How much drug-induced perfomance can really be 'talent'?

[angel-cake]

Amy Winehouse, Pete Doherty, even the Beatles to name just three.

Sports stars are banned from competing in games after being found guilty of drug taking because people want real, genuine, hard-earned perfomance in sport.

So can these music stars who are well known for their drug habits, really be described as talent? Are they really worthy of awards and the praise they get?

[whiffey]

Ultimately, did you enjoy it? Would you give money for it?

There is no intrinsic value in a Lennon song, a McCartney song. They varied from complete brilliance like We Can Work It Out to unredeemable crap like Helter Skelter.

[Abdulmajid]

Interesting point.

However, drugs in sport is little more than cheating. Also the whole life style is based on fitness, which drugs certainly do not represent.

Rock stars etc, although role models to a degree, are hardly a picture of health morality.

Don't get me wrong, I abhor drugs in every guise, but that is the way of rock and roll. And as you say dates back to The Beatles over 45 years ago.

I may be wrong but can not recall a doping offence amongst sports stars that far back.

Does drugs free the mind for creating better songs??

I don't know, I have never done drugs but I would probably say no. David Bowie, for example, has knocked out decent tunes at the height of his coke habit as well as after he was completey clean.

Winehouse is an interesting case. Personally I love her music so time will tell when she finally gets her act together and becomes clean.

Doherty is simply crap, heroin or not. He really is a waste of space and deserves all the negative press he receives.

[angel-cake]

Yes abdul, i see your point and totally agree with you about doherty. I personally have never seen any talent in him, drugs or no drugs.

Obviously I understand that you cannot regard a music star as 'cheating' as how could you ever even prove that a song was produced from the effects of drugs, or not.

I suppose I just find it a little confusing that music stars are constantly hailed as talent despite their drug habit, when it may be that drug habit that is giving them the 'talent' in the first place.

But yes, maybe your Bowie point proves this theory wrong.