Smoking pot while being in a band

[Corey Y]

Everyone has their own opinion when it comes to controlled substances, but my general rule of thumb is it's their business until it interferes with something. Not showing up to practice or gigs, being out of it during the writing process, screwing up a performance or something like that. You can voice your concerns to him and just be honest, without demanding he make a lifestyle change or putting a personal judgement on him. If getting confronted with that is a bit of a wake up call to make some kind of change great, but if it's not you're not going to be doing yourself any favors by trying to drag him kicking and screaming to a lifestyle change. You don't even have to bring drug use into it, just tell him what he's doing that's negatively effecting the band and communicate with the guy about it. At some point you've got to be willing to let him go though, if he's negatively impacting the band or even just you guys personally.

Just my opinion, interpersonal relationships in a band and dealing with people who are deep into controlled substances are sticky situations all on their own.

 

[DaveKirkpatrick]

I don't want to get into the drugs/alcohol thing... you can't control that aspect of your friend's life anyway. What you can do is go and explain how his behavior is affecting you. You can offer to help- if he wants it. He will need to decide if he wants to accept what you have to say or not.. You will need to decide how to deal with his choice- change or no change.
I would never try to police, babysit, or mother someone. Adults make their choices and live with the consequences. Good luck. I'm well aware that this is easy to say and harder to do- especially when you care about the person.

 

[Akami]

Well thank you! Its probably due, in part, to the fact that I could be considered a pretty big pot head, yet am able to lead a normal and productive life. I hold a professional job, have a wife at home, and am the most active person in my band second to our bandleader. To be honest, I smoke herb almost every day (multiple times at that!), and have for the last 10 years. Ive certainly seen people on both sides.

We're almost diametric opposites in that, yet I believe we're both opining from experience instead of argumentative rhetoric and I have seen problems with pot primarily with people who would have had problems without pot too.

I've long held the view that the only reason alcohol is readily accepted is because of it's long association with the countries which donated the majority of American stock, whereas pot had no history in Europe/America to speak of. Being without it doesn't bother me at all, but I would like to see it go to the same level of treatment that alcohol gets so that I could, with no fear, have ready access to what I have found to be the best common cold medicine ever formulated 'by the hand of man'.

 

[baalroo]

The pot is a symptom, not a cause. Everyone in my band is a daily smoker and we all work jobs or are in college and we practice twice a week and play multiple gigs a month. Sounds to me like the guy just isn't interested in the band, cut him loose and be done with it. His selfish actions are just holding the rest of you back.

 

[othefool]

I don't know any great music ever written under the influence of anything.

LOL

You see, I think drugs have done some good things for us. I really do. And if you don't believe drugs have done good things for us, do me a favor. Go home tonight. Take all your albums, all your tapes and all your CDs and burn them. 'Cause you know what, the musicians that made all that great music that's enhanced your lives throughout the years were rrreal f&%^$g high on drugs. The Beatles were so f&%^$g high they let Ringo sing a few tunes.

~Bill Hicks

 

[4StringShooter]

I play in four piece band as bass player/singer/writer. 2 guitarists + drummer, all good friends. We've been rehearsing two times a week for the past 1.5 year and the creative process is flowing. But our 2nd guitar player is calling off to jam session more and more often. Yesterday he texted us he was only coming for 1 once a week anymore. I can understand life can sometimes get to you and you need your time to yourself, but he's always been like this, you just cannot count on him. Thing is he smokes pot all day, has a fairly simple day job, no kids and no rent or downpayment on his house. He owns a cabin, quite big and located in the most beautiful peace of forest. His parents bought it for him. At rehearsals we always have to spoon feed him the notes and rythms because he's so stoned he's just not able to be where the rest of us are, and every time again we have explain and re-explain even the simplest stuff. We play a mix of styles and go from soft to loud and vice versa. When we go loud he just keeps up his regular volume, playing with one finger on the neck and one (no pick) on the strings. He'll continue to play the simplest riff untill we switch into a different rythm or melody, which is when he'll just quit playing and just stand around looking stoned and not comprehending what we are doing.

