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Madness Frontman Suggs Announces Sobriety After Decades-Long Struggle with Alcoholism
Graham McPherson, known widely as Suggs, the frontman of iconic band Madness, has publicly announced his decision to quit drinking following a candid discussion about his battle with alcoholism. The 64-year-old musician revealed that he has contended with excessive drinking for over 40 years, but has now resolved to embrace sobriety.
Suggs Opens Up About Alcohol Dependence in Radio Interview
In a frank conversation on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Headliners show, Suggs openly discussed his challenges. “I’ve often made light of it, but it became a serious issue,” he admitted. “It was indeed alcoholism, a difficult thing to acknowledge. I was a heavy drinker, functioning at times, dysfunctional at others.”
Speaking to Nihal Arthanayake, he elaborated, “When excessive drinking takes hold, it eclipses everything else. My focus narrowed to solely getting drunk, neglecting other interests and responsibilities. Eventually, my family gently pointed out my over-reliance.”
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Turning Point and Seeking Professional Help
The celebrated 80s singer, whose band Madness boasts 17 top ten hits, recounted his turning point: “I consulted an addiction therapist who advised a straightforward course of action: ‘You must stop.’ It’s a delicate boundary between social drinking and problematic drinking that threatens to derail your life, which was the path I was heading down.”
Suggs further explained that age played a factor in his decision, noting, “Physiologically, one can no longer handle the quantities of alcohol consumed in younger years. The hangovers became debilitating, effectively erasing two days at a time.”
He reflected, “I managed to avoid severely negative and destructive behaviors, but the tipping point was when alcohol gained priority over everything and everyone else. That’s the reality I was facing.”
Reaction to Sobriety and Impact on Mental Health
Revealing he has been sober for a couple of months, the singer humorously described the reaction from his circle of friends and local community in London. “It caused quite a stir,” he joked.
“In jest, there was a mock day of mourning declared by the local pubs and off-licenses. They staged a procession, clad in black, featuring a large beer bottle in a hearse with ‘RIP’ on it, driving past my house. It was all in good humor, but highlighted the change.”
Suggs also shared that his problematic drinking had adverse effects on his mental health. “Continuing to drink prevents you from understanding your true conscious and subconscious state.”
Touring Sober and Embracing a New Chapter
The ‘Baggy Trousers’ vocalist is preparing to embark on a tour with Madness, commencing in Sacramento on May 14th. The band is scheduled for performances and festival appearances across Europe and the UK throughout June and July.
Addressing the prospect of touring sober, Suggs remarked, “This tour will be a first for me, which is quite intriguing. Many band members are aware, and some have also reduced their drinking habits recently.”
“At 64, witnessing contemporaries in the industry, many of whom have also ceased drinking around the age of 60, it feels like a fortunate juncture. It’s a kind of fresh start, without being overly self-righteous about it.”