deal for me.”
The bassist was very open about how long the addiction had been a part of his reality, noting the heavy drinking culture that often surrounds the music industry.
“I have been a lifelong drinker since I was a teenager,” he admitted. “It seems like it was tied up with every part of my life, my social circles, my professional life.”
He went on to detail his specific breaking point, which occurred during the band’s recent tour celebrating their iconic debut album, The Sickness. His drinking had escalated to a point where the rest of Disturbed had to step in and demand he get clean.
“Rock and roll and metal music and being a musician has a very complicated relationship with dr*gs and alcohol. And I’ve had a very complicated relationship with dr*gs and alcohol. And a year ago, I reached a point where… I had been wanting to quit for a while, but I reached a point where I was in a situation, and it was in the middle of the ‘The Sickness [25th Anniversary] Tour‘. The first half of the tour I was drinking a lot, and my behavior was becoming erratic and I wasn’t the person I wanted to be. And I was struggling. And we took a break in the middle of that tour — it was, like, a week- or week-and-a-half-long break between the first leg and the second leg — and it had become clear to me that my bandmembers were worried about me. And they basically said, ‘Listen, for this second half of the tour, we need you to clean up and maybe get some help after the tour’s over.’ And that was a big wake-up call for me. I took it very seriously, and when I went back out on the road, my very first show was in Seattle, and that was the first show in as long as I can remember that I didn’t drink after the show. I never really drank that much before the show — maybe a shot or two, which when you’re drinking a lot of alcohol, that’s not much. But after the show was when I would really let it go. And so that first show in Seattle was the first show I had done in a long, long time — I mean, maybe ever — that I didn’t drink at all. Maybe there was a time period before, maybe a month that I had taken off, like in 2008, but to seriously not drink, it was a big deal. It was a little scary, and I was nervous on stage. I didn’t have that alcohol crutch, I guess. I’m not sure what it was. I was very raw. I had been a week or 10 days clean or so, so it was tough, but it was good. And I remember the show very well, and I remembered every show since then very well. And it has been a journey and a process of self-reflection, of accountability, and of trying to be a better person. And I am so much happier with my life now.”
Looking back, Moyer realizes the massive toll the addiction was taking on his mental health, his self-image, and his ability to connect with fans. By speaking out publicly, he hopes to encourage anyone else who might be dealing with similar substance abuse issues to get clean.
“I didn’t realize how much I was holding myself back,” he continued. “I was drinking to escape the problems that were happening from me drinking. It’s a weird, vicious, terrible cycle. And I was happy that I’ve been able to break it. And the bigger part is grow from it. And the reason I’m sharing this is not because I’m looking for congratulations or anything like that, but I feel like it’s important that if anyone out there is struggling with alcohol and dr*g abuse, that if I can beat it, I truly believe anyone can beat it. And there is help out there for you. And if you are looking for what I have, you can message me, and maybe I can get you on the right path, maybe I can help you. Maybe you’re curious as to how I was able to do it, because it’s not easy for a lot of people. And I had to find a way, but I found it, and I’m a much happier person for it. And my family’s happier for it, my friends are happier for it, my bandmembers are happier for it. And now I can engage with you guys as fans in a way that I was never able to do before, because I was just not happy with myself, with the way I looked. I wasn’t confident. I’m not sure — there was a whole lot of things that go on with it, and that’s a big reason why you’re seeing me on social media so much more now, because I feel like I have something to offer. And I love it. And I have love in my heart and love for you guys, and it’s a different world for me. And I’m very thankful to have this opportunity.”
He concluded his message with an uplifting reminder that recovery is entirely possible.
“If you are struggling, there is life on the other side,” he added. “There is a better world. There is a better place, and I’m proof of it.”
He concluded: So, happy one-year sobriety to myself. I will take that. And I’m looking forward to this next chapter in my life of continued sobriety, and I am so thankful to share it all with you.”
