Sociologists may argue there is a positive correlation between Rock & Roll music and the demise of our younger generation. After watching rock idols abuse drugs and in some cases, choose suicide as a means of solving problems, it’s no wonder why many young fans follow down this same path of destruction.
Society, and parents especially, haven’t always been relaxed on rock lyrics and the shocking statements and actions of rock artists. Such seems to be normal in today’s standards. However, dating back to Elvis Presley’s first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1956, adults were so offended by the way he shook his hips that the cameras only showed him from the waist up. Following this was the outrage that many adults felt about the vulgar lifestyle of rock & roll artists such as the Rolling Stones. And, today, many artists and bands admit to the use of drugs – which is apparent by the large numbers of deaths and suicides resulting from drug abuse.
Given the history and alternative lifestyle of rock and roll artists, do fans and followers repeat the mistakes of their idols? And, are all rock stars doomed for this fate? The following is a short list of people who have lost their life because of drug abuse and suicide.
- · Jimi Hendrix – age 27 – asphyxiation on vomit as a result from alcohol and drugs
- · Keth Moon (The Who) – age 32 – drug overdose
- · Kurt Cobain – age 27 – suicide
- · Paul Williams (The Temptations) – age 34 – suicide
- · Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones) – age 27 – drowning thought to be suicide
Why is it that many prominent figures that have died from drug overdoses and suicides are rock musicians? Does the lifestyle of a rock & roll artist ultimately take you down this path of destruction? Or is it avoidable?
Unfortunately, this fate is becoming common for rock & roll artists. Many sociologists differ on whether or not the music and the lifestyle is the cause for their unhappy ending. It’s a chicken and egg situation. Is their violent and sadistic behavior a result of the rock industry or are they rock artists because they are innately vulgar and unstable?
It’s something to think about.
I think this is less reflective of the relationship between consumption of music culture, music history and the actions of listeners and fans in emulating this, as it is of the deepening pscyhological crisis of Western nations.
ReplyDeleteCertainly rockstars are some of the most memorable people who have topped themselves so dramatically, however the trend has continued through genres, sounds and idealistic attitudes through to the present day. It is not so much a reflection of the culture surrounding rock itself as it is of the reasons why people turn to rock in the first place: its subversive, deviant and disgruntled leanings. The culture itself offers a reprieve from the outside world, a confirmation that things are wrong and that it's okay to say so.
Suicide is not necessarily caused by participation in rock culture and certainly nobody could credibly advance the notion that it is conducive to the act itself. However the attitudes and ideas cultivated by the sub-culture itself would play an integral role in the approach taken to one's own self-destruction. And it certainly glorifies and immortalises such self-detruction to an extent.
Great post, thought provoking and expanisve in its scope