Drugs, Music & The Beatles
I’ve been watching The Beatles Anthology. It is quite a unique journey. I’ve just hit the 4th and 5th episodes, around the Rubber Soul/Revolver era.
In it, The Beatles speak about the influence that Drugs had on their music.
There is no question that drugs affected them. But what they’re talking about is not hard drugs, they’re talking about Marijuana and LSD.
You can argue the effect that those drugs have on some people, but what you can’t argue is the effect that those drugs had on The Beatles. After they started taking drugs, via Bob Dylan, they made their most groundbreaking music. It changed modern music and it changed the world.
Check out the video below. At around the 40 second mark George hits upon some interesting points to ponder.
Whether you agree or find it all quite irresponsible, the fact is that the world is richer because of the The Beatles experimentation with drugs.
Take Control of Your Music,
Sign Up For The New Rockstar Philosophy RSS Feed
Subscribe to The New Rockstar Philosophy by Email
Category: Music Career, Songwriting
I like the comment that Ringo makes about playing shows high. The music is sloppy and shitty if you aren’t focused and it shows your audience that you just don’t care.
Indeed, they knew when and how to use their chemicals.
Marijuana totally changed the way I look at and write music, that’s for damn sure.
Katis, just like on We Rate Stuff, you speak the truth.
It may seem like a cop-out to some, but I think it’s fair for McCartney to say that the times/context in which they were smoking pot and/or eating acid were different than now. To do drugs was different then because we know more about the dangers (or lack of danger) associated with drug use.
I don’t do drugs and I hope my kid never does, either. My dad was a heavy drug user and it destroyed him. I also don’t condemn drug users/experimenters and I certainly don’t condemn the Beatles (and their peers’) experimentation with pot and acid.
No doubt Ourboy, drugs are such a heavy thing in todays world. It’s a personal experience and personal journey.
My favorite part is how George Martin stills calls them ‘the boys’. That’s awesome.
[...] The Beatles [...]