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Just wondering what you guys think of Sex,Drugs and Rock in Roll?(Actually thats probably is not the best way to start by asking you lot!) .Many bands we know about but if you have anything to add about this subject feel free.Heres a passage From Wikipedia,

The massive popularity and worldwide scope of rock music resulted in a powerful level of social impact. Far beyond simply a musical style, rock and roll influenced daily life, fashion, attitudes, and language in a way few other social developments have equalled.

Drugs were often a big part of the rock music lifestyle. In the 1960s, psychedelic music arose; some musicians encouraged and intended listeners of psychedelic music to be under the influence of LSD or other hallucinogenic drugs as enhancements to the listening experience. Jerry Garcia of the rock band Grateful Dead said "For some people, taking LSD and going to Grateful Dead show functions like a rite of passage.... we don't have a product to sell; but we do have a mechanism that works."

Many rock musicians, including John Lennon, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards,and others, have acknowledged battling addictions to many substances including cocaine and heroin; many of these have successfully undergone drug rehabilitation programs, but others have died.

Late 1970s acts such as The Stranglers, The Psychedelic Furs, and The Only Ones reflected their use of heroin in their lyrics in a fashion that sometimes seemed to cross over into advocacy. Later bands such as Guns N' Roses, Jane's Addiction, Primal Scream and Ministry movement of the 1980s were associated with a resurgence in abuse of heroin and other hard drugs.

More recently, it has mainly been rap and hip hop, (and a few electronica) acts which have been glamorizing and promoting drug use in songs, although a few current rock acts like The Libertines and Brian Jonestown Massacre have been as well. However, the lifestyle of most rock stars nowadays falls within the social norm. An example of this trend would be the formerly drug-abusing Red Hot Chili Peppers, who have since cleaned up their act.

Ok any comments? Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out......

When I play live. I'll have a beer to soothe the nerves a bit and thats about it. In some other bands I've been in the others would party a bit inbetween sets. I always was amused and slightly sad that they thought they played better after a toke when in fact it could turn a great band into a very poor reflection of themselves.
In my current band we are a boring lot (we have all been there and seen the worst of it) and behave ourselves....

However sometimes when I'm recording I'll take my little nip of single malt (showing my heritage) into the studio with me...

Ok I'm boring...

Eden.

thanks for your post eden and your honesty too.

I would also like to add that due to this subject being about drugs and rock in roll i would kindly remind others to keep it within the RRF rules.

scotty wrote:Just wondering what you guys think of Sex,Drugs and Rock in Roll?

Well, as to the first bit, always loved that, still do!

The drugs, well, I've been in a few bands where some of the guys were into various things, we never made enough money to really get into the heavy stuff though. Myself, it always seemed like too big a hassle. Smoking of any sort never agreed with me, and the other stuff, well a few beers or other alcoholic beverages were just far easier to come by and more enjoyable (I still enjoy those!), so why bother with the rest of it? I never cared what the other guys wanted to do as long as it didn't interfere with the job, which was playing music. We did kick one guy out 'cause he kept showing up unable to play, but he knew that going in, that was a hard and fast rule, do what you want, but if you can't play at a gig, you're out.

And Rock & Roll? Well, what can I say?

As long as whatever someone does doesn't get in the way of the music, I don't have a problem with it. It's when a girlfriend/boyfriend/lust kills gigs/rehearsals/touring, drug use takes precedence over the band, or people are too drunk to stand and play.

If you're gonna have drugs on you, by all means let the other bandmates know(if in a touring vehicle), or the driver of the car you're in. Don't let the person or people get charged because you're holding.

Drinkers, you generally think you're better off than the drug users because alcohol is legal, and therefore socially acceptable. The fact is, it is just as bad, or worse then drugs are because of that false sense of security. Also, you are more likely to injure yourself, get in to fights, and/or contract a STD. Don't take home an STD to your spouse. Unfortunately, unlike the free love generation of the 60s, STDs can kill you these days.

Sex, oh yeah, the great illusion of pop culture. This can be an addiction as bad or worse then drugs or alcohol. Sex can ruin relationships and lifelong friendships quicker than anything else. If you do engage, be sure to use protection, and if on tour, be sure your wallet and stuff are in the room safe. Nothing like waking up hungover and robbed.

