Unterberg1 Adam Unterberg Ms.

Olding English 200 25 November 2013

Physical and Mental Impacts Drugs bring on Music

Marijuana, cocaine, LSD, and ecstasy are only a few of the widely used drugs that performers use to get the full connection with their music. Some argue that the two groups differentiate from one another and dont rely on one another, while some say otherwise. The use of drugs in music has been an issue through many decades. While some bands used it to get a greater attachment to the sound, some used it violently to the point of death. Throughout this paper, drugs will be examined more thoroughly in relation to musical evolution. Along with examining different artists and showing how they fit in the situation, the studying of the specific drugs and their overall relationship with music itself. Knowing about the scientific affects of the substances allows researchers to form correct hypotheses and detailed notes regarding the transformation of the mental state. Are drugs truly a getaway for these artists when it seemed that nothing else was working? There are numerous questions that need answers about the mental vacations into a psychedelic world. Jorg Fachner, the author of Music and Altered States, examined in chapter 7 of his book titled Music and Drug- Induced Altered states of Consciousness about the specific mental tendencies that these drugs bring and the actual science behind the narrowed perception that is brought. The text shows how hearing certain types of music is proven to give similar excitement and rush in the body as when on drugs. A quote from the text seconds this thought by saying, The activation pattern of brain regions show a surprising

Unterberg2 similarity to activity patterns induced by drugs with a primarily euphoric effect like cocaine. Our favorite music interacts directly with structures associated with emotions (Fachner 84) Emotion is what stimulates the brain. When emotion is involved in anything, whether playing a sport, singing a song, or helping the less fortunate, varying levels of excitement trigger these actions. A persons attachment to virtually anything can bring a certain level of excitement that can substitute for this feeling. Another quote that strengthens this argument explains that a persons opinion on songs and maybe their connections after an experience in life, allow the shaping of certain feelings that bring about different reactions. More simply put, is that different people have different experiences causing multiple, opposing, views of the same thing. It said, music seems to be only what the recipient, as an individual marked by his social environment, makes of it in the moment of listening (Fachner). Opinions of different things relates totally to experience. Whether seen on television or read in a magazine, we are constantly constructing opinions. This quote leads into a number of ideas that will be expressed in the following paragraphs. Numerous artists are known to have been using drugs while creatively constructing their music. Fachner showed in his text that there are certain experiences pertaining to musicians that seem to fit hand in hand with drugs. He mentions the quote from Paul McCartney, a member of the legendary rock group, The Beatles, after the release of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band that sums up what artists views on using these substances really were at the time period. Experience with drugs, mostly. But remember that in 1967 our drug habits followed a long-established tradition among musicians. We knew

Unterberg3 about Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie that they had always taken drugs. Now it was time for our musical scene to make the experience. Drugs found their way into everything we did. They colored our perspective of things. I believe we realized that there were fewer limitations than we had expected (Davis and Pieper, 1993 p.7) McCartney explains that drugs were not just something that was new to their culture, but it was almost like an everyday norm that people, not just musicians, used as a way for the ultimate relaxation and stress reliever. The mentioning of past artists like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie explain his knowledge of the fact, the history of drug influence in music dates far beyond 1960s and the artists were aware of that. Drug use, as stated above, was something that shaped the perceptions brought together by the artist. There was not a motive to why they took part; just that it was what they did. The Beatles, a British band that took the music world by storm, have been known to use psychedelic drugs to enhance song material and gain popularity through there unique expressions of reality. The second point that really summarizes the previous ideas again seconds the mental change in ideas resulting from these substances. In the 1960s, the use of drugs was not just a hobby, it was a way of life. It influenced the music world to such an extreme that people would abuse the substance to the point of fatality. A quote from Samantha Richards said in an article called World Music, Without the use of hallucinogenic drugs by musicians, this style of music would not have existed. The 1960s psychedelic era induced changes in both the sound and lyrical content of music, which consequently shaped

Unterberg4 the future of rock music. Though drugs and the music industry will always be connected, the relationship between the two will most likely never be this prominent again (Richards) This quote again shows that the very strong relationship that drugs and music of the 60s and 70s which then passes from generation to the music today. The use of drugs was not something to stick it to the man but was actually viewed to better the quality of music. Gathering altered perceptions of life allowed the writers to express feelings that they would not feel in an everyday setting of sobriety. Pertaining to the musical lyrics, author John Markert of Cumberland University took a deeper look at the actual lyrics of the drug-influenced songs. Markert said, Critical attention to lyrical content is typically based on one of two traditions: (1) Music is popular because it reflects the values and beliefs of those who consume it, or (2) music is didactic and acts as a socializing agent by teaching behavior (Markert). Although a tad abstract from the previous notion of drug use, it has a very important significance. Looking at the quote, it is eye opening because it begins to talk about the cycle of drug use in music. Similar to the point mentioned prior, bands that proceeded, for example, The Beatles, gave them that iconic image and looked up to these that had a large impact on them. The same relates to artists today. The drug culture was so prominent back then that it seems like a cycle is forming about what is considered normal. The two most important words in the quote above is teaching behavior. In todays society, adolescents are easily manipulated into what is considered the norm at the time of their upbringing. When something is mentioned in a song or on the news, they think that it is something desirable because they see people they admire taking part. This

