Randy Blythe on How to Make Peace With the Wars Inside Your Head | 574

Summary

Passion Struck with John R. Miles: Episode 574 – Randy Blythe on How to Make Peace With the Wars Inside Your Head

Release Date: February 18, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 574 of Passion Struck with John R. Miles, host John R. Miles welcomes Randy Blythe, the legendary lead vocalist of Lamb of God, acclaimed writer, photographer, and author of "Just Beyond the Light: Making Peace with the Wars Inside Our Head." This episode delves deep into Randy's transformative journey from battling alcoholism to embracing a life of intentionality, creativity, and purpose.

1. Randy's Early Life and Feelings of Alienation

Randy begins by sharing his experiences growing up in Richmond, Virginia, feeling like an outsider and grappling with depression. He describes himself as a "nerdy child" who found solace in books rather than sports, leading to feelings of exclusion and self-doubt. This sense of not fitting in fueled his anger and intensified his longing for belonging.

"I felt like a square peg trying to go into a round hole. I didn't understand why someone would be mean to me because I enjoyed reading books or they like, you're a nerd. I'm like, but that means I'm smart. Isn't that the goal?"
— Randy Blythe [10:47]

2. Discovering Punk Rock and Finding a Community

Randy's discovery of punk rock music, particularly the Sex Pistols' "Never Mind the Bollocks," marked a pivotal moment in his life. The raw energy and rebellious spirit of punk offered him a sense of understanding and acceptance he had long sought. Immersing himself in the underground music scene, he finally felt a sense of belonging among like-minded individuals who also didn't fit into conventional social molds.

"When I really, I began to find my group, most of the people in that subculture were exactly like me. They did not fit in."
— Randy Blythe [14:17]

3. Struggle with Alcoholism

Randy candidly discusses his descent into alcoholism during his high school years. Initially, alcohol served as a tool to mask his anxiety and social discomfort, allowing him to blend in and feel more confident. However, this temporary relief soon spiraled into addiction, leading to numerous personal and professional setbacks, including jail time and broken relationships.

"Alcohol was definitely a big part of that. It lifted that horrible blanket of what I felt was societal judgment on me."
— Randy Blythe [20:33]

4. The Turning Point: Realization and Sobriety

The episode's most compelling moment occurs when Randy recounts his wake-up call on October 18, 2010, in Brisbane, Australia. Alone in his hotel room, overwhelmed by emptiness despite outward success, he realized that his reliance on alcohol was destroying his life. This epiphany led him to seek help and commit to sobriety—a decision he continues to honor 14 years later.

"I looked at these beer bottles and I realized they were a metaphor for my life. I had become nothing more than an empty container to pour alcohol into."
— Randy Blythe [38:59]

5. Confronting Fear and Anxiety in Modern Life

Randy and John explore the pervasive role of fear in contemporary society, exacerbated by constant exposure to negative news and social media. Randy shares his perspective on how fear fuels anxiety and impacts one's sense of self-worth, emphasizing the importance of managing one's reactions to external chaos.

"Fear is a real mfer—a top shelf grade a son of a bitch that will let you ruin your whole week if you let it run the show."
— Randy Blythe [53:25]

6. Embracing Creativity and Building Resilience

Randy highlights the therapeutic power of creativity, whether through music, writing, or photography. He explains how engaging in artistic endeavors has not only provided him with a coping mechanism but also allowed him to connect deeply with fans who have found solace in his work.

"When I get told, these guys, your music saved me, I was going to kill myself. But this song you wrote kept me going. And I'm like, yes, I did it. I made a difference."
— Randy Blythe [69:42]

7. Legacy and Making a Difference

A touching segment features Randy recounting his interaction with Wayne Ford, a fan battling leukemia. Through heartfelt conversations, Randy realized the profound impact his music and presence had on others, reinforcing his commitment to using his art to inspire and help those in need.

"This young man handled his mortality with such calm and grace. It was inspirational because trying to hide from that only heightens anxiety."
— Randy Blythe [78:14]

8. Daily Practices and Intentional Living

Randy elaborates on his daily routines designed to foster intentionality and mental clarity. By avoiding early exposure to digital distractions and immersing himself in meaningful literature and journaling, he sets a purposeful tone for each day, ensuring he remains grounded amidst life's challenges.

"I do not look at my phone for the first hour I'm awake... I read some meaningful literature, whether it be philosophy or an inspirational memoir."
— Randy Blythe [69:42]

9. Conclusion and Takeaways

As the conversation wraps up, Randy emphasizes the importance of personal control and intentional actions in creating a fulfilling life. He encourages listeners to identify their unique strengths and use them to serve others, highlighting that fulfillment comes from meaningful contributions rather than societal accolades.

"I find fulfillment and purpose in trying to structure my life around paying the basic bills and allowing enough room for me to be of service to other people."
— Randy Blythe [68:41]

Key Insights and Quotes

• Overcoming Outsider Feelings: Randy's early struggles with belonging highlight the universal quest for acceptance and the profound impact it can have on mental health.

• The Destructive Allure of Alcohol: Randy's candid admission of using alcohol to mask anxiety underscores the slippery slope from coping mechanisms to addiction.

• The Power of Creative Expression: His journey illustrates how creativity can serve as a lifeline, offering purpose and a means to connect with others on a deep level.

• Managing Fear and Anxiety: Randy's insights into fear reveal its pervasive influence on our lives and the importance of intentionality in combating its effects.

• Legacy Through Art: The story of Wayne Ford exemplifies how artists can leave lasting, meaningful impacts on individuals and communities.

Conclusion

Randy Blythe's narrative is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of intentional living. His ability to turn personal struggles into creative expression not only helped him overcome addiction but also inspired countless others facing their own battles. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own lives, identify areas where they can embrace discomfort for growth, and use their unique talents to make a meaningful impact.

Resources and Further Reading

• Randy Blythe’s Book: Just Beyond the Light: Making Peace with the Wars Inside Our Head – Available February 18th via Grand Central Publishing/Hachette.

• Follow Randy Blythe:

  • Website: randyblythe.net
  • Instagram: @randyblythe
  • Substack: Randonesia

Engage with Passion Struck

If Randy's story resonated with you, consider exploring his book and the various ways he's leveraging his creativity to foster resilience and intentional living. For more inspiring conversations, follow Passion Struck with John R. Miles on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.

---

This summary captures the essence of Episode 574, offering a detailed overview of the profound discussions between John R. Miles and Randy Blythe. Through heartfelt storytelling and insightful reflections, listeners gain valuable perspectives on overcoming personal battles, the importance of creativity, and the pursuit of a purposeful life.

Transcript

[Randy Blythe]

NETCredit is here to say yes to a personal loan or line of credit when other lenders say no. Apply in minutes and get a decision as soon as the same day. Loans offered by NetCredit or lending partner banks and serviced by NetCredit applications subject.

[John R. Miles]

To review and approval.

[Randy Blythe]

Learn more at netcredit.com partners. NetCredit Credit to the People Spectrum Business.

[Spectrum Business]

Knows that you put in unlimited effort to unlock the unlimited possibilities of your small business. Get Internet, mobile, phone and TV services to connect all aspects of your business and see your business made limitless. Learn [e-mail] business coming up next on.

[Randy Blythe]

Passion Struck, Fear is a real mfer. A top shelf grade a son of a bitch that will let you ruin your whole week if you let it run the show. That's a sentence in the book in in this world of so much information coming at us all the time, it's hard to filter out what we should be worried about and what we shouldn't.

Welcome to Passion Struck. Hi, I'm your host John R. Miles, and on the show we decipher the secrets, tips and guidance of the world's most inspiring people and turn their wisdom into practical advice for you and those around you. Our mission is to help you unlock the power of intentionality so that you.

[John R. Miles]

Can become the best version of yourself.

