HW: Trip Review & Inspirat

[John A Swartz]

I'll throw a few cents (not necessarily sense) in the discussions about
playing while under the influence.  I should probably qualify my remarks
by saying I have gotten drunk on alchohol before, but have no experience
whatsoever with other mind-altering substances -- so maybe I don't have
the slightest idea as to what I'm talking about :-)

I believe that most people do not play "better" under the influence,
although if the audience is also in such a state that may not matter.
But, it definitely throws off one's timing so the music may not come
out technically correct (timing, wrong notes, etc.) - I used to play
alot of video games, and I was amazed how bad I became at them even
after only 1 or 2 beers.  Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith (in an interview
with BassPlayer magazine) said it pretty well that the drugs tend to
free up one's inhibitions and allow one to perhaps be more creative --
but one has to remember that drugs or not, the creativity of that
person exists inside them - if you can find another way to let go of
your inhibitions, that same creativity will shine through.  My guess is
that getting high/stoned is a fairly simple way to lower those
inhibitions (how many of us have been to a party and wouldn't go talk
to that other person until we've had a drink/smoke/etc. or two?),
but there are probably other ways.

Anyways, to each his/her own . . .

John