Greatest Sober Musicians

[Carl]

Rock Stars are not social drinkers. Thanks to lifestyle and availability, they usually develop a drug or alcohol problem at some point.

There are a few famous musicians, however, how have never touched the stuff, or touched it once and decided to never do it again.

If we were putting together an All-Star team of the greatest musicians who refused to imbibe, who would be on it? We're not talking about the folks who went to rehab and got clean (Eric Clapton), but the ones who never did it in the first place. Here are two that come to mind:

Gene Simmons

Angus Young

What other always-sober superstars are out there?

[edna]

Bruce Springsteen said he never took drugs.

[TheLizard]

^ That was my first thought. “He’s in good shape by not doing drugs. It’s something he doesn’t have to preach about. He’s a living example of what happens when you never do drugs your whole life. I mean, I’m sure he’s taken a drink or two a few times in his life, but he was never a drinker either.” - Steven Van Zandt

On the other hand, Ted Nugent never touched drugs either, and he's completely insane.

[edna]

On the other hand, Ted Nugent never touched drugs either, and he's completely insane.

Steve Van Zandt is also known for being anti-drugs...

[Lucky]

Frank Zappa - no drugs, oddly enough.

[edna]

...so we have six by now... ...tough...

[JumboXL]

"What other always-sober superstars are out there?". Superstar is a criterium that limits the choice to a few dozen.

A well known rock artist that might deserve the "all clean!" label is probably Supertramp's Roger Hodgson, but I cannot find explicit proof for it.

And the first candidate I thought off: Charlie Watts - nope.... Had an addiction crisis in the mid-80s.

Edited August 19, 2013 by Guest

[Lucky]

Alice Cooper never had an issue with drugs, and I think he is actually completely anti drug. I remembered that on the way to work today (does anyone else think of these things at times they can't do anything about it?).

Does Will Smith count as a real musician/artist? Because he has to be just about the most clean cut hip hop artist I could ever think of think of.

[Rayzor]

First "Superstar" I thought of was Angus Young, but Carl used it as an example. I've also read that Brian May of Queen isn't into drugs & rarely drinks. A "Superstar" straight-edge I thought of is Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins).

Another straight-edge (but not "Superstar" outside Canada) is Bif Naked.

Edited August 20, 2013 by Guest

[Lucky]

I also remember reading that John Fogerty and the rest of Creedence were anti drug during their heyday. I'm not sure if it remained that way or not.

[edna]

I also remember reading that John Fogerty and the rest of Creedence were anti drug during their heyday. I'm not sure if it remained that way or not.

That's right, they were quite "square"...

[TheLizard]

Alice Cooper never had an issue with drugs, and I think he is actually completely anti drug. I remembered that on the way to work today (does anyone else think of these things at times they can't do anything about it?).

I'm fairly certain he went to rehab for an alcohol issue in the 80s. He's been outspoken since then and has helped other rockers with their addictions, but only after overcoming his own.

[edna]

So we had six and now Brian May, Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins)and Bif Naked. And John Fogerty.

That makes ten...

[miamisammy29]

Didn't Billy Corgan pass out on stage a few years back due to overload of prescription medications? Last time I looked, they were still considered drugs.

[edna]

...that would make nine

[miamisammy29]

That's still a pretty good number.

[edna]

[phil]

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull is very anti-drug. I saw Tull about 15 years ago, and he was berating some audience members who were smoking weed.

[Shawna]

good call, Phil. Carl's interviews with Ian included some talk about his stance on drugs, if I recall correctly...

[edna]

Ten again.

[Lucky]

My son says Henry Rollins? I googled it, and sounds like he could be right, but I know nothing of the man.

[MindCrime]

My son says Henry Rollins? I googled it, and sounds like he could be right, but I know nothing of the man.

Yeah Henry Rollins (of Black Flag) has always been sober. I think he's more famous as an actor than he is as a musician.

[TheLizard]

Henry Rollins is an actor? (Black Flag rules!)

[JumboXL]

Alice Cooper doesn't fit the category "clean superstars". The song How you gonna see me now was about his return from rehab after his alcohol addiction. Wiki: "In 1983, after the recording of DaDa, Cooper was re-hospitalized for alcoholism. ".

[bluesboy]

Might Prince fit this category?