[Randy Blythe]

If you're new to the show, I offer advice and answer listener questions on Fridays. We have long form interviews the rest of the week with guests ranging from astronauts to authors, CEOs, creators, innovators, scientists, military leaders, visionaries and athletes. Now let's go out there and become Passion Struck. Welcome to episode 574 of Passion Struck. Whether you're a longtime listener or tuning in for the first time, I'm I am absolutely thrilled you're here. You're now part of a global movement dedicated to living with intention, unlocking your potential, and making what truly matters matter most. So let me ask you something. What if embracing discomfort, facing your fears head on, and channeling your struggles into creativity could actually transform your life? What if art isn't just a means of expression, but a lifeline, a way to forge meaning, resilience, and purpose? Today's guest, Randy Blight is here to explore these questions and more. As the legendary lead vocalist of Lamb of God, acclaimed writer, photographer and author of Just beyond the Light, Making Peace with the wars inside Our Head, Randy has lived a life defined by transformation from overcoming addiction to confronting mortality. His story is a testament to the power of intentionality, art and self discovery in today's episode, we'll explore how Randy confronted alcoholism and the mindset shifts that led to lasting change. We go into the connection between creativity and resilience, why art can be a tool for survival. We discuss how iconic spaces like the Hotel Chelsea and the CBGB shaped his artistic journey. I ask what it truly means to matter and Randy explores how we can all leave earnest, meaningful legacy. We also go into his insights on unembracing uncertainty and finding clarity in the chaos of life. If you've ever felt lost, struggled to find meaning, or wondered how to turn pain into purpose, this episode is for you. Randy's journey is a reminder that intentionality isn't just about planning. It's about showing up, facing the hard things, and creating something that lasts. Before we dive in, let's take a moment to reflect on last week's incredible episodes. On Tuesday, Shige Oishi explored the science of psychological richness and why a fulfilling life isn't just about happiness and meaning, it's also about embracing challenge, novelty and perspective shifting experiences. Then on Thursday, Katherine Morgan Schaffler joined me to tackle the truth about perfectionism breaking down, how to harness it as a strength rather than as a burden. She revealed the five different types of perfectionists and how understanding each of them can transform your approach to success and self worth. Each of these conversations sets the stage for today's deep dive into art, resilience and personal transformation. Whether you're an artist, a leader, or someone navigating life's uncertainties, intentionality is the common thread. Do you want to go even deeper? If today's episode sparks something in you, check out our Episode Starter Packs, curated playlists on themes like creativity, resilience and personal mastery. You can find them on Spotify [e-mail] Starter packs for weekly insights and strategies. Sign up for my Live intentionally [e-mail] Prefer watching these conversations? Head over to our YouTube channel where you can catch all our episodes and share them with those in your life who are passionate about growth. Now get ready for a conversation that will challenge you to rethink creativity, resilience, and what it truly means to live intentionally. And if you're a regular listener with kids in the background, this is an episode I would encourage you to listen to without them there. Let's dive in with Randy Blight. Thank you for choosing Passion Struck and choosing me to be your host and guide on your journey to creating an intentional life. Now let that journey begin.

Every day our world gets a little more connected, but a little further apart. But then there are moments that remind us to be more human.

[Amica Insurance]

Thank you for calling Amica Insurance.

[John R. Miles]

Hey, I was just in an accident.

[Amica Insurance]

Don't worry, we'll get you taken care of.

[Randy Blythe]

At Ameca, we understand that looking out for each other isn't new or groundbreaking. It's human. Amica empathy is our best policy.

[Spectrum Business]

I'm sure you can relate to being in a bad relationship and feeling like there's something better out there. No, I'm not talking about your dating life. I'm talking about your home Internet. Right now with US Cellular, you can get fast home Internet for just $39.99 a month when bundled with a wireless plan. And it comes with a three year price lock guarantee so you don't have to worry about it changing on you after the honeymoon phase. So break up with your old expensive cable Internet and get US Cellular. Make the switch today. Terms apply. Visit uscellular.com for details.

[Amica Insurance]

Colon cancer is considered one of the most preventable but least prevented cancers. That's why screening for colon cancer is critical. Sometimes people want to avoid the drama of screening with a colonoscopy. You know, the prep, the downtime, all of it. Thankfully, there's the cologuard test, a non invasive screening option for adults 45 and older at average risk that is delivered right to your door. Early detection is critical. When caught early, colon cancer is survivable in 90% of the cases. With the cologuard test, the process is simple. The test is delivered to your door. You send the sample back to the lab and get results within two weeks. The best part? The Cologuard test is covered by most insurance plans. The cologuard test is intended to screen adults 45 and older at average risk for colorectal cancer. Ask your healthcare provider about screening with cologuard. Cologuard is available by prescription only. Visit cologuard.com to learn more.

[John R. Miles]

I am so absolutely honored today to have Randy Bly on Passion struck. Welcome, Randy.

[Randy Blythe]

Hi, how are you doing, man? Good to see you, John.

[John R. Miles]

When your publicist reached out to me, I have to say I was a little bit taken aback. I've loved your music for a long time, but really didn't know the man behind it. And I think once we see the people behind groups, we love creators that we've seen over the years. It's really a privilege to bring those stories to light. So I'm really glad we get to do this today.

[Randy Blythe]

Thank you so much. I'm first and foremost A music fan and I've gotten to know almost all the bands I listened to growing up and in my 20s. And it's just so cool for me to hear those stories as well. So I'm glad to talk to you, man.

[John R. Miles]

Well, you and I are about the same exact age. I grew up in Pennsylvania, just across the Mason Dixon line in York, Penn. You grew up in Richmond, Virginia. And for me, music was always this really important aspect of my life. Now I found myself back then going more into bands like the Smiths, the Cure, that sort of thing you end up finding. Yeah, you ended up finding punk in your high school days.

[Randy Blythe]

Yes, but at the same time, listening to the Cure, one of my favorite bands of all time. Have you heard their new record, man?

[John R. Miles]

I think it's one of the best ones they've ever put out. And this last concert tour, they're better now than they were in the mid-90s.

[Randy Blythe]

Oh, see, I've never seen them, but I waited for their new record to come out. I heard the first two singles, I had it pre ordered and then I. I waited until the night it came out and I got in my truck and I drove down this back road and listened to the whole record in its entirety. And it was just a magic moment. I did definitely become deeply involved in the punk rock scene, but at the same time listening to the Cure, the Smiths came later. My best friend from middle school loved them. And when we graduated high school, he actually gave me the Smiths greatest hits compilation, the orange one. I think Louder Than Bombs is a joke because I was like, the Smith sucks. But now I like them.

[John R. Miles]

I remember hearing the Cure song Push for the first time and ever since that it's always been one of my favorite. Just that long intro into it. And I always wanted to ask him, could I use it for my podcast because I love it so much.

[Randy Blythe]

I know a couple of people that know Robert Smith, but I don't think I have that much poll. Otherwise. Otherwise I'd ask him for you.

[John R. Miles]

I found it interesting as I was reading your book that we're going to talk today about, which is your. Your new one just beyond the light that your upbringing in mind in many ways were similar. Growing up I always felt like I was a nerd. I was an introvert who loved books, loved diving into new ideas, was constantly asking questions. But in a way I always felt like I didn't fit in and I felt like I was an outsider. And that feeling like I was an outsider really impacted my confidence when I was Younger. Did you ever feel any of those sensations?

[Randy Blythe]

100%. And I do to this day. Sometimes I still feel like a space alien at times. Like yourself. I. I was a very nerdy child. I had a very deep love of books. I was not a sports guy. I come from a really small town where, you know, if you were anything like, you're playing football and. And I just sucked at that. So I wasn't interested in football and. And just, I suppose the normal, regular high school teenage things. And I found myself gravitating more towards definitely books and stranger things. And I felt like an outsider and was treated as such at times. It's like you're a nerd because your social groups, when you're young, kids are trying to find their place. And I really couldn't find a place. I just knew it was weird. And that's where, when I was really young, I tried to fit in for a little while, but it just didn't work. I just couldn't. I was like a square peg going, trying to go into a round hole. And I didn't understand. I didn't understand why someone would be mean to me because I enjoyed reading books or they're like, you're a nerd. I'm like, but that means I'm smart. Isn't that the goal? To not be an idiot? This did definitely lead to a feeling of sort of separation from my peers. And when I discovered punk rock music, that's when I first started feeling, oh, someone else understands me there. Because by the time I had given up trying to fit in, I started to become mad because I was like, I just can't fit in and people are judging me. So I was like, angry. I was angry about this and I didn't really feel comfortable in my own skin. And then I started hearing. I first heard this, the Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks, a tape in the seventh grade. This other guy I knew who was a skateboarder gave me. And I was like, these people understand. I heard the music, they're angry and they understand. And I started delving into that subculture some and eventually going to shows and meeting people. And most of the people in that subculture were exactly like me. They did not fit in. So as much as I would like to think of myself as I'm okay, I'm this stoic outsider sort of. Human beings are social animals. And the quote, no man is an island is absolutely true. We need social groups. We crave social contact. And so I found that within the music scene, this Underground music scene. And it was the first time I really felt I belonged until my 11th and 12th grade year. I also wound up going to a high school for the arts half of the school day and it was a bunch of other weirdos who didn't fit in. So I found my group. But for a long time I felt very much an outsider. And some of that may have been heightened by the. The very nature of being a teenager and going through hormonal changes and. And everybody feels crazy. But I think I definitely was an outsider. And maybe just that teenage confusion that everyone goes through added to that.