I'm just tired of having to repeat even stuff we created a year ago again and again to him. He leaves his guitar at the practice room and doens't even 'think' about the songs or even how to expand his own riffs. This used to be one of the most creative people I knew, my best friend, he drew like a madman, wrote and wrote and wrote, could talk just about anything and hold his own against pretty much anyone. But now he's just a shadow of what he once was, always stoned, always with a beer in hand. He's even very touchy. I just know telling him to his face that he's gotta make a change, he'll just be all personal about it and leave. The guy is 37....

Yesterday the three of us talked it over and we felt entirely the same + we jammed like mad!

Any advice or simillar stories?

Well, I smoke to curb arthritic pain. It doesnt affect my playing, and Im 51. I DID quit Cigarettes a year ago. That was the smartest thing I've ever done.

 

[Akami]

The pot is a symptom, not a cause. Everyone in my band is a daily smoker and we all work jobs or are in college and we practice twice a week and play multiple gigs a month. Sounds to me like the guy just isn't interested in the band, cut him loose and be done with it. His selfish actions are just holding the rest of you back.

Another post that cuts right to the chase and spot on. It's not the drug that's the problem, it's the user.

 

[MatticusMania]

I've long held the view that the only reason alcohol is readily accepted is because of it's long association with the countries which donated the majority of American stock, whereas pot had no history in Europe/America to speak of. Being without it doesn't bother me at all, but I would like to see it go to the same level of treatment that alcohol gets so that I could, with no fear, have ready access to what I have found to be the best common cold medicine ever formulated 'by the hand of man'.

Thankfully I live in a state that provides such access. Pot is my 'tussin. Healer of all!

 

[baalroo]

Another post that cuts right to the chase and spot on. It's not the drug that's the problem, it's the user.

Exactly. It sounds like the rest of the guys in the band are pretty serious about it, and this guy is not. That's all that really matters. They can spend the next 1.5 years of their lives wishing they were more successful, trying to psycho-analyze the guy, and feeling more and more animosity towards him for ruining their band, or they can kick him out now and try to salvage the parts of the friendship that are actually working. Take it from someone who has been in this situation multiple times in the past, and has tried both approaches... the best decision is to cut him out now before things continue to get worse.

 

[Hawkbone]

And there is certainly something to be said for that. Drugs don't make people better musicians. Drugs and creativity do often go hand in hand, but that begs the question of whether drugs open the mind and help the creative juices flow or if creative people happen to be more naturally drawn towards drugs. I dont know the answer to that question and won't assume one way or the other.

Do I think smoking pot makes me a better musician? No, but I know that it doesnt make me any worse either. Have a written some of my better material under the influence of drugs, you bet your ass.

As Hunter S Thompson once said "I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me."

Well said man. I'm not sure it makes you more creative per se, but it certainly allows you to turn down the volume on the distracting thoughts and focus on the relevant ones. So in the end there is a net increase in creative output.

What I don't get is, why are people who have never tried weed so opposed to it? Seems to me the strongest statement one can make is "Not for me, thanks." Why do they have to say "Not for anyone!"?

Also, why can't governments see that keeping weed criminalized provide a huge market to be serviced by organized crime? Think the Hells Angels and other gangs support conservative politicians? You bet your ass they do. The money spent on drug 'wars' would be better spent educating society on drugs, allowing people to make more informed choices.

 

[MatticusMania]

What I don't get is, why are people who have never tried weed so opposed to it? Seems to me the strongest statement one can make is "Not for me, thanks." Why do they have to say "Not for anyone!"?

Most likely its anti-pot propaganda and/or the witness of too many loser potheads doing nothing with themselves. I wont deny those types exist, and give the more productive stoners a bad rep. Hell, I used to obtain my stuff from some of those types.

Also, why can't governments see that keeping weed criminalized provide a huge market to be serviced by organized crime? Think the Hells Angels and other gangs support conservative politicians? You bet your ass they do. The money spent on drug 'wars' would be better spent educating society on drugs, allowing people to make more informed choices.

Thats a whole 'nother topic, and while I agree, Im not going to get into that here. Lets just say goverment is looking out for #1.

