Artie Lange returns to Vegas
12:03 PM PT, Jul 23 2007
Usually I like to prepare for an interview. But I tossed this rule out in the case of Artie Lange. I'd be hard pressed to explain this decision fully. But since his fans are already familiar with all of the twists in Lange's life, I find advantage in being endlessly surprised during our interviews. I first interviewed Lange at the Palms during the 2006 CineVegas Film Festival. He was there for a screening of his film Beer League, and he had drawn a large crowd of rowdy fans. I don't think I had heard the name Artie Lange before that day, but common sense (and an editor) said to go interview the guy. I now try to catch up with Lange every time he comes to Vegas.
This time, I called Lange because on Saturday night (July 28) he appears at the Hard Rock. His Hard Rock appearance is a certain sellout. Lange always fills every seat in Vegas. So, I appreciate that, unlike many people I speak with, Lange doesn't need press from me or anyone to sell tickets. A word on Howard Stern or Letterman is plenty of exposure for anything Lange wishes to sell. Yet, Lange always finds time to have long and winding interviews with me before his trips here. From heroin to his love life, with Lange, you get the wild sparks of personality that pop to the surface of his answers and always in the most casual way. This interview was no exception.
This time, I called Lange because on Saturday night (July 28) he appears at the Hard Rock. His Hard Rock appearance is a certain sellout. Lange always fills every seat in Vegas. So, I appreciate that, unlike many people I speak with, Lange doesn't need press from me or anyone to sell tickets. A word on Howard Stern or Letterman is plenty of exposure for anything Lange wishes to sell. Yet, Lange always finds time to have long and winding interviews with me before his trips here. From heroin to his love life, with Lange, you get the wild sparks of personality that pop to the surface of his answers and always in the most casual way. This interview was no exception.
Richard Abowitz: I usually lose track of you between our interviews. But this time even I heard something about you quitting your job on the Stern show?
Artie Lange: Yeah. Sometime with this schedule you're a bit crazed. In January I was so burnt out and unhealthy that for health reasons I thought I might take a six-month sabbatical from everything and just dry myself out. The way I am going right now I am just going to die. I am obese. I am drinking too much. I have stress levels that are off the charts. I travel too much. Then I get up at 4:30 AM and am on the air. I blurted that out (about leaving) on the air about a month ago and that was news for a little bit. The New York Post printed an article about it. It must have been a slow news day. People picked up on it. Since then I said I would stick around. I'll probably stick around. I don't know.
Q: I thought you have one of those jobs you don't leave?
A: Yes. But I've been there 7 years. I didn't get into comedy to have a regular job like everyone else. I hate routines. But the show is so good, that made me stay all this time. But after 7 years, it's the schedule. It's not the show. I mean, I love the show. I love Howard. But with this schedule sometimes I feel like I am on the edge of madness. I feel like I can't do this anymore. I can't keep a routine. I have to just go do whatever I want do for a few months.
Q: I won't pretend I know you beyond our interviews. But it seems without that show to get up for each day, with your habits, you might lose it. Doesn't doing whatever you want for a few months sound dangerous to you?
A: Yeah, I know. But I don't know. I just don't like a schedule.
Q: Have you at least managed to stay off heroin and other nasty drugs?
A: Yeah, I haven't done anything strong in two years.
Q: Are you still wildly single these days?
A: Yeah!
Q: Still gambling lots?
A: I always gamble. But I stopped gambling with a bookie. I used to have a steady bookie and that was scary to do with a phone call. I still gamble a lot at the tables in Atlantic City and always in Vegas.
Q: Most people I interview who work Vegas regularly make a point of not gambling or at least they make a point of telling me they don't gamble...
A: Well, I gamble. I used to have a problem with it, because I used to make less money. I'd like to think I don't gamble to the point where it would be a risk with the money I make now. But you never know; those Vegas weekends can get out of hand.
Q: So, coming to Vegas is going to be another wild ride this Saturday for you?
A: Yeah, definitely.
Q: How are things for you professionally?
A: Never been better. In the past 12 months, I've done Letterman three times. I debuted there and did well enough that they made me a regular. I played Carnegie Hall and I sold it out in two hours. It was the highlight of my stand-up career. The movie I wrote, "Beer League," got bought by Comedy Central and is going to premiere in August. It will be a full weekend that I host on Comedy Central. I got the taping coming up. But getting the movie on Comedy Central is huge. I did a six-episode arc of the television show "Rescue Me." I am a fireman's cousin. It is a recurring character
Q: Do you miss acting?
A: Yeah, it is how I made my living forever. My main job was acting. Comedy was something I always did on the side. Now, the Stern show radio and stand-up is what I do. You know, the last year has been the greatest year of my life professionally. It is only personally and healthwise that everything is a train wreck. One goes along with the other
Q: Do you go to doctors and get your routine physicals and all?
A: No. I am scared to death of them.
Q: So, when was the last time you went to a doctor for a physical?
A: (long pause) When I had to shoot "Beer League." So, that would be summer of 2005. I was 100 pounds thinner.
Q: Why don't you go get a checkup if you are worried about your health?
A: I don't have the time.
Q: You can get a checkup, I bet, before you come to Vegas...
A: If it is bad news, I don't want to ruin my trip to Vegas.
Q: Before or after Vegas, I don't understand why if you are worried about your health you don't go to a doctor?
A: Well, the rest of my summer is crazy. I am doing stand-up and the Stern show and have to finish shooting "Rescue Me" and the "Beer League" premiere. It is just crazy.
Q: Doesn't having all this to do make you want to live healthier?
A: I don't know. If you are famous and you have money there is no incentive. I am also in a self-destructive mode since my girlfriend and me broke up. The heroin is why we broke up. She saw me at my worst. Now, I stopped the heroin but there is every other thing.
Q: So, she'd be okay with your drinking?
A: At least it's legal. I was with her 4 1/2 years.
Q: Is this your equivalent of John Lennon's Lost Weekend?
A: I don't know. Part of me thinks that she is the only thing that might keep me alive for a long time. Lately, I've been having these mini-seizures when I wake up in the morning and I feel like I have no control over my body for a few seconds. I fall asleep on the toilet all the time. I am wreck right now. I was on Letterman three weeks ago, and it went great. I was really happy at how funny it was. It was one of my best appearances. But it looks like I am about to die. I am all wheezing and I can barely fit in the chair. I look like I am going to have a heart attack.
photo by Ethan Miller/Getty
photo by Ethan Miller/Getty
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Wow, Artie is a very funny guy and i always enjoy watching him on tv and listening to him on the radio. But he really needs a break. Please Howard act before Artie is gone forever. He is a big improvement over Jackie the joke man. Artie really should leave the stern show and i hope he does
Posted by: Ray Delgadillo | July 23, 2007 at 07:16 PM
Always Love your Artie Lange Reporting it makes me feel like I can hear the slots everytime I read your articles.
The Fans at http://www.btlsfan.com/ Love your work as well!
Thanks for another great article!
Posted by: Webcams | July 28, 2007 at 09:51 PM