music & drugs

[jchitty]

There are different type of 'drugs' in the world anyway. While many frown on 'drug use' such as marijuana, cocaine, etc.....these might be the same folks who'd eat to excess. Food is drug....so is sex, gambling, and shopping. While I don't do illegal drugs (too much to lose with all these ridiculous laws) I never could understand a government which outlaws marijuana but yet allows cigarettes and alcohol to be legal. A 'drug' is a 'drug' and anything can get you into trouble if it's overused.....you can die from overeating too.

[baines]

I too don't understand how alcohol and tobacco are legal, two drugs that kills THOUSANDS of people every year and make tens of thousands of people sick is perfectly legal, yet if you roll a joint, and if you're in Minnesota, you can go to jail for years. Its down right illogical, but it all stems from money. The government could not possibly allow the taxes generated from these two drugs, which has to equate to billions between the two, fall to the wayside. Unfortunately, big business wins. Tobacco, which is one of the earliest crops, kills people. Period. If you smoke cigarettes, there is a very good chance it will kill you. Either from cancer or heart disease, yet, you can go to any store and get an entire carton and smoke yourself to death. Alcohol is even worse as that effects your reasoning and makes you do stupid stuff you wouldn't necessarily do, you drive when drinking and you stand just a good of chance of killing somebody innocent as you do yourself. Food, gambling, sex, all mentioned, the root of it is really addiction and not so much the vehicles that are used to abuse. There is a world of difference between taking a bump on NYE, versus going on a two day bender with an 8 ball. The key to anything is moderation. Unless its good music.

[Casey H]

Quote:if you roll a joint, and if you're in Minnesota, you can go to jail for years. That's why many of us don't live in Minnesota. (Not to mention the dangers of foot tapping in a public restroom there)...

[drew]

I would tell you how we did it in the 60's, but I don't remember.

[tedsingingfox]

Quote:Quote:if you roll a joint, and if you're in Minnesota, you can go to jail for years. That's why many of us don't live in Minnesota. (Not to mention the dangers of foot tapping in a public restroom there)... Casey, have I mentioned what a twisted mind you have? (And don't try to blame it on having a flashback!)

[liamkelly]

Quote:My point is, if you take a group of the greatest and influencial musicians, from Bob Dylan to Elton John, the most common thread they have is drug and alcohol abuse, followed by crappy childhoods. BainesInteresting post Although I disagree. Their most common thread was that they collectively wrote the greatest and most influential music A difficult job that often required breaking many conventions and rules. Sometimes even the rules governing substance abuse Liam

[liamkelly]

Quote:one guy would whip out a joint the size of an elephant dong Ark This paints a helluva picture Liam

[arkjack]

Then there was the theory that the reason why music (as well as other art) and drugs go so well together is that many of the drugs used alter the pathways of electrical charges in the brain so that the right and left sides get wired together. Absent of the drug, the right brain and left brain remain in control of the centers of analytics and creativity assigned. Its also that mechanism that breaks down 'inhibition' whether in the form of artistic expression, sexuality, and emotions of all kinds; sadness, rage, joy and laughter. The question remains, is a right left side brain connection an 'abnormal' state?ArkJack

[sgs4u]

er - I just saw this, and thought it belonged in here.

[djdeweese]

Lookout... a thread about drugs in a forum full of musicians. Here's my spin. Musicians are artists. Artists look at life and the culture at large from a different place; asking questions and dealing with the angst and confusion and the wonder of being human. The role of the artist is to go out into the void; places practical people, concerned with the business of getting things done, have little use for. The artist channels what he or she finds there are brings it back for the rest of the society, similar to the role of a mystic or shaman. As arcjack pointed out, drugs effect the function of the brain, and therefore the perception and reality of the user. Drugs are one way, albeit a possibly deleterious way, to get to the place where inspiration finds you and channel it back for the rest of society to experience the inspiration. That's why so many of the most remarkable artists have an affinity for the altered perception engendered by drugs. The danger is in getting caught in the vehicle and forgetting the destination. (Then again, maybe I'm just stoned and rambling.)