Johnny Cash & drugs

[bcubed]

It's well known that Mr. Cash had a rather serious addiction to amphetamines, that he ultimately kicked.

What I'd like to know is, did he have an affinity for alcohol? SWIM has mentioned to me that music created by stimulant and hallucinogen users, while intellectually challenging, doesn't affect him viscerally the way music by alcohol and heroin users does.

SWIM has a hard time believeing that someone as dark and twisted as Mr. Cash could be anything other than an experienced alcohol user, but he hasn't found any info to confirm or deny. He knows that the movie "Walk the Line" portrayed his dad as a boozer, but did it pass on to the son?

In any event, what an amazingly cool person! SWIM fels that the world is quite the better for having Mr. Cash's presence.

[stoneinfocus]

In fact, he had more an alcohol problmes along with his amphetamine use,
but you see hin in a vidoe with a bottle of wine and he still, like always, has this shiver in his singing that´s creeping under your skin.

Aggree on your opinion on Mr Cash.

[wellhelm]

Word. I'm a band wagon Cash fan. I did not get into him till I saw the movie but now love to booze it up to some Johnny Cash. Just put some on my ipod the other day. Like you, I just assumed the man in black to be an alcoholic. He has an alcoholic feel and look to him.

[stoneinfocus]

Originally Posted by wellhelm

Word. I'm a band wagon Cash fan. I did not get into him till I saw the movie but now love to booze it up to some Johnny Cash. Just put some on my ipod the other day. Like you, I just assumed the man in black to be an alcoholic. He has an alcoholic feel and look to him.

he has somehow a sensitive, but ampheta mine powered-up style, that´s evened out by some booze.

[_caesar_]

He was addicted to barbiturates from what I've read, this probably adds to the darkness..

[old hippie 56]

Always been a fan of Cash, seen him live a couple times. Would have a big drunk if it wasn't for June.

[Alicia]

johnny cash... always one of swia faves when she in the mood.

"i fell in to a burning ring of fire..." always and always RIP johnny cash

[enquirewithin]

As his career was taking off in the early 1960s, Cash began drinking heavily and became addicted to amphetamines and barbiturates. For a brief time, Cash shared an apartment in Nashville with Waylon Jennings, who was heavily addicted to amphetamines. He would often hide his pills, forget where he hid them, and then accuse Jennings of stealing them. Cash used the uppers to stay awake during tours. Friends joked about his "nervousness" and erratic behavior, many ignoring the signs of his worsening drug addiction.

Looks like he was addicted to speed, barbiturates and alchohol! He quit drugs in the 70s after having a spiritual ephiphany. Praise the lord!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Cash

[El Calico Loco]

In his later years, Johnny Cash played a show at an Austin punk/indie venue called Emo's. After the show, he sat down at the bar and had a beer or two like a regular patron.

The proprietors of Emo's took the barstool he sat on and enshrined it over the bar. "Johnny Cash sat here".

He also has an honored place in the jukebox of Casino El Camino, a local bar that's widely thought to have the best jukebox in town (classic country exists alongside heavy metal, punk rock, motown, Sinatra, and even the occasional gangsta rap album).

One of the best musicians of all time. A true legend.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DuQKYOxV_h0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CK26wPJ3jAo


ECL

[lulz]

Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison is probably the best example you'll ever find of a white guy being bad ass. I'd say it's one of the best live albums ever recorded in any genre too, and I don't even like country.

Of relevence to this thread, there's a song on the album called Cocaine Blues. He didn't write it, it's an old folk song, and this version of it was written by a guy called TJ Arnall in 1947:

Early one morning while makin' the rounds
I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down
I went right home and I went to bed
I stuck that lovin' .44 beneath my head


Got up next morning and I grabbed that gun
I took a shot of cocaine and away I run
Made a good run but I run too slow
They overtook me down in Juarez, Mexico


Laid in the hot joint, takin' the pill
There walked the sheriff from Jericho Hill
He said "Willy Lee, your name is not Jack Brown
You're the dirty hack that shot your woman down"


Yes oh yes my name is Willy Lee
If you've got a warrant just'a read it to me
I shot her down 'cause she made me slow
I thought I was her daddy but she had five more


When I was arrested I was dressed in black
They put me on a train and they took me back
Had no friend who'd go my bail
They slapped my dried-up carcass in the county jail


Early next morning 'round half past nine
I spotted the sheriff comin' down the line
That sheriff yelled as he cleared his throat
Said come on you dirty hack into the district court


Into the courtroom my trial began
Where I was held by twelve honest men
Just before the jury started out
I saw that little judge commence to look about


In about five minutes in walked a man
Holding the verdict in his right hand
The verdict read in the first degree
I hollered Lordy Lordy have mercy on me


The judge he smiled when he picked up his pen
Ninety-nine years in the Folsom Pen
Ninety-nine years underneath that ground
But I can't forget the day I shot that bad bitch down

Come on, you gotta listen unto me
Stay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be

Some artist claims to have written "Hey Joe" (Hendrix only covered it) in the same year that Johnny Cash recorded a cover of "Cocaine Blues". I wonder if there was a connection...