 

[BAMonBASS]

Also, why can't governments see that keeping weed criminalized provide a huge market to be serviced by organized crime? Think the Hells Angels and other gangs support conservative politicians? You bet your ass they do. The money spent on drug 'wars' would be better spent educating society on drugs, allowing people to make more informed choices.

+1 COULDN'T AGREE MORE! People that are SOOO against drugs fail to see that fighting the war on drugs only adds to the problem.

 

[Akami]

What I don't get is, why are people who have never tried weed so opposed to it? Seems to me the strongest statement one can make is "Not for me, thanks." Why do they have to say "Not for anyone!"?

Nice post, other than the potentially thread derailing political jab.

The manager where I used to work, who as you say, had never tried pot, justified getting rid of employees who were great workers with the false justification of it being a gateway drug.
He said that people who use other stronger drugs have always got there via pot, therefore, gateway drug.
I asked him to think about the fact that most people had, previously to using any illegal drugs, drank alcohol, hence alcohol as the original gateway drug?

 

[tdub0199]

Your friends problem is NOT the weed.... I know numerous people who smoke on a daily basis and they are nothing like your friend......

 

[joshwilkesbooth]

Itt: dudes who don't smoke pot talking about what it does to you.

I've been partaking for the better part of twenty years, and it has never once gotten in the way of my music. I don't think you can blame the reefers for this dude losing interest.

Maybe it's me, but smoking has a statue of limitations on it. I never was one, but once you hit like 35, sneaking off to 'score' is unbelievably lame...18-29 or so..cool. Not so much in a mini-van. Doing keg stands and funneling beer at 35 looks just as bad.

I don't know, man. If I chose to get down after work in the comfort of my home, and watch a movie who are you to judge me for it?

BTW, people only think they play better when they are stoned out of their minds.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Smoke in bodies ain't good.

You are 100% correct. Good thing I have a vaporizer.

 

[baalroo]

I don't smoke, but I'd love to hang out with you guys!
Kinda like that friend everyone has that says "drinking makes me drive better..it makes me more careful..."........right.

Maybe it's me, but smoking has a statue of limitations on it. I never was one, but once you hit like 35, sneaking off to 'score' is unbelievably lame...18-29 or so..cool. Not so much in a mini-van. Doing keg stands and funneling beer at 35 looks just as bad.

I know others have already jumped on you about this, but yeah I think it is "just you."

Sure doing keg stands and funneling beer looks bad (at any age), but what about enjoying a tumbler of aged scotch or a glass of merlot? Enjoying an intoxicant in a mature, controlled environment is a perfectly respectable experience to partake in for an adult of any age. Your portrayal of someone who smokes marijuana "sneaking off to score" only highlights your own ignorance and propaganda influenced bias. Is it "unbelievably lame" to "sneak off to score" a bottle of Johnny Walker to enjoy over conversation as well? How about "sneaking off to score" a 12 pack of Budweiser for the barbeque? Those "incredibly lame" as well?

 

[joshwilkesbooth]

Well yeah... if you're sharing a beer with people you actually like why the hell would you pick Budweiser?

 

[NKBassman]

If I chose to get down after work in the comfort of my home, and watch a movie who are you to judge me for it?

Exactly. I don't see it as any different than enjoying a drink or two after a long day's work. Except it's cheaper. And more relaxing. And the effects last longer. And if one should choose to indulge a little more than normal, smoking a bunch of pot wont make your stomach feel all bloated and gross, or make your head feel like you got run over by a garbage truck the next morning.

Not to mention the fact that you'll (probably) never hear of someone smoking their brains out and turning into an *******, trying to fight people in the parking lot outside the bar at the end of the night or whatever. More likely they'll turn into a zombie and at worst eat all your pizza pops and fall asleep on your couch watching the history channel.

 

[NKBassman]

Well yeah... if you're sharing a beer with people you actually like why the hell would you pick Budweiser?

Hah! Zing!

 

[Akami]

Well yeah... if you're sharing a beer with people you actually like why the hell would you pick Budweiser?

If it's a joke then cool, but it sure reeks of snobbery to me.