Just How Many Rockstars Used, or Related to, Drugs?
The life of a rockstar in the 60s and 70s was often rough, but what was even rougher to take were the substances that some of these people were using (rather abusing). Lyrics related to drugs first appeared most significantly in the mid 60s before expanding during the psychadelic era of the late 1960s and early 70s.
Lyrical Content
Here is a chart of percentage of substances referred to in lyrics. Alcohol is the highest with marijuana being the runner-up. To date, there have been a handful of hits with the theme of alchohol. Most noteably George Therogood's hits I Drink Alone and One Burbon, One Scotch, One Beer. Scotch Wiskey has also been referred to in Steely Dan's 1977 song Deacon Blues.
However, marijuana has been the most heavily used drugs since the 60s, and many songs use it as a loose theme. Most noteably is the Beatles' 1966 hit Got to Get You Into my Life. LSD has also been prominent in the psychadelic era as evidenced in the Beatles' Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit is also drug related.
The theme changed
With the deaths of noteable rockers such as Brian Epstein, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison in the early 70s, many began to write anti-drug songs such as the Rolling Stones' 1971 hit Sister Morphine. Despite this, drug usage still ran rampant with cocaine being the most popular.
The BBC even went as far as to ban certain songs with drug-themes and censor others. Most noteable was Paul McCartney and Wings' Hi Hi Hi, and the Kinks 1971 hit Lola where Coca-Cola was replaced with Cherry Cola.
Throughout the 70s, many began experimenting with methamphetamine and heroin. The members of Black Sabbath were the most noteable using the drugs since about 1972. Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were also labelled as "toxic twins." Eric Clapton also became interested in drugs and alchohol, but quickly turned his life around.
Into the 80s
Many still depended on heroin in the 80s. Most noteably was the Pretenders' bass player Pete Farndon who was fired in June of 1982 for heroin dependency. He had began forming his own band with The Clash drummer Topper Headon who was also let go for his heroin intolerance, but Farndon died by April 1983. Pretenders' guitarist James Honeymann-Scott also died from cocaine intolerance.
During the 1980s there were many anti-drug messages in early rap. Most noteably Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five with their 1982 hit The Message.
While drugs were rampant, not all artists used drugs. Many that did, also rehabilitated themselves. Most noteably was Aerosmith at the advice of new manager Tim Collins. Drug usage as a whole in the world of rock, declined into the 80s.
Lyrical Content
Here is a chart of percentage of substances referred to in lyrics. Alcohol is the highest with marijuana being the runner-up. To date, there have been a handful of hits with the theme of alchohol. Most noteably George Therogood's hits I Drink Alone and One Burbon, One Scotch, One Beer. Scotch Wiskey has also been referred to in Steely Dan's 1977 song Deacon Blues.
However, marijuana has been the most heavily used drugs since the 60s, and many songs use it as a loose theme. Most noteably is the Beatles' 1966 hit Got to Get You Into my Life. LSD has also been prominent in the psychadelic era as evidenced in the Beatles' Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit is also drug related.
The theme changed
With the deaths of noteable rockers such as Brian Epstein, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison in the early 70s, many began to write anti-drug songs such as the Rolling Stones' 1971 hit Sister Morphine. Despite this, drug usage still ran rampant with cocaine being the most popular.
The BBC even went as far as to ban certain songs with drug-themes and censor others. Most noteable was Paul McCartney and Wings' Hi Hi Hi, and the Kinks 1971 hit Lola where Coca-Cola was replaced with Cherry Cola.
Throughout the 70s, many began experimenting with methamphetamine and heroin. The members of Black Sabbath were the most noteable using the drugs since about 1972. Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were also labelled as "toxic twins." Eric Clapton also became interested in drugs and alchohol, but quickly turned his life around.
Into the 80s
Many still depended on heroin in the 80s. Most noteably was the Pretenders' bass player Pete Farndon who was fired in June of 1982 for heroin dependency. He had began forming his own band with The Clash drummer Topper Headon who was also let go for his heroin intolerance, but Farndon died by April 1983. Pretenders' guitarist James Honeymann-Scott also died from cocaine intolerance.
During the 1980s there were many anti-drug messages in early rap. Most noteably Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five with their 1982 hit The Message.
While drugs were rampant, not all artists used drugs. Many that did, also rehabilitated themselves. Most noteably was Aerosmith at the advice of new manager Tim Collins. Drug usage as a whole in the world of rock, declined into the 80s.
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