Rockers In Recovery - September 2012

September 2012

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Rockers in Recovery Magazine

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Rockers in Recovery Magazine

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INFO

CREDITS Publisher

Rockers In Recovery Radio Productions

Layout Design & Editor

Philip Salvagni

Ad Design

John Sullivan

Contributions by: John Hollis Liberty Devitto Ricky Byrd Jim Bevell Ben Brafman Siobhan A. Morse

Christine Ohlman Carol Harblin Florida House

CONTACT 954-826-4920 825 NE 12th Ave. Pompano Beach, FL 33060 www.rockersinrecovery.org john@rockersinrecovery.org

ADVERTISE WITH US! May 2012

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Rockers in Recovery Magazine

CONTENTS

FEATURE STORY Rockers In Recovery Music Festival 2012...................... 8

ARTICLES Music Fest Performers............................10 Interview: Billy J. Kramer.......................18 Interview: Jerry Shirley...........................22 Alcoholism & Addiction..........................26 Academy for Addiction Professionals...........................................28 National Institute for Holistic Addiction Studies....................................28 Soul Singing with Christine Ohlman.....30 Into Adulthood and Beyond with Dignity and Grace...................................34 Give a Little Bit........................................36 RIR Unplugged........................................38 The Florida House Experience...............40

EVENT CALENDAR Upcoming Events....................................42

DIRECTORY Business Directory..................................43 www.rockersinrecovery.org

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november 2-4, 2012

FEATURE STORY

C.B. Smith Park 900 N Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida, 33028

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ockers In Recovery Music Festival is a camp out for ALL people in recovery or who support the recovery movement. It will be held November 2-4, 2012 at C.B. Smith Park 900 N Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida, 33028, (15 minutes from Fort Lauderdale Airport). The entire festival will be closed to the public.

It’s a mini Woodstock, minus the drugs and alcohol, but add meetings and fellowship! It is being produced by Rockers In Recovery Inc., a not-for-profit corporation. Our mission since 2008 has been to lend support to musicians and music lovers who are in recovery or support recovery.

Rockers In Recovery is dedicated to music, news, interviews, events, and festivals taking place within the clean and sober community.

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Our Festival is promoting music, fun, and harmony among our fellows. There will be a 24-hour marathon-meeting tent for all fellowships and special interest meetings.

There will also be a children’s tent with crafts and activities all day. Food and recovery merchandise vendors will be on site as well.

We will have 20 bands playing on the main stage every hour through the weekend. An open mic party will be held on the main stage Sunday morning.

RIR Festival will be held in the area of C.B. Smith Park called The Concert Green.

Tickets are on sale now. See you there!

- Rockers In Recovery

Rockers in Recovery Magazine

Main Sponsor of Rockers In Recovery Music Festival:

Treatment Solutions

866-359-6320

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Rockers In Recovery

Music

Fest

performers

By John hollis Ricky Byrd is probably most closely identified with the monstrous power chords that helped define Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ platinum cover of “I Love Rock & Roll,” and ensure its eternal rotation daily throughout the universe. His blistering rhythms and soaring leads played equally powerful roles in the Blackhearts’ subsequent great hits.

ricky byrd Byrd remains eternally grateful for the opportunity to orbit the globe more frequently than the space shuttle and live out the “Number One with a Bullet” dream most mortals only fantasize about. But after a dozen years, it was time for a change.

And the confines of what Joni Mitchell has so poignantly called “the star making machinery” could never have satisfied, much less revealed, the soulful, complete musician and mature artist Byrd proves himself to be on what is, astoundingly, for a dude who’s been making major label albums for decades, his solo debut, Lifer.

Just to name a few, Byrd has recorded with or played with Ian Hunter, Joan Jett,Roger Daltrey, Mavis Staple, and Southside Johnny.

Ricky, a 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominee for his work with Joan Jett, is ready 10

to release his solo debut, Lifer. I have been privileged to hear cuts off the new album and I believe it will be a huge success.

Ricky’s skills as a musician and producer will shine once again, as always. « Christine Ohlman, "The Beehive Queen" – is the queen of blue-eyed rock n’ soul, who grew up loving equally, the sweetness of a Memphis horn line and the raunch of an electric guitar riff, whether played by Muddy Waters, Keith Richards, or Pop Staples. She teased her blonde hair into a beehive in honor of Ronnie Spector and never looked back, picking up a guitar and forging a career as a songwriter in the process. She’s the current, long-time vocalist with the Saturday Night Live Band, whose latest CD, 2010’s The Deep End, was honored on five national Top Ten lists and features special guests/duet partners Ian Hunter, Dion DiMucci, and Marshall Crenshaw, plus Levon Helm, GE Smith, Andy York, Eric “Roscoe” Ambel, Catherine Russell, Big Al Anderson and others.

christine ohlman Ohlman’s legendary voice and stage presence were featured on SNL’s 25th Anniversary telecast, Bob Dylan’s 30th Anniversary bash at The Garden (with George Harrison, Chrissie Hynde, and others), the 2009 Obama Inaugural Gala in Washington, D.C., The Lincoln Center “American Songbook” series with Sting,

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Lou Reed and Van Dyke Parks, and the Central Park Summerstage Tribute To Janis Joplin (where she fronted both Big Brother & The Holding Company and the Kozmic Blues Band).

This is just the tip of the iceberg of the Who’s Who The Beehive Queen has fronted for. Christine’s must listen to CD, The Deep End, is not only touching but is hard driven. « Richie Supa - An American songwriter and guitarist best known for his work with Aerosmith and Richie Sambora. A longtime friend of Aerosmith, he has made a number of musical contributions to the band and has offered moral support. He temporarily replaced Joe Perry when he left the band in 1979 until a replacement was found.

Additionally, he helped co-write several songs, including the hits, “Chip Away the Stone” (1978), “Lightning Strikes” (1982), “Amazing” (1993), and “Pink” (1997), among others.

richie supa Supa co-wrote most of the songs on Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora’s second solo album, Undiscovered Soul. He wrote the song “Misery” for the album Missundaztood

by Pink, on which Aerosmith’s singer Steve Tyler and Richie Sambora collaborated and co-wrote the song “My Interpretation” from Mika‘s debut album, Life in Cartoon Motion.

Richie also co-wrote "Back on Earth" for OZZY. Richie keeps his playing skills honed by keeping busy playing his hits live at songwriter events all over the country, along with his passion for helping with charities like The Boys and Girls Club. «

Kasim Sulton - A highly coveted sideman, singer/songwriter. He is recognized and respected for his work with other artists, including Blue Oyster Cult, Todd Rundgren and Utopia, Meat Loaf, Joan Jett, Hall and Oates, Patti Smith, Patty Smyth, Mick Jagger and Celine Dion to name just a few.

His level of involvement has ranged from playing bass, keyboards, and/or guitar, to adding vocal harmonies, singing lead, and contributing as a songwriter, to producing entire albums; as he did with the Meat Loaf VH-1 Storytellers CD, released in 1999.

There isn’t much he hasn’t done in his 25 years in the music industry.

Kasim Sulton In April of 2001, Sulton began showcasing his own music for the first time since the early 80’s release of his self-titled debut album. He scheduled a few solo acoustic shows in his home state of New York.

They were to be small, quiet shows just to test the waters, but word quickly spread and fans traveled from miles around to show their support. Enthusiastic fans welcomed him with open arms and venues were soon asking when he’d be back.

The overwhelming success of these early shows prompted Sulton to hit the road for a full tour that summer. Armed with just an acoustic guitar and some stories from his past and present, he played his way across the U.S. including stops in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago and Milwaukee. In Chicago, Sulton made an appearance at the Guitar Center where he met with fans, signed autographs, and posed for photos. « Mark Stein - The lead vocalist, keyboardist, composer and arranger of Vanilla Fudge.

Mark first founded Vanilla Fudge in 1966 at the age of 18 with members Tim Bogert,

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Mark Stein Vinny Martell and Carmine Appice. In the short time they were together, the band enjoyed their giant success with their first Atco album release self-entitled, Vanilla Fudge. Groundbreaking work, since it was the first album to reach the top ten on Billboard’s charts without a hit single. The legendary rock arrangement of "You Keep Me Hangin’ On" became the band’s first hit single nearly two years after the release of their album.

