Smelly (Erik Sandin) Discusses Addiction, Sobriety, and NOFX

NOFX drummer Smelly (Erik Sandin) discusses his decade long addiction, what it took for him to finally get clean, and how his sobriety has effected his life.

[@jasonovens4932]

As a fellow drummer who is currently battling heroin addiction, it’s inspiring to hear tales of success. Basically, playing drums is all that I have left. I live out of my truck, which is about to die, and I’m struggling to maintain my job. I’ve wanted to quit for years, but I’m having a hard time finding a rehab that is affordable. It’s very easy to give up, but that’s not what I want to do.

[@SurfSplendor]

Hey Jason, send me an email. Smelly wants to chat. [e-mail] 🙏🏼

[@sidetrak85]

I'm a junkie as well but I'm not active. My sobriety date is May 1st 2021. Your story sounds a lot like mine except I play guitar and bass. The amount of time I've sold everything I own and then busted my azz off to get it all back to repeat the cycle over and over. I actually wrote a song about it called "Vicious PSYCHAL". The fact that you wrote in the comments means you're looking for a way out. I'm begging you to go to a the nearest meeting and just ask for help. We werent shy to ask when it came to using. From one musican, punker and friend from a distance. I don't have much but I got my mini studio, a skateboard and I'm in mobile and Web dev in college(altought I'm 38 lo)l. I just bought tickets with other NA members to go see Nofx's last 2 shows in Montreal. Again, it's not much but when you've had nothing....it's alot. Good luck brother, I'm rooting for you .

[@danevertt3210]

@@SurfSplendorsmelly reached out to me 20 years ago about my addiction. Anytime he toured near my home town, he would get me tickets and backstage passes and we would talk or go to an NA meeting. Smelly is one of the greatest people I’ve ever met

[@MikeP2055]

For whatever it's worth from a stranger on the internet; If I can do it, you can do it! I spent 11 years spinning my wheels and getting nowhere. It was misery. I know addicts have a million opinions about methadone, but that stuff saved my ass. I went to a great clinic in my hometown of SLC, Utah, with an incredible staff and legit counselors. Every state has their own different laws pertaining to clinics, which can be an enormous pain in the taint, but getting stabilized on an effective dose and shifting my focus from the nonstop worry of withdrawals was the biggest game-changer of my entire life. I could get up, go dose, then focus all my energy on living a "regular" life for the rest of the day. Going in every single morning was a bit of a hassle, but it became routine after a week or two. I kept my nose clean and passed every single piss test until eventually I was going in every other Tuesday, dosing, and leaving with 13 take-home doses in a lock box. I slowly tapered from 120 milligrams (give or take) all the way down to 4 mgs. In Utah at that time (2005ish) you could taper as slowly or quickly as you wanted---or just keep taking it forever. I'd finally had enough and took my last dose 10/12/08. Kicking such a low dose still sucked ass, but it was doable. It took months before I could finally sleep all night and had my energy back, but it was fkng glorious when it finally happened. The "2055" in my username was my patient number at the clinic. You might already know this song and dance, but I wanted to cheer you on and try to help if I could. I was so sick I could barely move. I called and made an appointment for the next day, walked into the place sobbing when it opened at 4:30 am, paid for the week, talked to the Doc, met my councilor, dosed, and never looked back. ✌️🤘 Take care, mate. Some weirdo in Utah is rooting for you.

[@matthewburga]

Hope you're doing alright, man.

[@richardlarson3759]

Im 39 years old now. But just over 15 years ago, I literally ended up as that "kid" on a street corner alone. I had sold my drumset to feed my addiction. I had absolutely nothing left, and noone in my corner..much less my own self worth or identity. Erik Sandin was always a huge inspiration for me to keep fighting. I managed to turn my life around over 10 years ago.. and now live a life of sobriety that I am very content with! Hats off to you Erik, for being such a great role model, and human being.. as well as my all time favorite drummer! 💪 👊 🥁

[@lucasowen9990]

All this talk about how Mike is the smart one in the band, Mike is the genius, etc. He might be the front man but Smelly holds them all together through HIS smarts and HIS genius. Kudos to smelly!!!! NOFX for life!!!!

[@SurfSplendor]

@lucasowen9990, Smelly's getting the recognition he deserves! Kudos indeed! 🥁🎸 #NOFXForLife 🤘

[@danthompson5797]

Anybody who can drum like Erik(nobody) is a genius.

