Casey Royer, an Orange County punk-rock pioneer, faces misdemeanor charges after overdosing on heroin while watching television with his 12-year-old son at home in Newport Beach on March 10.
The boy ran to a neighbor's house to get help for his 52-year-old dad. While reviving him, authorities discovered what the Orange County district attorney's office referred to as “filthy” living conditions.
Royer has been charged with two counts of child abuse and endangerment, as well as use and being under the influence of a controlled substance. He could get up to two years behind bars if convicted.
Royer began his musical career in 1979, when the then-21-year-old played drums with Social Distortion. He joined The Adolescents the following year, and when Steve Soto's band began what would be a five-year hiatus in 1981, Royer formed D.I. He has returned for shows and recordings that have reunited the Adolescents over the years and also played with ADZ in the early 1990s, but his main focus has been keeping D.I. alive. From a March 14 Navel Gazing post by Matt Coker.
GWEN WATCH 2011
While waiting impatiently for that No Doubt album to finally drop, we've been keeping tabs on Gwen Stefani. And she's been busy: She was on the cover of Elle U.K.'s April issue and was recently quoted on Contact Music as saying she couldn't write music after giving birth to her second child.
The No Doubt singer, now 41, said that was the reason for the reunion tour: “I hadn't planned on doing a tour; I'd had Zuma, I felt so gross—I got so big and felt so out of touch and not cool. I was trying to write this cool record, and nothing came out. . . . I felt so bad because you've got this whole band waiting, but I couldn't write. So we said, 'Let's go on tour.'”
Stefani has an older son, Kingston, now 4, with husband Gavin Rossdale.
Here are other memorable quotes from her Elle U.K. cover story, for which she was interviewed by Garbage singer Shirley Manson.
On exercise: “I work out five days a week. I can't imagine not doing it.”
On beautifying: “I wear make-up every single day; I like to wear make-up for Gavin, and I don't feel energized till I've put it on, then I'm ready to go.”
On marriage: “I've been with Gavin for 14 years, and let's face it, that is a huge accomplishment. I feel so proud of that—it hasn't been the easiest journey.” From March 10 and March 14 Heard Mentality blog posts.
This column appeared in print as “D.I.’s Casey Royer ODs.”
