Response To Gerry Garcia

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Brandon Tracy Response Essay First Draft Due: 02/04/11 There has always been a strong relationship between music and altered states of consciousness. Since man first discovered the art of music humans have been using drugs and music along side of each other to help expand our understanding of our inner selves and the universe we live in, but sometimes enlightenment comes at a high price. Drug use can be detrimental to our bodies, mind, and soul, but as long as they are used responsibly they can also be beneficial . In a 1991 Rollling Stone magazine's James Henkie interviewed Jerry Garcia, the lead guitarist of the classic jam band The Grateful Dead. In the interview Jerry talks a little bit about how drug use has affected his life. Jerry and other members of the band have struggled with controlling their drug use in the past. Jerry dealt with a heroin addiction for 8 years and the band also lost their keyboardist, Brent Mydland, in 1990 due to a morphine and cocaine overdose.. During the interview the long time performer said "if you could figure out how to do them without being strung out on them, or without having them completely dominate your personality...I mean if drugs are making your decisions for you they're no fucking good." These are just merely bad experiences brought on by too much usage and if one can control their use of the drug won't hinder their ability to live a very happy and productive life. Once the drugs have become the most important part of your life is when you start down the long road of addiction. When Jerry was asked about his stance on drugs he responded with, "all kinds of drugs have been useful to me, and they also definitely been a hindrance to me. So far as I'm concerned the results are not in." Jerry believes that psychedelics can be a very positive thing and has showed him a whole other universe, but he also goes on
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