Turmoil & Tinfoil: Billy Strings Gets Candid On ‘This Past Weekend’ Podcast

Guitarist Billy Strings appeared on the This Past Weekend podcast hosted by comedian Theo Von. The discussion touched on many personal topics and went deep into Strings’ colorful life story.

Much of the interview focused on past experiences with alcohol and drug use. Strings noted the sensitive nature of the content with a preemptive alert about the candid discussion.

“I want to just add a little warning that this episode may be triggering for those who suffer from addiction,” Strings wrote. “We talk a lot about drugs/alcohol etc.”

Von prompted Strings to share stories about his time growing up in Michigan. Strings was candid about the troubling influx of drugs that flooded his small town and how addiction has affected his family.

“We’ve all sort of made it through some crazy shit and made it through the other side,” Strings said.

The 31-year-old guitarist also described an incident where he arrived late to a gig, which led him to give up drinking in 2016.

“It started as like, ‘OK, I’m not drinking at least for the rest of the weekend,” Strings recalled thinking after the incident. “OK, at least until next weekend or whatever. And then that turned into, ‘well I’m not drinking for the rest of the week,’ and then that turned into two weeks, months, two years, seven years. Wow!”

Along with the tense at times discussion about Strings’ challenges as a youth, the interview touched on lighter topics like Strings’ recently attending the Grammys with is parents, hanging out with Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Bill Kreutzmann, playing country music with Post Malone and much more.

Predictably, bluegrass came up several times during the conversation, with Strings talking about his connection to the music and its cultural importance. Strings revealed he’s recorded 21 new songs for possible inclusion on a new studio album.

Strings ended his appearance by pulling out his “pride and joy” 1940 Martin D-28 acoustic guitar. He then performed a fitting cover of the traditional bluegrass tune, “Let The Cocaine Be.” Strings tacked on Blaze Foley’s raunchy “Armadillo” as well.

Watch Billy Strings’ candid conversation below: