 In 1977, longtime friend Larry Williams once showed up with a gun and threatened to kill him for failing to pay his drug debt.Penniman later mentioned that this was the most fearful moment of his life because Williams' own drug addiction made him wildly unpredictable.Penniman did, however, also acknowledge that he and Williams were "very close friends" and when reminiscing of the drug-fueled clash, he recalled thinking "I knew he loved me—I hoped he did!"