The past fifty years of American music is littered with famed musicians who have buckled under crippling addictions to controlled substances. From rap artists to pop stars to rock n’ roll gods, the list of artists affected is virtually endless and the substances they exploit range from designer hallucinogens to OTC meds. Whether fact or folly, publicly confessed or privately kept, reports of drug use and alcohol abuse seem to plague some of America’s biggest stars.
Amy Winehouse
Perhaps the most notorious train wreck of the times, Amy Winehouse is the poster child for “Just Say No!” Winehouse has been filmed and photographed allegedly smoking crack, taking Valium pills, and snorting Ecstasy (all in one sitting). In addition, Winehouse has cemented her reputation as a boozebag – in September 2007, she performed at the MOBO Awards in London and apparently could not be convinced to lay off the firewater before and during her performance. The singer was quite tipsy and gave an unforgettable (In the Ashlee Simpson sort of way) performance in which she was out of sync with her band at and forgot some of the lyrics.
Dave Grohl
Front man for the wildly popular Foo Fighters revealed in an interview that he has performed drunk for the last 15 years: “When you play sober, you're hyperaware of everything going on, whereas nonsober shows are fun because you don't give a f***.” Yeah “My Hero” you would have to be pretty wasted to play that song seriously.
Dave Matthews
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the Dave Matthews Band’s song “Trippin’ Billies” is about an all-too-real acid trip. Allegedly Matthews has said the song is about his first time partaking of the drug, how much he enjoyed it. If you’ve ever been to a DMB concert, you’re know first-hand you don’t have to smoke a joint to get high. The singer has admitted to drug use and smoking pot and supposedly would often smoke backstage during concerts.
Lily Allen
Paging Amy Winehouse! It seems Lily Allen has taken a liking to intoxication and supposedly has had a long struggle with alcohol abuse. In June of 2007, Allen performed at New York City’s Roseland Ballrom and seemed to have chugged more shots than she sang words. Concert goers say the singer repeatedly tripped over her gown, forgot lyrics to her own songs, and repeatedly giggled at her seemingly funny mistakes.
Britney Spears
The world’s biggest pop star circa 2000 was sexy yet sweet platinum blonde Ms. Britney Spears. But after three stints in rehab, wild partying and drinking, and an unfortunate incident with some hair trimmers, Spears has earned a reputation as one of the most chaotic and unpredictable stars in the world. In September 2007, Spears was poised to make her big comeback at the MTV Video Music Awards; a “turning point” many believed the singer needed to regain her throne as pop’s reigning princess. Needless to say the performance bombed and Britney half-heartedly strutted (or wobbled, depending on who you ask) through a lip-synched version of her new single.
Right after the disastrous performance, reports began to surface that Spears had taken prescription pills and had some drinks to help calm her nerves. Whether it’s fact or fiction, Brit definitely was not at the top of her game.
50 Cent
Legally known as Curtis James Jackson, 50 Cent had a childhood steeped in drugs. His mother was a cocaine dealer and he began dealing at the ripe age of 12. In 1994, the rapper was arrested on felony drug charges after police found crack and heroin on him.
Now known as one of the biggest and baddest in the rap industry, 50 Cent is often beset with reports of drug use and like many rap artists of today, his lyrics are full of drug references. In December of 2007, a video from Croatia of 50 Cent and his entourage surfaced, which fueled the fire of speculation. The video is shot from behind so you cannot see exactly what they are doing, but it many say it looks as though they are snorting coke backstage.
If you were at Coachella over the weekend you were sure to have seen or at least heard (if those senses were in working order at the time) about the disappearing act of psychedelic, Pink Floyd front man, Roger Water’s politically inspired, inflatable pig. Well, if you didn’t the pig which as been a symbolic feature of the band since it’s 1977 release of the anti-capitalism album “Animals” floated a bit outside of it’s expected range (around the stage during Water’s performance).
The porker who adorned politically charged graffiti escaped during Water’s opening set on April 27th and was found shredded and strewn across two residential homes in La Quinta, a town a few miles outside of the Coachella concert fields.
On one side of the pig was an illustration of Uncle Sam bearing butcher’s knives with the words “don’t be led to the slaughter”. The opposite side read “fear builds walls”. Waters, an obvious Obama Mama also wrote Obama with a check mark on the underbelly of the swine. Does anyone else see the irony in this? Tombstone: Social Revolutionary, Dissenter, Individualist, Pig, died supporting his own cause. This can’t be a good omen for Obama’s campaign!
The reward for the return of the pig; $10,000 and 4 tickets for life to the annual Coachella festival is said to be split among the two home owners.
The popular Disney act is the newest to bring the outrage over scalping into mainstream media.
In what is shaping up to be the next Hannah Montana fiasco the Australian preschool rock band has the kiddies and parent outraged! Due to their immense popularity with the youngsters the colorful rock group has garnered significant attention from fans and scalpers and like Hannah Montana will probably fuel further legislation against scalping. During their hometown tour a $19 ticket was discovered selling on EBAY for $2000. Coming from a group who opposes scalping, keeps their ticket prices low so the whole family can come to a performance, and who is holding a charity concert in Sydney with all proceeds being donated to UNICEF, the Australian Associated Press announced they promptly cancelled the ticket once it was discovered.
The Wiggles are touring the US over July and August and although presales have not yet begun you can be sure both fans and scalpers will be ready to pounce when they’re released in June. The Wiggles are Australia’s highest paid Australian entertainers topping AC/DC, Nicole Kidman, and Russell Crowe.
*ticketnews
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Is it just me or have baseball prices gone way up this year. Fans (almost) everywhere share the same cry's of distaste for the current cost of enjoying a night out at the ball game.
According to reports released by TMR average league wide ticket prices have gone up to $25.40, a 10.9% increase from the previous season.
"Team Marketing Report's 2008 Major League Baseball Fan Cost Index jumped 8.3 percent to $191.75 this season. Both increases are the highest for MLB since 2001, when tickets went up 12.9 percent (to $18.99), and the FCI went up 9.8 percent to $145.45".
12 teams had price increases of more than 10% 6 of which had increases over 20%
"The World Champion Boston Red Sox continue to have baseball's priciest ticket. The Red Sox's average price of $48.80 is a 10.1 percent jump from last year. The team's Fan Cost Index total of $320.71 is more than $60 higher than the No. 2 team, the New York Yankees".
"The FCI is a representative look at the costs for a family of four to attend a Major League Baseball game. It is comprised of four average tickets, as calculated through a weighted formula, two beers, four soft drinks, four hot dogs, parking for one car, two programs and two adult-sized caps".
"The Yankees, playing in their last season at Yankee Stadium, could overtake the Red Sox for the toughest ticket in baseball. And that ticket won't be cheap. According to TMR research, the average regular ticket will cost $36.58 and the cost to take a family of four to the Bronx stadium will be $259.84. That price, however, is hardly representative to what tickets will cost via the secondary market this season".
The Mets in their last season at Shea stadium recorded a 20.5% increase in average ticket prices. The Cubs entering there 100th season since their last World Series win are second priciest with an average price of $42.49
"Regardless of the increase, baseball is still the most affordable of the top four North American sports (see TMR web site for FCI historical data for baseball, basketball, football and hockey) and 11 teams have average ticket prices under $20".
Five teams have FCI totals under $150 including the Rays, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Giants, and Angels. Despite turnaround seasons the Rockies and the Brewers also rank low on the FCI. While National's fans will be feeling a jump from 24-15 in the rankings. The Kansas City Royals who typically rank low on the FCI have jumped a few spots in the index due to a 21.1% increase in ticket prices.
* congoo.com/news
