Drugs and Music

I don't smoke or do drugs but I did experiment a few times with LSD ( One of my buddies used to make it in the chem lab when we were at university). Ocassionally I have a swig of some good Scotch Whiskey handed down to me from my dearly departed Uncle John from Glasgow, Scotland but that's as far as I go these days. The big mistake I made with the LSD was to listen to Guru Guru UFO while on it. That wasn't enough, so I had to listen to Amon Duul and Brainticket as well as a few others. In particular early Krautrock is often associated with illicit drug use and I was curious. Believe me I don't advise the use of any drug and don't need drugs to enjoy good music but at the same time during my brief excursion into the world of LSD (it only lasted a few weeks) I discovered some things I wouldn't have otherwise. Anyone out there conduct any similar experiments? 

Edited by Vibrationbaby

I listened to the Ummagumma studio album on a heavy dose of magic mushrooms once. Don't think I'll be doing that again anytime soon.

 

I did like most Pink Floyd acid trips I had, though if I'd had a bad trip on the first few times I dosed, I woundn't have done it so many times after. LSD opens your mind to new things and that's where a problem can arise. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Relayer was a trip with hallucinogens. I was watching anime at the same time (I was in the "synching up" phase at that time, ala Dark side of the Rainbow) and it was a crazy story that went right along with Gates of Delerium, the war part and all.

Fun stuff, but I wouldn't do it again. I was much younger then. I don't encourage anyone to try chemicals though and I'm fully against them. Stick with the organic, unmodified goodness.

Just about anything is amazing on LSD, and you may discover all sorts of things.

Taking acid is like playing Russian roulette with your mind. Bear that in mind next time - treat it with respect.

I highly recommend Gong and Hillage for a cool trip. Hawkwind are better on shrooms. Floyd are good on anything.

Since most musicians experiment with drugs at some point, yes, the listening experience may be enhanced by taking them as the listener.

Just go easy, people - remember Syd, Jimi and all the other casualties.

well two people i went to school with who messed about with acid ended up with some interesting excursions to the local mental hospital (no i aint jokin, one was a seriously good musician, who stayed an inpatient for over a month and almost put his mother in an early grave with worry). seriously guys youll call me very closed minded etc but anything to do with any drug, alchohol included ,is bad news. one thing ya dont mess with and thats your mind. flame away

I, personally, enjoy experimenting with drugs. Pink Floyd, for one, sounds so much better when you're stoned (you thought they sounded good before...)

Keep in mind that I am NOT a stoner, by any means. I simply enjoy toking up every now and then in order to expand my mind and enhance my perception, especially when it comes to music.

Fantom JSK wrote: Well let me just say that as a teenager, I don't do drugs or drink or smoke. And that I wouldn't understand why you need to take drugs to experience music better or more by taking them. It's kind of an insult to the artist if you have to drugs to fully appreciate the music, because it tells them that they haven't been able to do a good job at making their music a great experience. And we all know that Pink Floyd is still good to listen to without acid.

I would NEVER encourage a teenager to start taking drugs, Fantom, but as for it being an insult to the artist, please remember that very many great albums featured on these pages were conceived, composed and recorded very much in an altered state of consiousness (Floyd, Gong, Hawkwind,etc. etc. etc.). It is not surprising that such music is easier to access when listened to in a similar state of mind.

Edited by raggy

Anything which artificially alters perception, whether it be alcohol, cannabis, LSD, Ecstacy, even to an extent caffiene, should only be used in moderation - the watchword is "contentment before capacity".

Although I have been known (and still am to an extent) to use illegal drugs of various kinds, I would never endorse such use to others; what I do, or don't do is done (or not ) after a great deal of consideration, and never on my own.

Having said this, the times I generally use illicit substances currently is when I go to the dance clubs; again, always in moderation.

I can't stress enough that all the above is personal to me, and is not meant in any way as an endorsement.

I HAVE TO AGREE WITH JIM, MY DRUGGY DAYS ARE LARGELY BEHIND ME(AND BELEIVE ME I HAVE DONE EM ALL!!) AND WHILE I DO OCASSIONALLY LIKE A SMOKE ITS MOSTLY BEER AND OUZO NOW(IN MODERATION).........I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE MAKE TRAIN WRECKS OF THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR LIVES THROUGH DRUGS AND HAVE ALSO SEEN SOME SUICIDES (I AND A FREIND ONCE SPENT HOURS TRYING TO TALK ONE GOOD FREIND OUT OF BLOWING HIS HEAD OF WITH A GUN. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE.........THATS WHAT DRUGS CAN DO TO YOU)

Edited by dude

danbo wrote: Beer and music, my only drugs, though I did have a nicotine problem for a while. Shook that off 18 months ago. Hope none of you have used "crank" aka: methamphetamines. I've seen too many people become blithering idiots from the stuff. Drug induced psychosis. A real problem here.

Ah, yes - nicotine; this is what I consider to be my worst vice; I don't smoke much, but I know that every ciggy I have is doing me damage - I know I should stop, but........

As for amphetamines & metamphetamines, these are classes of drugs (along with any of the opiates) I would not touch with a barge-pole

Forget Pink Floyd and others...Timothy Leary 'seven up' and Golowin 'Lord Krishna' are absolute must to trip under LSD.