Drugs In The Music Industry Essay -- essays research papers

Drugs in the Music Industry     The Music World-glamorous, fast paced, and a world most of us will neverbe plane section of. exclusively if we knew what it entailed, would we still want to be? Thewhole world seems to be building itself around drugs more and more every day,and music industry isnt immune. In fact, music is one of the most influentialart forms of todays society, and drugs, particularly to todays youth, just addto the attractiveness of it all.In the last two or three years, drugs, especially heroin, take a crap risen in put on dramatically. Kurt Cobain was the most high-profile drug-related rock starsince the 1970s and was still battling heroin addiction when he committedsuicide in 1994. on with him, his wife Courtney Love made it fashionable tobe a "junkie". In the last year, Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland andDepeche Mode singer David Gahan, among otherwises, have been arrested for cocaine orheroin possession. The number of t op bands that have been linked to herointhrough a members overdose, arrest, admitted use or recovery is staggering smashing pumpkins, Everclear, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Dr. Dre, Blind Melon, Red HotChili Peppers, The Breeders, Alice in Chains, Sex Pistols, Sublime, Iggy Pop,the list goes on and on. Together, these bands have sold more than 60 cardinalalbums(Newsweek pgs 50 & 53).     Since kids emulate popular musicians, what is there to keep them fromemulating their drug use? Moreover, whats to keep the majority of thepopulation from doing the same? In the 60s and 70s, drug use was never spokenof nor did anyone admit that it was a problem. Nowadays, there is not a personin the world who hasnt heard about the rising drug use. But what are theydoing about it? Back in the 80s, higher prices, the fear of contracting AIDS,and lower purity kept drugs out of the mainstream. Now, drugs are cheaper andeasier to get then ever, world imported into the country at double the rate itwas in the 1980s. Unfortunately, the outsiders view of drug use isnt theharsh reality. Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday, and Charlie Parker are among themany to die from heroin and other drug addictions. Drugs seem to make you afunnier, wiser, cooler person, but what the younger generation fails to realizeis that they are fatal.     Despite this, drug... ...are easy because they are wealthy,popular, and sublimely happy. cosmos rich and famous isnt all its cracked upto be. They lead normal lives, have kids and pay bills just as we do, but thisis still no apology to put your life into your own hands.The music industry may be finally facing up to the truth that drug abusehas become a serious problem, though. The National Academy of Recording Artsand Sciences gathered in 1996 to discuss what could be done about it. The senseof crisis has been growing since Kurt Cobain committed suicide, goddamn at leastpartly on his heroin abuse.(Time p57)Expressions of concern are easy to come by,but the chances for meaningful industry action are less(prenominal) clear. Recordexecutives refuse to be drug police, especially in a society where drug abusehas long been accepted, and even condoned, as part of the yeasty process.Geffen Records has retained a drug counselor for its musicians who seekhelp. (Time p 58). But the industry must recognize that pressure from thelabel to keep tutoring and recording support blow a drug problem out of proportion.It is a minimal step, but at least a start toward trying to keep musicianshealthy, productive, and alive.