5FDP: Ivan Moody meltdown was blessing in disguise

Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Zoltan Bathory says frontman Ivan Moody could no longer avoid his addiction issues after his onstage meltdown in 2015.

And he believes the publicity surrounding the incident was a blessing in disguise, because it meant the singer could no longer hide his problem.

Moody was abandoned by his colleagues during a show in Memphis, Tennessee, after he tried to perform drunk.

He later accepted the drama had been “humiliating” and attended rehab, then the band put the event behind them – although they changed their habits on the road to help prevent a repeat.

Bathory tells Kerrang (via Blabbermouth): “For the longest time, the stage was sacred. After that incident we looked at him like, ‘Dude, you’ve drawn a sword in a church – this is absolutely not okay.’

“I was pissed. By the time you get to the point we’d made it to, you’ve basically climbed the Himalayas barefoot. We were planting our flag. And he was too fucking wasted to remember it.”

But he says Moody “got better rapidly” afterwards, adding: “By taking ownership, you take control. It put him in a position where the whole world was watching him.

“Also, when we get to the next show, people will know not to ask us to have a drink, and not take it as an insult if we say ‘no.’”

Five Finger Death Punch released a video for their track I Apologize last week. They appear at this year’s Reading and Leeds festivals later this month before touring North America in October. They’re currently working on the follow-up to last year’s Got Your Six, after choosing to sign with Rise Records, despite receiving “offers across the board from every label.”

Five Finger Death Punch tour dates 2016

Aug 26-28: Reading and Leeds Festivals, UK
Oct 18: Little Rock Verizon Arena, AR
Oct 22: Wichita Intrust Bank Arena, KS
Oct 23: Denver Pepsi Center, CO
Oct 25: West Valley City Maverik Center, UT
Oct 27: Phoenix Talking Stick Resort Arena, AZ
Oct 28: Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena, NV
Oct 29: Anaheim Honda Center, CA
Nov 02: Portland Moda Center, OR
Nov 03: Spokane Arena, WA
Nov 05: Tacoma Dome, WA
Nov 07: Boise Taco Bell Arena, ID
Nov 09: Billings MetraPark Fairgrounds, MT
Nov 11: Bismarck Civic Center, ND
Nov 17: Cincinnati US Bank Arena, OH
Nov 18: Louisville KFC Yum! Center, KY

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Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.