Duran Duran's Co-Founder John Taylor Receives Writers In Treatment's Highest Honor at 'Experience, Strength and Hope' Charity Event Today

Writers In Treatment and New Directions for Women have joined forces to honor Duran Duran's founding member John Taylor with the Experience, Strength and Hope Award today, February 15, 2013 at the Skirball Cultural Center. Robert Downey Jr. will present Writers In Treatment's highest honor to Mr. Taylor during an unforgettable evening that will be hosted by Ed Begley Jr., feature a special appearance by actor/comedian/director Bobcat Goldthwait, Ione Skye, and many more surprises.

The Experience, Strength and Hope Award is given to well-known individuals who have written courageous and honest memoirs about their journey from addiction to recovery. Past honorees include astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Academy Award winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr.

Taylor's memoir, "In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death & Duran Duran," tells of his upbringing in Birmingham, England, his years with Duran Duran, and his road to recovery. Taylor said, "I won't say I went right away [to rehab], I had to hit bottom, which meant going out and getting so f**ked up, so disillusioned by my own inability to control myself, and then surrender. Now it's been a whole different me, and I wanted to write about that. A lot of people are struggling and a lot of people still don't believe that sobriety is possible for them."

Writers In Treatment Founder Leonard Buschel commented, "This award recognizes John Taylor who is helping to facilitate the transformation of people's lives by chronicling his journey through alcoholism and addiction to recovery. At a time when people suffer as much or more from the social stigma of addiction, John has come forward to champion recovery and dispel the dark clouds of superstition regarding this treatable and preventable illness. That certainly deserves our recognition, admiration and heartfelt gratitude."

The charity event is a celebration of the benefits of clean and sober living and the importance of humor in the recovery process. All proceeds benefit Writers In Treatment's Jewelle Sturm Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, Calif. For more information, go to Writers In Treatment or contact Leonard Buschel at (818) 762-0461. This event is SOLD OUT.

Writers In Treatment is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization grounded in the arts and recovery fields. W.I.T.'s primary purpose is to save lives through promoting and providing 'treatment' as the best first step solution for addiction, alcoholism and other self-destructive behaviors. www.writersintreatment.org The international REEL Recovery Film Festival is a production of W.I.T. www.reelrecoveryfilmfestival.org.