During the 1960's the Fudge were one of rock’s most exciting, high-energy touring bands, setting the stage for the likes of Jimmy Hendrix, Deep Purple and even Led Zeppelin. Through a total of five albums and the tireless touring, the legendary Vanilla Fudge influenced artists around the world with their inspired performances and unique musical interpretations. Bands like Yes, The Who, Deep Purple and many others have credited Vanilla Fudge with having a profound effect on their music and the overall musical renaissance of the late ’60s. The band’s influence is still felt even today.

Mark’s new book You Keep Me Hangin’ On. More than a biography, or a tell-all, it is a cultural and social history, music criticism and the story of generational change.

Enriched by first-hand perspective of Mark Stein of Vanilla Fudge, the reader will be transported into scenes and conversations with some of Rock’s most celebrated innovators. « Liberty Devitto - Drummer for Billy Joel band for 30 years. In 1968, the same year he graduated from high school, after constant practice, (playing to records – Liberty never took lessons) and playing in local bands, he 12

received a phone call from a guy that said he was Mitch Ryder’s tour manager. He said Mitch’s drummer was very sick and they needed someone to fill in. Liberty said, “When?” They said, “Tonight.” Next thing he knew he was on stage with Mitch, taking cues from the sax player. They did “Jenny Takes a Ride,” “Devil with a Blue Dress,” “Sock it to Me Baby" and others. That tour lasted for 6 weeks, playing up and down the East Coast.

Liberty Devitto Right after Mitch Ryder, Liberty got a gig with Long Island alumni, Richie Supa, and had his first recording experience. The album Supa’s Jamboree was recorded in Atlanta, 1969-70, and was produced by Buddy Buie of the Classics 4 and Atlanta Rhythm Section Fame. The album was released on Paramount Records and a tour immediately followed. The band sometimes opened for groups like the James Gang and Grand Funk Railroad. Then one day, a friend who was playing weddings at a catering hall, asked if Liberty would sit in for him. It was during those years that the group Topper was formed. The band consisted of Liberty (drums), Doug Stegmeyer (bass), Russell Javors on (guitar/vocals), Howie Emerson (guitar/slide guitar/dobro). The band had a sound of it’s own, with all original material.

Topper, with the addition of sax player Richie Cannata, eventually became Billy Joel’s band.

In 2003, Liberty DeVitto signed on as an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in under-served public schools throughout the U.S.A. Liberty has personally delivered instruments to children in the program, performed at benefit events

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for the cause, and sits on the organization’s Honorary Board of Directors. « Randi Fishenfeld has been described as a "Tornado on the violin who can bow life into the dead." This New York born and raised, classically trained violinist, turned "bombshell electric violinist" plays various genres of music, from Latin, metal, blues, gypsy, hot wing, rock, fusion, klezmer, R&B, classical to world beat. Randi began her studies in New York with Julliard Professor, Sylvan Schulman. He always told her parents that she would be "a real fiddler."

songwriter, is known for her graceful, melodic style, her rich lyrics and beautiful vocals. As a native daughter of rural Northern California and the middle child of a large musical family, she has been singing, playing the guitar and constructing her own songs since she was thirteen years old.

As her musical talent grew, Edwards was influenced by the many talented singer/ songwriters of the seventies including Carole King, Judy Collins, Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell. In more recent years she has been inspired by the work of Tracey Chapman and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Edwards’s smooth, earthy voice and heartfelt lyrics take listeners on a journey to the soul. Her lyrics have been called, “empowering and refreshing” and her voice “touches your soul."

Randi Fishenfeld Randi began to experiment with different genres when she was a little girl. She would "borrow" her brother's and parent's albums and jam along with Joe Venutti, Stephane Grappelli, Stuff Smith, Papa John Creach, Led Zepplin, King Crimson, Dixie Dreggs, UK, Pink Floyd, Astor Piazzolla, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Stevie Wonder, Jeff Beck, Jean Luc Ponty, Stanley Clarke, Stanley Jordan and various other artists. She always knew that the violin was a "really cool" instrument that could work with any type of music. Randi has played with several bands. Her most recent grouping is called Blue Fire. Blue Fire is an exciting 5 piece eclectic rock, blues, etc. ensemble comprised of Nick Cucunato (guitar), Rich Velasques (bass), Jeff Lafferty (drums), Paul Pettitt (keyboard) and Randi Fishenfeld (violin). Randi has toured with Clarence Clemons and has played and/or recorded with Bruce Springsteen, BB King, Nestor Torres, Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Gerry Brown, Air Supply, Journey, Kansas, America, Andy Aledort, Foghat, Dave Valentine and Divine. « Elizabeth Edwards Award winning singer/

Elizabeth Edwards Edwards opened for the late Dan Fogelberg on multiple occasions; she has opened for songwriting legend Jesse Colin Young and twelve-step comedian Mark Lundholm.

She has performed at the world famous Bluebird Café in Nashville and many other coffeehouses and songwriter haunts such as Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, Georgia and Camel Barn Museum Coffeehouse Concert Series and at the Musicians Coffeehouse.

She has toured several college campuses across the country where she has often conducted songwriting workshops by day and entertained audiences with beautiful songs of hope and faith at evening concerts.

The State of California Arts Council granted Edwards an Artist in Residence grant, where she taught songwriting at Liberty High School in Benicia, California.

Edwards has been the recipient of the Readers Choice Award/Best Musician in Solano County. She won the Best Song Award from the Northern California

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Songwriters Association for her song, "Paper Thin, Paper Doll," and was chosen from over seven hundred women who auditioned for the Lillith Fair’s talent search hosted by Bill Graham Presents and Alice Radio 97.3 in San Francisco.

Elizabeth is currently involved in the recording industry on many levels and is working on her fourth recording project of original songs. « Singer/guitarist Jimmy Stowe began his music career at the Surf Ballroom on Nantasket Beach just outside of Boston.

The New England born entertainer was a member of a popular teenage dance band called Horse and gained regional recognition headlining special events, high schools and colleges as well as many private affairs. On one such occasion in mid-summer 1973, the group of talented teens appeared with the legendary pop artist, Jim Croce. This early success and experience would set the tone for Jimmy’s future endeavors in show business.

Woody Giessmann

Jimmy Stowe

He saw that some of the larger obstacles to overcome in recovery were the feelings of hopelessness and the fear of not being able to return to a productive, creative lifestyle. Through his experience, as a creative person with a history of addiction, he launched a unique treatment approach incorporating evidence-based treatment and creative expression into Right Turn: Innovative Outpatient Treatment and Supportive Housing for Addiction. «

After completing studies at the University of Miami he returned to New England and ventured out as a solo performer. From the ski resorts of Vermont to the seaports of Boston and Newport, Jimmy rocked capacity crowds. Influenced by his love of early rock and roll, acoustic pop and country music, he delivered a mixed bag of high energy tunes and intimate ballads.

The purity of his vocal impressions and embracing acoustic guitar accompaniment combined to shape a truly engaging song stylist and showman. «

Sooner or Later Band - high-energy, high-intensity Rock 'n' Roll! A trio of accomplished players, Tsolb provides a kickass show with a tasteful mix of modern and classic rock covers; "Shake Your Ass,"

Woody Giessmann, LADC-I, CADC,BRIII, CEO and Founder of Right Turn: 14

Intensive Outpatient and Residential Program. Woody became an addictions specialist in 1993 after his experience as the drummer for the rock band, The Del Fuegos. That experience allowed him to see firsthand the devastating effects of drug and alcohol abuse. He survived it to see clearly the need for innovative services, support, and ongoing encouragement for people who have been affected by addictions.

Sooner or Later Band

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"Hang Your Head," there's something for everyone at our shows! The Sooner or Later Band was formed in 1983 in Margate, Florida, by Badboy and Mack (who left the band in 2004). Currently the lineup consists of Badboy (guitar/vocals), Dagwood (bass/ vocals), and Toby Thunder (drums). « Keep Coming Back is a Hollywood, Florida, based jamband consisting of Chris Waddell Ed Walsh, and Bruce Duncan. They all come out of the jam band scene, heavily influenced by improvisational bands like The Grateful Dead and Phish. They also share a love of American roots music ranging from folk to blues to rock, jazz, bluegrass and country.

Chris is a veteran of South Florida bands, The Wheel, Campfire Nightmares and Sage and Spirit, while Ed played in Sunflower Conspiracy, formerly known as Second Helping, which also featured Bruce. They have played all over South Florida for over ten years.

The musicians stepped up to the plate when they were asked to be featured performers at The Friendship (12 Step) Club in Miami Lakes, which provided the spark to form the group Keep Coming Back.

