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.