During a recent episode of Robb Flynn‘s “No F’n Regrets,” MACHINE HEAD frontman talked about his drinking habits and how he went from being “sober as a judge” to a “functioning alcoholic.” Guest on the episode was also DREAM THEATER guitarist John Petrucci.
“I’ve gone back and forth many times in my life with it. For the first few years I toured, I was sober as a judge, I wouldn’t even drink after the show, I was paranoid about losing my voice.
“…And then I went on tour with PANTERA. From that point on, I’m drinking all the time. Then I’m drinking between seven and 10 shots of vodka prior to the show, and another three or four during the show on stage. And after the show, if I had a show the next day, I would stop and not drink anything. But if I had a day off, I would probably have another 28 to 30 shots…
“And probably three or four beers. And then one day, a decade goes by, I manage to do it, I sleep terribly but I chalk that up for being on the road — sleeping sh*tty on the road, bouncing up and down. And then I started to measure. Before that, I just poured vodka into a soda cup, and then I had a shot, which almost never happens.
He continued: “I was like, ‘I wonder how many shots am I pre-gig drinking?’ And then I measured it. It was 7 shots. It blew my mind. In my mind, I was having maybe a shot or two. If I’m doing a headliner show, I’m doing maybe 11 or 12 shots prior and during. And it’s vodka!”
Petrucci then chimed in: “Let me ask you — if I had two shots, I’d be buzzed in a second, so, when you walk on stage, what does it feel like? Do you feel like you’re not even there?”
“No, I felt normal,” Flynn responded. “I had done it for so long that it felt weird going on stage sober. And I could play great. My voice might have had something… But other times, it would make my voice better because my throat was sore and alcohol loosened it up more… I had no problem playing. At some point, I went sober for a minute, I wanted to quit. And the first tour I went sober, I was like, ‘Damn it, I’m playing better. F*ck, I’m singing better. Sh*t!'”
