Kevin Kennedy, best known for playing Norman 'Curly' Watts on ITV's Coronation Street from 1983 to 2003, has opened up about his battle with alcohol addiction and his life after the soap. The 63-year-old actor, who also pursued a music career, recalled the moment he collapsed after two days without alcohol, which forced him to confront his drinking problem. 'That incident scared the hell out of me, and I knew I would die if I carried on,' he said.
Kennedy, who has been sober since 1998, described the period after getting clean as both exhilarating and terrifying. He signed a record deal with Simon Cowell's label BMG under a pseudonym to avoid 'soapism', and found himself playing at festivals alongside Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. 'It was an exciting time, but as I was sober I was feeling everything for the first time in a long while. That included fear and uncertainty,' he added.
The actor also reflected on his early days in music, having played in a band called Paris Valentinos with Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke of The Smiths. He credited the punk movement for giving him the confidence to pursue his dreams. 'Punk was a galvanising force, and for me that manifested itself at the age of 14, sitting in a bedroom with Johnny Marr,' Kennedy said.
Kennedy's role on Coronation Street came to a natural end in 2003, but he remained positive, especially as he and his wife were expecting their first child. He has since appeared in musicals such as We Will Rock You and Rock of Ages, and currently stars in Punk Off – The Sounds of Punk and New Wave, which tours until 7 March.
