DISTURBED bassist John Moyer marked a significant personal milestone on May 2 — one year of complete sobriety. The 52-year-old musician shared a candid video message on social media, opening up about a battle that spanned decades.
"Today I am one year with no drinking, no alcohol. It's a big deal for me," Moyer said. "I have been a lifelong drinker since I was a teenager. It seems like it was tied up with every part of my life, my social circles, my professional life."
Moyer was unflinching about the vicious cycle he found himself in: "I was drinking to escape the problems that were happening from me drinking. It's a weird, vicious, terrible cycle." He credited reaching a decisive breaking point a year ago as the catalyst for change.
The transformation has been profound. "I didn't realize how much I was holding myself back," he admitted. "And the bigger part is growing from it." Moyer also addressed others in the metal and rock community who may be fighting similar battles: "If you are struggling, there is life on the other side. There is a better world. There is a better place, and I'm proof of it."
Moyer has been the bassist for DISTURBED — one of heavy metal and hard rock's most commercially successful acts — since 2002. The band has sold over 17 million records worldwide. His openness about addiction and recovery adds an important human dimension to a community that has long grappled with substance issues.