[John R. Miles]

I really want to make today's discussion real for the listeners because I think it's a really important discussion we're going to get into. And my listeners have heard me talking a lot about the need to matter and Right. I think so many people today, you just look at the statistics. 64% of people feel excluded at work, 74% of people feel excluded from the communities they belong in. And 20% feel like they don't belong in any aspect of their life. And for you, when you say you didn't feel like you belonged at that point, that you didn't matter, what did that feel like?

[Randy Blythe]

Depressing, highly depressing. Which manifested itself for a long time in an outward expressions of anger. I was very angry that I could not fit in and also at the same time angry outside. But also very self critical at the same time pointing fingers at myself. Like I said, I didn't really feel comfortable in my own skin. And it's like, what's wrong with you? Why are you. Something must be wrong with you. Why can't you fit in these to my view, everybody else was okay. Which of course is also probably colored through the lens of a teenage eye where everybody looks at other people. But it was depressing. And I think as I get older and I talk to my parents about this because I dealt with some depression and unsuccessfully few methods that I'm sure we'll get into in a bit. I tried to deal with depression and I'm older. I talked to my parents a few years ago. I'm like, do you think I had some depression as a child? If I was, I suffered from that. And they're like, yeah, I definitely think so. You were a very sensitive child. And I certainly felt that way. And I internalized that outsider feeling. And it was, it was not good. It was, was not good. Angry and depressed. That's how it made me feel. How about that?

[John R. Miles]

Well, I hear people today describe themselves as feeling battered Broken, lonely, helpless and. And I think there are all symptoms of what you, what I. And I found myself for years and years putting on a mask because I was trying to reject a version of myself that I thought society wanted to see was did you ever feel like that at all?

[Randy Blythe]

As if I was putting on a mask? Like I said, I think we all wear masks to a certain degree. I think that's how we function in social groups. We have to there. There's an unspoken social contract where you can't say every single thing that comes through your mind. I don't know about you because some crazy things come from my mind that I just shouldn't speak out loud from time to time. But for the most part, I gave up on the mask pretty much. Young, where I just didn't understand why people would care. I don't come from money, so I never, when I grew up I would wear hand me down clothes. And those were not the most in style clothes or whatever when I was younger. And people, they would make fun of me or they'd make fun of the neighborhood I lived in and because it was not a wealthy neighborhood. And I for a while just did not understand why this was. I'm like, it's not my fault that I don't have the new clothes and who cares? It's about being a good person. As that really affected me emotionally. I tried to fit in. As I said, it didn't work. I was just like, screw this, I am not changing myself. So as I said, as a sensitive, very good natured child, that sort of nature, that good natured sensitivity began, transformed into a sort of external hard shell of anger, I think. And I don't know if it's so much a mask I was putting on is. It was just a reaction to my inability to understand the way my peer group functioned at such a young age. I basically became a walking middle finger for a long time that I don't think it's so much a mask. It was more like a protective shell. And that's not sustainable either though after a while because you grow up and who wants to hang around the constantly angry guy? That's not cool. You don't get a lot of, oh, he's always mad, let's invite him to the party. That doesn't work either. So now I didn't really passed a certain like right around like sixth grade, I just gave up. I was like, these people don't like me. I can't get a girlfriend like everyone else. They make fun of my clothes, they Think I'm weird because I read books, which I thought was asinine even then. I even had teachers make fun of the way I read. And I was like, just screw these people then. And. And just start externally externalizing that anger. And that's why the punk rock scene so appealed to me, because it was. Most of the lyrics were political or societal based around social issues at the time. And I can transfer that anger in a righteous way to what I view as valid or just causes things you should be mad about.

[John R. Miles]

My aspirations of what I would become. And my sister got it too. I think my youngest sibling got it to a much lesser extent. But I always felt like I was held to these expectations. And for me, that's what caused me to pretend in many ways. And really, because I didn't fit in, because I felt this enormous amount of pressure, alcohol became the thing that made me feel normal. And I remember I first really discovered it when I was about 14 years old. And it was my way that, as you were saying, I felt comfortable talking to girls. I felt more comfortable being in social circles. For you, was it the same gateway?

[Randy Blythe]

Yes. And I think it was a combination of things because I. I came a little bit later to drinking than you did. I drank and did drugs pretty heroically for 22 years, right? I mean, Olympic level drinking, especially for a skinny dude like myself. I could put away a case of beer a day, no problem. Along with shots and whatever else I managed to shovel down my gullet. Because I was a garbage can. Right? At about my senior year school, I got my. A couple of things happened. I got my first real serious girlfriend, and she was an extremely pretty girl. And everybody was all of a sudden very confused. They're like, how did you get that? How did you pull that off? And I'm like, she's an artist. We're talking about the Cure. She and I listened to the Cure together. So I got my first real girlfriend. I'm going to this art school. I'm becoming more and more involved in this sort of underground music culture. And I'm finding my people. But at the same time, during that same time, I started doing some drinking on the weekends with some friends of mine who we used to party in their garage. And that really made things better. Finally, I felt okay. You mentioned talking to girls or feeling comfortable in social situations. That did all that for me. It removed this self consciousness or this feeling like these people are looking at me and judging me to where I don't care. So what if they are? I'm Having a good time. And at first alcohol provided that sort of relief. It lifted that horrible blanket, that wet blanket of what I felt was societal judgment on me to where I did not care. And it was wonderful for a little while. And that's a very common thing you hear. I know a lot of sober people. I've been sober for 14 years now. I know a lot of sober people and almost all of them will say male or female, whatever. All of a sudden I was a. I could talk to members of the opposite sex or if they were gay to the same sex, I could hang out and go in public. And I felt a part of, I felt as if something had changed. And that was very much the case for me. It just made life easier. It was an answer to this unnamed issue. I had this unnamed problem because it wasn't. At 17 years old, I was not sitting there analyzing myself through a Freudian eye. Well, you're excluded, you have societal anger, you're self judgmental, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I was just like, something is wrong, something is wrong here. And then all of a sudden these few things happened and things start to feel right. And alcohol was definitely a big part of that. And I realized that more and more the, the more I stay sober, the, the longer I stay sober. I look back at my earliest drinking and I realize it was fairly abnormal even for like people go to college and they drink some or they drink a little bit. In high school, mine was a bit more intense and I'm realizing that and seeing the signs now only with the benefit of hindsight.

[John R. Miles]

I want to get into that in a little bit, but I wanted to go somewhere else first. So I told you I was a fan of your music and I thought I would tell you the path to discovering it because I, I told you that I was really into new wave alternative type of music. But when I was maybe 15 and a half, I was working at a supermarket called Giant. Not sure if you have them in Virginia or not.

[Randy Blythe]

I've seen them, I've seen them, but I don't think we have them in Virginia.

[John R. Miles]

Well, I am still this young kid and I've always had this strong work ethic, but I had worked my way from bagger to working a cash register to being a produce manager. And then the store manager says I need someone to manage the truck crew. So I'm the scrawny 15 year old kid and he puts me on the truck crew. And to earn any value in the truck crew, you've got to empty the whole truck. By yourself. Which I had to do until the next person came on. But every single other person on the truck crew was definitely over 18. Most of them were in their trinic 20s. And every single one of them was an ex con. And they all love to blare. Metallica, Megadeth, all these heavy metal bands. And that became my introduction not only to heavy metal, but they all came to me with a proposition when I was that age that, hey, do you want to become popular? We've got a great way to make it happen. We can buy you alcohol and you can be the provider to all the high schools in the area. So I started a sub business off of being on this truck crew.

[Randy Blythe]

A recreational beverage distribution manager. That's you.

[John R. Miles]

That was me, man. And it forever changed my relationship with.

[Randy Blythe]

I bet it did. I was a recreational pharmaceutical salesman myself for a little bit.

[John R. Miles]

But it was interesting because those guys, even though they. Where I grew up in York, Pennsylvania, we had a ton of gangs and they were all part of these different gangs. But it was the first time I just felt like I could be whoever I wanted. They didn't care. I could say whatever I wanted. I could curse. As you were saying this. This new genre of music was bringing forth these powerful lyrics and really allowing me to vent in. In many ways that I hadn't seen before. So it was a really introduction. It was a real interesting introduction into me starting to get this foundation of becoming who I was meant to be.

[Randy Blythe]

So to speak through. And miscreants and criminals, they brought you to this world.

[John R. Miles]

Yes.

[Randy Blythe]

Me too.

[John R. Miles]

So in your early years of being in the band and being out on tour, what was that like for you? I mean, is it. I've talked to some people who have been in the industry who tell me it's almost like they lose track of the city that they're in. I understand you really like to get in to the history of the different locations you go into. But what was it like being on tour?

