‘He’s been a lifesaver’: Elton John credits Zoom for helping him stay connected to his Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as he appears on Meghan’s first podcast and Harry
Sir Elton John has credited Zoom for maintaining his well-being by allowing him to remain affiliated with the Alcoholics Anonymous federation during a lockout.
The legendary musician entered his 30th year of career in 2020 after giving up alcohol and illegal substances in 1990 after decades of ongoing abuse.
Now 73 years old and the father of young sons Elijah and Zachary with her husband David Furnish, Sir Elton says Zoom’s video conferencing software helped keep him connected to the AA community while alone at home with family.
High praise: Sir Elton John has credited Zoom for maintaining his well-being by allowing him to remain affiliated with the Alcoholics Anonymous federation during a lockout
Speaking to Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex’s first Archewell Audio podcast on Tuesday, the pianist said he didn’t know what he would have done if it weren’t for the ever-increasing piece of technology became very popular.
He said: ‘I’m recovering from alcohol so I have an AA meeting from this house every Sunday. I’m making connections with friends I’ve known for over 30 years in the program, and that’s great.
If it wasn’t for Zoom I don’t know what we would have done, I don’t at all. Without Zoom … it has become a lifesaver. ‘
Opening: Sir Elton thought of nostalgia as he spoke to Prince Harry and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle’s first podcast at Archewell Audio on Tuesday
Sir Elton has been very open about his battle with alcohol and cocaine addiction, a habit that disrupted his career and cost him his life.
Reflecting on his past in an interview in 2019 with Variety, he said: ‘The life I led, flying on the Starship, living in beautiful houses, buying things left, right and middle – it was no ordinary life.
‘I used to have spasms and be found on the floor and they would put me back to bed and half an hour later I would do the same. It’s crazy.
Old times: Sir Elton has been very open about his battle with alcohol and cocaine addiction, a habit that broke his career and cost him his life.
‘I’m alive. I’ve kept a lot of things alive. Life is full of problems, even when you are sober. I can deal with them now because I don’t have to run away and hide. ‘
Elton previously opened up about his cocaine use in his memoirs, which was reported in the Daily Mail in October.
The star wrote: ‘I started taking cocaine in 1974. I liked how it made me feel. That confidence and the euphoria, the sense that I could suddenly open up, that I didn’t feel shy or scared, that I could talk to anyone.
‘That was all bull *** t, of course. I was full of energy, I was curious, I had a sense of humor and a thirst for knowledge: I did not need drugs to make me talk to people.
He continued: ‘I had no desire to believe the material – enough to draw an idea in the circles in which I was moving.
Grateful: ‘If it wasn’t for Zoom I don’t know what we would have done, I don’t,’ he said of his connection to the video conferencing service at lockdown
‘Since I was a rock star spending a lot of time in LA in the seventies, this was not an inconsistent act.
‘Again, you might think this would give me a break to think, but I’m afraid the next 16 years were full of events that would have provided a reasonable human rest in terms of drug use.
‘That was the problem. Since I was making coke, I was no longer a reasonable person. You become irrational and irresponsible, self-obsessed, law yourself.
‘It’s your path or the highway. It is a horrible drug. ‘
Anyone affected by this article can contact the Alcoholics Anonymous national helpline 0800 9177 650.