Janis Joplin died at 27. So did Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix. And Kurt Cobain. So too, today, did Amy Winehouse.
John Belushi was 33. River Phoenix was 23. Ernest Hemingway was 61.
The only time I remember seeing Winehouse she was winning Grammy after Grammy for a song named “Rehab” in which she talks about refusing to get treatment. She was not at the ceremony because she couldn’t leave her home country, England. The next day she went to see her husband in prison. She was then 24.
There is no doubt in my mind that Winehouse was an addict. And crazy. And brilliant. And amazingly talented.
I wonder what happens when someone throws themselves so completely into their art that their is no turning back. Is it the art that killed Janis Joplin or the drugs? Kurt Cobain’s whole musical sensibility was about his pushing beyond the limits of normal space and time and refusing to stop no matter what.
My belief is that great art doesn’t require a death wish. We have too many examples of young men and women of amazing talent imbedded in our memory not only for the legacy of their work but for their tragic demise.
My favorite current song is “Someone Like You” by Adele who gives credit to Amy Winehouse. She carries on her friend Amy’s vast talent with haunting lyrics and piercing vocal ability, without the death wish.
http://youtu.be/w7EdaZdcijU
image via MTV
If you take away the drugs, if you take away the alcohol, the pain, the loss, and if you go back to the beginning…you are left with a voice. Drama should not cloud talent in its purest form. It’s not an art, it was a blessing; a captivating and unique power Amy possessed and a rare position that grew faster than her ability to learn to cope with this new position of power. Before fame, I wonder how Amy coped? I’m sure drugs and alcohol played a role on a much smaller scale. I mourn her loss still today. I… Read more »
I study myself more than any other subject; it is my metaphysic, and my physic….
If you don”t know how to die, don”t worry; Nature will tell you what to do on the spot, fully and Adequately. She will do this job perfectly for you; don”t bother your head about it….
Well said Karin – insightful and honest. Thank you.
Michael
I think what draws people to those artists is that a lot of them die so relatively early. When they do that people are left wondering, “What could they have accomplished had they lived?” I think its that unfulfilled potential that fascinates people. People still oocasionally ask, “What would Hendrix have done if he had lived?” and that’s been what, almost 30 years ago? Someone on my Facebook friends list commented that Winehouse was nowhere near the level of Hendrix, Kobain, and Joplin. And I agree. Winehouse’s career was too short to match the accomplishments of the likes of them.… Read more »
I am a multi-talented person. I can be vivacious, I can be a hermit. I have mental illness. People say I’m extraordinary. I often wake up wanting to die. The next day I have endless energy to create. Every day is affected by nameless factors, so I put love first. I am elated. Then lost. At ease, then I scare myself. The artistic drive in me and desire to connect to life freely are at war. Always. The shrapnel hurts my head. Thoughts turn to easing that pain. In any way that helps ~ and there you go.
Art does not require self destruction.
That being said, many great artists are able to touch us so deeply because they have experienced such overwhelmingly strong versions of love, loss, pain, agony, etc. Their own personal struggles come through to us and touch us in a way we can relate with. They are flames that burn short and bright, they are gifts to the rest of us. Not every artist lives this way, but the ones that do touch us and leave an impression are remembered.
This is an idiotic and badly written article.
I don’t believe that it’s always the drugs. I believe the drugs are self-medication. Bipolar disorder and artistic talent go together. My son is bipolar. He’s also an artist and an alcoholic and cigarette addict. He was bipolar before he was either an alcoholic or addicted to cigarettes (in fact he started cigarettes during a hospitalization after a psychotic break).
I agree with Mary. My son is bipolar too, (see Bipolar Planet in this magazine). He is musical and creative, and will always need drugs of some sort. He started self-medicating with marijuana at the age of 13 and has since tried everything else. Just for today, he’s taking his pharmaceutical drugs which help keep him stable. But I think he worries his creativity may have disappeared.
Tom , You ask – “Is it the art that killed Janis Joplin or the drugs? ” Make no mistake , it was the drugs, and/or mental illness, and that is true for Amy Winehouse, and all the others as well. Creativity, genius, and dedication to creating great art does not have to lead to craziness and death, in fact, the opposite is true: Creativity, genius, and dedication to creating great art can be a path to health and life. It was the drugs. It’s always the drugs, and it’s such a sad, sad shame, and such a waste. Amy… Read more »
Building up to first Saturn return (28-29).
When I was younger I used wonder about why ‘great artists/scientists/achievers’ seem to self destruct. I was fearful that to ‘succeed’ in life I have too become addicted and obsessed about ‘my work’.
Tom, I really appreciate your offering a place to debate so many problematic areas of manhood and humanity. Thank you to the other contributors who share their wisdom so generously.
It’s a wonderful journey of discovery. I have a lot to learn. It’s great having a community of online mentors providing such breadth of opinions so respectfully.
Amen Karin
You are welcome Luma
Discourse on the idea of talent as all consuming dates as far back as Keats and the other Romantic poets. Their art comes from so far within it destroys their bodies in the process. With genius comes a price.
older than keats. the point is that it isn’t art or genius that kills, its human weakness. genius doesn’t kill us. art doesn’t kill us.
those things give us birth
I’m going to be mulling, and struggling, with Lance’s comment for a while. As, sure, I’ll be struggling with what I think of Amy Winehouse. Talent as curse…maybe. But our curse is usually also our most poignant connection to life. Does it have to be self-destructive? No, it doesn’t have to be. But often is. The list, the names, are too many to count. But why do we remember Cobain and forget Courtney Love? Why is the social media world buzzing with Winehouse but uncomfortably quiet about the terrorism in Oslo? Speaking the other day with a guy who is,… Read more »
For sure Lance. Thanks for tuning in and keeping me honest.
Amy Winehouse was immensely talent. Her problem, like so many others, is talent isn’t self satisfaction. It’s viewed as a curse to the artist. They never feel good enough. Praise is poison. I hope she finds peace. Without Amy we don’t get unconventional stars like Adele, Lady Gaga, and Duffy. That’s Amy’s legacy.
she will be missed
Amy did NOT inspire Lady Gaga OR Duffy.
So no, Amy doesn’t have a legacy, but she’s probably left a Syringe around her house somewhere.
And no, it’s not cynical, or nasty. It’s the cold hard truth.