[Randy Blythe]

Well, in the beginning, we were booking our own tours. We weren't traveling around on a tour bus or anything. We were in a series of constantly breaking down KANO Line vans. Vans. I mean, we've literally changed the transmission in a van in a Walmart parking lot before. Crazy stuff. And we're playing mostly like VFW halls or people's basements, punk rock squats, things like that. And hoping for maybe enough gas money to get down the road and maybe a plate of spaghetti to eat for dinner and someone's floor to sleep on. That's what we'd say, hey, who on stage? Can anyone give us a place to stay tonight? Because there was no money for a hotel or anything at that time. It was very exciting because you're doing this. You're doing this. Not. Certainly not for any hope of monetary compensation whatsoever. It's for the love of playing music. It's for this thing you want to express yourself. That's how. This was a manner I had found by. Loosely call it singing, by singing in this band. It was a manner of me expressing myself and surprise. After a while, for the first time in my life, people I didn't even know started to enjoy the manner in which I was expressing myself artistically. So it was very gratifying. But it was also a very big adventure in those early days because, like I said, we're not exactly making any money. It was just like, we're gonna go out and I. And wow, I get to go to Chicago and see what Chicago is. That was about the furthest we made it before we eventually wound up going in tour van. I mean, in tour buses eventually. And we wound up going to California and so forth. So it was very exciting. But is also a great place to really develop and hone a taste for alcohol and other substances. Because you're not beholden to getting up in the office. And if you are drunk on stage, that was expected. That's the norm. So you could get away with things that people at a normal job simply could not get away with. Right. I mean, alcohol is my one true love. I managed to never get strung out on drugs. I do not know how, because I get a ton of them. But I used to stand on stage and be like, who's got the drugs? Who's got the pills? And like magic. People would come up and hand me drugs. And that's not something you can do in a normal job. If you were going to go into your job at a law firm, you can't just stand up on desk and be like, all right, I want some cocaine and who's got it? You'd be fired immediately. HR would come in with a security guard and carry you out. So live. Existing in that sort of environment was a great place to develop my alcoholism. And it was a lot of fun at first, until it wasn't.

[John R. Miles]

Yeah, and I want to go there in a second. But I wanted to talk to you about creativity because as I was reading the book, you describe creative energy. Your words were lingering in places where great artists have struggled to bring their genius to life. How has this Belief shaped your own process. And how do you think the art that we create can truly transcend our deaths?

[Randy Blythe]

I mean, the part I'm talking about, as I said you mentioned, I really. I look at the history of where I'm going and so forth. And I really love going on tour. I love going to go see where writers lived when they were back in their early days of their career. For instance, Ernest Hemingway, a huge fan, very obsessed with his sort of lost generation period when he lived in Paris with Fitzgerald and Gertrude Stein and all that stuff. So I'll go to Paris and I will walk the Left bank, and I will go have a coffee in the Dome or the select, all the cafes where he wrote, and I'll go see where he lived and. Or I've been in Santiago in Chile, and I will go to Las La Tuscona, which is Pablo Neruda's house in outside Santiago, one of his residences, and go through there and just look at the environment in which he created, in which he wrote and. Or one of my favorite, like, more modern authors, this guy Pat Conroy, who's a masterful storyteller from Beaufort, South Carolina. I will go down there and walk through Beaufort, South Carolina, and look up where he lived when he was a young school teacher there and was working on his first books, his beginning of his life as an author. And I will just look at these places and examine them and see the environment, or at least an echo of the environment that they existed in this place that brought forth this creativity from them. And I'll look and I'll examine it, and I get this feeling like, oh, I understand why they would write about this, why this place was so critical to them expressing themselves. And it's just a. It's just like a personal belief of mine that I think that sort of creative energy may linger. Maybe it's wistful thinking, I don't know. So I. But I'd love to go and see these places and immerse myself in these places. And in my town in Richmond, Virginia, Edgar Allan Poe got his start there. So I been to where he had his first job at a newspaper and been to where his house was when he grew up and just sat around and thought about, wow, this place produced this person. And I'm thinking very much about the environment that they were in. And I look at what is there now and then I think about my own environment and I think, what is it about wherever I am right now that makes me want to create? And I think that that sort of Energy maybe one day will linger for me. Hopefully some young kid will be cruising through the alleyways in Richmond, Virginia, and they'll be like one. That dude Randy from Lamb of God, he used to walk through this alleyway because I did all of them. Any alleyway you walk through in the fan, that's me. And maybe this is where he came up with this idea for this song. It's just something I really enjoy. Going to go see where artists work. I don't know if that answered your question.

[Amica Insurance]

This is an ad from Better Help Online therapy. We always hear about the red flags to avoid in relationships, but it's just as important to focus on the green flags. If you're not quite sure what they look like, therapy can help you identify those qualities so you can embody the green flag energy and find it in others. Better help offers therapy 100% online. And sign up only takes a few minutes. Visit betterhelp.com today to get 10% off your first month. That's betterhelp h e l p.com?

[John R. Miles]

It did. And I find the same thing. It's always interesting me to see the backstories of where authors write or where the Beatles recorded their album or other bands like, oh sure, recently watching the story of Fleetwood Mac making Rumors and how that all came together and then how when they did Tusk, the alcohol and drugs were tearing them apart.

[Randy Blythe]

Yes.

[John R. Miles]

Along with all their relationship issues that they had in that band. But it's interesting to. To see the backstories because it's those backstories that so much influence a creative loop that you either produce or you produce some of the greatest things that have ever been written.

[Randy Blythe]

Yeah. And you're talking about the Beatles. Not the biggest Beatles fan, but I've been to Maid of Ale Studios to. To do like the. What became the inheritance of the Peel sessions. John Peel is a producer there who used to have his own radio show. Very influential in spreading new music in England. But we were in there and. And his producer, the guy who inherited the Peel show, was showing. He's like, see this two inch tape? This is just sitting in the corner. Dusty, he's. The Beatles did a record on that tape machine. I'm just like, wow, it's so cool. I just loved seeing the. The little pieces of history and inserting myself in that history in a way that's also important. It's not just consuming these places, but I think it feeds my energy because like I said, I never thought we would ever make any money doing this music. My Wildest, wildest dream was to play a club called CBGB in New York, because that was the birthplace of punk rock. It's where the Ramones and Blondie and those guys got their start back in the early mid-70s, even before the Sex Pistols. So I thought, maybe one day we'll get to play CBGB. And in 1997, I believe it was. It's 97 or 98, we got to play CBGB for the first time. And I walked on stage and I. It's. It was just a dump, man. But so many great bands played there, and it was such a great place to play. And I walked on stage and I felt as if I was walking into history. I inserted myself into the noble history of that smelly, smelly club, and I did. We got to play it several times. And no one can ever take that from me. It's something very dear to my heart.

[John R. Miles]

Yeah. Where I live here in the Tampa area, we have this venue called Janice Live. I'm not sure if you've ever played there, but I happen to be talking. Yeah, I happen to be talking to Stephen Jenkins from Third Eye Blind. And I asked him about some of his favorite venues he was ever played. And. And he mentioned this one. And if you remember it, it's got like a tree in the. In the facility. And he was telling me the story of how he climbed up the tree in the early days when and was singing from one of the tree branches during the concert. People all around him. Which is a great memory.

[Randy Blythe]

Sure. Absolutely. I've been known to climb things myself.

[John R. Miles]

I'm gonna get back to CBGB with a question towards the end, but I want to go back to sobriety for a second. And you are very well read, so I'm certain that you have read a lot by Henry David Thoreau or. Yes, of course.

[Randy Blythe]

Sure.

[John R. Miles]

Well, one of the things I've really explored is his term quiet desperation.

[Randy Blythe]

Yes.

[John R. Miles]

And this is something that I found where I was living in quiet desperation. I found myself. I was doing the same things. I was numbing the same feelings. I was hoping for change, but then never taking the steps to invoke the change. And I remember in one of these moments that I came to the conclusion that alcohol was ruining my life. And it. For me, it wasn't some dramatic rock bottom. It was. It happened to be on my birthday. And it was this just quiet, crushing realization that I was stuck in an endless loop. Yes. It sounds like this resonates for you.

[Randy Blythe]

100.

[John R. Miles]

That moment for you. When did you know Something had to change.

[Randy Blythe]

Okay? So I remember precisely when it happened because like I said at first, alcohol really enhanced my ability to be social, to. To not feel like such a freak and to feel more comfortable in my own skin. And so naturally, I pursued that. I pursued that to. To great lengths to Herculean links. And then it stopped working. And it stopped working a lot sooner than I thought, but. Because by then I was addicted to it. I was an alcoholic. So I drank and drank and drank and. And it would shut up my head a little bit, the voices in my head, because the head is the killer. You can't sit up here too long. My head is a bad neighborhood that I should not go up in without adult supervision. So I just tried to shut it up by drinking, stuffing down these feelings and this horrible, I don't know, miserable existence that I was living. And one night we. We were on tour with Metallica and we were in Australia and we were mains. We. We did about a year, over the course of two years as main support for Metallica, which is the biggest metal band in history and one of the biggest bands on the face of the planet, period. When we were in Australia, which is an absolutely amazing place, I don't know if you've ever been, but it's just so cool. And I had money in my bank probably 20 times. Yeah.

