Janis Winehouse, the mother of Amy Winehouse, has spoken about her daughter's struggles with alcohol addiction on the 15th anniversary of her death, describing her as a "victim of her own success."
Fame led to downfall
Amy Winehouse died on 23 July 2011 at her home in London. A toxicology report ruled her death as accidental alcohol poisoning, with a blood alcohol level more than five times the legal drink-driving limit. She was 27.
Janis, now 72, told the i Paper that Amy's rise to fame contributed to her addiction. "She didn't want [fame], but it just followed her. And she'd be like 'Who me?' She didn't have confidence. Hence the alcohol. I think it's the same with many, many addicts with alcohol. The alcohol takes away the pain and that is a horrible thing with addiction."
Addiction as the 'only boss'
Janis said that addiction becomes the "only boss" and that people "don't get" how it can make your body think you "need it." She shared how she copes with her daughter's death, saying she is simply trying to "get on with life."
Earlier this month, Janis and Amy's family hosted a tribute event at Camden Market for fans to pay their respects.
Friend recalls last conversation
Amy's friend and bassist Dale Davis, whom she once called her "favourite person to go anywhere wit," told the Mirror about their last phone call. "I spoke to her three hours before she went to bed," he said. "She called me at 11:30 at night, and we're having a chat for about 15 minutes, and I said I was going to see her tomorrow and she said, 'Okay'. And I said 'Love you'. She said 'love you' and put the phone down. And that was the last thing I heard."
The next day, while working with Will Young, he received a "barrage of texts." He became agitated, and the musical director informed him Amy had passed. "I just slumped back on my chair and said I was supposed to see her tonight," Davis recalled.
Legacy and support
Since Amy's death, the Amy Winehouse Foundation established Amy's Place, a recovery house in East London for women battling addiction, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.