Unterberg5 goes hand in hand with the use of drugs. From the start of music, what is popular in the pop-culture movement is what is popular right now. People view what celebrities and music artists are doing as the ideal lifestyle. Another source that explains how the use of psychedelic drugs when listening to music changed dramatically in a study that researched the positive and negative affects of MDMA use in animals. The relationship in this study is not direct; an important relationship is still present. A physiological study was done showing the effects of music in relationship with music. In this study, Research shows that music tempo affects heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure, and it can be manipulated to encourage both arousal and relaxation (Physiological Effects of Music). Because of the level of intenseness of the information, the scientists used rats to show the changes in behavior so that there where no biased behavior entering the study. The participants were introduced to certain songs, the information was gathered, and then after time, they were introduced to the same songs when given MDMA, also known in todays world as ecstasy. After numerous trials, the mice showed more and more changes in behavior. A direct quote from the study, The results suggest that noise can accentuate the neurological effect of the drug ecstasy and prolong its effect(s) (Physiological Effects of Music). Although human beings are not being studied, the results do not vary either way one looks at the information. We can see that the loud music does not just enhance the listening experience, but when drugs are introduced, behaviors drastically change the opinions and actions of the participants. This ties together greatly with how music artists get the images that they do. When recording their music when high, they get visions that change their behaviors. Although there are no negative impacts stated in this study, it

Unterberg6 shows the scientific evidence of the affects that drugs play in retaining normalcy in actions. There are many direct correlations with the impact on the young community and messages in the common themes in music today. CBS news reported on this topic of encouragement that songs today give to this young culture. It is very possible that young adults grow up with this idea of what is right and wrong by listening to these songs. An example is if a child is hearing the reference of drugs, alcohol, and sex in their favorite artists songs, they are more inclined to pursue these things mentioned starting at a very young age. A shocking statistic pertaining to the exposure to negative themes in young adults is, The average teen listening to popular songs hears 84 daily references, 591 weekly references, and more than 30,700 yearly references in music to substance use, according to the study (Hitti). These themes of sex, drugs, and self are expressed very differently than years prior. The introduction of television and social media allow people of all qualities of life to pick up on actions, either good or bad, of celebrities and music artists. Showing the statistics presented by CBS news shows the relationship to pop culture and the media to the actions of children across the country. Drug and sex references in these songs gives negative influence on the young minds that are still being molded by experience. Drugs exposure in music is something that has changed gears in the way it is presented within the lyrics, but still has the underlying meaning that is easily noticeable. In conclusion, drugs have been tied together for numerous years and have changed how music has been performed and written. There are negative and positive

Unterberg7 affects to the consumption of the harmful substances that are taking over the music world. Paul McCartney said it best when he explained that it was just a way of life and would not consider the outcomes. This paper has explained the relationship between psychedelic drugs on performers, direct references to bands that have been known to consume, and finally, direct accounts of scientific studies that showed the results of adding drugs to the equation with music. The study is endless relating to this relationship and will be studied with great diligence for many years to come. Whatever way someone looks at the situation, there can be arguments for and against how drugs can affect the performances of artists.

Unterberg8 Work Cited Aldridge, David, and Jrg Fachner. "Chapter 7: Music And Drug-Induced Altered States Of Consciousness." Music & Altered States. 82-96. n.p.: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2005. Academic Search Complete. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. Hitti, Miranda. "Music Lyrics Offer Earful about Drugs." CBSNEWS. CBS, 5 Feb. 2008. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.cbsnews.com/news/music-lyrics-offer-earfulabout-drugs/>. Markert, John. "Sing a Song of Drug Use-Abuse: Four Decades of Drug Lyrics in Popular Music--From the Sixties through the Nineties." Sociological Inquiry. Vol. 71.2. N.p.: n.p., 2001. 194-220. Print. "Physiological Effects of Music." The Sound of Music...with Drugs 33 (2007): 32.JSTOR. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=0c057c0b-776e-4f549ad3-bf36d358636b%40sessionmgr114&vid=3&hid=101>. Richards, Samantha. "The Influence of Drugs throughout Music in the 1960s: The Psychedelic Era." Web log post. World Music. WordPress, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://blogs.longwood.edu/worldmusicsm/2013/04/29/the-influence-ofdrugs-throughout-music-in-the-1960s-the-psychedelic-era/>. Sampson, Kevin. "Chemical Bonds." The Guardian. The Observer, 15 Nov. 2008. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/nov/16/drugs-musiclink>.