[John R. Miles]

And live there for a period of time. So, yes, I know Australia extremely well.

[Randy Blythe]

Yeah, it's great. It's great. So I had money in my bank account. I was still married at the time. I had my band, we had fans, were on tour in Australia opening up for this band that most metal bands could only ever dream of meeting, much less being main support for. And I went out on the night of October 17, 2010, and I went out with some friends and I went drinking. Started at a Irish pub in Brisbane and ended up alone in my hotel room drinking beer. And I drank and drank and drank and drank. And it stopped working. I was left with nothing but myself. And I was miserable. I'd already been through a lot of consequences. I'd been to jail for being stupid and drunk. I'd been suicidal. I tried to kill myself. I wound up in a mental ward while drunk. I woken up in the hospital with broken bones on tour because I got drunk and walked off a roof at a house party. Almost killed myself. I did that drunk. Been divorced once, got drunk, did broke before because I drank everything up. I just drank through all that, right? I just drank through it because I could drink at people. I Could drink at my problems. Like, this is the fault of everybody else but me. And then on this one night, I drank and drank and drank and drank, and it stopped working. And I woke up on a hotel balcony on October 18, 2010 in Brisbane, Australia. And I walked out on the balcony and it was sunny day. And the Brisbane Botanical Gardens were down the street to the left. And they're beautiful and they have awesome plants and weird animals. And then across the street was one of my favorite bookstores I'd ever been to. And I love books. I'm a huge nerd. And then down the street were all these great restaurants. And I looked at all this stuff and I real. I had this feeling that I did not want to exist anymore. I didn't feel like I wanted to kill myself. I just felt. I just wanted to cease being, period. I felt utterly empty. And I'm on tour with Metallica. You should not feel that way. You should feel like this is a huge part of my career. I felt completely empty. And I. I finally came to the realization maybe what other people have been telling me, maybe there's a bit of truth to it. Maybe I ought to try and quit drinking and things will get better. So I looked at. On this table on this balcony, and I saw all the beer bottles from the night before. And because I'm OCD about things, I had arranged them extremely neatly. All the labels were facing the same way, and they were in a very neat row on this little table. And I looked at these beer bottles and I realized they were a metaphor for my life because I had become nothing more but an empty container to pour alcohol into. And while everything on the outside of my life, like, I had a job, had a wife, had money, everything looked orderly, like those beer bottles. But all it would take would just be a little push, ding. And everything's broken. Everything falls and shatters. So it was not a big dramatic thing like you. It wasn't like I woke up under a bridge in a trench coat, you know, clutching a bottle of rot gut wine with no money in my pocket. I just woke up on a hotel balcony and wanted to cease to exist. And I, like, I have to try something different. And I haven't had a drink or any drugs since that day.

[John R. Miles]

For me, and I can totally hear what you're saying, for me, it really gave me this false sense of control in this chaotic world that we live in. And I remember my time in Australia, I had so much fun because the Australians, man, they work hard, but they party even harder.

[Randy Blythe]

The Entire continent is nailed down by pubs. There's one on every corner and boy, can they drink.

[John R. Miles]

Yeah, the only people who sometimes I think drink more than them are the Japanese. And you don't think about it, but in their culture, they try to get you so drunk during their 10 hour long dinners and that's when they try to go for the jugular of getting what they want out of you.

[Randy Blythe]

Yeah, sure, if you're gin, you're over there doing business. But that's interesting that the relationship of alcohol and the Japanese corporate culture, because you'll be in Tokyo or Osaka on a weeknight and you'll see these businessmen in these suits just completely trashed, unable to walk. And it is my understanding that within that what they call the salaryman culture, if the boss says we're going out drinking, then you are expected to go out to drink with the boss. And they get it in. They get it in. And I think they have a different view of the state of intoxication as well. Because I've heard that from several different places, if you're drunk and the boss makes you come out and drink with you and you say or do something rude or embarrassing, it's not talked about the next day, oh, he was drunk, that's okay. So it's like a pressure valve. I think there's tightly constrained social roles. There's many beautiful things about Japanese culture. And I don't know if you've been there as well, but it's one of my favorite places on earth. But they have a saying, the nail that sticks up gets hammered down. I don't think I'd make it too long as a native Japanese guy.

[John R. Miles]

I've been there a bunch too. Not quite as many times as I've been to Australia. I've actually been to India more than I've been to either one of those two countries.

[Randy Blythe]

Wow, that's beautiful country as well. Man. We've been there two or three times now. Crazy shows there for us.

[John R. Miles]

What I found with alcohol that was so profound is that it dulled the edges for me, but it also dulled me. How did you go from like numbing the chaos to finding meaning in it?

[Randy Blythe]

Well, that's the thing. It's trying to numb the chaos. It was. I keep on talking about the voices in my head. I'm not schizophrenic. It's not literally like I had someone saying this or that the other. And just speaking of the constant state of emotional agitation within me and upset at the fact that the world continued to behave in a manner that I did not see as acceptable. So I would drink a drink to numb that and. But it was also numbing and dumbing me. And I got away with that for a long time also because I believed in the cultural myth of the alcoholic slash addict writer, slash musician, slash artist artist. That's a great cultural myth. And some of my favorite writers were these masculine dudes like Hemingway and Hunter S. Thompson and Bukowski. Like every other angst riddled 20 year old male or whatever. I love these writers and I still do. So I did all the things that these great writers did. Like I drank and did a respectable amount of womanizing and even got some fist fights from time to time. I did all the stuff that those great writers were doing, except for the writing part. Right. I'm. I'm practicing to become an artist. So I bought into that cultural mythos of the damaged artist, the alcoholic artist. And it certainly, that's a fear, I think, amongst musicians, writers, artists of all sorts that become alcoholics or drug addicts, that when they stop doing whatever their preferred poison is, their creative abilities will abandon them. I have found it's complete nonsense. In fact, my. I did not become a published author until I became sober. I talked a lot about writing a book one day when I was drinking, but it wasn't until I stripped away that poison I was putting in my brain that I was able to exert myself creatively long enough to complete a book. And it's, as you well know, it's not an easy task writing a book. So I think for me, I didn't have much choice but to jump into the chaos as a sober person. Because I realized on that day, I realized when I woke up on that day in Australia that I'm going to die. If I keep doing this, it's going to kill me because I did not drink just a little bit. I drank a lot. And I had tried to quit drinking while at home a few times and it didn't work. I would not drink, but still take drugs of some sort to level out until I could go back on tour and get drunk again. So I'm on tour in Australia with Metallica and I have this moment and I'm like, I have to stop and I have to stop now. It cannot wait anymore. I cannot push this to the side anymore. And my first day sober, I woke up and at this sort of realization that I had to at least try. And there were some sober guys on the tour from Metallica's crew, including James Hetfield. Guitar player. So I went. I didn't drink until I got to the show that evening. And I'm like, please help me, please. I don't know what I'm doing. I'm losing, losing my mind. And there were actually three of us got sober on that tour. Three or four of us from me and some of Metallica's crew. So there was these group of dudes who were sober, and I'm like, please help me. Please help me. I know you guys. Quit drinking, please. And they're like, just breathe, dude, and. And talk to me and calm me down. And told me I could do it and gave me some advice. And so I walked on stage that night with a banging hangover on stage in front of 14,000 people. And I had. Luckily I had long hair still then, because it was in my face, because I was weeping uncontrollably on stage in front of 14,000 screaming Australians. And I was just like, my life. And then, luckily, I'm not Pavarotti. I scream for a living. So screaming. Screaming out these lyrics in front of 14,000 people, just crying for the whole 45 minutes. I was on stage with my hair in my face and nobody noticed. I got through it. But that was my first day sober. That was my first day sober. And I. I think it had to happen that way for me. I think I had to inject myself into. I had to raw dog reality right from the start on tour. Because I think in order for me to understand that I could do this, I have to get sober. I have to maintain that sobriety, no matter what my surroundings are. And if I can get sober on tour surrounded by free alcohol and free drugs, anybody can do it. And I. I know guys who've gotten sober living in a crack house before, too. There's different levels of difficulty. But if anyone is having a problem, you think you can't get sober because this situation isn't right or this condition isn't right. It's nonsense. If you have a problem and you know this and you want to change you ha. You can't wait, but only so long because it might kill you, you're eventually going to have to try it. And for me, it was on tour, and so I didn't really have a choice about how not. If I want to continue being a musician and I got SOBER When I'm 39 years old, it's not. It was a little bit late for me to go back to school and become a lawyer or something. My career choices are limited at this point, so I'M just grate I was able to do it and I did it with some help.