[@stef2703]

I still can’t believe I met him last Sunday and shook his hand while he was hanging out in the pickle stix tent after there set in a rainy Toronto. I’m 36 I was telling him about my grade 6 music project back in 2000 that I did on nofx. My mom called up fat wreck and they sent a bunch of posters and the biography fat mike wrote and before you knew it the whole school was skateboarding and listening to punk. I have a picture of us and he’s making the funniest face . I love this man! NOFX!!!! ❤

[@jockojockoson9995]

I love this guy so much. I just saw NOFX’s last 2 shows here in Brisbane Australia and they are something that I will remember forever.

[@SurfSplendor]

@jockojockoson9995 • Legend! NOFX bringing the punk vibes down under. Those shows in Brisbane are etched in the annals of rock history. 🤘🎸 #NOFX #BrisbaneRocks

[@backyardmini]

He was at our wedding! We were soooo lucky! An amazing and admirable man!

[@backyardmini]

I’m trying my best.

[@EViLLennY]

Sober 8 years from smelling H for 4 years drew the line with needles watched 13 friends pass fro dwis self infection and oding and thank you Eric hearing from somone who was on when I was the same stuff and seeing that people like u can pull out helped me pull out

[@IY4554]

Damn, I felt this deep. Just lost everything do to addiction. Music is al I know how to do. Glad Smelly got to share his experience and came out on the other side. Dudes a legend and super talented drummer.

[@SurfSplendor]

Thanks for sharing @ibrahimyounes4554......Music has a powerful way of guiding us through dark times. Keep moving forward, and know that brighter days lie ahead. 🙏🎶 #StayStrong

[@crk140]

Thank you Eric

[@nando19751]

tons of respect to him! He sounds like someone to have a very awesome converstaion with!

[@christian7647]

Incredible. What he accomplished. Thanks for sharing

[@mpk33]

The sobering paradox of the punk rock scene, is how many people in it are not doing well at all, but keep up with their addictions for the facade of being cool and/or tough. The list of punks, punks in bands & their punk friends OD'ing or dying quite young is quite high. NOFX even have songs honoring their fallen friends. I really feel for Erik/Smelly being the only sober member in a punk band that is known or infamous for being on all kinds of drugs, on & off stage for the last 40-odd years. I've been a fan since the Ribbed record & I honestly thought that Fat Mike would wind up dead from an overdose or from a combination of drugs in his system. As much as the punk ethos preaches being your authentic self & having fun, for a lot of people in that scene, it's merely an opportunity to keep their addictions rolling onto the point of their ultimate demise. It's fucking sad, dude. It shouldnt be that way, but alas, it is. I still love the music tho. And Smelly is/was the best & quickest in the Cali scene. Unbelievable single bass pedal foot speed for 30 years, dude. 🤙🏼👌🏼👍🏻

[@garysnodgrass1696]

Ya got it ALL wrong brother..do you not have any demons? Any insecurities? Humility is healthy

[@tomek155]

Chapeau, Eric, you have my honest respect! 😎👍

[@SurfSplendor]

@tomek155 - Appreciate the comment! Eric appreciates the respect! 😎🙏 #SurfFam

[@SureShotX81]

Great interview!

[@curtisbush5728]

I love this guy!

[@danthompson5797]

His drumming went from amateur quality to 2000bpm on a 200bpm click track after getting clean

[@user-dc4st2ku2u]

FYI - Taylor Swift has written or co written every song in her discography.

[@paulrayray7596]

Dude drug addicts never talk about anything but being a drug adict

[@SurfSplendor]

Maybe so, maybe not. I'm not sure. But in this case, I'm to blame. That's what I was asking him about.

[@StephSinalco]

Smelly's life is as tragic as amazing. If you're even a bit interested in the longer story, I can't recommend enough the NOFX book "NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories". The four members tell their story on their terms and it's a fucking masterpiece. Really, read this book.

[@alexallen6286]

I second this recommendation. If you care enough to have watched this interview, and haven't read hepatitis bathtub you're REALLY missing out..

[@LucaMolteni84]

Great book

[@astrolux76]

great book.. I literally read it in one day which is really tough for me to do!

[@JackPeloquin]

Love this dude. Glad he straightened up when he did. And what I time to have done it!?!! Every big names musician was fucked up or just getting into at that time. And he just comes of as “real.” Not like he’s “better than you” kinda sober. Fuck those types.

[@SurfSplendor]

@sn1ffy85, totally get where you're coming from! It's refreshing when someone in the spotlight keeps it real, especially during a time when many were going off the rails. No holier-than-thou vibe, just genuine authenticity. Cheers to that! 🙌🎸