Massengill, and Teddy Phillips has become one of the most popular party bands in East Tennessee, "and that we are proud of."

The Chillbillies Over the years of playing everything from square dance music, rock and roll, country, etc., it has set the tone for The Chillbillies wide variety of music, in which we brand as “Rhythm, Boogie, and Blues”. Come see us and enjoy. « Combining a nomadic mix of bluegrass, punk, and Southern rock, BLACK FINGER's music has gypsy veins and wanderlust woven into the material. "The Best Band of 2007" - City Link Magazine, Best of 2007 issue, December 2007"

BLACK FINGER Keep Coming Back “We both wanted to find a way to combine our recovery with playing music, and festivals like the 12 Step are exactly what we were looking for,” said Ed. “It’s really great being sober and playing for a sober audience,” adds Chris.

They hope that you all will “Keep Coming Back” to enjoy their music. « Over the past several years, The Chillbillies band that was started by Tim Irwin, George

"Tom Petty hanging with the Replacements playing Pixies songs while on tour with the Velvet Underground, awaiting the day that Kris Kristofferson will be known as the legend that he really is. Or two guys sitting in an apartment with no floor writing songs.

Either way it is BLACK FINGER." - Steve Rullman, thehoneycomb.com.

"On lead and lapsteel guitars, Andy McAusland demonstrates he can move you from the fast paced rhythms of edginess, or to the languid sound of zero gravity with ease. As Greg Lovell offers mysterious images that toe the line of reality, his voice

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turns gritty, deliberate, and defiant. Find this band and you'll discover a place where the downtrodden get lucky, the timid are untamed, and everyone is allowed to be carefree." - Vanessa Hogkinson, New Times. «

Freedom Festival in Long Beach, California, Soberstock in Pennsylvania, Half Moon Sober Festival in New Hampshire, Sober in the Sun in Spencer, Massachusetts, 12 Step Music Festival in Key West, Florida, The Wilson house in Vermont, and more.

Thrown Alive enjoys a 20-year musical partnership between guitarist / vocalist, Roger H. and drummer, Joe D. at its core.

The music ranges from the hook-filled hard-rock sound of “Yesterday” and “The Insanity” to the softer, nearly country music sounds of “Won’t Get High” and “Another Side to Mountains.”

Selfish Steam In April of 2009, they were nominated again for a Prism Award and won. Selfish Steam is so much more than just a band. It is truly a band of brothers, helping each other in their daily journey through life.

Thrown Alive The band’s name, Thrown Alive, is even said to be symbolic of the process of choosing a new way of life, in that we are brought back to life, somewhat quickly as we rediscover our senses of spirit and hope. « Selfish Steam, based out of Harford, Connecticut, has been dubbed by the media as "Friends in Recovery with Music that Touches the Soul."

"To be able to touch people with our music and see the response in their eyes is the greatest gift we could ask for. Whenever we play, we say if we reach just one person, then it was all worth it. The more people who can hear our music, the more we can maybe help, even if it just makes them think.

We claim no affiliation with any group or organization and do not represent anyone except ourselves." «

Founder, Tony Marossie, through the help of a 12 Step program, cleaned up his act and picked up his guitar and started writing music about his life experiences. He started to seek out other recovering musicians and put together a band called Selfish Steam.

Sobriety and persistence has taken these guys on an amazing journey.

In May of 2002, they were nominated for a Prism Award but lost to Ozzie Osbourne.

For the next several years they continued on their journey and performed at numberous recovery events throughout the country including Soberjam in New Orleans, 16

Go to rirconcerts.com or call 954-826-4920 for tickets & info

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An Interview With

Billy J.Kramer

By Liberty Devitto

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hen you look up the British Invasion and the influence it had on music and the world, you will find that Billy J. Kramer was a major player. Along with The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Cilla Black, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas were part of the Brian Epstein camp that were signed to his management.

Billy was a personal friend with all the Beatles and his

first four hit records were written for him by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. "Do You Want To Know A Secret," "Bad To Me," "I'll Keep You Satisfied," and "From A Window" were songs produced by the famed George Martin.

Billy played the famous Cavern Club many times as well as paying his dues in the clubs in The Reeperbahn district of Hamburg, Germany.

Just like so many others that were caught up in the whirlwind of fame and fortune at a young age, Billy developed an addiction to alcohol and drugs.

Billy J. Kramer has been in the program and has recently celebrated 25 years of sobriety.

Liberty Devitto: You were a part of a movement in music that changed the way a whole generation looked, listened and acted.

What was it like to live and work, with not only The Beatles, but the rest of the Liverpool music scene ?

Billy J. Kramer: On the one hand, it was obviously very exciting. On the other hand, it was overwhelming.

Liberty: How did it feel to go from being a young man working on locomotives in a train yard, to becoming the idol of millions, with hit records, fancy suits and screaming girls while making some real money?

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Billy: I had just released my first record, Do You Want To Know A Secret. I traveled from Liverpool to Manchester to do my first TV show.

the bars of a jail cell from the inside-out didn't change anything. I was so high when I got out that I got lost driving around the block from my house.

At the time, there was a huge political scandal in the UK involving politicians and underage girls called The Profumo Trials.

The TV show had me pushing over file cabinets and pulling out files and throwing them all over the studio while singing, "Do You Want To Know A Secret." When I arrived back in Liverpool, I got off the bus at the end of my street, and could see a crowd at the top of the street. Little did I know it was a crowd of screaming girls, and I had a lot of trouble getting into my parents' house. From then on, I had to have a police escort. Since I was basically very shy and lacked self-esteem, I would go out drinking and come home at six in the morning to cope with it.

I was now regularly vomiting on my shoes.

The one "morning after" when me and my now wife were dating, she looked at me and gave me the ultimatum, "it's going to be me or your drinking." It was right then and there that I made the decision to clean up my act.

I must admit, I felt alone because everyone I knew partied. Then I met Ricky Byrd and through him met so many others like me.

That's how I became a part of Rockers In Recovery and through Ricky, I met you.

What was it like when you decided to take that first step?

Liberty: You first became popular in your home country of England.

But the English beat was now becoming popular in America and all the groups had their sights set on The Ed Sullivan Show in New York City.

How did you feel on your first trip to the States and what was it like playing the Ed Sullivan Show ?

billy j. kramer

Billy: When I first got off the plane, I was so overwhelmed by NYC that I wanted to get on the next plane back. Little did I know that I would one day be living here. I didn't have any concept of the magnitude of the TV audience for Ed Sullivan. It was a good thing that I was ignorant to it, or I would have had many sleepless nights leading up to it and been a bundle of nerves.

Liberty: Denial played a big part in my addiction. Two unsuccessful marriages, the loss of a ton of money, and looking through

Billy: I met my present wife Roni and moved to NY. I was drinking and taking pills around the clock, and I started to get up and drink Jack Daniels in the morning. I would crouch behind dumpsters on my way to the railroad station while on my way into the city to rehearse. I would have a shopping bag full of alcohol and would drink all through rehearsals. I realized that if I carried on like this that it would end my relationship with someone I loved very much and that I would die from the drinking and drugs. I knew

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nothing about rehabs and recovery. At first, I thought I was going to do it my own way and read lots of self-help books. Then, I went to see a prominent psychiatrist who informed me that he could take my money, but my problem was that I was an alcoholic.

Different people had said the same thing to me on many occasions, but I never took it seriously. This time, I burst into tears. I had always been in such denial and told myself

Liberty: How has your life changed with your sobriety?

Billy: It might seem a small thing to most people, but until I got sober, I never had the confidence to drive a car. Within four months of getting sober, I had a driver's license, which is something I never in my wildest dreams thought I would accomplish.

Going on stage clean and sober was scary at first. I still get stage fright, but now I enjoy my work more than I ever did, even at the height of my career.

There are bumps in the road and the things that used to make me want to go out and drink no longer do. It's great waking up and not having someone tell you what an idiot you made of yourself the night before.

Liberty: If Billy J. Kramer "then" was standing in front of Billy J. Kramer "now" asking for help, what would you say to him?

Billy: I would tell him that if you don't have sobriety, you don't have anything.

billy j. kramer during the british invasion era that I drank a lot because of the pressures of the business, and that one day I would be out of the business and be able to stop.

When I got home, I looked in the phone book and found the number for Alcoholics Anonymous. I attended an AA meeting and immediately realized it was exactly where I belonged. I will be sober for 26 years at the end of June.

