The metal world was very concerned this past summer when High On Fire dropped off Mayhem Fest so that frontman Matt Pike could enter rehab for alcohol addiction.
Thankfully, Pike came out the other side just fine, and the band recently completed a national headlining tour and were just announced as a part of the killer Metal Alliance tour 2013 with Anthrax, Exodus and Municipal Waste.
One thing I wondered about Pike's sobriety is if he still consumed the sweet leaf. After all, Pike is one-third of one of the greatest stoner bands of all time, Sleep, but it seems Pike has not given up the pot.
In a recent interview with Oregon News, Pike opened up about his new anxieties now that he can't drink and his preferred consumption for weed:
So you recently finished rehab and quit drinking. How has the general experience of touring changed?
There’s a lot more anxiety, you know, for going on stage, and sometimes it’s kind of overwhelming. I have a lot of panic attacks and insecurities and stuff without a comfortable buzz. I wanna say “Aww, fuck, it’s so cured, being sober makes everything better,” but it makes me more panicky and have more anxiety. I know on this path I FEEL better, my body feels better, but mentally it’s kind of tormenting.Well, I commend you for that. That must be really hard.
It is hard, but it’s necessary, you know?I’ve gotta ask, though: Weed’s always been such a huge part of your career–I mean, Sleep put out an album called “Dopesmoker”, and it’s part of the title of the whole genre–do you still partake in that?
Yeah, nowadays I don’t smoke with a whole lot of people…but I’ve got a whole bag of edibles right now, though. I like eating pot. So that’s kind of my preferred way of “doing” the pot. [laughs]
More power to Pike! Eating pot has always been a once in a while thing for me, because I never seem to be able to tell how hard it would hit me. But it's good to hear he's dealing with his alcohol issues well. Can't wait to see them on the road again.
