Billy Idol Opens up About Using Crack To Beat Heroin Addiction

Billy Idol opened up about the extreme measures he took to leave heroin behind during a recent interview on the March 2 episode of Club Random with Bill Maher. The 70-year-old rocker revealed that he turned to crack for a period in his life as a way to break free from his heavier addiction.

“When you’re trying to get off something as serious as heroin, you often feel the need to swap it for something else,” Idol explained. He admitted that he started smoking crack and, to his surprise, it helped him finally stop using heroin. Idol added that while it was not a safe or recommended method, it did allow him to break the cycle of his old habit.

The singer’s battle with substance abuse is a central focus of his new documentary, Billy Idol Should Be Dead, which hit theaters on February 26. In the film, he recalls a terrifying night in London in 1984, after a celebration of his American success.

Idol described a party where a potent batch of heroin left most people unconscious. “I was basically dying and turning blue before my friends tried to revive me,” he said. They eventually put him in an ice-cold bath and walked him across the roof to keep him awake.

The documentary also touches on other wild moments, including a trip to Bangkok that ended with $75,000 in hotel damages. At the time, his son Willem was just a baby, which added pressure for Idol to clean up his act.

Another turning point came in 1990, when a serious motorcycle accident almost cost him his leg. “It made me realize I should try and go forward and not be a drug addict anymore,” he told People.

Today, Idol identifies as California sober. He explained that he can enjoy a glass of wine without falling back into old habits. “I’ve learned a level of discipline now that I didn’t have before,” he said, reflecting on decades of ups and downs.

The rock legend remains active in the music world as he celebrates 50 years in the industry, starting with Generation X in 1976. He is also a nominee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an honor he says would be a perfect way to cap off five decades of performing.

Through it all, Idol continues to reflect on the chaotic years of his youth and the unconventional steps that eventually led him to stability. “It wasn’t pretty, but it got me where I am today,” he said. His story is a reminder of how complicated addiction recovery can be and the strange paths some take to find their way.

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