High 5

When discussing fine art, timeless novels and unforgettable music, the fact that the author or artist, may have been under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is rarely mentioned.  It’s surprising how many of our favorite works of art came about while its creator was, for lack of a better term, high. 1. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005) Hunter S. Thompson was an American journalist and writer , truly ahead of his time. Thompson challenged the status quo of America in 1971 by writing an in-your-face novel, that celebrates the use of LSD and mescaline in the same fashion most people celebrate oxygen.

2. It by Stephen King (1947-) One of Steven King’s best-selling novels, this 1986 classic starred the bone-chillingly terrifying Pennywise the Dancing Clown. “It” embodied a true dark time in the author’s past.  During the late 80’s, King had become a hardcore alcoholic and massive cocaine abuser. Nevertheless, he continued to write bestselling hits such as Misery and The Tommyknockers.

3. Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 classic about a man with dual personalities, one good and one evil, was one of his greatest successes. According to The Guardian, Stevenson was said to have written this masterpiece during a six-day cocaine binge,

4. “Beatles for Sale”  by The Beatles “The Beatles,”pioneering band of the 1960’s started using drugs early in their career while releasing timeless hits like “Eight Days a Week.” The “Beatles for sale” album was produced while the band was experimenting with drugs like marijuana. Later albums such as “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band” were said to be fueled by hallucinogenic drugs like LSD.

5. “Under the Bridge” by The Red Hot Chili Peppers In 1992, when this song was released, soccer moms were dropping their kids off at practice while humming along to this Chili Peppers mega-hit. The group’s ode to heroine delivers a catchy enough hook to divert your attention from references like “I don’t ever wanna feel” and “Under the bridge downtown is where I drew some blood.”