“I Didn’t Think I’d Live To Make Another Album”: Marcus King Speaks Out About Staying Sober on the Road

Marcus King has never shied away from letting fans into the darkest corners of his mind. The “Wildflowers & Wine” singer’s most recent release, Mood Swings, takes the listener on a soulful journey of hope and pain. King, 28, recently opened up on his experiences with sobriety and mental health in an essay for Billboard.

Marcus King: “I Didn’t Think I’d Live to Make Another Album”

Growing up in South Carolina, Marcus King displayed an early talent for music. By age 8, he was playing shows with his father, blues guitarist Marvin King. And he was just 11 when he played guitar on one of his father’s albums.

Unfortunately, the substance use issues also started early. In an essay published Tuesday (Oct. 22) by Billboard, the “Mood Swings” hitmaker recalled having his first drink “around age 12 or 13.” Intoxication helped “summon a muse” and quiet his social anxiety, King wrote.

“I spent most of my teens and early 20s under the influence,” he said. “Two years ago, I didn’t think I’d live to make another album.”

[RELATED: Marcus King Performs Acoustic Rendition of Tyler Childers’ “Shake the Frost” With His Wife in the Crowd]

After a few successful years fronting The Marcus King Band, the 28-year guitar phenom released his solo debut, El Dorado, in early 2020. The Associated Press called it “a definite high point” of that year. King’s career was soaring, but internally, he was nearing rock bottom.

“There are many moments, incredible career defining moments, like the first time I played with Eric Clapton, Little Feat and Lynyrd Skynyrd, that I simply cannot fully recall,” he wrote in Billboard.

“Community Is Key”

Since deciding to commit to his own sobriety, Marcus King has learned that community is “key.” That’s why he launched the Curfew Fellowship Fund earlier this year. The foundation aims to raise funds for various causes close to King’s heart, while also developing a support system for musicians battling addiction and mental health challenges.

The name comes from singer-songwriter Matt Reynolds, a close friend of King’s who was nicknamed “Curfew.” Reynolds died by suicide in 2017.

“I’d like to believe if Curfew, Hank, Billie, Townes or any of the other greats we’ve lost to addiction had access to a sober, supportive community equipped to help them wrestle their demons, their careers and their lives would have been longer,” King wrote.

Featured image by Daniel DeSlover/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock