Oh, and the "smell of death" he's describing is more of a metaphor than a real smell. It's the smell of desperation, of imminent disaster, a person coming unglued before your eyes and losing their control over their addictions.
Johnny smelled that smell on both Gary and Allen; Gary managed to get clean and become the backbone that allowed the heart of the band to survive and reform. He's 63 and still kicking. Allen couldn't stop drinking, and died a paralyzed and stigmatized man at just 37. I guess you never can tell.
Oh, and the "smell of death" he's describing is more of a metaphor than a real smell. It's the smell of desperation, of imminent disaster, a person coming unglued before your eyes and losing their control over their addictions.
Johnny smelled that smell on both Gary and Allen; Gary managed to get clean and become the backbone that allowed the heart of the band to survive and reform. He's 63 and still kicking. Allen couldn't stop drinking, and died a paralyzed and stigmatized man at just 37. I guess you never can tell.