Díre: You can get up there and see… “They like me! They really really like me!” James: Yea! It took a while, but thanks anyway! (laughs)
triggered this evolution? Or was it more progressive, resulting from the accumulation of your experiences combined with some profound soul searching?
Of course, I feel like I could have not done it and it would have been just fine. Díre: Because you’ve been seeing what’s going on. First, the checks started coming... and you can go on the internet, that’s all you have to do to see that the music is being appreciated now. James: Right. And that’s not the closure I was referring to, although that’s wonderful. The closure I’m referring to is the band, sort of finishing off the job, if you will, and that’s why I rejoined the band. Díre: Everyone and their granny know that you struggled with drug abuse at various times throughout your musical career, but to my knowledge, no one has ever bothered to explore what I view as a decisive and commendable triumph. Having been at a similar crossroads myself another lifetime ago, I’m beyond impressed that you kicked the drugs, and took the initiative to transform your life in a remarkably positive way. Of course, you ultimately became Vice President of Technology Standards with Sony Electronics whereas I’m still a scatterbrained, irresponsible, disoriented teenager trapped in a grown woman’s body, but I digress. Can you recall any particular moment or event that
Photo © Richard A. Meade
James: To begin with, I don’t know anyone from that era who wasn’t using drugs in some form. As a rock n roll musician it was practically required that we use drugs and we were all too happy to comply. However, it is not well understood or believed that I was never addicted to drugs. Everyone assumes that I was, but I was just what they call a “chipper”. Anyway, drugs got me into plenty of trouble throughout my teens and well into my twenties and I just decided that along with leaving the music business, I’d also leave the drug business and try to find a more sustainable way of living for myself. I did that along with the help of my wonderful wife, and we created a life that we are very proud of. But there were lots of moments, you know, a progression of
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