Nile Rodgers has revealed that he chose sobriety after he performed at a Madonna house party.
The disco icon has previously spoken openly about his struggle with drink and drug dependency.
As a guest on the Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs, he revealed that he decided to go sober after a live performance while high. “I was the last person to leave Mo’s house, they carried me out,” he said. “The look on my face [after hearing a recording of his performance], I was so embarrassed. I now really feel officially crazy because my brain said I was amazing.
“My performance said I was pretty lousy. The difference between the reality and the imagined reality was just too strong for me to take. And I knew that the only thing responsible for that was me doing drugs.
“My drugs made me think it was amazing. The people freaking out made me think it was amazing. My beautiful date made me think it was amazing. But the tapes don’t lie. It was not amazing. And that’s the last time I ever had a drink or drugs and it was 24 years.”
Nile Rodgers and CHIC will head back to the UK for a string of five shows in support of new album ‘It’s About Time’.
Check out the dates in full below. Tickets are available here.
- 13 Dec 2018, Glasgow, SSE Hydro Arena
- 15 Dec 2018, Manchester, Manchester Arena
- 16 Dec 2018, Birmingham, Arena Birmingham
- 18 Dec 2018, Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
- 19 Dec 2018, London, O2 Arena
They recently released the single ‘Sober’ with Craig David and Stefflon Don. Watch the video below.
Desert Island Discs airs on Radio 4 on Sunday at 11.15am.