I'm watching Ken Burns' documentary on Jazz, a 10 DVD series originally made for PBS. It's a great documentary (if you're interested be sure to shop around. Prices range from $170 at my local Barnes and Noble to $70 via Amazon.)
Anyway, it's absolutely amazing how many of the notable jazz musicians destroyed or at least shortened their lives with drink and drugs. So many of them died in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Booze and heroin seem to have been the favorites.
Some realized that they didn't like the intoxicants and became sort of like born again Christians in that they quit drinking and smoking, and either dedicated themselves to their music fully or got some kind of religion.
It's 20 hours of great video, and there are so many stories of self destruction. If you teach or pastor, you may want to watch this because there are a lot of cautionary tales there.
Since I don't drink or smoke, I guess the message to me is to think twice before having that slice of French silk pie or that cup of diet coke.