The media and the industry itself have been perpetuating this statement since the start of rock and roll. Many great and talented people, both artists and others, have either died or become severely handicapped as a result. Many bands have glorified this lifestyle, and it doesn't seem like it will stop anytime soon.

So, by all means, if you're gonna live the lifestyle, be as smart as you can about it, and don't be surprised if somehow down the road the bottom doesn't fall out of it. Do you really wanna look like Kieth Richards?

On that note, I'm gonna play my Rick loud, take a pill , and have a candlelight dinner awaiting my wife when she comes home from work. That's the sex, drugs, and rock and roll lifestyle I'm living today.

Sex? Ummm............. forgotten what that's all about!

Drugs? The odd puff over the years but it's never done anything for me. Not interested these days. Love a beer, of course!!

Rock and Roll? Couldn't live without it.......... especially now that I'm back playin' it after 35 years!!

Sex and rock'n'roll are cool. Drugs are not. I mean, i don't need them (tried a few times but they didn't work on me. No fun, nothing special). There's lots of other ways to "get high", more natural and less dangerous (and i don't mean beer).

At one point, Clapton removed this song from his set list because he thought it gave the wrong message about cocaine use. He started playing it again after he rearranged the song to include the line, "That dirty cocaine" into the choruses.This was written and originally recorded by Oklahoma blues guitarist J.J. Cale. Clapton recorded his version a year after Cale's was released. Clapton got off drugs in 1974 and struggled with alcoholism in the late '70s and early '80s. He eventually started a rehab center in Antigua to help others who are fighting addiction.No surprises here Eric Clapton - Cocaine(a 2.43 intro )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dr ... ted_deaths


No saint myself growing up but as I've said before..drugs ALWAYS take more than they give..

Good point George the list speaks for itself.Heres an interesting read http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2003/oc ... popandrock

My first job after I ran away from home at the tender age of 16 was apprentice Rizzla roller for one of the most famous bands in the world at that time.

leftyguitars wrote:My first job after I ran away from home at the tender age of 16 was apprentice Rizzla roller for one of the most famous bands in the world at that time.

Don't tell me that you worked for Spinal Tap! Your a Legend!

The best "High" is the Music!

Eden.

Ah Cocaine..............just about every band has it in their set list and the drunks at the pubs love it.

I never had a problem playing the song in pubs etc, but when we were asked to play an outdoor gig at a local festival, I suggested that it was not a wise choice as it was a family day with lots of kids etc and the whole thing was being funded by the local council. Basically I could not stand up there and play a song extolling the "virtues" of the stuff, having seen first hand the damage done by drugs.

Boy was I popular !!!! Even the drummers mother abused me and told me I was being childish: in her opinion there was nothing wrong in playing the song in public. Then the other guitarist, who did the solo, cracked it BIG TIME and called me for everything ( his solo on the song was his crowning glory, if you know what I mean). None of them were aware of my family history and besides it was none of their business. The more they yelled and screamed the more defiant I became.

We played the gig, we did not play Cocaine.

On another occasion our new drummer decided to go and have a smoke after the first set. The first song of the second set was over and done in about 30 seconds flat !!!! It was strongly suggested that in future his smoking would be restricted to activities outside of rehearsals and gigs.

And while I'm on a roll, the other thing that really really annoys and irritates me is people who are profoundly in love with the sound of their own voice, and think it cool to scream profanities over the PA.

I think I've said enough.

scotty wrote:This was written and originally recorded by Oklahoma blues guitarist J.J. Cale.

I prefer Cale's version. Interesting picking technique. Troubador is a fantastic album.


Back in the day, in my high school punk rock bands, I use to spark one up before playing. I gave up smoking the illegal ones back when my band started getting serious. I like to be in control on stage, even though it looks & sounds like I'm not. I barely even drink when I play.
We kicked a drummer out of the band because he smoked & drank so much that he was messing up on stage. It wasn't a big deal when he would get a little high, but when he started falling off his throne, or missing rehearsal because he got caught passed out at a red light with his car in gear, it was too much.

I too prefer that version ive never really been a clapton fan.anyway heres an interesting read about the topic.One third of hit songs mention alcohol, drug use ? http://www.iconocast.com/Italian/A7ET0/News4.htm