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Liberty: I have to tell you, when we perform together and you yell to the crowd, "Are you ready to rock?" I think to myself, now that I am sober, "I am always ready!"

A Rockers In Recovery and Billy J. Kramer show, I'd like to see that happen. Thanks Billy.

Billy: Thanks Lib, for being a power of example and a great friend. ÂŤ

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RICKY BYRD The long awaited debut CD Available soon on iTunes and at Amazon.com

RICKY BYRD

Rock ‘n’ Roll with soul . . . plain and simple Listen to the single R’n’R Boys www.rickybyrd.com/music/ Join Ricky’s Facebook Fan Page on.fb.me/N7gIIF Follow Ricky on Twitter @Byrdman20 www.rockersinrecovery.org

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Jerry Shirley

An Interview With

photos by Fin Costello

By ricky byrd

T

his issue, I get to interview another of my favorite Rock 'n Roll drummers, Mr. Jerry Shirley.

Jerry was the hard driving engine behind one of the all time greatest rock bands, Humble Pie, fronted by one of, if not the greatest rock and roll/soul shouters ever, Steve Marriott!

I saw this band about a dozen times and yes, I still have the tee shirt (with the Beardsley print), needless to say it does not fit these days). I was good pals with Steve in the late 70's. I knew Jerry in the early 80's, but we never really got beyond, "Hello mate!"

I'm happy and blessed to say Jerry and I are now long distance pals with sobriety in common as well as a long, sometimes turbulent life in rock and roll. Survivors we are, with some great tales to tell.

Let's talk recovery!

Ricky Byrd: At what age did you start using drugs and or Alcohol?

Jerry Shirley: I started to get high at around 12 years old but I had been drunk before that, 8 or 9 maybe.

Ricky: How quick was the progression to where you felt you needed a little help to get through your day or to deal with life on life's terms?

Jerry: By the time I was sixteen I was smoking hash and taking speed. Then LSD came along but drinking had become my main poison. When I first realized I had a serious problem, I was on a plane coming back from Japan in 1973, at 21 years old, when Jenny Marriott (Steve's wife) gave me a serious talking to, which did very little at the time but it sowed the seed of recovery. I 22

had so much respect for her that if she was saying something, there must be something seriously wrong. Of course by then, with the bands success, being at it's absolute zenith, all hell had broken loose and there was nothing stopping us. We had long since started to get heavily into cocaine but never heroin, why that was I don't really know, as we were into just about everything else, but I do know we were out of control. Of course at the time we didn't think anything was seriously wrong at all, it's only hindsight that allows me to now see how out of control we were, we had no idea, we were having a ball.

Ricky: How did your using affect your career? Do you think your playing suffered at all?

Jerry: Most definitely. Drinking and playing was a combo I could never handle and in a way it saved my life. I would be dead by now, you see, because I quit drinking and playing.

It gave me a break from drinking all day on show days until after the show. It affected my stamina, my sense of tempo, my feel for the groove; the whole nine yards. So I at least had the good sense to leave it all alone until after the show, but boy did I find out in a hurry what serious hang overs were; where you just wished you were dead.

Ricky: What was the turning point for you, when you'd had enough?

Jerry: That was it, I'd had enough. I stopped in time to not let me slide down while the band was at it's height. But that doesn't mean that I didn't let those things happen later on in life.

When Steve had agreed to let me take over the rights to the use of the name long, before he died, I felt, so long as I put a great band

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"Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, start all over again." together, that was respectful to the original band, then I was doing my part. In fact, the only condition that Steve put upon the deal was, "so long as I put together a great band that was a good and proper representation of the original Humble Pie," then it had his vote. Plus he said, "in any case, I would rather see you playing in a great rock band than driving a van for a living." I had just bought a van to do courier work, thanks to a loan that was kindly given to me by dearest friend in the music business whose name shall remain nameless.

Ricky: How did you find recovery and did you take to it right off the bat?

Jerry: Yes and no. My first experience was a good old fashioned 12 Step call from a 70 year old man who sat and told me his story about how he had moved to Argentina to take over the family business and proceeded to blow $25,000,000 and the first thing that came to my mind was "well I can't be that bad I only blew $5,000,000," true story.

Ricky: How and what are you doing now?

Jerry: I am doing fine. I have just written a book about my experiences being the drummer in Humble Pie, one of the greatest rock & roll bands to come out of the late sixties/early seventies called, Best Seat in The House, which is my story about the

wonderful times we had and how a young kid like me was lucky enough to get such a great job like that.

Ricky: Do you have some words of hope and experience for those that are still struggling with addiction?

Jerry: Yes, it is a quote from an old Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers tune that was probably written by Irving Berlin and the punch line is, "Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, start all over again." In other words if you fall off the tracks then get right back at it. I personally have gone back out there too many times to remember and it is only but for the grace of a loving God that has kept me alive. There's always another drunk out there but there may not be another recovery so please do yourself a favor and help your family by making this one stick. All you have to do is follow the steps of your sponsor, so get a good sponsor. Someone you can connect with right away. Then, as they say, fake it until you make it . Follow his steps, literally, until what you are doing becomes second nature and you just do it without thinking about it. I was a hard nut to crack, but I have been sober for a long time now and I am living proof that anybody can do it. Life is so much better sober. You'll still have problems but all the problems that booze brought upon you will be instantly removed from your life and if you are anything like me, which I suspect you are, that will amount to almost all your problems!

I have a little story that I made up while I was under the care of the best sponsor I ever had, who eventually got me through my first year, taking in 400 meetings that year. It took me 10 years to get that first one, so here's the way I did it: Imagine you are new to the mine clearing squad of the marines in Afghanistan and there is a big mine field in front of you. You have two paths through the mine field; one has been proved to be completely cleared by your team leader (your sponsor). Your leader has already stepped through it many times and there have been no explosions on

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the foot path. You have the choice of taking a your own uncertain path, or you simply follow the steps that your sponsor has trod upon so many times, that is absolutely explosion free.

While you have not yet learned how to clear a path yourself, so long as you follow his steps, you will not go off the beaten track and get blown up. Then, of course as time goes by, you will learn how to make it through using your own steps using what you learned from your sponsor by doing them again and again and again. Repetition, repetition, repetition.

These are the final thoughts of my condensed vision of the program aimed at those of us who have had trouble getting it to stick like myself. ÂŤ

jerry shirley sitting in the best seat in the house

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To purchase Jerry Shirley's book, email Rob at Cook-rob@rebeats.com or search for "Best Seat in The House" on Amazon.com.

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IMPROVING RECOVERY RATES THROUGH SCIENCE AND IMPROVINGTRADITIONAL RECOVERY RATES THROUGH SCIENCE AND TRADITIONAL MODALITIES MODALITIES

HOLISTIC ADDICTION TREATMENT PROGRAM As leaders in the industry, we integrate our clinical expertise, patient values and the best research, evidence-based treatment into the decision making process for patient care.

We are a 12-step based program who believe in a unique three-fold approach to treatment: MIND-BODY-SPIRIT integrates our clients’ physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

• We specialize in treating those who suffer from chronic relapse as well as dual diagnosis.

Properly treating such issues decreases the likelihood of relapse

• Our mission to treat the “whole person” involves a holistic approach to the underlying issues restoring balance to the internal and external worlds of the individual • 21st century evidence-based treatment modalities include but are not limited to psychiatric and nutritional evaluation, biochemical replacement therapy, heavy metal detoxification, acupuncture, mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy, hypnotherapy, E.M.D.R. (trauma work), karate, exercise, yoga and much more

• Clients live in a supervised, real-world environment. Cell phones, laptops and personal electronic music devices are allowed during free time • Our nutritional program supports the ability of the body and mind to heal • Individualized treatment addresses a wide variety of therapeutic issues focusing on long term solutions, especially with our exclusive faith-based track

Counselors Available 24/7 • Get Help Now

800.559.9503

www.holisticdrugrehab.com 1590 NE 162nd Street • North Miami Beach, Florida 33162

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ARTICLES

Alcoholism &

Addiction

By Jim bevell

T

he concept of alcoholism and addiction as a legitimate disease has come a long way, thanks to the work of Dr. Benjamin Rush, in the 20th century.

His early and beleaguered progress paved the way for the AMA to declare alcoholism and addiction a disease in the 1950s, its inclusion in the DSM and ultimately in legislation, via The Parity Act of 2008, which requires most group health plans to provide an equal amount of mental illness coverage as what’s covered for physical illness. Oh, how far we have come, but we still have a ways to go.

