Speaking only for myself, one of the best things I ever did in my life was to quit smoking pot. I became a much better person, husband, father, friend and musician. And, I quit coughing up green crap all the time.
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Smoking pot while being in a band
- Thread starter Bright Midnight
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I resent that you think that um, er, something about ... I forget what I was going to say, time for some more weed so I can think straight!
Well said.
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Your buddy sounds like he is depressed. The pot & beers are most likely a self medication type thing.
As far as your band, if you want to jam and hang out with your friends, then cool... if you want to be a good band, good musicians, and really do something, then the pot and booze have to come after the work.
Being in a band is tough - there is a bit of an expectation for drugs and alcohol to be part of the equation... Hell, most bar owners actually compensate the bands they hire (contract employees) with alcohol rather than a pay check.
Sounds like it's time to at least talk with the guy. If you are friends, you can at least tell him what's on your mind. He might not have anything to say, but if he can't listen to you, then he's not worth it. Whatever you do, respect your friend, and remember that he probably has a lot of forces pulling at him that you might not even know about. Most of what you see is on the surface.
Staying in a bad situation because you don't want to do something hard is never a good thing... bands, jobs, girlfriends, small towns, marriage,,, don't let it bring YOU down.
Dude sounds like a mess. Pot/booze some people can hand it and know how to. Then there are the stupid people who dont and I'm afraid he is one...boot him.
+1
There was the bit about always having a beer in his hand too, not that it really sounds like it matters, as both pot and the beer are only symptoms of his lack of motivation and focus.
Some people can even do the same things mentioned here without the help of either pot or booze and it's best to focus on the real problem instead of the peripheral issues.
Are you f'ing kidding?
John Coltrane was a heroin addict, so was Kurt Cobain.
Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia = LSD
Mozart was a RAGING alcoholic.
Great musicians and addiction are hand in hand.
Booze and Drugs just don't work well in a "working" band. If its a good time playing weekend warriors group then it doesn't matter to me. I perform music to make a living and I can't tolerate weak individuals that "need" mind altering substances because they can't deal with the reality of a working band.
Friends and relatives rarely work out very well in the music business if a friendship can develop from a working relationship they are usually strong bonds that last a long time. Theres enough trying times in life without adding in folks with self induced weaknesses. I know that drugs and drink is usually a part of young people playing music and I certainly did my share at a young age. When you want to make a carreer from being a musician all that stuff needs to go. False bravados have no place in a reality program. Its not playing once you decide to earn a living at music its called work. You must be able to police yourself and only strong people with conviction succeed. The others get left behind. Doc
Friends and relatives rarely work out very well in the music business if a friendship can develop from a working relationship they are usually strong bonds that last a long time. Theres enough trying times in life without adding in folks with self induced weaknesses. I know that drugs and drink is usually a part of young people playing music and I certainly did my share at a young age. When you want to make a carreer from being a musician all that stuff needs to go. False bravados have no place in a reality program. Its not playing once you decide to earn a living at music its called work. You must be able to police yourself and only strong people with conviction succeed. The others get left behind. Doc
I agree with you on this.
You are, of course, going to catch flak from the users on the forum, but whatever.
I've seen a few people get smarter because of weed. Marks improved, playing improved etc. I have seen many more get really dumb on weed, some to the point of being incapable of all but the most basic of tasks. As I said, one dude I know goes blind. Most people will fall between those extremes. One thing's for sure, you can't generalize about the reaction people have to it.
Alcohol isn't much different. Everyone shares the most noticable effect of alcohol - visible drunkeness (staggering, slurring), but the secondary reactions can vary widely. Some people get silly, some sad, some angry.
As for music - most of what we consider classic rock, the music that a large percentage of us look to for inspiration, was at least composed under various drug influences, if not recorded that way. Could those tunes have been better if no drugs had been involved? Maybe, maybe not, but you can't deny that we all marvel at the genius behind some of these drug influenced songs.
