Are Rock Bands Always Better While on Drugs?

Pop culture maven (and alleged writer) Chuck Klosterman argues that when Aerosmith left drugs behind circa the mid 1980s, it stopped being "one kind of band" and started being "another kind of band." I propose an amendment to this thesis: while on drugs, they were pretty good; and when not, they were distinctly not good. This pattern seems to hold often enough to be a significant trend.

Aerosmith can be compared with the Rolling Stones, who were, according to the commentary, frequently or always high from 1968-1972 when they produced their best recordings. Over the next few years, when the band, discerning critics seem to agree, degenerated into self-parody, they were apparently also high all the time. As such, drugs are not the only relevant factor. And, plenty of older rock bands become tribute acts to themselves, while sparing the public of sub-par new material.

The long-tongued bass player of KISS frequently interjects comments in interviews about how drug-using musicians are, shall I say, detrimental to the songwriting process. But the high water marks of the work of so many songwriters seems to correspond to their peak drug intake. What musical performers were better after their heavy drug-use phase?

Interesting question. I think it's hard to say what performers were/are better after their heavy drug use phase, unless you really know when they started and stopped using. I tend to be oblivious of those things!

But one that comes to mind that battled with drug use, eventually overcame the addiction and conveys that recovery in his performances .. Johnny Cash.

I think some people are looking at a symptom, and confusing it with a cause.

Drug use, especially heavy drug use, is most often a symptom of someone struggling with problems of one kind or another.

So is the production of art.

The drug use doesn't CAUSE the art, and very often interferes with it's production.

All I know is that Peter, Paul and Mary.....who did Puff The Magic Dragon....oh yeah.....they were on some good quality stuff the day they wrote that.