The mental health industry is being recognized as a legitimate professional field under the medical umbrella, and that’s certainly a good thing -- but it’s also a call for us to continue growing as professionals and as an industry. We need to start building more evidencebased treatment centers, regardless of their location or amenities -- at the beach, in the mountains, with a pool, etc. Most current statistics reveal the success rate of treatment interventions is at about 30 percent.

While I could write for

26

hours about statistics it seems like treatment is focused on aesthetics and amenities. Hospital conferences build their programs around the medical interventions they use and the research that backs up the efficacy of using these interventions — not what the view from your bed will be.

This is why American Addiction Centers works hard to get longer lengths-of-stay for our patients. The longer a person stays engaged in treatment, the better the chances for a successful recovery. We also work to ensure patients stay engaged in some level of care for at least the first year.

We fight for inter-provider communication; research says this type of collaboration and communication creates better results.

At American Addiction Centers, we consider ourselves to be on the cuttingedge, though we know we have a ways to go. This motivates us to develop more research-based projects and join other organizations to push forward and get better outcomes. It’s my hope that as an organization, we never fall in love with our ideas so deeply that we refuse to allow the evidence to determine our direction. «

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BEATING

ADDICTION

www.AmericanAddictionCenters.com 24 Hour Help line 866.245.3206

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Academy for Addiction Professionals

By Ben Brafman, CAP, LMHC

W

elcome to the Academy for Addiction Professionals located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

You are about to make one of the best decisions of your career. The Academy for Addiction Professionals has been created to help you on your educational path, by offering a road map to becoming a certified addiction professional, certified addiction counselor, certified addiction specialist, certified behavioral health technician or to take online addiction CEU courses. At the Academy, you will be trained by instructors who are dedicated to helping you grow in the addictions field. You will be exposed to cutting edge resources, important

certification updates, trends in the behavioral health field and other addiction professionals. You will also be able to improve your opportunity for employment in the addictions field.

Upon completion of our program, you will have obtained all the educational hours needed for your addiction certification, and you will be in a position to move forward in your career. The Academy provides a great networking opportunity to meet different people in different parts of the substance abuse or behavioral health field.

You will learn about multiple resources in your very own community and you will gain accessibility to information not always readily available to others. «

National Institute for Holistic

Addiction Studies

by Siobhan A. Morse, MHSA, CRC, CAI, MAC

O

n-site research, development and education for G & G Holistic is conducted by the National Institute For Holistic Addiction Studies (NIFHAS). NIFHAS draws from the wealth of knowledge and experience of the leading scientists, researchers and clinicians in the field of addiction and mental health treatment.

Our mission is to integrate wisdom pathways with advances in traditional western medicine in order to gain a broader understanding of addictions and co-occurring mental disorders and to develop effective Holistic addiction treatment modalities based on valid and reliable research. Through our association with Kenneth Blum, PhD, the internationally recognized neruo-physcho-pharmacologist and geneticist who identified the addiction/alcoholism gene, we have been 28

(NIFHAS)

investigating amino acid formulations that demonstrate improvement in mood and brain performance. Our close fellowship with Paul Harch, M.D., author of The Oxygen Revolution, has brought us into the 21st Century with the use of Hyperbaric Medicine and Oxygen therapy. There are many more professional relationships, including Dr. Deborah Mash, leading neuromolecular scientist, University of Miami Professor, NIH member and contributing NIFHAS faculty and Dr. Hyla Cass, the country’s foremost author and speaker on integrative medicine, as well as others, who make our program the fore-runner in addiction and mental health treatment.

With over 30 publications in scientific journals, NIFHAS is paving the way for a new era in evidence-based addiction and mental health treatment. Visit us online at www.nifhas.com or www.holisticdrugrehab. com to learn more. «

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Soul

ARTICLES

Singing!

with

Chrinstine

Ohlman

T

he human voice raised in song is a wondrous thing. Singing is communication, a way to connect even when words fail you, a way to soothe your soul, a sublime way to talk of love and loss, beauty and sorrow. In all cultures, all over the world, day and night, there are stories being sung.

As a professional vocalist (and, proudly, the lead vocalist of the Rockers In Recovery Band), there’s one thing I believe, anyone can sing. That’s right, anyone. Singing is just speaking, taken to a higher plane (or sometimes not even—think Bob Dylan’s talk-sing, Curt Cobain’s rasp, the musicality of Rap’s half-sung, half-spoken poetry). Your voice is unique and special to you. Open your heart, hum a melody, and guess what? You’re singing!

Science is now beginning to provide evidence for what many of us have long known, singing makes you feel good! We’ve all heard the phrase, “sing your blues away.” Just like a good laugh, singing releases endorphins into our blood stream that help us feel happy 30

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and relaxed, providing a general sense of well-being.

In David Remnick’s fine profile of Bruce Springsteen in The New Yorker, The Boss talks about the healing and redemptive power of music, “Routine, responsibility, decay of institutions, corruption; this is all the world closing in. Music, when it’s really great, pries that shit back open and lets people back in, lets light in, and air in, and energy in, and sends people home with that and sends me back to the hotel with it. People carry that with them sometimes for a very long period of time.

We [of the E Street Band] are repairmen, repairmen with a toolbox. If I repair a little of myself, I’ll repair a little of you. That’s the job.”

I love this imagery - the idea of repairing.

Who among us hasn't felt the pang of loneliness, the fear of failure, the profound sadness at the loss of a loved one? There are songs for all of these feelings.

But then there’s that happy, thrilling memory jolt when a summertime or holiday-time song from a special year comes on the radio. Songs help us recapture the feel of sand between our toes, that first kiss, the smell of chlorine by the swimming pool, did I mention that first kiss? Even the tang of winter air, snowflakes falling, colored lights on a Christmas tree. It’s part of the human condition to want to recreate those songs ourselves. Singing helps us remember—and in remembering, there is healing.

Let me say it again, "anyone can sing." I believe this with all my heart. It's in the soul. So crank up the radio, whether it be Metallica, Chuck Berry, Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Skynyrd, U2, Brad Paisley, The Stones or The Beatles...and make a joyful noise! «

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We’ll turn you into a night owl.

After the sun goes down, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s indie music scene heats up with warehouse jam sessions, up-and-coming bands and unique venues off the beaten path. Rock on.

Visit sunny.org/undergroundlauderdale

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ARTICLES

Into

Adulthood and Beyond with

Dignity & Grace

By Carol Harblin, CHHC

W

e’ve all heard by now of the “shift” into a new era after December 21, 2012 – what does that actually mean? We tend to think of “ends” as cataclysmic and with huge fanfare, but a shift, by definition, is in fact shifting gradually from one phase to another.

One of the new ways of thinking for the new era is to continue working in careers that feed our soul so that we continue living with dharma (purpose). For generations, we have all been part of the notion that we must retire and do nothing at the tender age of 62 or 65. The first year of retirement is the honeymoon where people who hated their jobs, cherish and relish in the freedom to sleep in and travel, but what next? What do people do once the honeymoon phase is over? Where is their daily dose of dharma and dignity?

We see the post-50 celebrities like Oprah, Bill Clinton, Deepak Chopra, Paul McCartney, Howard Stern and even Aerosmith and Rolling Stones revive their roles and their careers and they have their second wind again. Their second wind is sometimes better than their first wind.

In India, I noticed a huge respect for their elderly. Everyone still has dignity and dharma. There is always a job for everyone.

In the Western Civilizations, we tend to cast away our post-60 crowd and revere youth.

But thankfully, the celebrities who are turning 40 and 50 and 60 are taking back their power and making 60 the new 40.

Think about your career for a moment. We work from a young age of 22 and stay with 34

it (hopefully) for the next 30 to 40 years.

That is at least 35 years of doing something that drives us – whether we despise it or not. Then we are amputated at around 65 and cast off from society. By the time we make it to our 60s, aren’t we seasoned with experience to nurture and embrace those under us so that the 60 and above crowd could mentor the younger crowd in the perspective careers. If we shifted the 60 and above crowd to the title of mentor instead of just pushing them into retirement, there would be less frustrated, depressed, lonely and sick elderly.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a mentor in your job who has been there and done that, one who can save you a lot of dollars and time in mistakes?

In the new movie, “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” is a British-humorous take on retirement where a group of post-60 year old adults travel to India and attempt to live a life of dharma again – without being casted off by their younger family and friends.

