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Why do so many musicians get hooked on drugs, etc.?

#41
Same reason pro athletes and politicians and actors do. If you take a step back and take a look, you will see that its not just a Musicians thing. I'm sure it seems to look like musicians may be higher in numbers (no pun intended ;) but I would bet that they are no higher then any of the other professions I listed. I just think that musicians are more open about their drug use.

I would be interested to see if their are any statistics to go on?
 
#42
Couple reasons:

- Non 9-5 lifestyle makes it easy to party all the time
-Drugs make music sound better


Please, don't give me this "addictive personality" thing. Anyone who's taken an undergrad pysc course can tell you there's no such thing. Plenty of musicians do drugs, only a handful end up as flaming wrecks. Yes, you might think you hear about them "all the time," but that's because you're barraged with it by the media the second it happens to any musician. It's no more common among us than among the general population, it's just reported 1000x more.
 
#43
Define abuse.

I love smoking pot. I love a nice cold beer. I love a glass of good red wine. I guess you could say I'm a drug user. I'm a creative family man with a rock solid job, a steady income, a beautiful wife, two great sons who are both gifted and intelligent and I'm a musician too.

I'm not famous. Nobody knows anything about my preferences.

Artists of all sorts are being scrutinized by the media. Their habits are well documented, unlike the rest of us who get to keep our habits to ourselves.
 
#44
Iversen said:
Define abuse.

I love smoking pot. I love a nice cold beer. I love a glass of good red wine. I guess you could say I'm a drug user. I'm a creative family man with a rock solid job, a steady income, a beautiful wife, two great sons who are both gifted and intelligent and I'm a musician too.
Click to expand...

You sound like my girlfriend and I.

Why are we not neighbors that have bi-weekly bass jams?!
 
#45
1) People attending shows party once every now and then. People are on stage are expected to run the party, constant use leads to addiction.

2) It is REALLY boring to play the same material every night. Why not mix things up a bit and play high? This leads to dependence and addiction.

3) People like Lemmy make it look easy. Other, mere mortals, try to drink a fifth of jack a day and end up shriveled in a corner pooping themselves.
 
#46
roysloco said:
Lots of reasons:

A lot of creative people are insecure and will do what's required to be thought of as cool.

I know people who won't take to the stage without a drink. They put out a rock-n-roll attitude about it, but knowing them I can honestly say it's because they lack the self-confidence to face the audience without that crutch.

I once spent an evening hanging out with a guy who was a session guitarist who 'back in the day' had played for Cream, Rolling Stones, Elton John (he's now a church worship leader). He told me that major dealers would come to the after show parties with as much free junk as you wanted - it was pretty much an accepted part of the scene back then.

I think the bottom line is: Because they can get away with it.

If there's no consequence, then a weak-minded person will probably end up a mess.

If I turned up to work stoned or drunk, I'd be unemployed.
If a musician turns up to 'work' stoned or drunk ... :hmm:
Click to expand...

Bingo
 
#50
I used to think many of the things that people are saying here but I think that really it is because once you become a famous musician, its hard to get "fired" you probably couldn't be a great accountant if you are on heroin. Also, the availability becomes much higher when you are rich and famous because those are the people that the druglords target
 
#51
bigguitarplayer said:
I used to think many of the things that people are saying here but I think that really it is because once you become a famous musician, its hard to get "fired" you probably couldn't be a great accountant if you are on heroin. Also, the availability becomes much higher when you are rich and famous because those are the people that the druglords target
Click to expand...

I think they target everyone who's vulnerable. When I was a 'Punk' kid I was targeted. They know you'll get the money somehow. Happy, positive, well adjusted people don't need drugs so much.
 
#52
Life on the road is tremendously exciting for the brief time you're on stage, and tremendously dull the rest of the time when you're not. You're looking for a time-filler that approaches the high of being on stage.

That's also why you shag groupies and trash hotel rooms.
 
#57
I think its because they can, and there ARE those who once made the decision "Yeah, I can take that - its supposed to be the best...gimme some!" with the harder almost impossible to give up ones at some point in their lives (think about it...how many of them after a year or so later regret that day?)

Some of it IS about wanting to appear "cool" or "trendy" and fair enough so long as its not too often to get addicted...but some people DO sometimes need a "crutch" and so choose to do it too often and thats when it becomes a problem (i.e. they start NEEDING rather than WANTING)

I'd rather not risk having my playing, personality or able to self-cope (for want of a better phrase) going down the toilet!
 
#58
Well in my last band ... the guitar player did some drug daily because without it life was boring and drugs give him creativity. That sad.

Many famous people, in music, in cinema etc do drug because it is hard to live with the popularity ( well this is what it is to be ).
 
#59
waynobass said:
Life on the road is tremendously exciting for the brief time you're on stage, and tremendously dull the rest of the time when you're not. You're looking for a time-filler that approaches the high of being on stage.

That's also why you shag groupies and trash hotel rooms.
Click to expand...
I think most of the reasons on here are in some way correct.
But I most agree with this one almost.
Personally, I get no better thrill in the world than being on stage.
everything. the fans, the lights, the music. I have yet to find anything that gives me the same feeling. (well I can think of one thing but lets not get into that)

I personally dont do drugs, but my one temptation to is the fact the day or so after a show or a week or more after a tour, I am depressed. I get really down. Its like going to the top of the world to the bottom. So I imagine being a way from the stage can do it to some.

now as for the being bored on tour issue ....I have my own personal cure. Fireworks!..... sad part is im serious....
 
#60
Occupations aren't drawn to drug use, personality types are.

There's a staggering amount of drug use in a surprisingly disparate variety of jobs, but the people seem very similar to me.

Personally, I never did drugs simply because I thought it was an unworthy and trashy thing to do, done by unworthy and trashy people who looked and acted like morons when they did.

More convinced of that now than ever. :hmm:
 

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