If you can’t experience the joy of creation, then why even do it? The lifestyle alone will eventually leave you feeling hollow with nothing to show for it. I think people forget that moderation is a viable choice. It doesn’t have to be about extremes, but so few understand that.

While drugs and alcohol can enhance the creative experience it is shortlived compared to the side effects of long term use.

Nothing beats inspiration resulting from listening to great music, lots of fun practice and playing with other artists, music producers and likeminded people.

The best artists and musicians end up cleaning up if they are in it for the long haul.

@ Sid – Yes, the rock’n'roll image definitely sells more music. “Live fast, get up early and practice” doesn’t have the same appeal somehow.

“Meanwhile the competition is at home, working their asses off.”

I also think we need to separate the myths and marketing from the actual work that created the successes.

Especially with music artists, I think it sells better if they come across as some wild, fun crazy guys – rather than hard workers . Thats not what you want to be thinking about when you’re listening to music – you want to be thinking about the back story and “character” that is being played up to sell the music

Free your mind as you will, but it’s like everything else – balance is key. Will you focus more on drugs, alcohol, or your art?

@ Kristin – I can understand being a writer without living the Artist Lifestyle. It’s harder to imagine doing it without coffee.

I heard an interview with him the day of the concert. He was into “the lifestyle” in the 1970′s, and his record company dropped him. He quit drinking, but he said it took years to convince the record company he’d really stopped.

He said something along the lines of alcohol was no longer “fuel” and he knew he had to give it up.

Record companies don’t loom as large as they once did, but I doubt Lightfoot would have a 50-year career if he hadn’t backed away from the booze.

There are lots of stories like his–artists who realize partying isn’t a viable long-term plan–but I think most people have to figure it out on their own.

Well yes spent five years myself playing in seedy bars sending out demos. Of my peers there are very few that did anything at all.

The very sad fact is that I have lost many friends – due to the lifestyle. Reminding me very much of “Howl” by Alan Ginsberg:
“I have seen the best minds of my generation . . . . ” which is a cautionary poem on lifestyle, which ought to be but is probably not ( Yes there was an obscenity trial ) on Reading lists.

Almost as bad, witnessed over time very talented musicians and artists waste their undoubted gift because they thought someone else would come along and make it happen. You have really nailed it, the artists who made it big treated it all very seriously and studiously – it was something they totally immmersed themselves in and worked at like any trade. Most exceptions would most likely either be rich well connected kiddies or one hit wonders.

I wish I’d had this to give to a few of my mates twenty years ago – maybe they’d still be around.