On topic - your friend needs help, but as Tom Richards said, he won't change because he doesn't need to. He has to hit rock bottom 1st, and maybe even then he won't change. Hope it all works out ok for everyone.
Alcohol isn't much different. Everyone shares the most noticable effect of alcohol - visible drunkeness (staggering, slurring), but the secondary reactions can vary widely. Some people get silly, some sad, some angry.
As for music - most of what we consider classic rock, the music that a large percentage of us look to for inspiration, was at least composed under various drug influences, if not recorded that way. Could those tunes have been better if no drugs had been involved? Maybe, maybe not, but you can't deny that we all marvel at the genius behind some of these drug influenced songs.
On topic - your friend needs help, but as Tom Richards said, he won't change because he doesn't need to. He has to hit rock bottom 1st, and maybe even then he won't change. Hope it all works out ok for everyone.
Both pot and beer interfere with your sense of meter. They make you play sloppy. In a punk band, that might not matter.
You can't make somebody quit their addictions. You can encourage them, but it's a low percentage play. Probably won't work. If you can see that you will have to fire him for the band's own good at some time in the future, then procrastinating won't make it any nicer, only worse.
It's possible that losing his band might be the wake-up call that does your friend some good.
You can't make somebody quit their addictions. You can encourage them, but it's a low percentage play. Probably won't work. If you can see that you will have to fire him for the band's own good at some time in the future, then procrastinating won't make it any nicer, only worse.
It's possible that losing his band might be the wake-up call that does your friend some good.
Jimi Hendrix never touched a drug in his life! Neither did the Red Hot Chili Peppers!
He likes to smoke pot, so it’s natural for him to hang better with others who do.
Also sounds like he just doesn’t want to jam so often, but didn’t want to upset or disappoint you guys.
As for the pot/music connection, I agree that it's a hindrance for physically playing, but in the writing process I believe pot definitely increases one’s creativity.
Also sounds like he just doesn’t want to jam so often, but didn’t want to upset or disappoint you guys.
As for the pot/music connection, I agree that it's a hindrance for physically playing, but in the writing process I believe pot definitely increases one’s creativity.
There is ZERO medical or scientific evidence linking smoking weed and strokes. That statement sounds ridiculous. You had a friend who happened to be a pot head that suffered a stroke.:scowl:
marijuana is a very complex organic matter. it's many forms and uses have enabled more than just great music. from textiles to medicine, no other plant has been as benificial. the cannabis molecule also resides in the human brain. so, whether you injest it or not, we ALL are under it's influence!
it is said to inter-act with dopemines(sp) and affects our emotional state in a positive manner.
look it up...
it is said to inter-act with dopemines(sp) and affects our emotional state in a positive manner.
look it up...
Im going to tell you, straight up, pot is not this guys problem. He sounds like a really lazy guy who has never had a responsibility in his life. Sure, smoking pot all day doesnt do much to help, but there are plenty of motivated pot smokers who are more than capable of keeping up the responsibilities of day to day life, while being in a band.
HUGE misconception. Stoned musicians are perfectly capable of knowing what sounds good and what doesnt.
Its a Bingo!
Your point's taken, but you're overstating it to extent that it sounds as if you're suggesting that without drugs/alcohol, there are no great musicians, and that they not only use drugs, but are addicted too.
Hendrix inarguably used drugs/alcohol, but he was also determined to have never had a heroin addiction and I surmise that it would be the same for other drugs as well.
Anyway, to continue your listing of incredible musicians who created some great music while under the influence, Hendrix, all of the Beatles...
Thats a whole lot of BS right there. The Beatles probably didnt bring drugs into the studio, but that doesnt mean a lot of their music wasnt written under the influence, because it was. As was a whole lot of other great music.
Youre clearly someone who either has never smoked pot, or just cant handle its effects. Pot can be motivator for a lot of people. Its not always just some drug that makes people loopy and stupid. For some people, it actually does help people focus on the task at hand.
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