He technically died twice. He survived Borstal, homelessness, decades of speed and cocaine, five heart attacks, and 29 days in a coma after a triple heart bypass went wrong. His life was saved by Dr Hasnat Khan, who was close to Princess Diana, and he came back sober, creative, and unstoppable.

This is Garry Johnson, the punk poet, street journalist, and man who discovered the Stone Roses, telling his story like no one else can. From the chaos of Fleet Street tabloids to the highs of punk rock and the life-threatening lows of addiction, Garry shares the moments that nearly ended him—and how he survived them all.

We explore the drug-fuelled confidence that once drove his creativity, the trauma that shaped his choices, and the health crises that should have stopped him. Garry talks honestly about losing his daughter, why caffeine now acts as a trigger, and the hard truth about why addiction rarely ends when the body starts screaming for change.

Since quitting, Garry has transformed his life: seven books published, albums released, screenplays written, and stage performances performed sober. He reflects on creativity without drugs, lessons learnedand what he would tell his grandchildren about drugs.

Oliver is an ambassador for Alcohol Change UK and you can access support here - https://tinyurl.com/5dt5773e

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Topics -

0:00 Trailer & Intro

2:30 A rock bottom moment

5:00 Speed helps him become a writer

6:45 Abuse in children's home & Borstal

7:45 Using speed & creativity to deal with anger

12:00 Coke and speed gave me confidence

13:30 Why speed was my favourite

16:00 Dependancy starts

21:15 Cocaine calmed me down and helped me survive?

22:45 Garry has his first heart attack

24:30 Paranoia & anxiety

28:15 Nearly dying was the wake up call

30:30 Now I don't even drink coffee!

32:00 I kept using in between heart attacks

34:30 Getting clean and career takes off

36:00 Do drugs make you more creative?

39:00 Garry discovered The Stone Roses?

41:00 A true story about Ozzy Osbourne!

42:30 Now a story about Robbie Williams!

45:15 Would Garry change the past if he could?

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