Eight years ago Jason Fubler’s life was all about sex, drugs and rock and roll. He was the lead guitarist and songwriter in the Baltimore-based Agents of Sun. The band was on tour, playing at packed venues across the US.

Their single, Sincerely Yours, was in the top ten of the music charts.

And then it came to a sudden halt for Mr Fubler.

The 40-year-old Bermudian was addicted to pain killers and spending $150 a day on his habit.

It became a daily fight to get off the couch, play the guitar or work on his songwriting.

“The 311 Tour was pretty much a travelling party,” he said. “I was living the rock’n roll life of sex, drugs and music and that’s exactly what it was. It was insanity for two summers.

“It was probably the most fun I ever had in my life and it turned into the worst situation I’ve ever put myself in. I heard stories about addiction, but it was such a horrible thing to experience myself.”

Mr Fubler’s habit began shortly after he was prescribed a drug called Percocet to help with a knee injury sustained while playing basketball.

Because they’re known to be highly addictive, the pills are only prescribed for short-term use to help with severe pain.

Some patients develop a tolerance and become dependent; others end up looking for more, outside of their doctor’s supervision.

Mr Fubler said it took two months before he realised he had a problem.

“Percocet is pretty much the same thing as heroin, but it’s prescribed by a doctor and they hand it out like candy,” he said.

“At my lowest point I wasn’t playing music or anything. I sold most of the things in my house to support my addiction and then I decided it costs too much money to put myself into rehab. It was a $150-a-day habit.

“I was losing everyone and everything around me and I didn’t like what I had become. I had to find it in myself to fix that or at least admit I had a problem.”

It took two or three years before he checked into a drug rehab clinic, Mountain Manor, in Frederick, Maryland.

“Coming off of Percocet is like having the worst flu you have ever had times ten,” he said.

“You feel sick and have severe aches and pains. It’s hard to explain how bad it felt.”

He’s been clean for the past two years, but attends weekly counselling sessions to this day.

“Through this horrible drug addiction, I got to do something that is very unique, which most people need to do, but don’t,” he said.

“I got to look at myself on the inside and see what I do and don’t like about myself and work to make changes.

“So many people go through life on autopilot and they really don’t take the time to look at themselves properly.”

He picked up his guitar again for the first time, 18 months ago. He now plays with fusion rock and R & B band, Pages & Poets. Eric Robinson, Frankie Hernandez, Russell Hayward III and Chris Thomson perform alongside him.

“We are actually promoting the responsible rock star life,” Mr Fubler said. “If you think about the general image of this kind of music, it’s about trashing hotel rooms and doing drugs and being crazy.

“We want people to know you can make this kind of music and still be someone organisers can count on to wake up at 8am the next morning for an interview. We are trying to break that mould.”

He said things have been progressing really quickly for the band.

Within two weeks of recording their first song, they found the money to finish their album.

Their single Oceans is gradually being picked up by US radio stations and a couple of management companies are considering signing them as clients.

“This is something that usually takes bands ten years,” he said. “It’s usually a long tedious process.

“But I kind of lucked out with this band because we have all been doing this for a while and were able to pick people we actually wanted to work with.

“I don’t need to fill stadiums, but if I can just pay my bills by making music I’ll be happy. A lot of people have to wake up everyday and go to a job they don’t like to do.

“If I can play my guitar and sing songs that touch people and make life better for people then I’m happy. Music is such a powerful catalyst. It can change your mood in a second and it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

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