Re: Jimmy's new nusic - top secret?

["Brad" <barnoo@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

There a couple of things in this post below that concern me.

Firstly, is there a need to use language?  One of the many things that I admire 
this list for is the absence of such nonsense.

Secondly, this is just plain disinformation and smacks of the moralising adult trying to push an unsustainable point home to "kids" 
(aren't they baby goats by the way?).

To deny that the use of drugs has not resulted in a creative process, on some occasions, that would otherwise not have been 
available is nonsense.  It is interesting that you quote Lennon who is on the record, many, many times as stating that his use of 
various substances, be it LSD, marijuana, alcohol or whatever has indeed enhanced his creative process on many things.  And I'm 
sorry but we wouldn't have some of the greatest pop songs ever written by the likes of both Lennon and McCartney without them having 
used substances.  Not my words.  Lennon's mostly as McCartney has been more circumspect than his writing friend with regard to his 
drug use (which was prolific by the way).  They are not alone of course.  The point of this post is not to go into these numerous 
examples of an artist using substances that have allowed them to produce things that would previously been unavailable.  However, 
for the shear unleashing power of multiple substance abuse and the songs and performances of angst that can result, get the dvd of 
Nirvana as the support act for Sonic Youth in I think the early 90s.  This is a great example of the power of creation that 
substance use and abuse can give while being a beautiful juxtaposition of the concurrent destructive nature of this pursuit.  Its a 
difficult balance that many let get on top of them.

Now, lest you think that I am making an argument for the unfettered use of substances to be a creative genius it is also the case 
that people such as Lennon have identified that the excess of these substances have also had the opposite effect and totally stunted 
their creative process on other occasions.  It is true that the use of substances won't give you talent.  You either are born with 
that or you work hard to become good at whatever it is that you do.

My objection to the post is regarding the language and the absolute nonsense of trying to gloss over the fact that substances do 
indeed have an effect on the creative process both good and bad.  But trying to tell the "kids" that it is all bad is disinformation 
and smacks of the approach that many adults have towards this subject.  "Kids" aren't dumb but get treated as such, particularly on 
subjects such as this way too often.  In case you hadn't noticed the "war on drugs" is being lost partially as a result of this one 
dimensional, black and white proselytising.


Brad





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dragonlady" <dr4gonlady@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Kip Bilderback" <KBilderback@xxxxxxxxxx>; "ZepFBO" <zeppelin@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 11:45 PM
Subject: Re: Jimmy's new nusic - top secret?


> Well you know me. I rarely chime in for I find these discussions pretty 
> sterile. But this made me jump.
>
> Please kids, NEVER assume that talent is linked to substance abuse! It the other fucking way around! And yes I do use profanity 
> only when I must make a big point... I know you probably said that in jest. But still.
>
> You got a point in the following phrase though. But not because of the latter. It's just that if you want to be serious enough in 
> art it is often at the expense of a "normal" life whatever that is. But alcohol or drugs have nothing to do in the equation. If 
> anything they are means to chase the boredom that arises when the creative fluids are a bit dried up. Only to wait for the fluids 
> to flow again and NOT to help them! People tend to confuse these two very different points.
>
> And to paraphrase someone (I think it was Lennon). Sure it's faster to fly from point A to pont B, but you can't see the landscape 
> and you risk crashing. Well I'd rather walk if you don't mind?
>
> Just saying you know. :D
>
> Kip Bilderback a ?crit :
> > If my sobriety was my link to my health and family, I might be willing to trade 
> > new art for a life I enjoy....
> >
> > -Kip