EXCESS has shaped blues musician Lew Lewis’s life, but it wasn’t until he confronted the mental health issues that had dogged his life he could live again, and make music.

The harmonica player and singer has always been a charismatic presence in the Essex music scene and was well known for his energetic shows, which, in the early years, saw him regularly propel himself off stage.

However, drug addiction, coupled with undiagnosed mental health problems, meant Lew struggled to keep himself under control.

He said: “Everyone used to call me ‘mad Lewis’. There was a reason for that, I have bipolar and psychotic episodes.

“For the past eight years I have been in and out of hospital. I have had mental health issues and I had a breakdown. I am drug free now. I only take prescribed medication.”

Having grown up on Canvey, Lew started in the local music scene in the Southside Jug Band in 1969, which featured future Dr Feelgood members Lee Brilleaux and John B.

He then came to prominence as a member of Eddie and the Hot Rods in 1976, which lasted for the release of their first two singles, before he left after falling out with the management.

“I was really a frustrated frontman so I left Eddie and the Hot Rods with nothing but two rusty harmonicas and a broken mic.

“After I left people were saying ‘Lew Lewis is too wild for Hot Rods’ and that I was unmanageable. I didn’t think I was, but I was a bit more wise to what was going on. I never liked the business side of music and I still don’t.” Lew, 66, admits the way he was living led him to make unwise choices: “My lifestyle at the time didn’t help. I was taking amphetamines and self-medicating.

“I thought I was coping because I wanted to enhance my performance on stage and because we toured so much. Once we did 308 shows in one year.

“It was good for telling stories like ‘did you see the show last night when Lewis somersaulted off stage?’ But I did have a lot of injuries jumping from 8ft stages, twisting ankles and knees.”

After Lew left the Hot Rods, the Seventies saw him put together the Lew Lewis Band, which released the single Boogie and went on to form Lew Lewis Reformer band which released an LP, Save the Wail. Lucky Seven followed by 1-30 2-30 3-35. He also guest starred on several albums, including Kirsty MacColl’s Desperate Character in 1981.

However, his musical career hit a low when in 1987 he held up a post office with a fake pistol and was sentenced to seven years in prison for armed robbery.

“I was given seven years, but I wasn’t well. I stole £5,000 from a post office, in a costume, on a shopping bike. How could I have been well? People who knew me at the time said it wasn’t me.

“I lived like a monk in prison. It was a lost time for me.”

Lew came back with the single Shame, Shame, Shame in 1987 but his life continued to be hampered by health problems.

Fortunately, Lew, who lives in Westcliff, now feels he has finally got the help he needs and is on the road to recovery. He said: “It wasn’t until 17 weeks ago I actually got help. I gave the doctor at the hospital a copy of my lyrics and she said ‘I think you have been hiding mental health problems and need psychiatric help’.

“I feel rejuvenated after spending eight weeks in hospital and I have been writing some fantastic, beautiful songs.

“Messages from fans have meant a lot to me. Gaby, who runs a website for me, hand wrote 130 messages from fans on to cards and had them sent to the hospital. It was amazing.”

Being sober makes performing on stage a completely different experience for him. Lew, who is in a new band, Spooky Blues, said: “The gigs I enjoyed most were always the ones where I was sober. I played a gig in Rochford recently. I have slowed down on stage and the songs are a lot more crafted.

“I am achieving something now and all that’s happened to me has come to fruition. I have an acoustic guitar, a harmonica and harness and it is accompanied by a five-piece band.

“I write about thoughts and feelings. I am not regretful about anything and if my music can help anyone to not go down the wrong route then that’s great.

“I look at things differently now. A lot of people with bipolar are creative and I’m good at anything creative like painting and writing lyrics,” said the father-of-two and stepfather-of-one.

“I don’t want anything and I don’t have anything. I am content to be making music.”