Bravo Dick, I agree with iamIvan, very eloquent statement regarding our beloved thread, and on our little controversy. No further comment is needed. However, I've been here since 2004, and I need to express my thoughts. Though drug use and/or other forms of self-abuse are obviously not required to create great art, it is a denial of history not to acknowledge the impact of both on the creative process of many great artists; whether music, painting, sculpture, literature, dance, whatever. There is clearly an exceptional awareness, an emotional sensitivity, an emotional intensity in the soul of great artists that compels them to express themselves through their art in the first place. That awareness and sensitivity, I think, exposes them to the beauty and ugliness, the ecstasy, and pain, etc. on a deeper level than most non-artists. Many artists have obviously turned to various methods they have felt they needed "to handle the exhaustion" from the intensity of their need to communicate their perspective of the reality, of the human condition. They are human beings, ya know. We all experience this "artist's soul" thing to some degree, especially those of us that have a deep love and appreciation of art (and even those that spend more than a little time on this and similar threads.) I don't know if I am effectively expressing my point, but I have not noted anyone here glorifying or promoting drug use, or substance abuse. However, as a former history teacher, and as a lover of art in it's various forms, from time to time, drug use, substance abuse, and the intersection between art, artist, and other human frailties and social ills are going to be part of the conversation...That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it, so there! I appreciate your indulgence. I'm done now...
PS. Dick, Wish I lived in Nashville!