In the beginning of the movie, each of the older adults are trying to find their place in the world again and vying for someone to love them. When spouses pass on and children move onward to their own lives it leaves a gaping hole in the older adult’s life.

Their purpose of caring for their families has ended and their children don’t have time to cope with them anymore – so what do people do – they cast them off to facilities to die.

Does this seem like a proper thing to do after they raise us and send us to college, guide us through marriages and the first baby only to be cast off?

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“Let us meditate on the divine light that is inherent in us, may it dissolve all ignorance and darkness.”

– Gayatri Mantra This small intimate group who takes residence at the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel feel a bit shunned, but soon each in their own ways, they begin to find their purpose again – and even love.

A woman named Evelyn, finds a job – her first ever - once she is in India, despite her age. Norman, an older man who longs to feel love again does in fact find true love again. There are many barriers in our western society that have created a limited way of thinking about growing older. We can grow old any way we want and continue with our life’s purpose. Just because people retire from their prospective jobs doesn’t

mean they have no purpose – in fact, why retire from a job you love? By the time most people are in their 50s in their jobs they are finally becoming seasoned and quite proficient in what they do. Should a person give it up because of increasing age?

We are brought up with a notion that marriage (or even first marriages) are for those in their 20s or even 30s, and then after menopause we are to be alone for the remainder of our days. What kind of thinking is this? Love is unlimited and endless. As long as we are living, we still require love.

Love is the our Vitamin L. Without Vitamin L, we become empty and sad. Love isn’t about sexual intimacy, but much deeper.

Love can be a social connection that is attained by compassion and understanding and empathy. Older adults are older and wiser people who have walked in our shoes.

They have stories to tell us and should be revered – not sedated and cast off. «

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ARTICLES

Give a

Little Bit

Photos by Wini Taylor Photography

By Jessica Chesler

I

n the Summer of 2011, as part of a personal effectiveness workshop, a few people got together and planned to adopt an orphanage in Nicaragua. They raised some money and went down to Los Quinchos, an organization that cares for boys and girls, ages three to eighteen, with a history of glue huffing addiction. That one trip started the ball rolling. A little more than a year later, Vision of Change was founded, incorporated and has already installed a sustainable system to catch rainwater on the Los Quinchos campus.

At Starbucks in Wilton Manors, Florida, I met with Anna Racicot, a founder of Vision of Change. Over coffee, she told me how the first trip to Managua was just about “bringing some poor kids some stuff.” She thought it was a great idea, but didn’t get involved until that first group returned with stories of La Chureca and kids huffing glue to stave off hunger pangs.

La Chureca is a garbage dump and the first home to many of the children who make it to Los Quinchos. It also houses over 400 families who search for metal and other valuables to sell. Men, women, and children mingle with scavenger birds and dogs looking for scraps. Hunger is such a problem that it’s not uncommon to see a mother giving her child glue to alleviate the pain of a long empty stomach.

Later in September 2011, Anna decided 36

to use the anniversary of her own recovery and National Recovery Month to hold a fundraiser for the kids of La Chureca and Los Quinchos. Over the next six weeks, the money rolled in totaling around $10,000.

Working with a small group of committed people, the vision for Vision of Change was born.

The group has big plans. They see a selfsustaining Los Quinchos campus with agricultural projects, job training, and educational programs. Currently, they are raising funds to expand the existing rain catcher system. Vision of Change also wants to effect change back home, sinking their teeth into local projects that focus on the needs of South Floridians.

This is no write-a-check-and-feel-good project for the people behind the fledgling foundation. A representative is on location supervising all Vision of Change funded activities. They are digging ditches and giving hugs. Anna tells me they are handson for the long haul.

“We’re in it for the long term,” she says. "I want to see these children grow up and have healthy families.”

For more information about Vision of Change, please visit their web site at www.visionofchange.us or send an email to igivelove@visionofchange.us. «

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RIR

Unplugged

By John Hollis

R

ockers In Recovery Unplugged visits addiction drug and alcohol treatment centers all over the United States. Select members of the Rockers In Recovery band come to share their message of hope, and play an unplugged set of songs geared towards recovery.

Sure, they come from the likes of The Blackhearts, The Asbury Jukes, Vanilla Fudge, Aerosmith, Billy Joel’s, and Todd Rundgren’s bands. But they also share the common experience of either being recovering addicts themselves, having had loved ones who were addicted, or simply lending their support to the cause of taking a message of strength and hope to others through their music.

According to the American Music Therapy Association, music therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages. Music therapy improves the quality of life for persons who are well and meets the needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses.

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RIR Unplugged Director – Richard “Richie” Supa is an American songwriter and guitarist who has written music for the Who’s Who of rock and roll. Richie is best known for his work with Aerosmith and Richie Sambora. He has helped forge the message of Rockers In Recovery by carrying hope, education, and treatment through his music. Richie not only works closely with the organization but is also the head of the Rockers In Recovery Unplugged Series.

If you would like to have Rockers In Recovery Unplugged at your addiction drug and alcohol treatment center or your next addiction recovery event call 954-8264920 for more information or send an email to richiesupa@rockersinrecovery.org. «

Ricky byrd and richie supa playing an acoustic set Rockers in Recovery Magazine

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Ø qığíæÃrį ôPğ ıı ĥ NO TAR. NO ASH. NO SMELL...

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The

Florida

The Right Residential Rehab Facility

House Experience

By Florida house

T

he Florida House Experience is a premier substance abuse treatment facility specializing in genderspecific, non-enabling programs located in Deerfield Beach, Florida. State licensed and CARF (Commission Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accredited, The Florida House offers all levels of care, including medical detox, residential rehab, outpatient treatment, and sober living.

Exceptional teams of highly experienced, certified clinical and medical professionals facilitate all areas of treatment, including dual diagnosis. The Florida House Experience is dedicated to helping clients lead a sober way of life.

The Florida House Experience has a very structured program with plenty of scheduled activities and meetings. Group and individual therapy, 12 Step meetings and meditation are offered daily.

Free time can be spent in one of the pools, one for the women and one for the men, or watching premium cable inside any of the apartments. Phone time can be cleared through the therapist.

Florida House guests come from all across the United States to the recovery capital of the world to begin a new lifestyle. This nationally recognized drug addiction treatment center provides gender specific programs to enhance outcome and efficacy while giving men and women separate housing, counselors and groups.

Treatment at the Florida House Experience is more clinical in nature. The medical staff, which includes two RNs, two psychiatrists, and tri-weekly visits by a medical doctor, gives clients the best possible treatment outcome. FHE does support the residents in the 12 Step program to sober living but they are not required to work the steps while at the treatment facility.

Created from a former resort, this unique environment is not the run-of-the-mill facility with a large number of patients in and out. The Florida House believes in a highly individualized rehabilitation modality with treatment protocols tailored to meet each client’s specific needs.

The Florida House Experience accepts most major health insurance policies. FHE provides effective treatment for individuals from all walks of life, including lawyers, police officers and pilots

In a comfortable apartment-like setting, The Florida House Experience’s tropical facility provides the optimal recovery experience. With a few people assigned to each residence, clients find all of the amenities that they would have at home.

There are various standards that are to be followed in the apartment living accommodation.

The comfortable 40

environment is meant to train residents in self-sufficiency. Weekly, each resident is provided with a gift card to the local supermarket to take care of his or her personal needs. Residents also have the option of eating at the on-site restaurant.

If you have questions about substance abuse or need direction in helping someone you care about, The Florida House provides help from qualified addiction professionals 24/7.

Don’t wait any longer, step into recovery at The Florida House Experience. Please Call 888-421-6242 or visit www.fherehab.com, facebook.com/TheFHexperience. «

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EVENT CALENDAR

CALENDAR 2012 SEPTEMBER RHODE ISLAND September 6th @ 7:30pm The Courthouse Center for the Arts 3481 KINGSTOWN RD., WEST KINGSTON, RI American Music Series. Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez make their premier appearance at this autumn concert series showcasing the best in roots, jazz, blues, and Americana. The Center is located at the historic Washington County Courthouse and is a recipient of the 2010 Governors Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Enhancement of the Arts and Culture Community of Rhode Island. More information available at www. courthousearts.org or call 401.782.1018.

