I Am the Voice Left from Rehab

James Freud

Jul 2011 · Sold by Random House Australia

About this ebook

The life of a rock star to the brink of death and back - and there again - the most shockingly honest account of alcoholism you will ever read.

‘I have performed for royalty, dined with Superman, stood on a stage before 100,000 people and graced the covers of magazines. I lived an enchanted lifestyle. I woke up one day to find it had all deserted me. I found myself lying broken, beaten and bleeding upon the wreckage of my youth.‘

Achieving fame in the eighties with hits like 'Barbados' and 'Modern Girl', James Freud was voracious for everything and anything life had to offer. Vivacious and irrepressible, he hung out with Robert Smith and Siouxsie Sioux in London, he once hit Elvis Costello, toured with Kylie Minogue, stared down the barrel of Chopper Read’s gun and got drunk with Tommy Lee. But as alcohol and pills came to rule his life, the hits stopped coming. He briefly got sober, but by the time he was promoting the first part of his autobiography, I am the Voice left from Drinking, he had become a chronic and hopeless alcoholic.

I Am The Voice Left From Rehab is the dark, gritty account of exactly what happened to James and his family next, chronicling his physical, mental and spiritual demise as time and again he drove himself to the brink of death through booze and drugs, to the despair of his loyal wife and sons. For four years, he was repeatedly arrested, hospitalised and institutionalised, and attempted suicide several times before finally he called on his deepest reserves of willpower to try, one last time, to get clean and stay that way.

This is the most brutally honest account of alcoholism you will ever read, by a man who even in his darkest days was so charismatic, funny and full of love that his family wouldn't leave him, a man who for a time found the strength to turn his life around.

James ended his life in December 2010.

Ratings and reviews

I met James during the radio stars days when my friend Chrissie was with Mick the guitarist. They stayed at my house. He did have an awful temper. He told me he was Austrian too. I remember James being really polite, articulate and a great artist of his time. Like most of us I drank too much at gigs but who didn't. I had no idea about his addictions-I presume either did he. I found this book honest, and at times, hilarious. So sad he didn't make it. As I can resonate with his struggles with addiction it left me wondering what did turn him back down the miserable track of, I presume, alcoholism. I feel for his family and hope they have come to peace with his passing, as much as one can.

Love it sharing with everyone blessed y

Fascinating

About the author

Born in 1959 as Colin McGlinchy, James Freud’s bands included James Freud and the Radio Allstars, Teenage Radio Stars, Models, Beatfish and Moondog. Freud also had a career as a solo artist and writer. In 1977, Freud and his school friend Sean Kelly formed Teenage Radio Stars, a glam-punk band with Freud on lead vocals and guitar. They broke up the next year and Freud formed James Freud and the Radio Allstars. His hits included “Barbados”, “Out of Mind, Out of Sight” and “Modern Girl”. He has worked in commercial production, made short films and published two books.

James Freud ended his life in December 2010.