is there a greater proportion of "creative artists" i.e., musicians, actors etc..who turn to drugs than the general population? I mean you could fill a whole stadium or two with the people who have either fucked up their lives or died doing drugs. seems like with so many famous people throwing their lives and careers away on this junk, you would think a normal rational person would know better. if they're talented enough to write a great song or play an instrument, why can't they be smart enough to handle the pressure, adulation and failure in a more positive way.? Elvis, Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin, hell Rick James...you can't read or hear about their great careers without a mention of a drug-related death...i just don't get it. the pressure can't be that damn bad, can it?

Billie Holiday had many issues outside of music.

The dissemination of heroin into the black community in the 50’s has a lot to do with it.

The whole drug/psychedelic thing in the 60’s was part of a plot to disseminate hallucinogens to the youth population. British elites had been doing them way before. Ashbury, Ladbroke Grove were all testing grounds.

The reason so many musicians take drugs and OD is that they can afford large and usually pure quantities of it. Do drugs help music? I dunno, would Marvin Gaye’s What’s going on be a classic if he wasn’t “flying high”? All I know is that most of these people learned there craft while sober and clean.

Aren't they drug addicts BEFORE they became musicians?

origmnd said:

addicts? they might have taken drugs, but many become addicts when they have money and easy access.

origmnd said:

That's the biggest misconception. How many guys have said that they started taking drugs after watching Parker or Trane. It's not the drug but they couldn't phantom that one could be so good in their own right. Irony is that they would have been that much greater without the drug.

No one ever mentions the sober hours these guys put into their craft.

Cause drugs are fun?

Novabreaker said:

They're a weak escape.

The question was about musicians/singers. Perhaps that is it for some.
I know guys that believe they need to smoke/drink/whatever to go to "that place/zone" It's supposed to be a romantic notion. It's where the writer is supposed to find his muse. The thing is, if you buy in to that crap, you've already set yourself up for addiction.

If you can get there without, you'll be there in a purer state and you can create from a purer place. Just have to learn to get there. The best things don't come easy and they certainly don't come in a bottle.

I don't think they really realized or believed at the time that drugs are as addictive and destructive as they are. Drugs also went along with the wild partying lifestyle of being a star. Over the years, people have seen what drugs can do for them and are getting away from them.

I had always wished I had been born a few years earlier so I could have been old enough to really enjoy, go out and party, and experience first hand the partying days of the disco era. In a way, I'm glad I wasn't older at the time because I probably would have gotten into drugs or come down with AIDS.

vainandy said:

Didnt jermaine stewart die of aids?

Bordom is the main cuase of going onto any drug. We can all relate to that surely?

Yes. The first time heard he had died was from a woman from "Sister 2 Sister" magazine who was on the "Geraldo" show. She also said that Jermaine told her that he and Magic Johnson had slept together. She didn't say that Magic gave AIDS to him or vice versa, she just mentioned the fact that they had been together.

vainandy said:

Really? Magic and Jermaine? Just seems kinda funny thinking about it. Kinda oppostites. Not the gerardo show then (there is no such thing )

I always think glamslamkid would look like jermaine (colour matters not). Jermaine lookes so extroverted with his sexuality. It was great. Like all the pics on the "say it again" album. Great stuff.

I miss jermaine. he had a unique, distinct voice. He did a song about his best mate Jody wately. Anyone remember "jody"?

As many examples of artists who weren't as good when they were high can be matched by those who weren't as good sober. Number 1 and 2 examples are the Beatles and Pink Floyd.
I dissagree they are a 'weak escape', that's the sort of thing I'd say about religion.