TEXAS September 6th-9th 29th Annual Singles in Sobriety Conference 290 TANGLEWOOD CIRCLE, LAKE TEXOMA (POTTSBORO), TX TANGLEWOOD RESORT A weekend of sharing, caring, activities, and fun. Speakers Fred C., Carrollton, TX; Karl M., Covina CA; Mari G., Toronto, ON; Hilary R.; Dallas, TX. Discussion meetings, panels, golf tournament, volleyball, tennis, and field games. three pools, a hot tub, spa services also available. Fan booth to preserve your memories and a poolside dance on Saturday night!

Registration $20, $25 at the door, on-line or mailed to: S.I.S., PO Box 835788, Richardson, TX. For more information, please visit: www. singlesinsobriety.org.

CALIFORNIA September 7th & 8th (starts @ 7pm, Sept. 7) United Methodist Church 120 CHURCH RD., OJAI, CA Facilitated by Herb K., open to all who are interested in improving their Spirituality. This includes AA, Al-Anon, OA/FA, GA, SA/SLA, DA, etc. and even people not in any 12 Step Fellowship but who are interested in a spiritual awakening. Bring your own Big Book and an item for the Saturday potluck lunch. $20 suggested donation. Please call 310.561.7555 to RSVP or email Lise S., lise@lisesolvang.com.

NEW YORK September 8th @ 8pm (doors 7:30) The Nelson Odeon 4035 NELSON RD., NELSON, NY The Beehive Queen & The Montez Boys return to this wonderful small theatre. Christine’s premier appearance last Fall was one of 2011’s highlights and we look forward to once again visiting with our friends there! $20 advance. $23 door. More info at www.nelsonodeon.com or call 315.655.9193.

MICHIGAN September 9th @ 1pm-6pm 39th Annual Dawn Farm Jamboree YPSILANTI, MI When people want to have a great time while supporting a great cause, they head for the annual Dawn Farm Jamboree. The Jamboree is a family event with free admission and free activities for all ages, including great live music all day by a popular band, hayrides, animals to pet, pony rides, lots of games and activities for children, a rock climbing wall, tours of the 74 acre farm, and live and silent auctions and a gift table with a variety of donated goods and services, many at bargain prices! Food and beverages will be available. For more information, e-mail info@dawnfarm.org or visit www.dawnfarm.org.

ARIZONA September 13th-15th 22nd Annual National/International Native American Indian AA Convention 10438 NORTH FORT MCDOWELL RD., SCOTTSDALE, AZ FORT McDOWELL RADISSON RESORT & CASINO AA/Al-Anon participation. Marathon, speaker, talking circle meetings, flag ceremony, social Pow-Wow, tying the feather ceremony, brunch, social dance and much more. Registration $40, on-line or mailed to: NAI-AA CONVENTION, P.O. Box 42448, Las Vegas, NV 89116. For more information, please visit: www.nai-aa.com.

CALIFORNIA September 14th-16th New Mountain AA Conference LAKE ARROWHEAD, CA SERENITY CONFERENCE CENTER AA/Al-Anon participation. Speaker meetings, meditation workshop, step workshop, long-timers, bonfire, outdoor luncheon, Saturday evening dance, Sunday pancake breakfast and much more. More info at www. mountainAAconference.com.

NEW YORK September 28th- October 4th (starts @ 5:15PM Sept. 28th) 4th Annual REEL Recovery Film Festival

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34 WEST 13TH ST., NEW YORK, NY The REEL Recovery Film Festival ~ New York City Edition, is a celebration of film, the arts, writing and creativity. We showcase filmmakers who make honest films about addiction, alcoholism, behavioral disorders, treatment and recovery. Slated for screening is an eclectic lineup of contemporary and classic films, documentaries and shorts from American and international, first-time filmmakers and industry veterans. Admission $5, all seats. For more information about the festival or submitting a film, please see www.WritersInTreatment.org (New York) or e-mail info@ writersintreatment.org.

RHODE ISLAND September 15th @ 2pm-6pm Rhode Island Rally 4 Recovery 282 NORTH MAIN ST. | PROVIDENCE, RI ROGER WILLIAMS NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK The Rally for Recovery is an annual festival organized by people in longterm recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. It is primarily a community building effort; we seek to strengthen the bonds between people in recovery. We are also engaged in building an attractive culture of recovery in Rhode Island, with the belief that everyone has a right to, and is capable of, recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol. For more info, contact Ian Knowles at 401.521.5759 extension 114, or iknowles@ dataofri.org.

FLORIDA September 15th @ 6pm-10pm Recovery Awareness Night – 2012 299 NORTH FEDERAL HWY., FORT LAUDERDALE, FL SIGNATURE MEMORIES EVENTS CENTER Silent auction items through the ROOF!! We are receiving outstanding donations for our fund-raising event. Bring your checkbook and credit card you are going to want one of these items. Half day sailboat cruise for 6 people! Wellness package, weekend getaway 3day/2night stay, life coaching, website design, dental exam with x-rays and teeth whitening kit, beautiful women's watch valued at $500.00 and more items to be announced. Admission $20. For more information, call 954.401.0261 or email igivelove@visionofchange.us.

FLORIDA September 22nd @ 11am-4pm Broward National Recovery Month 3700 NORTH WEST 11 PL., LAUDERHILL, FL CENTRAL BROWARD REGIONAL PARK Our event theme, “now...more than ever!” emphasizes the need to use all available resources, in our communities and on the Internet, to educate people about the disease and to help those with substance use disorders, and those close to them, get support. By opening a dialogue about the harmful effects of alcohol and drug addiction on families, friends, and communities, we can provide hope, healing, and better support those struggling with substance use disorders. For more information, visit www.rockersinrecovery.org/events.

OCTOBER NEVADA October 1st-3rd All Day Event 2nd Annual Lifestyle Intervention Conference 3600 LAS VEGAS BLVD., SOUTH LAS VEGAS, NV BELLAGIO HOTEL The addiction and wellness industry pioneers have come together to create the Lifestyle Intervention Conference with the intention of building a powerful network of professionals from all facets of the health and wellness industries. Featuring Unplugged set performed by Rockers In Recovery’s Richie Supa, Ricky Byrd and Kasim Sulton. For more information, please visit www.lifestyleintervention.org.

CALIFORNIA October 6th With Allen Berger & Herb Kaighan 2011 COLORADO AVE., SANTA MONICA, CA SAINT ANNE'S CHURCH Do you have healthy relationship with yourself and others? Recovery follows three stages: Getting clean and sober; Staying clean and sober; Living clean and sober. Getting clean and sober is the easiest of the three.

Staying clean and sober and living clean and sober are characterized by learning to have healthy relationships. Suggested Donation $35, box lunch available $15. Please RSVP to Suzy Herbert, 310.621.0973 or e-mail growsbrrsvp@gmail.com.

CALIFORNIA October 19th-21st 9th Annual Santa Clarita Valley Convention 24500 TOWN CENTER DR., VALENCIA, CA HYATT VALENCIA AND SANTA CLARITA CONVENTION CENTER AA/Al-Anon/Alateen participation. Marathon, speaker, long-timer, H&I panel meetings, banquet, dancing and much more. Registration TBD, on-line or mailed to Santa Clarita Valley Convention, P.O. Box 801296, Santa Clarita CA 91380-1296. For more information, please visit www. scvaaconvention.org.

CALIFORNIA October 19th-22nd 4th Annual REEL Recovery Film Festival LOCATION TBD The 4th Annual REEL Recovery Film Festival is a multi-day exhibition

Rockers in Recovery Magazine

EVENT CALENDAR / DIRECTORY event presented by Writers-in-Treatment, showcasing first-time filmmakers and experienced professionals who make films about addiction, treatment, recovery and sobriety. Our audience is treatment professionals, people in recovery, members of the entertainment industry, media representatives, educated moviegoers and the general public.

Independent film submissions are encouraged. Films should be editorially diverse, portraying a wide range of ideologies, experiences, cultural backgrounds, opinions and identities. For more information about the festival or submitting a film, please see www.WritersInTreatment.org (Los Angelas) or e-mail info@writersintreatment.org.

NEW JERSEY October 26th-28th 23rd Annual Northeast Woman to Woman Conference 1000 SPRING ST., ELIZABETH, NJ RENAISSANCE NEWARK AIRPORT HOTEL Speaker, meditation, workshops, walkathon, fellowship, entertainment, fun, Saturday night banquet, and much more. Registration $40, after October 1, $45, mailed to Northeast Woman to Woman, PO Box 1060, East Orange, NJ 07017. For more information, please visit www. newomantowoman.org.