[John R. Miles]

Randy, thanks for sharing that. I want to talk to you for a second about fear.

[Randy Blythe]

Yes. For me it's the worst.

[John R. Miles]

Yeah. For me fear was like a liar. It got me stuck for years. It told me I'd never be good enough. And I think it's part of what leads people to whatever addiction they have. It could be addiction to sexual drugs, alcohol, even work, shopping, all of it. Do you think fear is at the heart of why so many of us feel like we don't matter?

[Randy Blythe]

Absolutely. 100 fear. Can I cuss on this? I like. I'm trying not to be vulgar.

[John R. Miles]

I mean you can.

[Randy Blythe]

I won't. Let's just say I believe there's a sentence in the book. Right. Since I am here to talk about my book in a way there's a sentence in the book and it's about fear and it talks about how fear is. There's a whole thing about different fears that I have faced. So there is. Fear is a real mfer a top shelf grade A son of A that will let you ruin your whole week if you let it run the show. That's a sentence in the book. And I think in this world of so much information coming at us all the time, it's hard to filter out what we should be worried about and what we shouldn't. I think in one way, and I think that's apparent in the rising level of anxiety in young people as well. But it's affecting people our age definitely. I feel it myself. There's so much information and there's this 247 news cycle and much of it is horrible and much of it is bad. There's just conflict and national natural disasters and political instability and warfare and. And it's just like this constant bad. And it, it causes this automatic sort of reaction in, in our. Our nervous system, the limbic system starts working up and you start internalizing these things and feeling them. And after a while it becomes, you know, this constant grinding state of low level anxiety. I think. And I think once something has passed, a danger or whatever, something that you should be afraid of, let's say a crocodile attacks you or something, once that danger is passed, fine, the adrenaline dumps down and you move forward. I think now the fear has been ratcheted up and in fact Lamb of God has a song called Engage the Fear Machine on one of our. Not this last script. And it's about this constant media doom and gloom like constant negativity and it is true that there are bad things happening in the world at all times. There is no doubt about it. And right now I'm experiencing quite a bit of anxiety and fear for friends of mine in Los Angeles because we're recording this while Los Angeles is on fire. And I spent the last few days texting every day I remember someone else who lives out there. I'm like, are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay? Is your house there? And it has been this overwhelming feeling of anxiety and that is really happening. And these are not abstract people to me. These are people I care very deeply about, friends of mine that have had long term relationships. All that being said, I'm over here on the East Coast. I'm not in the middle of a wildfire in California right now, right? So this feeling of fear and anxiety has been ratcheted up within me. And if I do not dial it back and I do not take stock of the reality of my situation, which is I'm sitting here in my study with all my books on the Internet, doing this lovely podcast with you, if I don't, if I don't stop that anxiety, it's just going to ruin everything. And I think society in general is riddled with anxiety. Perhaps not entirely because of, but I think this constant to negativity is accelerating this sort of anxiety hangover we all wake up with every day, I think, and it's, for me, it's a process of trying to stay present and trying to stay cognizant of what the reality of my situation is. And looking at that, realizing that in this moment I'm okay. And then if there's anything I can do to alleviate the suffering of other people, then I can take action, right? If I'm calm and looking at myself and looking at my situation with clear eyes, then I can actually think and plan and do something to actually make the situation better rather than just sit here clutching my pearls and wringing my hands like, this is so terrible, this is so terrible. And I'm guilty of that, I am. But I'm trying so hard to fight against that. And I mean, right before this conversation we're talking about the wildfires in la and I, for the last five, six days, I constantly checking on my friends and remembering someone else, as I said, and I felt like this overwhelming anxiety and I've wanted to make things better. And I was talking to my girlfriend right before this, I'm like, we've donated some money, trying to figure out what I can do. But I realized oh, yeah, I'm going on this book tour and it's hard for me to promote, to like, feel like I'm promoting a book tour and I'm promoting my new book when all these horrible things are happening. Then I realized she had this great idea. She's donate the proceeds from your Los Angeles show to one of the charities that is helping people right there. And then I talked to my manager and he's like, yeah, you could do the three California shows, because I'm gonna do three California shows. And then I contacted my friends at this podcast, the Dollop, and I asked him about what charity. So I'm like, what do you think about Habitat for Humanity for Los Angeles? So now I've got these three shows in California that I'm going to donate any money I make to Habitat la. And I can only do that because I'm thinking and remaining calm and looking for a solution, not completely consumed by here by fear and anxiety. But it's a, it's a process, dude. It's a fight. Every day.

[John R. Miles]

It's a fight for me. Images like this and it, it's easy to, to empathize with the people who are being impacted. But earlier this year, we got hit severely by the hurricanes and I had three feet of water in my house and we lost everything.

[Randy Blythe]

Yeah.

[John R. Miles]

And so it was the first time in my life that, I mean, I can honestly feel what these people are going through. I heard about an Olympics athlete who lost five of their gold medals. Tom Hanks lost his house. The Kardashians lost their house. Ben Affleck lost his house. I mean, the list goes on and on, but it just shows you how raw and real it is. And I mean, it's just crazy to think that all of a sudden you were just told you got to pick up and leave.

[Randy Blythe]

Well, it started out that area, Malibu, the Palisades, is extremely wealthy. The homes that were on the beachfront were destroyed. These belong to wealthy people. But there are also normal people that live out there too. And there are working class people who were displaced. It's not just movie stars and so forth. And I think that's something that is a bit of a misconception. I have friends who live all around there and luckily none of my friends have lost their house, but they've had to evacuate. I have a friend who's on tour right now as a comedian and his house is under firewatch. It's okay. I hope my home is still there when I get back. And this is a working class comedian. He's not a bazillionaire or a rich guy. Yeah, it's heartbreaking. And no, I'm sorry to hear about your house. I am from a coastal area myself. I grew up in Tidewater, Virginia and Cape Fear, North Carolina. And hurricanes come. They definitely come. I've done some. Once again, it's a matter of, though, of looking at what you can do. A few years ago down in, in Brunswick County, North Carolina, in Cape Fear, a hurricane came and ripped through and destroyed a lot of things. And so I stopped and asked myself, okay, how can I help? And I have a buddy who is a member of a disaster relief team. He's a New York City firefighter for years and in his spare time he goes in and does disaster relief. And his team came down to North Carolina to do some relief. And since I have a lot of connections in the area, I went on social media and found out through locals where things were most needed and set up a distribution center. Because the Red Cross is a great organization, but there's a lot of bureaucracy, a lot of red tape. It's very slow moving. And my buddy, he's a former Marine, New York firefighter. He has no time for all that. It's time. Let's get supplies, the people. So I went and used my connections in the area to set up stuff. And then the next thing you know, we're in a flooded out trailer park delivering emergency relief. Boom. Like that. And. And it's because I was able to think and use my mind. And I hate to keep coming back to alcohol when I'm numbing myself from the chaos and the bad things in the world or whatever by just pouring alcohol and doing drugs. And because I don't like the way it is, I am combat ineffective. I cannot do anything. And it's not always fun trying to figure out a solution to these issues or at least a way to help or try to make the world a better place. But for me, I have to have a clear head. I have to be able to face things, the good, the bad and the ugly, without that sort of substance filter over. Otherwise I can't do anything.

[John R. Miles]

I think I'm gonna title this episode how to Fight the War Inside. And this is really a common theme across the whole book. Yeah, but when I quit drinking, I had to face who I really was. And even after quitting, I found that the mental battle, it doesn't just end. The cravings, the doubts, the old habits, they're still there today. Do you still feel like you're fighting the War inside or is the battlefield changed for you?