In my opinion, some individuals may become musicians for reasons other than "the music". Once those goals of fame and wealth (or whatever) are attained, what else is there? We also have to take into consideration the association that is involved in the entertainment industry. Drug dealers know where the money is, so naturally they're going to gravitate towards the entertainers and athletes.
Another thing is that these individuals can often find themselves with a lot of free time on their hands. If they're hanging out with the wrong folks, it's very easy to be influenced in a negative way and involve themselves in situations they wouldn't normally be aligned with if they were doing something productive.
It's a shame when someone becomes entrapped by drugs. Seems like a lonely place to be. It's even sadder when you contemplate the fact that they have willfully brought harm upon their own body. Self destruction.

drugs don't kill people - rappers do. i seen it in a documentary on BBC 2.

TheFrogSpawn said:

meltwithu said:

1. Artists usually aren't "normal" or "rational"

2. Being talented enough to write a song or play an instrument has nothing to do with the person's ability to deal with emotions in a productive way. Often, the emotions that are harder to deal with are dealt with through songwriting, but sometimes it isn't enough.

3. Being smart has nothing to do with a person's ability to deal with pressure, adulation and failure. It's called a chemical imbalance in the brain.

4. It doesn't matter how bad the pressure is or isn't. Again, it has to do with the artist's perception of it, and how they react emotionally. Sure there are better ways to deal with these issues than turning to drugs. Drugs are just the easiest way, although not in the long run...

Drugs are awesome it's addiction that's the problem. A problem easily avoided with common sense.

I think they wouldn't have made such great music if they hadn't used drugs
[Edited 4/25/05 7:34am]

rainman1985 said:

Common sense would tell a person not to pollute their body.

TheFrogSpawn said:

Sounds like something Bill O Rielly would say.

OdysseyMiles said:

Common sense tells me to experience as much of life as possible.

rainman1985 said:

And "life" includes causing your body unnecessary harm?
I get it, you're one of those people who believe in experiencing every sensation that there is to experience? Ah, I see. I understand that line of thinking, even though it is not in harmony with my beliefs about life.

What do you say to a kid who tries "x" for the first time knowing that there is a possiblilty he/she could drop dead?

OnionJuice said:

Bill O REALLY said one thing that was interesting....he said 1/3 of the peope we all know are oblivious 1/3 are totally nuts and the rest are "noraml".

it's tough.

what do you say to a kid who wants to get on a motorbike, when you know the chances of him dying from that are higher than were he to take x?

it's a toughie, i mean.

TheFrogSpawn said:

I see your point, but I see a big difference between steering and controlling a motor bike and putting a dangerous substance in your body. One can be experienced in riding bikes and there will still be a slight danger there because of terrain or weather, but with drugs you never know for sure what the effect may be on your system. You're literally playing roulette with your heart, lungs and brain.

OdysseyMiles said:

"Do your fucking research for a start. Know where it came from, how old it is and who made it. If it checks out, have a blast! Make sure you got some weed for the next morning though."

However I must say I'm not a huge fan of ectasy. I think it's most popular use isn't it best one. Plus it's a very 'souless' drug, you'll have fun but that'll be about it.

OdysseyMiles said:

There's nothing wrong with using some exctacy or coke now and then !!
Do you drink alcohol ?
That's a hard drug too you know

OdysseyMiles said:

i was being a little facetious, i admit it, because i wasn't including the potential long-term, non-fatal effects of the drug in question.

i confess to smoking a few blunts a year...but i can definitely take it or leave it, and it's always with some friends who i trust not to lace my shit with some chemical like embalming fluid or nothing crazy like that. a good cold beer gives me the same temporary buzz...i've never ever even thought about doing anything harder than the fuzzy grass, just because i know everything can be addictive ( i have a heroin addict in the family, so i know first hand how it fucks not only your life, but everybody's life around you as well)...i guess drugs are really no different than cigarettes in that if you smoke 3 packs a day, there's a good chance you'll come down with lung cancer...millions die from it every year, but the cancer sticks are available on every corner for anyone over the age of 18 (and usually much younger). (but nobody ever died from smoking one Newport or Marlboro, so i guess that's not a good analogy )