ARTISTS OVER THE

AGES
Drug Histories
Ryan McCrerey

Billie Holiday
One of Jazzs most
prolific musicians, Billy
Holiday is best known
for her powerful voice
and songs such as
Strange Fruit and
Gloomy Sunday. It is
unknown to many that
Holiday had a severe
heroin addiction and
would even become
arrested in the hospital
for possession. Holiday
dealt with issues such
as racism and sexism
which are hinted at in
some of her songs and
its presumed she used
heroin as an escape.

Louis
Armstrong
Louis Armstrong is one
of the most iconic
figures in jazz. From an
early age, Armstrong
had been a heavy
cannabis smoker.
Armstrong smoked
marijuana as a
substitute for alcohol.
Growing up in the era of
prohibition, Armstrong
saw people he knew as
well as fellow jazz
musicians become ill
and even die from bad
batches of moonshine
and he considered
marijuana a healthier
alternative for relaxation.

Jimi Hendrix
Regarded as a legend by
most, the electric sounds
and dynamic melodies
preformed by Hendrix are
considered some of the
best guitar music of all
time. Although its no
secret that this icon
experimented with a little
more than just his fathers
whiskey, Hendrixs drug
use ranged from LSD to
amphetamines. Songs
such as Purple Haze and
Laughing Sams Dice are
just a couple his songs
that take the listener on a
psychedelic journey
which most believe, were
inspired by drugs.

Syd Barrett
Syd Barret is known for being
one of the founding members
of Pink Floyd. He was the
original singer and songwriter
and is credited for naming the
band. In 1968, the members of
Pink Floyd decided to kick Syd
Barret out of the band due to a
growing mental illness. His
illness is attributed to his
excessive use of LSD.
Members of Pink Floyd said
Barret would take LSD three to
four times a day every day and
developed Schizophrenia as
well as an inability to
recognize people he knew.
Although other members of
the Pink Floyd had also used
LSD, it became a problem with
Barret because he became
dysfunctional and he
eventually was taken to a
hospital.

John Lennon
John Lennon was a singer
and songwriter to one of the
most famed music groups of
all time, The Beatles. Being
one of the co-founders and
one of the most well known
members, it is known by most
that Lennon dabbled with
drugs. Beginning with the
stimulant Benzedrine,
Lennons history with drugs is
extensive. Going from
stimulants, to cannabis and
alcohol, to LSD and heroin,
the Beatles and Lennon were
no stranger to drugs and their
music reflected this. With
songs like, Lucy in the Sky
with Diamonds, and Day
Tripper, it is certain that the
Beatles and Lennon were no
amateurs when it came to
drugs.

David Bowie
David Bowie is one of the
most iconic musicians of
the 70s with hits like Lets
Dance, and Space
Oddity. Bowie became a
heavy user of cocaine
early in his career to keep
him going around the
clock when he was making
music. He believed it kept
his creative process going
and even stated he found
a, Soul mate, in this
drug. His cocaine usage
peaked in the mid
seventies but eventually
stopped in the early 80s
due to his health and
receiving custody of his
child.

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