Some of rock’s most infamous stories involve copious amount of alcohol, but sometimes, the stories that truly resonate are about our favorite rockers opting for a life of sobriety.

3 Doors Down frontman Brad Arnold recently spoke with WRIF’s Meltdown about his path to sobriety a couple of years ago and the moment that led him to change his ways:

“When we went over to Japan a little over two years ago now…I still get a little bit nervous when I play.  For a while, I got a lot nervous.  I got very, very anxious. So, to help me with anxiety, I got a prescription of Valium, like the weakest ones they had.  At the same time, when you’re mixing a bottle of Jack Daniel’s with a little-bitty Valium, that little-bitty Valium becomes a big Valium.  We spent ten days in Japan playing for the troops over there at different based, and I was on my way home, and I couldn’t remember the damn trip.  I couldn’t remember anything about the trip.  I was still on it, and I was trying to think about what I did three days ago.  When I say, ‘I couldn’t remember,’ I mean I could…not…remember. Greg, our drummer, and Chris, our guitar player, had both been through treatment as well, and they’re both in recovery…And just seeing him and Greg and how happy they were in their lives, I said, ‘Man, I want that!’  And it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Arnold talked further about that Japan trip and how one thing that got him through was a call to friend and legend Charlie Daniels:

“On that same trip to Japan, I was having a terrible, terrible night one night.  I couldn’t get ahold of anybody.  You’re on a ten hour time difference, and I forgot what time it even was there [in the United States.]  I actually FaceTimed Mr. Charlie, and he answered me sitting on the couch with his wife, and I was boo-hooing crying.  I was having a fucking breakdown!  And Mr. Charlie and wife sat there and talked to me on the phone for about an hour and a half.  I’ll never forget that.  Just telling me, you know…he’s a good moral man.  I thank him so much for that night. I will never forget it.”

3 Doors Down will be hitting the road this summer with Soul Asylum and Collective Soul.  A complete list of tour dates can be found at 3DoorsDown.com.

To listen to this interview in its entirety, go to WRIF.com.

Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.