MASSACHUSETTS October 27th @ 8pm (doors at 7) The Institute for the Musical Arts 165 CAPE ST. (RT 112), GOSHEN, MA Benefit Harvest Dance & Bonfire with a Beehive Halloween Costume Twist! Retro wear and Beehives encouraged! This will be THE Halloween party of the year, so join Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez at this gorgeous barn/performance space (studio design by Electric Ladyland’s John Storyk) to support IMA and their slammin’ Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls. IMA is located just north of Northampton, with its beautiful shops and restaurants. Come and make a day of it, with the evening’s party the icing on the cake! $17 advance. $20 door. More info at www.ima.org or call 413.268.3074.

NOVEMBER FLORIDA November 2nd-4th C.B. Smith Park 900 N FLAMINGO ROAD, PEMBROKE PINES, FL 33028

Rockers In Recovery Music Festival

The RIR Music Festival will be held at C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines. It will feature the following bands: RIR Band, Keep Coming Back, Thrown Alive, Black Finger, The Chillbillies, The Sooner or Later Band, Jimmy Stowe & The Stowaways, Johnny B. and The Road Dogs, Selfish Steam, and Full Range. We will be adding more bands to the lineup over the next month.

If you would like to buy tickets call 954-826-4920 or go to wwww.rirconcerts.com.

CONNECTICUT November 23rd @ 9pm Black-Eyed Sally’s 350 ASYLUM ST., HARTFORD, CT TGIF of Thanksgiving weekend is a long-standing Beehive Queen Tradition at Black-Eyed Sally’s, so throw the turkey in the ‘fridge and come for the Friday Night Holiday Hip-Shake. You won’t go hungry, there’s Southern cooking from Sally’s Kitchen, all night long. Fore more information please visit www.blackeyedsallys.com or call 860.278.7427.

CALENDAR 2013 JANUARY CALIFORNIA Janurary 11th-13th Yoga & 12 Step Spirituality Retreat 5300 CREST RD., RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA MARY AND JOSEPH RETREAT CENTER Experience the journey from self destructive addictions to self-realization practices. Yoga means union of the individual through integrative practices: holistic healing of body, emotions, mind and spirit. This retreat will weave together the ancient wisdom of yoga & ayuraveda with the contemporary wisdom of 12 Step Spirituality. Registration $265 for commuters, $425 single accommodation, $365 double accommodation. For reservations contact Mary Feuer 323.327.7347 or e-mail crackedvesselcraft@gmail.com.

DIRECTORY Treatment Solutions Treatment Solutions is unlike any other approach to addiction recovery. Through our relationships with the nation’s premier treatment facilities and addiction professionals across the country, we make the arrangements and handle the details so our clients can focus on one thing – their recovery. www.treatmentsolutions.com Miami Subs Grill We are excited to be celebrating 20 years of success.

Originators of the fast casual restaurant concept in 1988, today we are still Florida’s Largest Regional Grill Chain featuring the World’s Best Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches (The Official Philly Cheese Steak of the Florida Panthers), the freshest salads, wings, burgers, gyros and many more delicious meals and scrumptious desserts sure to please both palate and wallet. www.facebook.com/miamisubsgrill/info Bechert & Associates South Florida Attorney Charles H. Bechert of Bechert & Associates which is a dedicated full-service law firm that thrives on providing superior legal representation for individuals and businesses alike. www.southfloridaattorney.com 1st Step Sober House Our staff is experienced and dedicated to changing the lives of 1000’s of people with addictions. Our years of experience in recovery gives a structure that no other sober house can offer.

Come by our office and meet with our staff about helping you, a friend or a family member get the recovery they need. www.1ststepsoberhouse.net Sumber Inc. Sumber Construction Sumber Inc. Sumber Construction is dedicated to managing all of your home improvement and property remodeling needs. We offer general repair work, electrical, drywall repair, water damage restoration, plumbing, carpentry, painting, masonry and many more. www.sumberconstruction.com Sound Pillow Many folks in early addiction recovery suffer from stress, anxiety, and fear causing long, sleepless nights. Sound Pillow helps sufferers through these periods of unease and restlessness to reach a state of relaxation and achieve the rejuvenating effects of a good night’s sleep. www.soundpillow.com/addictionrecovery Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. www.alcoholicsanonymous.com All Florida Bail Bonds Inc. We at All Florida Bail Bonds Inc. understand addiction and the help that is needed for the addicted person to get treatment and to have a true shot of doing something different with their lives. A bondsmen is often the first person to help with

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DIRECTORY such action. All Florida Bail Bonds Inc. Bail Bonds, private investigations, notary-on site and mobile, security-high and low threat, and fugitive recovery. www.afbb.us Destination Hope Destination Hope’s singular focus is to provide the highest caliber addiction treatment available for substance abuse and dual diagnosis in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. www.destinationhope.net Holistic Healing Center The Holistic Healing Center offers services that promote total body wellness. Our services are performed in a friendly, caring and professional manner in order to bring about optimal health and healing. For body detoxification, we offer Colon Hydrotherapy and the Ion Cleanse, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Hair Analysis and Heavy Metal Detox programs as well as individualized all-inclusinve Bio-Nutritional programs that address Heavy Metal Toxicity as well as nutrient imbalances. www.holistichealing.com Holistic Lifestyles Radio Network Holistic Lifestyles Radio Network and Rockers In Recovery Network has been live on the air in South Florida 24 hours a day 7 days per week since January 2008. The networks are dedicated to producing many interviews, informational blogs, live video and audio broadcasts in the music industry, concerts production, festivals, events, sporting events, sport and celebrity interviews with many lively topics. www.holisticlifestylesradio.com

Noah’s Ark Sanctuary Non-Profit Animal Rescue Pet Boutique and Cat Adoptions Parent Partners: Making an Impact. Kim Manlove and Ginger Katz, Parent Partners of The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, share their personal stories of loss: Manlove’s son David was 18 years old when he died in an inhalant-related accident; Katz’s 21-year-old son, Ian, died of a heroin overdose.

Rockers In Recovery Network Come join our Social Network Website that is geared towards the support of Rockers who are in Recovery or support Recovery and music lovers who are in Recovery. Rockers In Recovery Social Network, an online place for Rockers In Recovery radio show which is dedicated to music, news, interviews, events, and festivals taking place in the rock and roll industry in the world of fans, bands,listeners or musicians who are in 12 Step recovery or support 12 Step recovery.

Rockers In Recovery, having our own social network website gives us the ability of streaming our Rockers In Recovery radio show 24/7. We also can stream video and audio of all of our live concert productions and live events right to the Rockers In Sober Nation. www.rockersinrecovery.com Visions I Design Visions I Design Network has been live on the air in south Florida 24 hours a day 7 days per week since January 2008.

The networks are dedicated to producing many interviews, informational blogs and live video and audio broadcasts in the music industry, concerts production, festivals events, sporting events, sport and celebrity interviews with many lively topics. www.visionsidesign.com

Holistic Treatment Center for Drugs and Alcohol G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Program is located in North Miami Beach, Florida. Surrounded by the warmth of the sun and lush tropical breezes clients come to escape from the clutches of the disease of addiction. www.holisticdrugrehab.com In The Rooms In The Rooms Addiction Social Network's purpose is to help people with drug addiction, alcoholism, prescription drug addiction, pain killer addiction and more. www.intherooms.com Jacko’s Complete Automotive Handling necessary automotive repair today means a betterperforming vehicle down the road. 1141 W. McNab Road, Pompano Beach, FL, 954-330-7672.

Kayos Productions Kayos Productions is a full-service music company offering a wide spectrum of services imperative to success in today’s music business. Based in downtown New York City, Kayos Productions is a boutique agency spearheaded by seasoned music industry executive Carol Kaye. Kayos is a hub for services including public relations, marketing and consulting.

Having implemented effective PR campaigns for such iconic artists as KISS, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, Paul McCartney, Queen, AC/DC, Alice Cooper, The Eagles, The Ramones, Blondie and many others. www.kayosproductions.com Narcotics Anonymous If you’re planning to go to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting for the first time, it might be nice to know what to expect.

The information in this section is meant to give you an understanding of what happens in our meetings. The words we use and the way we act might be unfamiliar to you at first, but hopefully this information can help you get the most out of your first NA meeting. If you show up early, leave late, and ask lots of questions before and after the meeting, you’ll probably get the most out of every meeting you attend. www.na.org

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