Westerberg/Replacements on moderation and why it doesn't work
 

I found this quote the other day in an interview with Paul Westerberg, who was in the Replacements. For those who don't know, they were an 80s/90s rock band that was well known for performing drunk. Needless to say, the alcoholism eventually caught up with Paul and, without making a big production about it, he stopped drinking. This quote is from when he was confronted after relapsing while on tour a couple years ago that I thought was a good assessment of the futility of trying to "moderate" drinking:

"If you ever fool yourself into moderation as an option, it prolongs it but it doesn’t cure it. I was like, ‘I’ll have two glasses of wine.’ Then it turned into every night and suddenly my head is a little foggy and I’m not thinking as straight as I used to. It creeps up on ya.”

Thanks for sharing that OOTT.

D

Okay, I've spent the last few hours with the Replacements playing in my head and I've not played an album in years. Thanks ?

You're welcome, star3
I hope it won't be a trigger for you. A lot of songs were at first, but I learned to deal with it. Now even the booziest song or tunes I associated with times I was drunk don't have any effect on me.

Truer words were never spoken.

Not a trigger at all, I just hate having music stuck in my head... Or maybe it's just that I didn't choose it. I do like playing DJ. lol

At least it's good music! :)

I won't post it but Here Comes A Regular was my theme song for a long time.

D

Love me some Replacements, one of my very favorite 80s bands. You can tell from Westerberg's lyrics to Here Comes a Regular that he knows the score.

Songs involving alcohol and drugs have no effect on me except to remind me of what used to be a part of my daily life.

I didn't know these guys intentionally got drunk before shows.

I actually got to see the Replacments live a long time ago, and intentionally got drunk before the show myself. Back in my late teens there was a small club in the town I lived that hosted several of the punk/alternative bands of that era - Black Flag, the Replacments, Soul Asylum, etc. I got drunk before every single one of them too....wish I knew then what I knew now, just like Mr. Westerburg.

It's nice to hear about someone who made it out vs. the ones who didn't ( Layne Stayley, Scott Weiland, Jim Morrison, the list is way too long to put here ).

I just learned that there's a 2016 book called Trouble Boys: The True Story of The Replacements, written by Bob Mehr. It's gotten great reviews. I just reserved a copy at my library, can't wait to read it.

I'm halfway through it now, highly recommended! Those Stinson brothers really had it rough growing up. Westerberg is a fascinating character as well. When they got started, he was working as a janitor after he dropped out of of high school. He used to brag there wasn't a high school diploma or driver's license in the entire band.

Thanks!!! Big reader here so I will check it out.

bump.

A lot of heavy drinkers i know have successfully moderated for various reasons, family, job, health, hobby, age etc. I'm definitely in the camp of people who can't and won't moderate because i can't think of anything worse than having 2 drinks and stopping!!

I hope no one minds if I bump this. I think this bit of commentary on the futility of moderation is always useful.
It's weird, but I really relate to recovery stories by musicians . . . no matter who you are, addiction doesn't play favorites. I think it must be really hard for musicians because there's so many people willing to exploit them for the sake of a buck or for entertainment....record companies, managers, tour sponsors, even fans. . . .so it's great to see people like Joe Walsh and Tom Waits who are in recovery.

I’m not saying this is wrong, but I’ve never heard of anyone genuinely moderating after being heavy drinkers. I looked at medical and academic papers on this, and they all reported relapses after several months of even years. I’d be very wary of these success stories.

I know a “former” heavy drinker who keeps to the U.K. recommendation of 14 units (about 7 beers) a week, but when he finishes with weekly quota, usually by day 3, he’s an anxious wreck until the new week starts. If that’s moderation for a heavy drinker, no thanks.

I'm a Tom Waits fan. I didn't know he is in recovery. Thanks for the information.
Failed moderator here. I was sober, really more like abstinent, for 4 plus years. I like to think that now I am embracing recovery. Early days.

I never got to see The Replacements live, but I heard plenty about their "eventful" shows. Glad Paul was able to get help, and stay alive!