I interviewed Andrew about this excellent series of converations he had with prominent Australian musicians for Edge Radio. You can listen to the interview here.
Review:
Talking Smack, honest conversations about drugs is a collection of interviews with prominent Australian
musicians about drugs and drug taking. Covering a wide range of experiences and
a diverse selection of drugs, this is a non-judgemental, informative and
entertaining book.
Steve Kilbey of The Church is first up, with his eleven year
heroin habit and his lifelong use of hallucinogens and marijuana. He is brash
and seemingly invincible. His stories include being arrested in New York and
missing a show. Kilbey contrasts sharply
with Wally de Backer, better known as Gotye, who has barely touched drugs in
his life, he feels little interest or desire – and nor is he judgemental of
those who dabble or consume drugs more regularly.
Tina Arena is a bizarre inclusion, her interview features an
unrelated rant, with bemused comments from the author throughout. She has
little apparent experience with drugs – and some contradictory opinions on them
and their use.
While Macmillan the journalist puts himself into the text,
he is careful to provide honest and true portraits of drug use. The use of
heroin, ectasty, DMT, LSD, marijuana, ice and cocaine is described in many aspects
of use of these wildly varying drugs. The call for decriminalisation comes
through as a theme from many of these high profile drug users.
Another interesting consideration from many of these
musicians is their different responses to different drugs and how they affect
the creative process. It seems agreed that a small amount of marijuana is conducive
to listening to music, while heroin provides a sensation of invincibility, ice
with its heady, empty power surge of a rush makes an interesting cameo as
Grinspoon singer Ian Haug recounts his difficult rehab in the public eye.
Haug also says of drugs “(b)ut creatively, when it comes to
music, you can enhance things, and hear things differently, when you wath a
movie, you see it differently.”
Paul Kelly’s honest and unromanticised take on heroin, a
drug he danced with for a long time, Is lucid and fascinating. Kelly was one of
very few of his peers to have avoided a full blown habit.
The book ends with an excellent graphic essay drawn and written
by the author’s brother, that recounts the history of the war on drugs in the
twentieth century in the United States, which has more or less informed
Australian drug policy. This is a well researched book that provides a
fascinating and balanced report of drug use in the music industry.
(this review was first published in the December issue of Warp.
Talking Smack, honest conversations about drugs
by Andrew McMillen
9780702253232
