Photo: Deryck Whibley
Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley has spoken out about how he feels 'lucky to be alive' after his battle his alcoholism.
Last year, the pop-punk star was admitted to hospital after heavy drinking led to his liver and kidneys collapsing - adding that if he had one more drink, he would die.
Now, speaking to Noisey, the 35-year-old 'Fat Lip' singer has revealed the extent to which the pressures of touring pushed him to drink.
"I drank to wake me up and get that fake energy," he said. "There were a lot of times I didn't even want to drink, but I was so tired that shots of Jack were all I could do to get on stage."
He continued: "The doctors said I was lucky to be alive and that there was still a chance I could die. I do look back and think about how much worse it could have been. I could have had way more health problems than I had, but my liver is fine!"
Speaking of te severity of his condition, he said: "Everything shut down before any more damage could happen. To walk out of there alive, without cirrhosis or needing transplants... you know, it could have been worse."
Of his recovery, Whibley said: "I think it was the right time in my life for it to happen.I'm glad it happened now and not when I'm like, 50, because my body wouldn't have been able to handle it. But it's unfortunate that it had to even come to that."
Photographed on a walk in Los Angeles with his fiancee and a friend, who were holding his hands in support, the Sum 41 frontman looked incredibly thin and ill at the time of his treatment.
Sum 41 singer Deryck Whibley steps out looking frail - http://t.co/Ge01yj9uuJ pic.twitter.com/RJe1Dw8PvQ
— Semyon Kogan (@semkogan) May 20, 2014
Deryck Whibley (lead singer from @sum41) before and after some hardcore alcohol abuse. Hope he fully recovers :( #yyc pic.twitter.com/I6KPWDM0rN
— Crackmacs (@Crackmacs) May 20, 2014
Sum 41's Deryck Whibley was recently hospitalised. Kerrang! wish him a speedy recovery. http://t.co/KSUkamwgd6 pic.twitter.com/5oPQYjecR4
— Kerrang! Magazine (@KerrangMagazine) May 19, 2014
Speaking on Deryckwhibley.net in a post entitled Rock Bottom at the time of his hospitalisation, he apologised to fans for his month long absence but also took the time to explain the extent of his alcohol abuse and the effect that it has had on him.
"I've been very sick in the hospital for a month and was pretty sick for a few weeks leading up to my trip to the hospital. The reason I got so sick is from all the hard boozing I've been doing over the years. It finally caught up to me. I was drinking hard every day," he wrote.
"I finally realized I can't drink anymore," he said after explaining how his fiance drove him to hospital after he collapsed. "If I have one drink the doc's say I will die. I'm not preaching or anything but just always drink responsibly."
It's not all doom and gloom however for the Sum 41 singer as he wrote that he had been feeling inspired to write music again. "Anyway I have my passion and inspiration back for writing music," he added. "I already have a few song ideas for new songs. Soon it will be time to start making an album and getting back to touring again."
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