Drug usage among musicians

stratovani · #1 07-08-2010, 01:31 PM

I went out for lunch with my wife today, and the conversation came around to the music we used to listen to when we were kids. She remarked that a lot of great musicians died of drug and alcohol abuse back then, yet it doesn't seem to be the case today. I told her that it's because the music culture was different back then, a musician was almost expected to do drugs and drink to excess. Today's mentality is different, there's so much more at stake for musicians than ever before. I told her the last young musician I can remember who died at a young age was Kurt Cobain, who died at the age of 27 (suicide) almost 20 years ago.

So what do you think? More drug use today as opposed to years ago, less, or about the same?

elgecko · #2 07-08-2010, 01:34 PM

Not that long ago: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rev

elgecko · #3 07-08-2010, 01:39 PM

Even more recent: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gr...an_musician%29

Phalex · #4 07-08-2010, 01:39 PM

I'd say it's about the same.

stepswork4me · #5 07-08-2010, 01:41 PM

Another, just a little over a month ago...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gr...rican_musician)

Beat me to it...

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

Even more recent: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gr...an_musician%29

Soverntear · #6 07-08-2010, 01:42 PM

money and enjoying drugs can be messy

elgecko · #7 07-08-2010, 01:44 PM

Here's another: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gidget_Gein

Me thinks the original premise of this thread is faulty.

5string5fingers · #8 07-08-2010, 01:49 PM

Paul gray is probably the most recent. But even then layne staley of alice in chains died in 2002.

bassbrad · #9 07-08-2010, 01:51 PM

Times have changes but the problems are still there luckily there are more solutions & treatments available today. Many musicians who passed away from drug abuse also had mental problems that lead to or contributed to that abuse, today their problems are better understood and treatable. .

FritoBandito · #10 07-08-2010, 01:52 PM

It's about the same, but for different reasons. Waaaaaay back when, the effects of drugs were pretty much shrugged off. LSD and weed (the main drugs of the day) were considered mind expanding and physically harmless and the old wives tale about them leading to the heavy stuff was just old wives tales. It was part of the culture. Flash forward 40 years and to a certain degree, those old wives were right. I think with the big money and hangers-on that encourage the musician, todays rockers are just following a tradition and allowing the leeches to party on. It's unfortunate, but its part of lifestyle. Alot of musicians think that if Keith Richards can do it, so can they. They just don't realize Keith died 30 years ago, and its the drugs that keep his corpse dancing around.

knumbskull · #11 07-08-2010, 01:54 PM

think it's the same these days... probably management are more savvy and inclined to step in & intervene now...

but yes it's the old situation:

'creative' temperament + dislocation/boredom/rootlessness of punishing road schedule + cash + ease of access + only have to work 2 hours a day

colorblindbass · #12 07-08-2010, 01:55 PM

At the OP:

The reason it seems like drug usage has gone down amongst musicians in these most recent years, is because most people making music and getting lots of attention now-days (as to put them in the public eye) aren't actually musicians in the way we're used to, they're just pop culture icons making music.

So its not that drug usage has gone up or down, its just that you don't hear about it in mainstream media as much as previously, due to the general lack of actual musicians in the mainstream media to begin with.

stepswork4me · #13 07-08-2010, 01:57 PM

amosjones · #14 07-08-2010, 01:59 PM

Depending on how far you go back there is also a better understanding of mind altering substances. not to mention most of mainstream music is mass produced and there are not as many musical genius/crazy people in the spot light making music.

amosjones · #15 07-08-2010, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colorblindbass

At the OP:

The reason it seems like drug usage has gone down amongst musicians in these most recent years, is because most people making music and getting lots of attention now-days (as to put them in the public eye) aren't actually musicians in the way we're used to, they're just pop culture icons making music.

So its not that drug usage has gone up or down, its just that you don't hear about it in mainstream media as much as previously, due to the general lack of actual musicians in the mainstream media to begin with.

I'm saying the same things, but are we both saying that you have to do drugs if you are a real musician?

thombo · #16 07-08-2010, 02:05 PM

music is also a profession where it is (to varying degrees) acceptable to earn you money while not sober. i always figured it has something to do with the environment in which we preform (bars, clubs, parties, etc), combined with the idea that musicians are basically hobbyist who made a career out of it. i know this can be disputed, i am superficially looking for reasons.

i'd say drug use about the same as it ever was, to slightly less b/c of the rise of meth: it seems to be one of the drugs that people are not interested in playing music on.

Steve Dixon · #17 07-08-2010, 02:11 PM

I think the idea that 'rocks stars used to die young more often in the past' is just a result of the 4 high profile deaths that happened within a few years of each other: Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison & Brian Jones... I bet if you take those 4 out of the equation, the figures are pretty even...

I think if there IS a trend, it's due to rock being so much more corporate and a slick business... generally only musicians who've got their act together and are straight enough to do the touring, promo etc will become huge stars... your Dave Grohls of the world...

remember in the late 60's, being a rock star was an entirely new thing... those people found themselves in unchartered territory, with no older figures to guide them through it... nowadays, if you're a rock star and look like you're getting into trouble with substance abuse, you can't move without getting a phone call from Keith Richards or Eric Clapton offering to help you out..

also, there aren't nearly as many MEGA rock stars like there used to be... so if people are still killing themselves with drugs and alcohol, we don't hear about it quite as much... rock isn't the cultural cornerstone it was in the late 60's... who's the modern day equivalent of Mick Jagger circa 1969? ... there ain't no HUGE rock stars any more, so their deaths don't make the same splash as they used to...

St Drogo · #18 07-08-2010, 02:14 PM

I was just thinking about this yesterday; I wouldn't be surprised if certain sleazy record executives would demand their act is on stuf like cocaine and give it to them, to ensure a good energetic show that night. Nevermind the artist will have to pay the price for it later.

Then again, I may have a somewhat overly cynical standing here.

HunterBrodt · #19 07-08-2010, 02:17 PM

Ive never understood why people cant just stick with weed. I would say booze but that can get ugly too.

groooooove · #20 07-08-2010, 02:21 PM

you're just not hearing about it as much..perhaps because your not into too much contemporary music? people are going to keep posting examples, im sure.