Andy Lassner

Andy Lassner Instagram – I moved to LA in 1998. Within a year of being here, my addiction had once again ravaged so much of my life at the time. I had already been to one drug rehab and I stayed clean for like a week after getting out. I was a mess. I was taken to a 12 step meeting which I have very little recollection of. What I do remember is being followed to the parking lot by a guy shouting, “Hey! Hey! Wait a minute”. There stood the legendary Richard Lewis. I thought I must have been having some sort of drug withdrawal hallucination. “Take my number and call me tomorrow just to tell me you’re ok.” I had been through this drill before. Another addict trying to help me because it’s what we are taught to do – help someone else so we ourselves can stay clean. So I called him the next day. We spoke. I gave him my number and said I’d check in again. I didn’t. I relapsed. I went on another run. The problem was I had given Richard my number and he wouldn’t stop fucking calling me. I told him I’m doing fine and that he does not need to worry about me. I said I was checking in with someone else daily just so this fellow anxious Jew would stop calling me. He wouldn’t stop. Every single day. “Hey it’s Richard. Call me”. I wouldn’t return his call. He was so annoyingly persistent. Then one day, I was holed up in a hotel room on Sunset Boulevard and he called and I answered. He asked where I was. And I told him. I was tired. I was out of steam. And my wife at the time had cut off my credit cards and ATM card. At some point, the next thing I remember was a knock on the door and there stood Richard. He told me to get my stuff. I did. He then took me to his house. All I remember is he had a refrigerator of just diet cokes. Nothing else. That’s my whole memory other than me staying at his home for a day. Maybe two. He arranged with the wonderful Dallas Taylor to get me to rehab. I finally stayed clean and we stayed in touch for years. And then less so. And then not at all. And now he’s gone. He was the menschiest of mensches. And I guess what I want to say is he was one of the many angels in my life who saved me. And my regret today is not staying in touch. Life is fleeting. Stay connected. ❤️❤️ | Posted on 29/Feb/2024 03:36:29