musicians who die from drugs

[604bourne123]

why do so many great musicians die from drugs and why does nobody want to mention the fact or talk about it.This profession has its toll is this the price that every budding guitar player has to play with.I'am not trying to be the primadonna of music players who get their phrases with addiction to cocaine/speed whatever and record a cd and expect to be rich the next day

[patskywriter]

i rarely give it a thought because i never knew any of these people personally. i suppose they had their reasons, but i honestly don't care. i just enjoy the music of those whose music i like.

[Jake Hanlon]

It isn't just Musicians who deal with these sorts of issues, actors, writers, poets, dancers, philosphists

It's also blown out of proportion and also romanticised by people on the outside. I have been around a lot of illegal substances but am not a user of any drug except having a drink from time to time. I sure know a lot of people who are into coke or speed and drink heavily and probably know more ppl who smoke reefer then don't.

It's a cultural thing around the artistic world, especially those who are more underground, non-mainstream like Jazz musicians Blues Musicians and the likes. To me it makes no difference. People who feel that they need a bump to do anything and can handle it and play and not fuck with my shit then that is their issue and I'm not going to judge them. If they're on the bandstand and can't hang when they're on whatever they are on (drunk or stoned) then there's a problem.

[604bourne123]

this is Virgen territory if you been there and came back ,.all the best to you:for a unknown reason music and drugs have a affinity that is very strong:its nice to know that one can carry on with life amidst it all

[604bourne123]

[quote=patskywriter;60767]i rarely give it a thought because i never knew any of these people personally. i suppose they had their reasons, but i honestly don't care. i just enjoy the music of those whose music i like. havwhen when the venues are full and people are willing to pay money to hear and see it you have to pay respect

[brad4d8]

Musicians, actors, artists, basically anyone in the public eye get publicity when they die from drugs, or even when they go into rehab. The guy or gal next door does not. In my opinion, until there is a study that says otherwise, I'm going to assume that the incidence of drug abuse in the arts is not much different than in the general population, just more apparent. When Mo Carpenter dies due to drug abuse, he may get an obituary in his local paper, but only his closest friends and relatives know why. When Mo Rockstar dies from the same cause, it's in all the papers, on Entertainment Tonight and Leno/Letterman have jokes about it.
Just my 2 cents.
Brad

[jezzmuz1k]

I once read an article that said a lot of musicians take drugs on the road because boredom and monotony. I also read a quote from a musician, the name escapes me, he said he avoids the 2 H's-Heroin and helicopters. Both can be lethal.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Originally Posted by jezzmuz1k

he said he avoids the 2 H's-Heroin and helicopters. Both can be lethal.

Same reason I avoid ribs and redheads!

[604bourne123]

from what I've seen drugs are almighty strong so what the musician does with the high detemines how long he lives, but on the other hand a lot of musician don,t want to live long so its a dead raccoon on the side of the road lying on a sewer hole.

[Baltar Hornbeek]

drugs ... dead musicians ....? ? ....

shrooms + lenny breau> Oscar's Blues †

[musicalbodger]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

Same reason I avoid ribs and redheads!

[Jazzyteach65]

I will quote one of my mentors from college, Fred Hamilton. During like the first week of freshman year, he made it clear in a friday meeting for all jazz guitar students; saying something like "I understand you are young and away from your parents, drugs will probably come your way, but I can personally say that I have lost some great students and players due to the fact that drugs messed up thier lives and thier music. If you're going to do drugs, don't do the hard stuff, and the soft stuff-a little dab will do."

[604bourne123]

A seasoned musician usually has a hold on things and does't get caught.The really important poets and larks of guitar have been seekers of the dreams and understanding them and talking with them and asking them the things you want to know.

[fumblefingers]

Fred H. is reformed now after making some major life changing decisions, as far as I am aware.

I would agree that alcohol and drug abuse are widespread throughout society like someone said, but only to a point. That's more true with alcohol, less so with drugs. But drugs are certainly there too.

Artists and musicians are not held accountable like the average Joe accountant, engineer, or God forbid doctor or pilot. They get a pass where others don't. As long as you have a big name and can play your horn or act well, who cares? You're "the talent" and are a big shot. Plus it’s been part of the arts, music, movie, etc culture for such a long time that it’s expected. That expectation makes people more philosophical/less judgmental about it. Plus, some of them have a lot of down time when no one can observe them, and they also may not have a "boss" who can fire them. (Think of rock stars who record one album per year and tour every two years, or a movie star who makes several films per year with weeks or months off between shooting).

