Bad News....

[teragram]

Chris, if it hadn't been Eric, and maybe just some ordinary bloke, would you be so angry? I'm not looking for an argument, I'm just interested,

Jim

[GP]

Oh Oh TMZ.com just added the video and several internet stories are mentioning our website for more info on Eric Carmen's career.

[chris hess]

jim,that is a brutally honest question,and i admire that in a person..i guess i am pissed cause it was eric to be honest,my point is exactly what vera wrote..especially the family part..thats heartwrenching to me...the point is if you're famous,the media turns into beasts to get ratings..it's wrong,and if it was you or i that did this,it would not be on t.v. chris

[Raspyrock]

One comment about the video at wkyc.com that is supposedly from a police cam...does the police cam follow the suspects and zoom in on them when they are by themself. That seemed kind of strange. I thought they were focused on one area. Was someone else taping the incident for their own purpose?

I wonder if someone associated w/ the media tipped off the police or what?

[MJ]

Well the news has hit the Florida region - not sure if it was just internet news or actual tv news - some co-workers daughter just called her mom to see if I had heard about it. It's gonna be a mess.

[teragram]

Thank you Chris, point taken.

[chris hess]

thank you jim..lol,chris

[Raspberry Rick]

Eric

I want to add my voice of support for you at this time. Not sure if this is a sure sign of alcoholism or just a drinking problem.....but do your best to get some help before it becomes more serious and you or someone gets seriously hurt. My father was an alcoholic for the last 18 years of his life. It's a very tough fight....but know you have the prayers and support of all of us. You have a LOT of people on your side, so fight the good fight. We have faith you can beat this. All my best to you and your family,

Rick Farmiloe (Raspberry Rick)

[Anna R]

This is truly, very sad.

I adore and love Eric very much and hope that he

can get through this and get the help he needs.

[Raspberry Rick]

I have a question....why would the cops release the video, which is evidence to the TMZ celebrity rag website??? Why are the mugshots also on TMZ?? Isn't this stuff supposed to be confidential? We sure live in a gossipy, trashy society.

[Tony Cartmill]

I doubt this has been a long time battle with the bottle. Eric looks too good for his age.

I think recent events the past few years...losing his Dad and all...The more you love your parents, the harder it's gonna be...

But drinking and driving, twice? Ooooh! No good excuse for that.

This "Floatin' round like an old newspaper, blowin' down some windy street" in the SUV STOPS NOW!

[mannoman]

Raspberry Rick I can identify with your father and alcoholism - in my case it was my mother. She would never admit she had a drinking problem. When she died I found 33 empty gallon wine bottles under her kitchen sink. I wasn't mad at her I was sad for her. She died, needlessly, from Cirrhosis (no surprise there).

I wish i had been more direct with her but by the time I realized the extent of her drinking it was too late to get her to change.

I am not going to preach to Eric, he doesn't need that. He knows he has a problem (It appears to have escalated with the death of his dad - but I don't know that to be a fact) so I will assume he will address it.

In my line of work, for the past 30 years, I have first hand knowledge of how terrible addictions can be. Addiction takes many forms. My work experience was with gambling, not alcohol, but it, too, has a devastating effect on family, friends and self. I have partnered with the CT Council for Problem Gambling so I have a fairly good grasp of the devastation an addiction may bring about.

If there is any one truth, it is there is but one way to cure an addiction, regardless of the root cause. It is very easy to say and almost sounds flip, but it is very, VERY, difficult to do - it is total (100%) abstinence. But first, one has to admit there is a problem. Rarely does a person just walk away from the root cause. There are, unfortunately, many steps on this road.

I said I wasn't going to preach but I think I just did. If so, I am sorry. Just sharing many years of experience.

We still love ya Eric and will support you but the future is yours to choose. If I can be of assistance I am at your disposal.

Be well my friend.

[Brook]

It all comes down to choices we make in life. We have bought into "the disease " idea. People choose to quit everyday. It isn't easy, but they do it.

[marcus46]

Eric

Years back, I was exactly in the situation that has occured here. I remember the heartache, and the wishing that I could turn back time and just make it all go away. As a business owner in a very small town, I felt that all was over. After all, to a lot of people looking in from outside, we are supposed to be immune to these "only human" errors in judgement. It could have been a disaster.

But I made the difficult decision to believe what I had been taught,that God can use our mistakes for good. I realized that it's not so much what happens to us that is the issue, but how we respond that is important.

I'll spare you all the details here, but feel free to contact me if you feel it could be helpful. The bottom line is I came through the other side stonger. My important relationships (family & business)became stronger, my faith grew, and my outlook on life took on a new sense of urgency that was not there before.

You are a gentleman, and you and your family are very gracious people. You're also human, and you can tell from all of the posts and reply's, highly regarded and loved.

There is no time like right now to begin forgiving yourself, and turning this whole situation around to be used for good. I know that it may feel, at this fresh early stage, that that's impossible, however, believe me I am living proof that it can only get better!

With all our love and warmest regards, Marc, Christine,Tanya,Laura, and Richard

[Bessieboo]

I am sorry but I am angry !

This was 7:00pm, not that any time is acceptable.

But at 7:00, a lot of people are on the road home, taking kids to ball practice or just going to get a bite to eat - he endangered a lot of people. I know I am being harsh and I am sorry if it hurts your feelings - but this is serious.

His children are young and deserve to have their father at his best.

I do most sincerely care and pray that EC will take this seriously and gets the help he needs.

Eric, you are loved and God has a plan for your life.

