Human Nature’s Andrew Tierney has revealed the depths he reached in the grip of an alcohol addiction.
The award-winning Australian artist spoke at length about turning to alcohol behind closed doors amid crippling anxiety, on the Mental As Anyone podcast.
The Las Vegas-based singer detailed one incident when he bought a bottle of vodka to a gig on a tour back home in Australia, breaking a rule that no alcohol was to be taken into the common areas backstage.
His bandmate and brother, Mike Tierney, found it.
“I thought I’d hidden the bottle really well,” he said.
“I thought I was wearing it as a badge, I was kind of the guy that’s got a drinking problem, and everyone knew it. And I kind of got sick of that. I didn’t want to be that guy. I don’t want to wear it as a badge because I feel like it’s not like only my struggle, it is like so many people are struggling with that particular thing.”
Tierney also worked hard to win back his wife Heather’s trust.
“I was lying to her about drinking,” he confessed. “I was keeping it from her. I had probably driven a couple of times and drunk. I’d lie about drinking and fill bottles back up in the house to where they looked like they were full and stuff like that.”
Tierney expressed his gratitude that he “mostly” had the issue under control before nine-year-old Violette was born.
“I’m so grateful for that, that she’s never going to know drunk Dada,” he shared.
Human Nature are renowned for their successful Las Vegas residencies. Their Motown Show at The Venetian has clocked up more than 2700 performances to date.
