Leon Bridges says he ‘needed alcohol to perform’ but that he was ‘never an alcoholic’

Singer says he made ‘new rules’ to cut back on his alcohol dependency

Leon Bridges attends the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California (Getty Images)

Singer Leon Bridges has opened up about his struggles with alcohol, revealing that he needed to drink to perform live.

The Texan singer-songwriter said that during his worst moments, he could be found drinking between five and 10 shots as well as a beer each day.

In a new interview with ES Magazine, the 30-year-old said he had only used alcohol to make himself “less self-aware” during his performances.

“I wouldn’t call myself an alcoholic, but for me, I couldn’t perform without drinking because it made me less self-aware when I was on stage,” he told the publication.

“It was just one of those things that, with the lifestyle, was just so easy, like, to drink every day.

“When I was out it was usually five to 10 shots, a beer, and that was happening every day. Maybe a couple of shots before the show, then after the show, more drinking. Then when I’m at home, more.”

Singer Leon Bridges performs as a special guest on the Outdoor stage during week 1, day 3 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 15, 2018 in Indio, California. (Getty Images)

According to the NHS, men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week in order to keep health risks from alcohol to a low level.

A unit of alcohol is 8g or 10ml of pure alcohol, which is the equivalent of half a pint of lower to normal-strength lager/beer/cider (ABV 3.6 per cent) or a single small shot measure (25ml) of spirits (25ml, ABV 40 per cent).

The “River” singer credited his strong friendship group for helping him overcome his issues with alcohol and said that he cut back on how much whisky he now asks for on his tour rider.

“I made new rules when I was like, okay, don’t drink during the week,” he added.

“Because there have been moments in the past when I’d literally get drunk, and get super emotional and start bawling, because I’m bottling up all this anxiety because of all my insecurities.”

Having previously performed for former US president Barack Obama, the Coming Home singer opened up about his seemingly less than positive views about the current Head of State, President Donald Trump.

“No one cared about politics until the orange man, I miss a president who can dance, or who had flavour,” he said.

“I’ve never been huge into politics, you know what I’m saying? But it’s crazy that I was able to play for and meet the first black president.”

The full interview appears in this week’s edition of ES Magazine, out now.