Finally, jazz musicians live and work in a nightclub environment. Imbibing is 50% of the reason to be there.

But when you have to be at the office every day at 7:30 am, bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to go all day, then the booze and drug abuse are pretty hard to hide, and its very difficult to keep up the work pace.

[3shiftgtr]

Drunk musicianship sux.Stoned musicianship sux. Chemically addicted musicians suck.

Look, I don't care how good Parker was when he was high on heroin. I wouldn't want to play with him if he was jonseing, strung out, or high. Being a part of making music with him as his soul eroded before my eyes and ears, is co-opting his talent. It is a disgusting thing for someone to do, ESPECIALLY if they have the ability to break ground like Charlie Parker did.

"But he's brilliant." How so? It ain't the drugs, pal.

I am very passionate about this subject cuz I've seen too many talented folks deny the planet of their gift. Also because I've seen it first hand. And I watched industry folks "whore out" the addicted personality....they sold the danger and unpredictability to the audience who ate it up. Many say that Jaco died partly cuz he began to believe his own bullsh*t...they positioned him as a crazy addicted nutjob, so he felt obligated to give 'em what they wanted.

Altering your state in order to create, is just fooling yourself ALL OF THE TIME!

[brad4d8]

Public radio addressed this a few weeks ago, Morning Edition I think. Musicians, according to their research, ranked 11th on the list of drug abusing professions. Number 1? Medical personnel, doctors and nurses.
Brad

[3shiftgtr]

Drunk doctoring sucks too!!!!! Especially if you are a patient!

[elixzer]

I was a toker for years---started on cannabis when 15, in years leading up to me quiting ALL smoke (never was one for the alcohol, which is a drug you all) it was skunk. wHY? I truly couldn't imagine life without my drug. Though I never touched heroin though was offered it. I sensed that if I KNEW what it was like --like I did tokin--then it would become 'there'. I did try coke but never bought it and could never see the point in it. Cant dig why some go virtually mad for it burning one hole in their nose!

So why do musicians do it--those that do? I know that it once was very cool---to 'do drugs', and artists wanna be cool--bless em. Same now---many celebs etc take drugs

The Romantics of the past took drugs like Laudanum, Absinthe etc...There is that danger of the creative---that embrace of the chaotic.

I personally think that BECAUSE of the so-called 'war on drugs'--which is THE most absurd ignorant absurd enterprise (which is making those inside very rich) creates 'forbidden fruit' which is then glamourized. So thers that

There is also the insecurity some musicians feel. Not only about money but their own talent, and thers the constant temptation with those around doing it and people--if they're famous--throwing drugs at them. And many imagine they play better when they are 'high'

ALL I can say hand on heart is I feel 1000 percent more alive since I gave up on them, but I still hold entheogens as sacred. They are ther real sacred medicine but because of the stupid war on drugs which forbids them also, their help for serious drug habits is unavaliable to many people who need it!

[604bourne123]

this drug war is just that South America is a joke all these countries are getting millions of dollars to stop it but in the secret the people love it they like it with sex they like it with music they like it to make babies I wish they would tell their real feelings and get this on the table.

[fumblefingers]

you mean by war on drugs - law enforcement? we should not enforce our laws? We should legalize smack?

what are you advocating?

[musicalbodger]

you mean by war on drugs - law enforcement? we should not enforce our laws? We should legalize smack? what are you advocating?

fumblefingers,
Without wishing to get into a heavy argument over this, there is strong evidence from a number of studies and experiments that the legalisation of all drugs would not only reduce the number of addicts but also eliminate the crime associated with them.

Two examples. In the Netherlands where cannabis is legal (with certain restrictions), the number of young people using has dropped dramatically. In Liverpool, UK, the authorities experimented with free heroin for addicts if they shot up in prescribed places. The level of street crime, burglaries, etc dropped by something around 75%.

By legalising drugs, the aura of rebellion is removed from them (an attractive feature for the young), they can be taxed (bringing in a revenue to the government which can be used to aid the current addicts — we already do this with alcohol and tobacco) and the supply can be monitored and regulated for quality. The level of crime associated with drugs would cease as the drugs would be widely available. What would the Mexican drug gangs have to fight about?

There is no point in enforcing laws which don't work. Didn't Prohibition show us all that? The only drug that this might not work with is crack.

Please note that I'm not advocvating drug use, it will always be a stupid thing to do in most cases. I am saying that decriminalisation is the only sensible way to go.

