An utterly terrifying thought, Spaw.Well, I did just about everything once, years ago when I was at the appropriate age for 'sperimenting. No needle drugs, but if you could chew it, smoke it, snort it or swallow it whole, I tried it once. A couple of things I tried twice. And I'm not sorry that I did, but I'm also glad I stopped when I did and only had that limited experience. I certainly learned a thing or two about the doors of perception, and that our experience of reality is highly subjective and subject to change at a moment's notice.
I did somoke a bit of pot, but again, never developed a habit. I'm the same way with cigarettes -- every now and then I'll smoke one or two when I have a beer and then not smoke again for a year. I've certainly seen lots of friends, and one to whom I was married, destroy their lives and lose absolutely everything to drugs. Which I never understood because I never had one single experience that I thought was worth losing any significant part of my life over. And now, it just doesn't work for me to break the law. I think drugs should be completely legalized and taken out of the criminal realm and if someone has a problem with them, he or she should have access to treatment and rehab. Period. And the gangstas should go find some other area in which to express their entrepreneurial bent.
However, I do think that some of the best experiences I've had as a singer came when I was a little stoned -- mainly because I'm pretty tightly strung and often lacking in confidence about the things that matter most to me -- music and writing -- and being just a little altered shuts up that cranky critical voice in my psyche enough that I can actually do some creating. But ... the line is so quickly crossed over into sloppiness or stupidity that it just isn't worth it to me to "go there." Even a little alcohol makes me start getting sloppy with intonation, so I try to keep wine and separate, unless it's just a big ol' jam and no actual artistry is required. But I certainly don't drink and perform at the same time. I simply can't imagine it. Two drinks and I'm sliding down the mic stand. Others must have much stronger constitutions than I do....