Dopey 556: Roddy Bottum Sticks Opium Up His Butt with Courtney Love, Faith No More, Imperial Teen, 90's, Recovery, Gay StuffDopey 556: Roddy Bottum Sticks Opium Up His Butt with Courtney Love, Faith No More, Imperial Teen, 90's, Recovery, Gay Stuff
Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction
Dave gives sponsor shoutouts and plugs Soft White Underbelly and his upcoming Rise for Recovery talk in Philly. Talks about Dopey’s Instagram being deleted by Meta. Reads a few Spotify comments about the Rich Roll episode — psychedelics, Ozempic, and hypnosis talk. Reads a listener email from Bakersfield about a meth-smuggling disaster involving a “baby daddy” hiding drugs inside his body. Plays a voicemail from Kirby J. about “How do you know if you’re an addict?” Promotes Patreon and invites listeners to send more voicemails. Guest: Roddy Bottum (Faith No More, Imperial Teen) Dave introduces Roddy Bottum and his book The Royal We. Roddy says he listened to Johnny Mac’s Dopey episode before coming on and got it immediately. Talks about growing up gay and secretive in LA, moving to San Francisco, and finding the punk scene. Explains how Faith No More began as a rotating art-punk group before gaining structure. Describes Courtney Love’s short stint in the band, her chaotic stage energy, and their friendship and drug use together. Shares stories about Chuck Mosley, Mike Patton, and early tours with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Recalls being arrested for smoking weed on the road in a paper suit. Talks about heroin use starting in the late ’80s, opium with Courtney, and being drawn to downers. Discusses the “heroin chic” culture and addiction as a form of secret identity. Reflects on his boyfriend Jim’s death, mental illness in the scene, and watching friends self-destruct. Opens up about the loss of his father to cancer, his friend Cliff’s overdose, and Kurt Cobain’s death soon after he got sober. Explains how those losses grounded his recovery and changed his relationship with music. Closing Dave thanks Roddy for coming on and connects his story to Dopey’s themes of addiction, loss, and survival. Episode closes with music and gratitude to the Dopey Natio
2:35:32•7 Nov 2025
Roddy Bottum's Rock 'n' Roll Recovery
Episode Overview
- Roddy Bottum shares candid stories from his days in Faith No More.
- Discusses the pressures of fame and its impact on addiction.
- Explores unconventional drug experiences with Courtney Love.
- Reflects on sobriety and the challenges of staying clean.
- Offers insights into dealing with loss in the music industry.
“"Heroin is so cool. Like, model. Like, chic heroin models are like, you know, like the coolest musicians were doing heroin."”
Get ready for a wild ride as Dave from the Dopey podcast welcomes Roddy Bottum, the legendary keyboardist from Faith No More and Imperial Teen, into the studio. This episode is a mix of rock history, personal tales, and the chaos of addiction recovery. Dave and Roddy reminisce about the old days, from meeting Courtney Love to touring with Guns N' Roses. Roddy's stories are both hilarious and heartbreaking, shedding light on his journey through addiction and the music industry.
Roddy's candidness about his past drug use, including a bizarre story involving opium and unconventional methods of consumption, keeps the episode lively yet sobering. The conversation also touches on the impact of fame, with Roddy reflecting on how the pressures of success contributed to his struggles with heroin. Despite the heavy topics, there's a sense of camaraderie and humour that makes the episode both entertaining and insightful.
For anyone interested in the intersection of rock music and addiction recovery, this episode offers a unique perspective from someone who lived through it all. Roddy's honesty about his experiences and his reflections on sobriety provide a refreshing take on recovery narratives. So, if you're curious about what it was like to be in the eye of the storm during one of rock's most tumultuous eras, this episode is a must-listen.
How do you balance the chaos of rock 'n' roll with the need for recovery?
Listen in to find out.
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