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School of Rock BottomAuthor: Oliver Mason
10 years sober, I bring my experience as a rehab recovery coach & actor to explore addiction, alcoholism, recovery, mental health & the creative journey. Featured in The Week's Ultimate Podcast List of 2024, I know first-hand rock bottom moments can be the greatest teacher & a springboard for a beautiful life. Remember, you dont have to lose everything or wait to hit 'bottom' to recover its simply when you can't ignore the pain anymore. I share my journey & interview people whove survived & thrived through adversity, sharing hard-earned lessons to remind others there is hope & a way out. Language: en-gb Genres: Health & Fitness, Mental Health Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Addiction Caused 5 Heart Attacks! Speed & Cocaine Recovery. School of Rock Bottom 77: Garry Johnson
Monday, 26 January, 2026
He technically died twice. He survived Borstal, homelessness, decades of speed and cocaine, five heart attacks, and 29 days in a coma after a triple heart bypass went wrong. His life was saved by Dr Hasnat Khan, who was close to Princess Diana, and he came back sober, creative, and unstoppable. This is Garry Johnson, the punk poet, street journalist, and man who discovered the Stone Roses, telling his story like no one else can. From the chaos of Fleet Street tabloids to the highs of punk rock and the life-threatening lows of addiction, Garry shares the moments that nearly ended him—and how he survived them all.We explore the drug-fuelled confidence that once drove his creativity, the trauma that shaped his choices, and the health crises that should have stopped him. Garry talks honestly about losing his daughter, why caffeine now acts as a trigger, and the hard truth about why addiction rarely ends when the body starts screaming for change.Since quitting, Garry has transformed his life: seven books published, albums released, screenplays written, and stage performances performed sober. He reflects on creativity without drugs, lessons learnedand what he would tell his grandchildren about drugs. Oliver is an ambassador for Alcohol Change UK and you can access support here - https://tinyurl.com/5dt5773e Thank you to Gavin Sisters for sponsoring this episode! Visit -www.gavinsisters.co.uk and use promo code SCHOOLOFROCKBOTTOM for 10% off! Podcasting is an expensive passion. To help me keep going, I'd really appreciate it if you could buy me a coffee, thank you! https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1Or via PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/olivermason1paypal Topics -0:00 Trailer & Intro 2:30 A rock bottom moment 5:00 Speed helps him become a writer6:45 Abuse in children's home & Borstal 7:45 Using speed & creativity to deal with anger12:00 Coke and speed gave me confidence 13:30 Why speed was my favourite 16:00 Dependancy starts 21:15 Cocaine calmed me down and helped me survive?22:45 Garry has his first heart attack 24:30 Paranoia & anxiety 28:15 Nearly dying was the wake up call30:30 Now I don't even drink coffee!32:00 I kept using in between heart attacks 34:30 Getting clean and career takes off 36:00 Do drugs make you more creative?39:00 Garry discovered The Stone Roses?41:00 A true story about Ozzy Osbourne!42:30 Now a story about Robbie Williams!45:15 Would Garry change the past if he could?Follow OliverInstagram - https://tinyurl.com/2vt29sjvFacebook - https://tinyurl.com/34cwz59rTikTok - https://tinyurl.com/ujw4vxn9LinkedIn - https://tinyurl.com/yuemhnd7Threads - https://tinyurl.com/yk7vdeahX - https://tinyurl.com/3u5mnpds Please subscribe, follow, like, leave a review and comment! YouTube - https://tinyurl.com/bkcdz6b6Spotify - https://tinyurl.com/yevxvc36Apple - https://tinyurl.com/y3n2chk3 #AddictionRecovery #CocaineAddiction #SchoolOfRockBottom
