After Amy Winehouse cleaned up at the Grammy’s last night, it got me thinking about all the addicts in music these days and in days past. Here is a little scorecard of bands and artists from the time that I really got into music – the ones that I can think of (I am sure there are many more), and what their deal is:
Alice In Chains: Layne Staley, deceased, cocaine and heroin overdose (and seemed like he was dead even when he was still alive).
Blind Melon: Shannon Hoon, deceased, cocaine overdose.
Pete Doherty: major junkie. Media only cares because he went out with Kate Moss. Media probably cannot name one song he did with the Libertines or Babyshambles.
Leif Garrett: crashed his car, left his best friend paralyzed for life, continues to get busted for drugs.
Guns N’ Roses: all of them, obvious alcoholics, especially Slash & Duff McKagan. Axl Rose, nutcase.
Metallica: James Hettfield, was in rehab for alcohol.
Mother Love Bone: Andrew Wood, died from overdose before album came out, but lead the way for Pearl Jam to emerge.
Motley Crue: Vince Neil, car accident, killed a good friend of his. Nikki Sixx, rock n’ roll junkie, was pronounced dead but was brought back to life.
Nirvana: Kurt Cobain, deceased, suicide after many years of heroin abuse and stomach pain.
Pennywise: Jason Thirsk, deceased, committed suicide after battle with depression and alcoholism.
Quiet Riot: Kevin DuBrow, deceased, cocaine overdose.
Sublime: Brad Nowell, died from heroin overdose before band it hit big.
Ramones: Dee Dee Ramone, deceased, heroin overdose.
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Hillel Slovak, deceased, heroin overdose. Anthony Keidis, recovering heroin, cocaine and alcohol addict (one of his relapses was after he had his wisdom teeth out, and the dentist had to put him on liquid Valium).
Britney Spears: major issues. Forgets underwear on occasion. Lost her kids to Kevin Federline.
Scott Weiland: repeatedly arrested for drug possession.
Amy Winehouse: junkie. Seen shooting up something and walking down the street in a bra and no shoes. Really ugly without any makeup.