[Tony Cartmill]

This is America:

TMZ - EXTRA EXTRA - ET - MTV - Fluff piece about recovery with family in PEOPLE - DR PHIL - OPRAH - Reality Show Offer(Declined, Thank you) - "What? You've been writing some new songs? - NEW RECORD DEAL - CD - GRAMMY!

This could turn out to be a good thing...

One step at a time, of course.

[Brook]

Maybe it is proper police procedure in Ohio or in the U.S., but I'm not sure if it was necessary to put him through a series of tests. A blind guy could see that he was drunk! How about one test, take him in, breathalizer him and book him. My gosh, do we need to have the guy got through a battery of tests, when we know that he's drunk out of his mind. He needs some jail time and serious rehab. I think there is a country music song in there somewhere? Now my wife left me and I kicked my dog, would complete the ********. Come on Eric.......Stop boozing.

[Jeff]

I was very suprised to see the video as the sole preview of the Manhattan CBS 5 o'clock news (quite a big news show). This is why I hate, and don't bother watching local news - exploiting peoples personal tragedies. Did they preview a video of triumph when ABM hit top of the charts? And a police video made public? Wasn't even the (awful) paparazzi! At least we understand those sleazebags exploit tragedy for profit...

[dianed]

I have a family member who has a “drinking problem†so I know firsthand of the affects on the household. (I don’t want to use the “other term†in this post when addressing this particular situation, because that hasn’t actually been established yet). Truthfully, I’m not the least bit surprised that this happened again. The biggest sign was the withdrawal. He used to be on the board at all times interacting with us but for the past few months he went into hiding. My question is “why�

There are some things I get and some things I don’t get and this is one of them. Here is a man who is extremely talented, intelligent, possesses poise and class, still has his looks and a full head of hair, has a beautiful wife and children, a nice home and no financial worries. He has done well for himself in a very competitive field. He has had a very successful past, a successful reunion tour and has a following of dedicated fans. Life has been good to him. But something is apparently lacking or he would never have taken the road to destruction. Is it an age factor? Could it be he feels he doesn’t measure up any longer to the image that we have portrayed in our minds? Does he feel that people really don’t know the “other Eric Carmen�

People with drinking problems use alcohol to numb their pain instead of dealing with the issues. There is help out there, but if he does not recognize that there is a problem, all that help is useless. I pray to God he realizes that this was his wake up call, especially since no one was seriously injured. I hope he gets the strength he needs from within himself to opens his eyes and realize that there are only two choices here; either he stands up tall and gets the help he needs to win back the respect of his family and friends or to keep walking down that destructive road all by himself and lose everything.

[Raspberries4ever]

Bessie, you're not alone. I've been fuming all day about this. It's terrifying to think how many times Eric may have been out driving under the influence and didn't get "caught". These couldn't have been the only 2 times that has happened. If you choose to be in the public eye, you choose to subject yourself to public scrutiny -- that includes the bad as well as the good. We are so quick to applaud and praise someone we look up to when they are recognized for their accomplishments (the media makes us aware of that too), but we are critical of those responsible for bringing to our attention something about that person that is not so complimentary. You can't have one without the other. With fame comes great responsibility. That's my 2 cents. I pray that Eric will get the help he needs.

[austinberries]

dangblang, EC - we gotta get u the designated driver on those nights!.. i for one am someone who enjoyed imbibing w/ Eric & Co after the State Theatre show, & the good spirits that ensued, etc, but there are prob dial-up resources in the Cleveland area just for avoiding this kind of pitfall (we even have moped drivers, among others, here in Austin that'll come grab u & take u home)

EC may want to watch the video for the 'sobering' effect i'm sure it will have..

i just want to read next time where Eric posts a thread that says, "Guess what, fans? I recently handed over the keys & made it home safely the other night, so I'm still here to make some more music for y'all"

hang in there EC, loads'a love 2 u, & we want to see you persevere & wipe this from the slate, that is to say use it to empower yourself in the healthy & healing manner you see fit, as this challenge sits before you & beckons your attention & commitment

[AnniekNY]

Eric, I love you and support you but I'm with Beth. I am angry at what could have happened and I pray for your recovery and that whatever is causing you to be unhappy is resolved. But, until then, don't you dare get behind the wheel again.

As for the media, I think Don Henley said it best in "Dirty laundry" -

kick 'em when they're up

kick 'em when they're down

kick 'em when they're sick

kick 'em all around.

I don't give a damn that this is in the news - I want Eric to be safe and healthy.

Eric, if there's anything you need...just ask.

[Betsey]

I don't think it's our job to speculate on why or how this happened to Eric again. He alone is responsible and knows what he is dealing with. My heart breaks for him and his entire family. It is extremely difficult for Eric and for all those close to him. Let's send our prayers and good wishes and hope he now travels a road to recovery. He and Susan and the kids deserve privacy during this trying time. Thank God no one was hurt and Eric will now do what needs to be done. My thoughts are with Eric and his family.

[chris hess]

diane is right,people tend to drink to "numb" pain..this has opened my eyes to my drinking beer..every night..i do it at home,a problem?..could well be,but it sure as hell got me thinking now..artistic people tend to fall into this for some reason or another cause they withdraw and "vent" thru their work..i'm no shrink,but it could be part of the problem..eric,i wish you the best,not as a "star",but as a person..lol,chris

[teragram]

Maybe everyone here are jumping to the wrong conclusions. Maybe he hasn't got a drink problem at all. Maybe he just likes a good piss up now and again, or maybe he can't hold his drink. Whatever, one thing is for sure. Whenever friends or family see him in the mood for a drinking session, they should take his car keys from him and hide them. Someone is going to get killed if this type of behaviour continues.