DMC Channels Sobriety Into New Stage Project

DMC is popping his private battles with dependancy and melancholy right into a inventive mission with “Rock Bottom: The Musical”—a growing stage manufacturing that goals to problem the stigma round psychological well being and substance abuse. The Run-DMC icon, now 60, says the present attracts from his personal restoration journey and is supposed to assist others discover power by means of storytelling.

“Rock Bottom is a musical about recovery, addiction and sobriety,” DMC stated in an interview with WBZ NewsRadio 1030. “I was approached to participate by Simon Kirk, one of the most incredible drummers and musicians in the history of music from Free and Bad Company.”

A Cast With Shared Experience

The manufacturing’s lineup contains artists who’ve confronted their very own struggles, resembling Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton, comic Tony V and musician Woody G. For DMC, the collaboration is about greater than music—it’s about breaking silence.

“We’re doing this musical to destroy and eradicate the stigma associated with addiction,” he stated.

A Life Behind the Mic and within the Shadows

Even as music/run-dmc-hip-hop-50.html”>Run-DMC helped outline Eighties Hip-Hop, DMC was privately battling alcoholism and melancholy. He has spoken overtly about suicidal ideas and a religious disaster that continued regardless of his fame.

“I’m DMC from the hip hop group Run DMC, who walked this way with Adidas to tell the world how tricky life could be. But I’m also an alcoholic, suicidal, metaphysical, spiritual wreck even though I was DMC,” he stated.

A Turning Point at 35

DMC’s lowest second got here when he found he was adopted, a revelation that deepened his melancholy. A dialog with one other adoptee helped him notice he wasn’t alone.

“It wasn’t until I met another adoptee who made me realize, oh, I’m not the only adopted person in this world. I knew I wasn’t alone,” he stated. “Then I started thinking I might not be the only depressed person in this world.”

That second led him to hunt skilled assist and start remedy, which he now calls “the most gangster thing” in Hip-Hop.

“If you removed guilt and shame from the situation, you remove the pain of going through it,” he stated. “Don’t be ashamed of being on meth. Don’t be ashamed of being abused, ashamed of being an alcoholic. We all been there. There’s a million people like you. You are not alone.”

Using His Platform to Speak Out

DMC has lengthy used his voice to boost consciousness about psychological well being. In his 2016 memoir, Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide, he detailed his struggles and urged others to hunt assist with out worry.

“No matter what it is that you’re going through, do not be ashamed to ask for help,” he stated. “You’re not weak, you’re not psycho. It’s no different from having a backache and gotta go to the chiropractor. It’s no different from having a toothache and gotta go to the dentist.”

Bridging Rock and Hip-Hop

DMC additionally mirrored on his group’s historic collaboration with Aerosmith on “Walk This Way,” which helped merge rock and Hip-Hop audiences.

“When Steven Tyler took that mike stand and knocked down the wall that was separating us in the video, people all over the world saw that didn’t just happen in the video. It happened in the world for real,” he stated.

music-and-what-s-next”>New music and What’s Next

DMC continues to mix genres. A brand new observe that includes Sebastian Bach, Travis Barker, Mick Mars and Duff McKagan is scheduled for launch in January.

“Rock Bottom: The Musical” remains to be in growth, with fundraising underway and no official launch date but. But for DMC, the purpose is obvious.

“Your story of struggle, just by talking about it, will save people’s lives,” he stated. “You gotta go take care of yourself so you can take care of your world.”

**You may catch DMC stay on October 18 at The third Annual Hip-Hop Cultural Summit on the Delaware Art Museum. Check out AllHipHop.com/summit for extra info.

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