For 17 years, the rock band drummer Woody Giessmann has been lifting musicians and artists like himself out of drug addiction. On Feb. 27, renowned comedians will be performing a night of comedy in Beverly, as part of a fundraising effort for Right Turn, an outpatient substance abuse disorder program in Watertown, Massachusetts. Giessman joined Henry in the Hub host Henry Santoro to talk about long-term recovery, and how Right Turn uses creative expression to help patients kick their drug habits. The following transcript has been edited for clarity.

Henry Santoro: Coming up next Thursday is a comedy show that is sure to have you rolling in the aisles. But it's not just any comedy show. This one benefits a much loved and local nonprofit called Right Turn. For the past 18 years, Right Turn has been helping musicians, performers, actors, and anyone from the world of entertainment get sober and straight in part through creative expression. Its leader and founder is Woody Giessmann, an artist himself and former drummer for the great Boston-based 1980s rock band The Del Fuegos. Woody, since you were there from the very beginning, why don't you tell us how Right Turn was born?

Woody Giessmann: You know, that's a good question. I remember the budget cuts in Massachusetts, that a lot of programs were closing. I just felt that there was a need for a program like Right Turn. And then I had lunch with Dr. Anne Alonso, who's the head of the advancement of psychotherapy at Mass General Hospital, and she knew that I wanted to put together psychotherapy, group therapy, family therapy with music and art and other creative therapies.

Santoro: When you were in The Del Fuegos, you had a bit of a problem yourself.

Giessmann: True. I'm celebrating 29 years of my own personal recovery.

Santoro: Congrats.

Giessmann: And I'm very proud to be a man in long term recovery. You know, I left The Del Fuegos, left Warner Brothers, left Los Angeles, came back to Boston and went to school to get my license and to move forward.

Santoro: But let me ask you this, Woody, because the Beatles created some of their best music on acid. Could they have created that music not on acid?

Giessmann: You know, that's interesting, because you're talking about Ringo Starr who's been in recovery for almost 40 years.

Santoro: I know.

Giessmann: There's that perception — that I have to talk to artists about all the time — and that is that drugs and alcohol are going to make me a better musician, a better songwriter, give me better ideas, give me more ideas. And that's just a perception. I'm sending the message out to artists who are looking for answers in the wrong places: Substance use does not make you a better artist.

Santoro: All right, let's talk about this comedy show happening in the Cabot Theater in Beverly.

Giessmann: Let's talk about it.

Santoro: You have put together an A-list of local comics. It's just amazing. Why don’t you tell us about this?

Giessmann: Did you see the Super Bowl, Henry? My God…

Santoro: The Tony V. commercials…

Giessmann: Tony V. — Boston’s most hilarious comedian.

Santoro: Yes. And his best friend, Bobcat Goldthwait.

Giessmann: Bobcat. Can you believe that? Incredible. What a lineup.

Santoro: And he’s lucky to be alive, Bobcat.

Giessmann: Yeah, he's kind of most known for — well, the movies that he's done, produced, written — but for his appearance on The Tonight Show…

Santoro: When he set the couch on fire…

Giessmann: Where he was not in the best condition, yeah.

Santoro: And you have Kelly MacFarland, who everybody adores and loves. You also have the great Eugene Mirman from Bob's Burgers.

Giessmann: What an evening.

Santoro: That is going to be — as I said in the in the beginning, your people are going to be rolling in the aisles for this. How do people get tickets?

Giessmann: They go to the Cabot website. Just click on “Comics Take a Right Turn” and buy tickets. It’s that simple.

Santoro: It is a night of standup comedy for Right Turn happening at the Cabot Theatre. Tony V., Bobcat Goldthwait, Kelly MacFarland, Eugene Mirman. What a tremendous lineup.

Giessmann: And we’re going to be there too.

Santoro: And you’ll be there too.

Giessmann: And Henry will be there too.

Santoro: This Thursday night at the Cabot Theater. I’m Henry Santoro, this is WGBH.

WGBH News Intern Elias Miller contributed to this Interview.