According to rock star Gene Simmons, one of the best drugs you can take in this life is accomplishment, followed by a shot of success. In other words, the only way to get high is to get “high on your victories.” In our world, anyone can succeed, but, unfortunately, not everyone is satisfied with getting a buzz off of happiness. More often than not, at the height of victory, people will succumb to the trends of hard-partying and drug-induced inspiration, and one of the best examples of mass drug love took place at the height of the rock and roll era. While musicians like Simmons and his bandmate Paul Stanley managed to abstain, they were rarities during the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Likewise, although many famous singers are still adored for their work, we also remember them for having tragically short lives, brought to a quick end by drugs. Let’s take a closer look at two pioneers of modern rock who tragically died from drug overdoses.
Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970)
Sadly, you cannot have a conversation about hard drug use and rock n’ roll without mentioning the master of guitar shredding. Initially a member of the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, Jimi Hendrix was a model citizen and a proud patriot, but, above all else, he adored playing music. Over the course of his career, Hendrix was responsible for paving the way for acid rock, glam metal, and hard rock. Among his plethora of tunes, he created iconic songs like “Purple Haze,” “All along the Watchtower” (written by Bob Dylan), and “Voodoo Chile,” and produced the iconic album Electric Ladyland. Unfortunately, though, Hendrix was into drugs (particularly LSD) and alcohol and even had a run-in with the Canadian police. In end, he suffered a barbiturate overdose, ultimately resulting in asphyxiation, at the age of 27.
Jim Morrison (1943-1971)
Possibly one of the most iconic voices in rock and roll, Jim Morrison painted a wall of poetry a thousand miles line for throngs of people around the world. Best known as the lead singer of The Doors, the iconic artist was a true Renaissance man, being schooled in the fine arts, filmmaking, theater, and cinematography during his college years. During his early years, Morrison was sought out as a male model due to his rugged charm and roguish, handsome face and successfully published books like The Lords and New Creatures. However, despite his success, Morrison (like many young artists at the time) suffered from a particularly nasty case of drug addiction. One of the Doors’ albums was even named after LSD trips (The Doors of Perception). Ultimately, the beautiful rock and roll icon died from a heart attack, nine months after the deaths of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.
Always remember that drugs do not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug abuse or addiction troubles today.