[Randy Blythe]

I no longer feel, I think within the last 10 years, I had the urge to drink once and it hit me out of the blue at a traffic light. All of a sudden I was like, I want a beer. It was crazy. It just came out of nowhere. So I immediately called some friends of mine who are sober and I told on myself. I was like, I just thought about drinking and it passed. And of course you did. You're an alcoholic, right? You haven't had a drink in 14 years. But it is my belief that once I and I drank myself into the state of alcoholism, I cannot safely drink again. Therefore, every now and then, naturally an alcoholic would think about drinking for me. Except for this one time. I think in the last 10 years I've seriously had a slight urge to do it and it passed. It's not. I'm fighting against this desire to drink, right? That sort of compulsion has been lifted from me. And it is just my normal state now is sobriety. And I don't think about it that much unless I'm discussing it in a context like it like this with someone else who has quit drinking or who wants to quit drinking. So for me, once I removed this alcohol, though, I did have to face myself. And there's a saying amongst the sort of sobriety community that what do you get when you sober up? A horse thief. A sober horse thief. You still have to, you still have to look at yourself. And not that I've ever stole a horse. I'm not that cool. I'd like to think I like a Comanche raider or something. But the fact of the matter is I'm still looking at myself when I'm sober. When I remove this alcohol, it's not like everything's immediately better and I'm looking at myself and I'm forced to deal with my shortcomings. And I found myself, particularly in the beginning, it's not as bad now trying to replace the alcohol with other things which I justified as being not as harmful. For instance, for me, it's buying books, right? And I have gotten much better about this. But I used to have a very bad book problem to the point where I was going to the bookstore every day for a while and buying books because I'm looking a lot of times, a lot of self help books, right? I have a massive collection of which I've read 20 pages of each one. I'm like, this isn't gonna fix me because I'm looking to some sort of external thing to fix this. This problem within me. And for me, it was buying books. It's embarrassing after a while because you show up at the bookstore and they're like, oh, hey, how are you doing? Once again, Randy's back. It's like, when you drink, you hear alcoholics say, this is like they're trying to cover the fact that they drink so much by shifting their alcohol purchasing location to different convenience stores. Like, on Tuesday, I go to this one and get a 12 pack, and then on Wednesday, I go over here to this other one to get a 12 pack because you don't want the clerk at the convenience store to think you're an alcoholic. For me, it's like. Like the bookstore, they're like, oh, this guy is a book problem.

[John R. Miles]

You're a bookaholic.

[Randy Blythe]

I'm bookaholic, yeah, It's a problem to this day, I will admit. But it gotten better about it. I've slowed down about it. I just love books. I love them. I can't help it.

[John R. Miles]

Well, I'll send you mine then.

[Randy Blythe]

Yeah, absolutely. Oh, yeah, I will definitely take that. No problem. So for me, this sort of. And some people like you mentioned earlier, like sex, gambling, all these things, these are external. These are attempts to use external measures to control ourselves, I think, to exert control to make us feel better. And in the end, the only thing I have absolutely any control over is myself. And I don't even have control over my thought processes. I can't control some of the thoughts that pop into my mind, but I can, with practice, control how much energy I feed those thoughts. I can, if I am intentional about this, control my attitude towards things that are happening beyond my control, right outside of my control. It is completely outside of my control that there is a wildfire in Los Angeles right now, and it's even outside of my control that it upsets me and that I'm worried about my friends who live there. But what is in my control is me looking at the way I am reacting to that and rationally examining that and thinking, okay, it is useless for you to sit in this pit of anxiety. You need to think about what you can do. Because I have no control over anything else in the world other than myself, thank God. Because if I was control of everything, it would just be a disaster, right? Everything. Everything would be horrible. I would make a horrible world dictator or whatever. But I can only control myself and my attitudes, I think, and. And it's a constant work in progress. It's constantly me reminding myself of that, waking up every day and Thinking, okay, today it could be really screwed up. What matters is how you respond to that rather than simply react.

[John R. Miles]

Well, since I brought up the Smiths at the beginning of this, I'm going to go into one of my favorite chapters, which reminds me of their song, Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now. And Mark Manson.

[Randy Blythe]

That's the title of it.

[John R. Miles]

Mark Manson wrote an endorsement for you in this chapter. Reminded me of Mark Manson's writing. You write in here. I can very easily justify, with countless examples, let's face it, that people suck. There's just one problem. No matter how much I may feel like a space alien, and I often do, like it or not, I am people. And where I wanted to go with this is I think there's so many people who feel this way and they see this world that we're living in now and that they're part of the noise, social media, the news, everything. And it makes us feel like we're spinning out of control.

[Randy Blythe]

Yeah.

[John R. Miles]

How do you find meaning and balance and all the chaos, man?

[Randy Blythe]

For one thing, it starts with how I start my day. I wake up, right? I. What I do every morning is I wake up and I make my coffee and I pour myself a cup and one for my girl, and then I go into my study and I do not look at my phone for the first hour I'm awake. I refuse to look at it, absolutely. And it doesn't stay in the same room with me either. It stays in a different room when I wake up, and I don't have to look at it, use it as an alarm or anything. I do not touch it for at least an hour after I wake up. So I wake up and I read some meaningful literature, whether it be philosophy or an inspirational memoir or something. I'm not just waking up and reading nonsense. Normally I like to read a bit of stoic philosophy, whether it be Epictetus or Marcus Aurelius or Seneca. And then I journal a little bit, and I start off the day intentionally, no matter what is going on in my life, by placing myself firmly in reality and not looking at all this chaos that's coming at me through this screen, through this digital world. Because if I do that, if I wake up and immediately check the news or check social media, then I have started off my first few moments of consciousness at the mercy of the dictates of others. I have not decided what I'm going to think about, what I'm going to work on today, how I would at the very least, like to attempt to approach the issues that are going to face me this day. I just start off looking at stuff. I'm a passive sponge. I'm immediately inputting all this other stuff. And let's face it, a lot of it is negative, whether it be social media or the news. It's just a lot of negativity. That is no way to start off the day. I. I will be an ineffective human being because I'm starting off the day consumed by anxiety. Then what I'm trying to do throughout the day is remind myself that I'm just one person. I'm just one human being. And I can only use the tools I have at my disposal to try and make myself calm, to make my improve my life and hopefully in doing that, make the world a better place for me. My tools. I'm an artist, right? This is the one question I would. I hope people will take away while they're reading this book. They will look at this book and ask themselves, what am I? That's a very broad question. What am I? The meaning of life, the universe and everything. But what is my function? What am I most effective at doing at what are the. My tools at my disposal I can use to improve my life and make the world a better place. And for me, at 53 years old, I am. It's a little late to become a doctor or a scientist or any of that stuff. I'm a writer, a musician and a photographer. Those. I'm an artist. As bizarre as. As it is to me to this day, I'm a professional artist. So I'm looking at what I do that day and trying to create art that matters and that can be of service to others because it just, it feels better to me. It just does. It's primarily a mode of expressing myself. Admittedly, that's why I was drawn to this life even when it was not profitable. No guarantee of monetary compensation or whatever, but I felt as if expressing myself through any of these three things. It's what I'm supposed to be doing. And now that I am lucky enough, through a combination of luck and perseverance and hard work, I'm lucky enough to make my living this way. Like I said, I'm not a doctor, I'm not curing cancer or whatever, but I can use these tools at my disposal to try and improve things. And I find fulfillment and purpose in that. And sometimes I still question myself or I beat up on myself. I'm like, you're not really doing anything. You're just a stupid heavy metal singer. That's all you're doing with your life and it feels meaningless. But then every now and then, I will meet a fan who will tell me, your music saved me, man, I was going to kill myself. But this song you wrote kept me going. And I'm like, yes, I did it. I made a difference. And I remember how music made me feel when I. As we talked at the beginning of this conversation, how I felt so different and outside and alone. And then I first heard this music, this punk rock music, this Ex Pistols. I'm like, these people understand. Finally someone understands. And I. When I get told this, these, this by these fans, that. And I've been told so many times how our music or a book I wrote or even my photography has truly helped people get through difficult times. It is by far the most rewarding part of what I do. It's nice to make a living, it is true, but having someone tell you that you made a real impact in your life, in their life, it's supremely gratifying to me. And it provides me what I feel like a sense of purpose. And I think we're talking about how people feel lost and as if they don't matter. Not everybody is supposed to be an artist, not everybody's supposed to be in a heavy metal band. But everybody has something that they can do to help others. And I have found that trying, at least trying to structure my life around beyond paying the basic bills around allowing enough room for me to be of service to other people in other ways has provided me with fulfillment and a sense of purpose that chasing money or success or notoriety has never provided it, ever. And I think anyone can be of service to others. They just have to look around. They have to look and look around their own neighborhood and see what can I do to make this place better? Who can I help? Even if just by walking over and talking to someone like old people, man, old people are lonely. If you are able to go and, and go to an old person's home and, and volunteer and talk to old people who are spending the last of their lives alone, you may A, learn something from these people. There's a lot of wisdom and B, you will be being of service. And that costs nothing. It costs nothing to you to, to engage with this other human being on a person to person level. And, and I think for all the, this supposed connectivity that the Internet and social media provides, it's really in many ways causing us to separate from ourselves more and more. When my grandmother, I interviewed my grandmother right before, not right before, eight years before she died. She lived to be 100 and a half years old and I was right by her side when she died. But I interviewed her, Maybe she was 94, I can't remember when I interviewed her and I asked her this question, I said, grandma, what do you think is the biggest difference between now and when you grew up? She grew up in the depression, so there's massive differences. But she didn't talk about computers or technology or self driving cars or whatever. She said, I think people aren't as close as they used to be. I think they don't come and visit as much as they used to. Nobody knows their neighbors and I think our society is feeling that and I think that lack of real person to person, human contact is manifesting itself in these feelings of anxiety and not belonging and feeling alone and not knowing our, our purpose because we don't know the people around us, we don't know our community and therefore we don't have anyone to bounce these feelings off of. So we're just stuck with ourselves.

