THE ANGELS re- Doc Neeson.

[White _Trash]

From a Brisbane newspaper....

AT the height of The Angels' popularity, front-man Doc Neeson commanded legions of fans and enjoyed all the trimmings of international fame and fortune.
But the ageing rocker's fall from grace was laid bare yesterday before an almost empty courtroom, as a magistrate convicted him of his fourth drink-driving offence.
Dressed in a navy suit and black shirt, Bernard Patrick Neeson cut a forlorn figure in a Sydney court, which heard the 64-year-old was living alone in a rented property and was forced to keep performing to avoid financial ruin.
"Driving is an essential part of his situation," Neeson's solicitor Tim Mitchell said.
"He's not in a good financial position, unfortunately, at his age.
"He simply has to keep working.
"If he is unable to drive he will be on government benefits, I'm afraid."
Mr Mitchell said Neeson was on a "cocktail of medications" to deal with chronic back pain and attention deficit disorder when he was pulled over by police on July 6 for a random breath test.
Neeson was pulled over at 11.20pm not far from his home and later returned a reading of 0.142 - almost three times the legal limit.
In a police fact sheet, Sgt Sean Donnelly said: "In my opinion, the accused was well affected by intoxicating liquor."
Mr Mitchell told the court Neeson was also suffering a "debilitating influenza" on that day.
He said Neeson drank whiskey between 7-9pm to "self-medicate" before driving to an all-night chemist for some other pain relief.
He said Neeson had lived much of his life in the public eye as lead singer of The Angels, and had reached a newfound "spirituality".
"He had not drunk alcohol for five months prior to that day. He admits freely it was a problem in the past but won't be in the future."
Former Midnight Oil frontman and now Labor MP Peter Garrett said in a reference he had known Neeson for 30 years and he had made "a big contribution to the Australian music industry".
Neeson, who pleaded guilty, was fined $800 and disqualifying from driving for nine months.
Neeson, who ducked off to a nearby pub during the lunch adjournment, declined to comment.