Travis Barker Talks Addiction to Painkillers & Death of Scott Weiland From Velvet Revolver

Travis Barker is no stranger to addiction. The former Blink 182 drummer had his own struggles with drugs for many years and it took something as dramatic as a plane crash for him to get sober. He is also one of several celebrities who've come out with commentary on Scott Weiland's death. In a new interview, he talks addiction and the death of the Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver frontman's death.

The interview occurred on the opening night of the new Kurios show by Cirque du Soleil, which Barker attended with his two children at the LA Dodger Stadium.

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"I think it's just ultimately what drugs do when they get the best of somebody," Barker said to Billboard. "It's sad. Myself I was addicted to drugs for a long time and the only way I was able to stop doing drugs was being in a plane crash and having morphine for four months when I didn't want it."

Barker further said to the publication, "Whatever you're masking when you're doing drugs gets more severe the more you mask it. Everyday you're doing it more and more and you're never facing what you're running from - whatever that is. The masking gets to be so dangerous. It is excessive. It's unfortunate."

The plane crash that changed Barker's life happened in 2008 and also involved DJ AM. Four people were killed in the crash out of the six present, including both pilots. Although DJ AM survived the plane crash he fell victim to a drug overdose a little under a year later. Barker ended up with brutal burns on over 65 percent of his body.

Barker has openly said in his memoir Can I Say: Living Large, Cheating Death and Drums, Drums, Drums that he thought of suicide often during that time period. In his memoir he also described incidents where he went as far to call friends and offer to pay them a million dollars if they'd assist him. Barker has always credited his children, 12-year-old Landon and 9-year-old Alabama with being the force that kept him alive during that dark time.

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Travis Barker, Scott Weiland