It is my desire to use my experience with the “dark side” and my ongoing recovery to help others—especially disenfranchised teens with addiction issues. I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity. Many other rockers’ lives followed a similar path; however, they weren’t lucky enough to survive the fatal “death punch.” With the help of my loving family, my friends, and fans, I hope to show others that there’s another way . . . that there is always hope.
Thanks for coming along on my journey, which I laughingly call Cheers to My Sobriety. Though every day brings a new challenge, with the guidance of my higher power, I can summon the inner strength to forge ahead . . . and celebrate the creative process that is life.
Rock on!
—JEREMY SPENCER
JANUARY 22, 2014
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, I want to thank my mom and dad for their incredible unconditional love and support throughout the years. I couldn’t have asked for more loving and awesome parents! I love you.
To my sister, Natalie, who has always been there for me when I needed help: I miss our days of watching ’80s movies and dancing around the living room.
To my bandmates and brothers: What a hell of a journey this has been. I have nothing but love and respect for each of you. You’ve helped me achieve dreams far beyond my wildest expectations. I’m honored to be alongside you for the ride, even though there have been days when I’ve wished it could have been us who crashed in the plane instead of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Seriously, thanks for being supportive of me writing my story. I look forward to reading yours.
To Bobby, whose humor and friendship continue to make the tedium of touring bearable. Thanks, buddy.
To all of my fantastic friends back in Indiana: I miss and love each and every one of you. You helped prepare me for this dream, and I will always cherish the times we shared together.
To my management: Thanks for kicking ass every day, and for helping with the process of this book. I hope you’ve seen some growth in my character and no longer have reason to dread my phone calls.
To my agent, Kirby Kim, at William Morris Endeavor: Thanks for all your expertise in helping shape this project.
To my editor, Mark Chait, at HarperCollins: Your enthusiasm and insight have made this entire process so enjoyable. Thanks for your encouragement and professional guidance. I’m honored to have worked with you and your colleagues-including Bethany Larson and Heidi Lewis.
To Angel, a huge part of my life: I can’t express how sincerely sorry I am for my ruthless and insensitive behavior, for how alcoholism and addiction altered my personality and made a lot of our time together so unpleasant. We served as mirrors for each other—illuminating areas where we each needed to grow—and for that I’m grateful. I wish you only the best, now and in the future.
And, lastly, to the fans: Many of you have been with me and Death Punch from the beginning. I hope you know that in spite of my personal problems, fueled by addiction, I’ve always been grateful for your love and support; it has given me a reason to keep going. Thanks for allowing me to grow and to become a better person. Your unbridled enthusiasm and genuine concern continue to help me more than you’ll ever know. You rock!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo by Fred Morledge-PhotoFM
JEREMY SPENCER, cofounder and drummer for the metal band Five Finger Death Punch, received the 2012 Revolver Golden Gods Award for Best Drummer and was named Best Drummer of 2013 in Loudwire’s Music Awards. He is the son of country-music songwriter Gary Heyde, who is also a novelist under the nom de plume Austin Gary, and actress Glory (Kissel) Heyde. Jeremy is known for his wicked sense of humor and his YouTube video pranks.
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CREDITS
Cover design © by Stephen Jensen/F3 Studios
Cover photograph © by Scott Uchida
COPYRIGHT
DEATH PUNCH’D. Copyright © 2014 by Jeremy Spencer. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
FIRST EDITION
ISBN 978–0-06–230810-8
EPub Edition SEPTEMBER 2014 ISBN 9780062308122
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