Drugs in Rock 'n' Roll

Paul McCartney

Many of the best Rock 'n' Roll bands have produced their finest work under the influence of illegal substances, but are drugs a necessity when it comes to being a rockstar?

Clearly some wonderful music has been produced while under the influence of drugs, especially in the psychedelic world, by the likes of The Beatles (Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds) BUT there have also been some awful albums written while high.

Noel Gallagher (Oasis and NGHFB) believes that the answer is no, drugs are not a necessity when it comes to writing music, and insists that being under the influence does not increase his songwriting ability in the slightest, in fact inhibiting his ability to write music. Despite Noel claiming this, 'Be Here Now' (Oasis) made #49 on 'NME's 50 Druggiest Albums Ever'.

It does appear that drugs and Rock 'n' Roll come hand in hand, but a recent influx of 'clean' bands such as Coldplay are changing this conception. Saying this, would you class Coldplay as Rock 'n' Roll? Probably not. 

Music journals, blogs, newspapers etc are all worried about the death of Rock 'n' Roll, but there appears to be a psychedelic culture re-emerging.. will a band step up to the plate and produce a spectacular record while clean, proving that drugs aren't necessary in music, or will drugs once again play a part? We'll have to wait to find out.