Matt Pinfield, former host of MTV’s 120 Minutes and author of the new book All These Things That I’ve Done: My Insane, Improbable Rock Life, announced Tuesday morning (Jan. 3) that he is taking a break from his morning hosting duties on San Francisco’s KFOG radio station in order to enter rehab.
Pinfeld, 55, tells Billboard that he is on medications, including blood thinners, for congestive heart failure. He recently had a slip involving alcohol and made a decision to go straight to a facility in California to get himself back on track.
“I have a responsibility to my health,” he says. “I decided to fix my problem. I’m going to do this. It feels good to me. It’s the right thing.”
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Pinfield says he shared his decision on air as a way to be open and honest with his audience, as well as help others struggling with addiction to not feel ashamed asking for help. “I needed to tell everyone the truth. I can’t be phony. I can’t be fake,” he says. “I just can’t. It’s not me. It was hard to go on the air with it this morning at first, but I have nothing but love for people, and if I can help just one person, that’s what matters.”
Pinfield has been down this road before. He went on the air in New York City on 101.9 WRXP with a similar announcement in 2009. In his new book, he writes that the revelation helped fans listening to the broadcast find the strength to tell their families they needed to get well.
“I want to help others. I want to pass it on,” he says. “There is a famous line: You can’t help the people next to you in the plane if you don’t put on your oxygen mask first when it’s going down. That’s a beautiful line.”
Pinfield’s announcement was met with an outpouring of support, with tons of phone calls and messages of encouragement on Twitter from fans, radio and record industry peers and musicians, including Rhett Miller from Old 97’s and Paul Arthurs (aka: Bonehead) of Oasis.
“I love the Bay, I love the city and I love the people,” he says. “I have a lot of support.”
In addition to his work at KFOG, Pinfield is looking to the future. In addition to his radio endeavors, Pinfield has been approached about turning his book into a feature film. “I am going to come back with a bunch of new features on the air,” he says. “I have a lot more work to do.”
Pinfield began his career as a well-respected club DJ in the mid-1980s, working his way up to the position of program director at the iconic alternative radio station WHTG-FM in Eatontown, New Jersey. He was then hired at MTV in the mid-’90s, where he hosted the alternative video show 120 Minutes and other shows, including Pinfield Presents, Rocks Off, Mattrock, Say What and MTV Live. He left MTV in 1999 to co-host and co-write the live music show Farmclub.com. In 2001, Pinfield took an A&R position at Columbia Records, where he helped sign Coheed & Cambria and Crossfade. In addition to his morning show duties at KFOG, Pinfield hosts the nightly syndicated alternative rock show Two Hours With Matt Pinfield.
A spokesperson for KFOG couldn’t be reached at press time.
@mattpinfield
Congrats on the book. Hang in there. Get better.
Thanks for your lifetime of work on behalf of real music.— Rhett Miller (@rhettmiller) January 3, 2017
Love you Rhett and always have- thank you for the music you’ve given us all and the good wishes! Played Old 97’s for my girlfriend this week https://t.co/oFxZRCrKCn
— Matt Pinfield (@mattpinfield) January 3, 2017
@mattpinfield get well Matt. Sending Love. X
— Paul Arthurs. (@BoneheadsPage) January 3, 2017
Paul I love you my friend! Playing Live Forever with you was one of my absolute highlights! https://t.co/SLpuil9rKI
— Matt Pinfield (@mattpinfield) January 3, 2017
Get healthy, @mattpinfield! I’ve always marveled at your enthusiasm and knowledge of music. I consider you a brother I’ve just never met!
— Neil Adams (@neiladams65) January 3, 2017
Thank you Neil! https://t.co/jGg522ke3g
— Matt Pinfield (@mattpinfield) January 3, 2017
Its my heart-meds for CHF+alcohol-going into hospital to get it right having a bag of meds (no opiates) but it’s time to fix it to live long https://t.co/2hhEab5xnc
— Matt Pinfield (@mattpinfield) January 3, 2017
Love you Steve my friend! https://t.co/ofizTmDWBr
— Matt Pinfield (@mattpinfield) January 3, 2017
J. Thanks for your support! Much love! https://t.co/9gKCOfwb6P
— Matt Pinfield (@mattpinfield) January 3, 2017
@mattpinfield Tim and ALL at FORKSTER Rooting ‘big time’ for you good rocking friend, big prayers for U mate…..#greatheart #Loveyoubuddy
— Forkster Music Promo (@FORKSTER_2013) January 3, 2017
Best wishes to the great @mattpinfield. May the music be with you.
— MusicREDEF (@MusicREDEF) January 3, 2017
Hey Matt. Feel better brother. Wishing you a happy and most importantly healthy new year ! https://t.co/tTzy5TBEkC
— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) January 3, 2017
Love you Eddie my great friend and rock and roll brother! Thank you from the heart https://t.co/3VxBaYXhqj
— Matt Pinfield (@mattpinfield) January 3, 2017