[elixzer]

Great post musicalbodger. You pointed out many things I would have. I feel very passionate about this issue.
I would really like people here to see this video by people who were right in the thick of the 'war on drugs' who have dramatically changed their minds:

LEAP

[604bourne123]

like in England the jails are full of addicts who have no crime but to fulfill their drug habit a visit to doctor then after that addict goes to the pharmacy and begins a life other than staying in jail wasting his time and everbody else's

[fumblefingers]

incorrect. its hypothesis/projection and extrapolation - not evidence. its a study after all.

to have hard evidence you would have to first legalize all drugs in america to have results for america. then you would have some nice stats. (for example, see the numbers for alcoholics, alcohol related disease, alcohol related family breakups, alcohol related crimes, and alcohol related deaths in america after the repeal of prohibition - now thats some hardevidence after the fact). so try total legalization in your country first and then get back to us twenty years later please.

now, you coud go the other way too. how does Singapore treat their drug dealers? in other words. make it a real war, not a figure of speach. quit dinkin' around. that could work too!

my strong belief is that there is no perfect answer for strong stimulants and intoxicants, legal or not. misery is more assured than ecstacy.

[604bourne123]

what is important is that we are educated nobody wants to see the jails filled with these kids that fall prey to addiction when it could be resolved with the stroke of a pen.

[fumblefingers]

Originally Posted by 604bourne123

what is important is that we are educated nobody wants to see the jails filled with these kids that fall prey to addiction when it could be resolved with the stroke of a pen.

that's brushing pretty broadly.

kids (only kids?)
jailed "filled" - (all the way up huh? and only druggies in there?)
for addiction (only addicts?)

not buyin' it.

the point is to go after dealers. the so-called war is with them.

i agree that addicts don't need to be in jail unless they are endangering others.

[elixzer]

Did you watch this? LEAP This is very highly experienced elders who have been right in the thick of the so-called 'war on drugs' and have seen the damage it has done and continues to do.

This 'war' has devastated communities. Here in the UK in my lifetime I have seen gangsterism rise with all kinds of violence, and kids being killed.

If you answer is the Singapore approach where pushers have been tied to posts and machined gunned to death, or locked up for life that is completely barbaric and unintelligent

I think that if you are really sincere in wanting to understand the war on drugs in a deep way you have to look at culture itself and what it does to people! And that includes what it offers for people who for whatever reason seek to use drugs in a self destructive way

[604bourne123]

and then watch cancer in the lungs eating away at the lungs because its licenced and money is flowing which makes it okay do you see the paradox

[elixzer]

Originally Posted by 604bourne123

and then watch cancer in the lungs eating away at the lungs because its licenced and money is flowing which makes it okay do you see the paradox

so you want cigarettes a controlled drug also?

[fep]

LA Times: March 25, 2010|By John Hoeffel
An initiative to legalize marijuana and allow it to be sold and taxed will appear on the November ballot, state election officials announced Wednesday, triggering what will probably be a much-watched campaign that once again puts California on the forefront of the nation's debate over whether to soften drug laws.

The measure's main advocate, Richard Lee, an Oakland marijuana entrepreneur, savored the chance to press his case with voters that the state's decades-old ban on marijuana is a failed policy.
"We're one step closer to ending cannabis prohibition and the unjust laws that lock people up for cannabis while alcohol is not only sold openly but advertised on television to kids every day," he said.

Opponents have also started to put together their campaign. "There's going to be a very broad coalition opposing this that will include law enforcement," said John Lovell, a Sacramento lobbyist who represents the California Police Chiefs Assn. and other law enforcement groups. "We'll educate people as to what this measure really entails."

The measure, like the medical marijuana initiative, could put California on a collision course with the federal government. The possession and sale of marijuana remain a federal crime.

This month, President Obama's drug czar, R. Gil Kerlikowske, decried legalization in a speech to police chiefs in San Jose.

the initiative “would make it legal for anyone 21 and older to possess an ounce of marijuana and grow plants in an area no larger than 25 square feet for personal use. It would also allow cities and counties to permit marijuana to be grown and sold, and to impose taxes on marijuana production and sales.”On Monday, The Times-Standard newspaper in Humboldt County, a part of Northern California known as the “Emerald Triangle” for the density of its marijuana crop, reported:

[L]ocal business people, officials and those involved in the marijuana industry are planning to meet Tuesday night and break a long-standing silence to talk about what supposedly is the backbone of Humboldt County’s economy — pot. More specifically, the meeting will focus on the potential economic effects of the legalization of marijuana.

It's reported that if this bill passes Humbolt County's economy will be wiped out.