[John R. Miles]

Randy, I love what you just said throughout the entire segment. It's really the cornerstone of this entire podcast and it means so much that you brought it up. I know the band is really a champion of fighting cancer and you're using.

[Randy Blythe]

Your music and the memory of a.

[John R. Miles]

Fan called the Duke to champion this cause.

[Randy Blythe]

Can you tell us a little bit more about it?

That opens up the book. It's a chapter called the Duke, which is a Lamb of God song. I wrote about this young man, Wayne Ford, and I've talked about this before. Wayne was a young man I'd met outside a show in Phoenix, Arizona, and he had been diagnosed with leukemia recently and was starting his chemo treatments and radiation and all this stuff. And I had a talk with him and his wife outside the show and wished him the best of luck. And I thought, man, good luck. I hope this guy makes it. And pulled away and didn't think much more of it. And then five years go by and one of his friends wound up emailing me through my publicist and was like, wayne, I don't know if you remember meeting him, but he's not gonna make it. Dude, he's fought this thing for five years and he's done. So he's decided to spend out the last of his days at home, not undergoing any more chemo or trips to the hospital and enjoy his life with his family the way he wants to, the way he's going to live the way he wants to. Because he had spent the last five years in and out of hospitals, unable to eat what he wanted to eat. Just a miserable existence, but he was fighting for his life. This guy wrote me this letter to let me know that Wayne was dying. And he said, can you get the guys in Lamb of God together to say hello to him? And I said, unfortunately, that is not possible because they were in California recording an album and I was in Richmond, Virginia working on lyrics. We weren't all together and they were in different studios. I said, look, I'll call him, though. I would love to talk to him for whatever that's worth. So I wound up setting up this video call where I was going to chat with this terminal young man, wayne fort. He's 33 years old. And before the chat, I became overwhelmed. We were talking about fear. I became overwhelmed with fear and anxiety that I'm not a grief counselor, I'm not a psychiatrist, I don't know how to handle this sort of situation. And then I started worrying, well, what if I make it worse? What if I say something wrong or stupid and this sends him. It shortens his life even more. What if I offend him? And it was. I had this realization as I'm thinking about all this, I'm not thinking about this young man. I'm thinking about myself. I'm thinking about my fear of looking ineffective or of doing the wrong thing. It's entirely fear based. And I came to, I asked my dad, who was a minister and had a lot of experience with grief counseling. I asked another friend of mine, actually he was a rabbi who had experience with grief counseling. I'm like, they both confirmed what I already knew is it's not my job to talk to this guy and make him feel better and be the front man clown and tell tour stories or whatever. It's just my job to be present and be a human being and listen to this young man. And so when I wound up talking to him, I approached it, we said hello, and it was normal conversation, like, hey, dude, how are you doing? I approached it from this sort of way where I was thinking, well, there's this elephant in the room and this young man is going to die. But I don't need to beat him over the head over it. But I can open up space for that if he wants to talk about this with me. So I asked him how he was feeling, which is a different than. It's very different than just like, what's up, dude? It's like when you're talking to a dying person, you're like, how are you feeling? And I figured if he want to move into that, explain to me what was going on with him, then I would listen. And he did. And we had these frank conversations and I would. I'd ask him how he was dealing with things and so forth. So this one, we. We kept in touch back and forth for a while, mostly via text message. And at one point I asked him, I said, do you want to come and see me? I'll video chat you into the studio when I'm recording vocals. Which no one's allowed in the studio when I record vocals, not even my own band mates. I just thought it would be neat for this young man to. Obviously, he's an exception, to be able to see me doing what I do. And because we were his favorite band. And he said, yeah, sure. And so then I had the idea. I asked him, I said, is there anything you want to say to the world or what you want to be remembered by? I could record you saying it or work it into lyrics. And then you'll become part of our music on this record. You'll be immortalized on this record. And he's. That's really cool. And he said, let me think about it. And he never got back to me on it. And he died shortly thereafter. He was such a. He handled his own mortality with such calm and grace, like just this outwardly, like, calm demeanor. And I'm sure he was afraid at times. It's natural, but he did not. He just handled. He had a very stoic demeanor, man. And I. It was so inspirational because having been around people who are dying before, an older person, they're coming to the end of their life, they generally come to a place of acceptance. And like my grandmother, she was 100, but when she went, she was ready, man. She's a hundred years old. It's time to go. She's. She'd had a good life. When this young man checked out, he was 33. And the way he handled this was so, for lack of a better term, inspirational. Because I would like to think that I'm going to face my own imminent end whenever it comes with that sort of level of calm and grace, but I don't know. However, I do know that it's possible because I witnessed it and it just. It also put my own. Of course, these. Brings your own mortality into focus, and it made me think about my own. I'm not a spring chicken. I'm 54. It's all right, though, because all we have is this moment right now. That's it. That's the only thing that exists I'm seeing here that you lost your sister. I'm very sorry to hear that. I'm glad you were able to have a good conversation with her. What a blessing. And I really cherish my conversations with Wayne and try to take something from it because we're all going to go one day and I refuse to ignore that fact. I think trying to hide from that only heightens anxiety. I'm trying to come to a place of acceptance and make the most of the time that I have.

[John R. Miles]

Randy, I so appreciate it and was so honored to have you come on the show today. Can you tell the audience a little bit more about how they can get.

[Randy Blythe]

In touch with you?

So I really enjoy talking to you man. And as far as if anyone wants to learn, if anyone wants to learn more about me or my book, the new one is called Just beyond the Light and it will be out February 18th via Grand Central Publishing Hachette. You can order it wherever you order your books from. I'm going on a spoken word tour to support the book. I'll be telling a bunch of stories from my life to illustrate the themes from the book. Should be pretty funny. A good time. You can go to randy blythe.net R A N D Y B L Y T H E and have an Instagram and a substack Randonesia so look me up. Thank you so much.

[John R. Miles]

What a phenomenal conversation that was with Randy Blythe.

[Randy Blythe]

What an incredible conversation that was with Randy. His journey is such a powerful testament to the idea that resilience, creativity, and intentionality can transform even the darkest moments into something meaningful. His reflections on overcoming addiction, embracing discomfort, and using art as a force for survival remind us that true growth comes not from avoiding life's hardships, but from leaning into them with purpose. As you reflect on today's episode, ask yourself, where in your life are you resisting discomfort instead of using it as a fuel for growth? How can you channel your struggles into something creative, impactful and lasting? What legacy are you building, not just in your work, but in how you show up every day? All the links to Randy's work, including his latest book, Just beyond the Light, can be found in the show [e-mail] Be sure to explore his writing, photography and music. It's a masterclass in storytelling, artistry and the power of transformation. And if this conversation resonated with you, I'd be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave a five star rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps us continue bringing these impactful discussions to the Passion Star community. Even better, share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. You never know the impact it might have. Lastly, if you're looking to bring these kinds of transformative insights into your organization OR team, visit johnrmiles.com speaking to learn how we can work together to ignite purpose, connection and emotional mastery where it matters most. Coming up next on Passion Struck, we're diving into the science of optimizing your mind and body with Dr. Scott Scher. Scott is a friend of mine and he's a pioneer in health optimization medicine, and in our conversation we explore cutting edge breakthroughs in hyperbaric oxygen therapy, nootropics, as well as a much needed deep dive into gaba, the brain's key neurotransmitter for common focus. If you're looking for ways to sharpen your mental clarity, boost resilience, and take your performance to the next level, you don't want to miss it.

[Dr. Scott Scher]

GABA aminobutyric acid is one of our primary inhibitory or relaxing neurotransmitters in our brain. And it's the unsung hero of the brain. John Most people think of the superstar neurotransmitters when we're thinking about the brain or neurotransmitters in general. We're thinking about dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. And these are important, obviously, but in much smaller quantities compared to how much GABA we have in the brain. Methylene blue itself actually works on a system called a monoamine inhibitory system. It actually prevents the breakdown of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. As a result of this, you get more of those neurotransmitters and you get a mood boost. You get more focus, a little bit more endurance. But the key also is to thank.

[Randy Blythe]

You for being part of the Passion Struck movement. Remember, the fee for the show is simple. If you found value in today's conversation, share it with someone who could benefit. Most importantly, apply what you've learned so that you can live what you listen. Until next time, live life.

[John R. Miles]

Passion Struck.