[gumbo]

- what's happening w/ your friend? Did he admit to anything? Did he have anything on him? It can't be all that bad for him....getting caught smoking weed isn't doesn't call for capital punishment or anything close. Sorry, you may have already covered this, but after reading all these posts, I've forgotten.

Its like this, the administrator suspended us (2 of us who didnt take the "test" given by the lawmen) anyways because he didnt believe us. The other friend took the test/s and passed. I didnt want to take the test because I didnt want to risk getting fucked, not knowing if I could be charged with posession. The friend who took the test didnt get suspended, he told them his afternoon classes were hard so he didnt smoke anything (which is legit, his classes arent fun and he has been refraining the lunch hour). When asked by the lawmen why his heart rate was so high he told them he smoked so much the night before that it still must be affected. They apparently bought it because he went to school the next day.

This has clearly been an emotional thread for us all and i appreciate any and all advice put out by everyone. Dont rage amongst each other over my dilema. I'll post about my situation when I know whats up. peace.

[Hajimemashite!!!]

Jimi Hendrix

John Scofield ( I think he was straight)

not until 1998

[strumminsix]

With regards to some drug free musical geniuses:
Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Mahler, Schubert

May be safe to say without these guys music would not be what it is today. And our greats would not have had their inspiration.

[dre]

With regards to some drug free musical geniuses:
Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Mahler, Schubert

May be safe to say without these guys music would not be what it is today. And our greats would not have had their inspiration.

Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert were all alcoholics.. dunno about the others.

It's pretty safe to say that anyone who is anyone in the creative genius category has partaken in some form of innebriation at some point in their musical careers.
Though certainly not necessary to play well we all know the benefit of certain substances to the creative processes and helping invoke the muse. Deadheads more than anyone should understand this.

When I look at artists like the Dead, The Who, Hendrix, Allman Bro's, The Beatles, Dylan, Marley, Sublime, Santana, Elvis, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Miles Davis, James Brown, Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, The Beach Boys, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk.. the list goes on and on. These are the greats that most people look up to in the music world and every single one of them took something from weed/hallucinogens etc that inspired them to write and play many a masterpiece.
Though I don't condone irresponsible consumption, myself and many others can see what is plainly obvious. People who have used these very old tools to enhance the creative juices either are or were at the top of totem and continue to be remembered very fondly. It's no coincedence. You can read many iterviews with Jerry and others talking about consciousness expansion through these tools and I personally agree with them.

[jackr]

Robert Johnson?

[dre]

Robert Johnson?

drank plenty.

[jackr]

Then I concede defeat. You are right, there hasn't been any worthwhile contributions by anyone sober. I am so glad you overlooked all of the other guys I quickly mentioned and let us on to the real deal.

To think all these years I was thinking that Al Dimeola, Paco De Lucia, John Mcglaughlin (sorry about the spelling) were sober. Ithak Perlman, Andrea Segovia, BB King, Frank Zappa, Les Paul, Ted Nugent, Joe Satriani all boozers and drug feends.

[dre]

Then I concede defeat. You are right, there hasn't been any worthwhile contributions by anyone sober. I am so glad you overlooked all of the other guys I quickly mentioned and let us on to the real deal.

To think all these years I was thinking that Al Dimeola, Paco De Lucia, John Mcglaughlin (sorry about the spelling) were sober. Ithak Perlman, Andrea Segovia, BB King, Frank Zappa, Les Paul, Ted Nugent, Joe Satriani all boozers and drug feends.

lol ted nugent...please
I really don't think some of these names even belong in the discusion of creative musical genius. Also please distinguish between musicians that played well and people who wrote incredibly creative music. It requires 0 creativity to play extemely well technically. Dexterity and creativity are not the same thing.

you do know that B.B. Kings nickname at one point was "The Peptikon Boy" (an alcohol-loaded drink that rivaled Hadacol)

Frank Zappa didn't drink or do drugs but he would spend hours or days in the studio, living on coffee and cigarettes. Which is a form of intoxication imo. Self deprivation can have some very trippy effects.. ever gone a couple days without food?

Either way I'm not saying there has never been any worthwhile contributions from sober people to music I am saying that very very large portion of the greatest creative musical genius's did partake in some form of self medication and I don't think it is a coincedence..
Many of them have given credit where it is due. The immense creative vocabulary opened by certain substances can't and shouldn't be dismissed or denied.

[jackr]

Either way I'm not saying there has never been any worthwhile contributions from sober people to music

I believe you did say that

tbh I can't think of any great "straight" musicians and jerry himself said he would have never been the person he was without getting turned on to teh mary jane.

It's pretty safe to say that anyone who is anyone in the creative genius category has partaken in some form of innebriation at some point in their musical careers.

You couldn't even give me Frank Zappa. That is pathetic.

[Jimkkc]

Holy cow - I can't believe I just read this entire thread . . .

Perhaps the point about "straight" or "not straight" musicians would be better understood by a certain poster as a musician who no longer - for whatever reason - chooses to use. Sure, Jerry turned on, sure it influenced the music, but 12 years out, I gotta say I wish he would have not turned on so much.

What about Stevie Ray? Was he creative enough?

[jackr]

What about Stevie Ray? Was he creative enough?

SRV had a severe drug problem but did clean up and was better then ever.

How about The Father of Bluegrass Bill Monroe?

[shakedown_04092]

You guys are getting a little off topic here - take it to another thread if you want to talk about sober/non-sober musicians.

[Django]

Shakedown, your first post was brilliant, and all the parental advise was real and caring. Dre, in an inflamatory role as 'devil's advocate' (sort of) was a worthy debater and stood up for himself with strength. The irreverant humor aspect of some posts was entaining as well. And no, I don't think the drug use as a cataylist for creativity is off topic.
I too am a parent, and a guy who got kicked out of school for telling off the authorities and while never actually fingered for illicit drug use, was widely suspected and hassled by even the local police detectives.
About acid though, some of us took it for more enlightened reasons than partying, I prepared for it by reading Aldous Huxley. I believe there was value in 'breaking down the doors to perception' and in the hands of a much more talented person then myself had to lead to a big part of that person's vision. Talking Jerry here.

[Jimkkc]

jackr - that was my point. SRV did have problems, but cleaned up . . .and continued to make great music.

[dre]

It's definately not the debate I ever expected to have on a GD fan site lol..but it's cool nothing wrong with a bit of back and forth as long as noone takes it too personally I hope.

Out of curiosity how many of you have actually sat down with your guitar while tripping. I used to do it often when I was younger and it was an eye opener to say the least. The entire feel of the guitar was different not to mention the free flow of new ideas and approaches to playing.