When will these young rock 'n rollers learn?
I've been reading/hearing a lot about Burton Cummings and his recent decision to "straighten up and fly right".
Has the music world not learned its lesson? Trust me, I know that it's hard not to live a little dangerously when you play in a band.
Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin. History is filled with those who didn't make it. And yet, when you hear from people who did, like Steven Tyler or Keith Richards, it doesn't seem to faze some newer artists.
There are some, however, who have chosen the "straight and norrow". Leeroy Stagger, for instance, realized that debauchery leads to truncated careers. From his bio:
"The life of being on the road and touring at a fast pace did not wear easily on Stagger, who at age 26, realized he had an alcohol problem that was affecting his ability to perform with the commitment and heart his songs demanded. Clean and sober since, Stagger has a strong desire to inspire young musicians that they do not have to succumb to the pitfalls of substance abuse, which can be prevalent in a musician’s touring lifestyle."
But what about you? Do you take any of this into account? Do the extra-musical exploits of musicians matter to you? Do you ever worry about your favourite artist?
Related:
The Incident: The Cranberries & their magic fridge full of booze
Burton Cummings on Q