U2: Running to Stand Still (1987)

The song, like "Bad,"  is about heroin addiction. In fact, Adam Clayton called it "Bad Part II." It reminds me of high school and a time now long gone. However, the theme still resonates as drug addiction continues...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvUI-s4Azw4

Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze (1967)

Psychedelic rock with obvious drug references combined with one of the all-time greatest riffs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjwWjx7Cw8I

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats: SOB (2016)

The song is about alcohol addiction. Although it seems to take a lighthearted poke at it, there is some real horror behind the jocularity.

http://www.westword.com/music/nathaniel-rateliff-on-the-sobering-story-behind-sob-7105811

The Rolling Stones: Monkey Man (1969)

The prevailing theory is "Monkey Man" is about a bad acid trip. However, some believe it is a self portrait by Mick Jagger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNY8eYmzdH4

Donovan: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2012

Official Site: http://www.donovan.ie/en/

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/donovan/bio/


Donovan began as a folk singer, but incorporated jazz, folk, pop, psychedelia, and calypso into his music. He signed his first contract in 1965. By the mid-60s, he was a star.
Catch the Wind (1965): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8hjEYTpwE8

Colours (1965): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoEle04qu_U

The Universal Soldier (1965): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC9pc4U40sI

Sunshine Superman (1966): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTuPbJLqFKI

Mellow Yellow (1966): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64mb_hUOb4g

Epistle to Dippy (1967): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s39grPU-qKk

There is a Mountain (1967): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcMM5-zBCEc

Jennifer Juniper (1968): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCtcXDCxh7w

Hurdy Gurdy Man (1968): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHV8Wzldlck

Atlantis (1968): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leI7sfmipuI

Barabajagal (1969): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgpmebgHoFU



His fortunes swooned after the sixties because people associated him with the decade and hippie music.
I Like You (1973): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEH-3pQC7LQ

Dare to be Different (1977): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu4g6lxHfYw

Neutron (1981): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZFeJCNeWEE

To Love You (2013): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve4iNMSjfJ8

As of 2014, Donovan is still out and about.

The Rolling Stones: Mother's Little Helper (1966)

Apparently, valium use skyrocketed amongst housewives in the mid-sixties. The Stones took this from the headlines to write "Mother's Little Helper" about a woman that can't take life's stress any longer. She's older, has to care for kids, make dinner, run the house, and no one appreciates that she "gets tired." Billy Joel incorporates this theme into his video for "We Didn't Start The Fire" in 1989.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfGYSHy1jQs

The Byrds: Eight Miles High (1966)

The Byrds created folk rock by combining Dylan with the Beatles. In 1966, they released "Eight Miles High." The song was banned because of supposed drug connotations. The Byrds denied the linkage at the time, but later admitted the song was inspired in part to their trips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLzzlQj6b6M

Blondie: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2006

Rock Hall Bio: https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/blondie/bio/

Official Site: http://www.blondie.net/

Chris Stein and Deborah Harry formed Blondie in the mid-70s. The band was at the forefront of the punk and new wave music revolutions of the period. They were eclectic in the extreme.

Rip Her to Shreds (1977): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsMefrj_ICE

They scored overseas, but did not break in the US until 1978 when they released the classic Parallel Lines.

Heart of Glass (1979): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGU_4-5RaxU

One Way of Another (1979): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXewIR7Y7cc

Dreaming (1979): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU3-lS_Gryk

They provided an all-time classic and one of the great songs of the 80s for American Gigolo.

Call Me (1980): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH3Q_CZy968

Atomic (1980): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_WLw_0DFQQ

The Tide is High (1980): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppYgrdJ0pWk

The first song with a rap to hit #1:

Rapture (1980): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHCdS7O248g

The totally changed their sound for their next album.

Island of Lost Souls (1982): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8ZviR3BzqA

Tensions in the band, a drop in album sales, drugs, and Chris Stein mortality in the face of pemphigus broke the band up in 1982.

Blondie reunited in the late 90s. They became the only band with #1 hits in three decades. The band continues to tour...

Maria (1999): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoOG7LEyUJ0

Good Boys (2003): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_niLaDS6ec

A Rose By Any Name (2013): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XQO7Bmj1UA

Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed (1972)

Lou Reed died on October 26, 2013 from complications brought on by a liver transplant. Reed was a genius that brought a gritty street reality to music. "Walk on the Wild Side" is his signature song and encompasses Reed's style. He pushed the boundaries with topics including drugs, transsexuality, and male prostitution. It is amazing the song became a radio favorite because Reed does not try to use innuendo. He is upfront with his topics. Rest in peace Lou!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wNknGIKkoA

The Pretenders: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2005

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-pretenders/bio/

Chrissie Hynde moved from Akron, Ohio to London, England in 1973. She helped form The Pretenders in 1978. The band broke in  1980 with “Brass in Pocket.”

Brass in Pocket (1979): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Hy7uAb_eU

Talk of the Town (1980): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99svrFj-G_g

I Go To Sleep (1981): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIpfsMdf0LQ

Day After Day (1981): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U74kDn1fq5w

Back on the Chain Gang (1982): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK3uf5V0pDA

My City was Gone (1982): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvAYGz6Iwmc

Pete Farndon and James Honeyman-Scott both died of drug overdoses around the same time.

Middle of the Road (1983): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDeHAM93fuc

Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1984): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pCCdclkdLY

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (1987): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWZUFuTtNg8

Rush Limbaugh began using the bass line from “My City Was Gone” to open his show.

I’ll Stand By You (1994): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHbKhEYUccQ

Loving You Is All I Know (1999): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_5lPRAlb7Y

Human (1999): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ofxxUc-BqU

Boots of the Chinese Plastic (2008): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TfRFi9aus8

Bob Seger: American Storm (1986)

Bob Seger wrote “American Storm” after reading Bob Woodward’s biography of John Belushi. Seger thought the coke epidemic was a fad and his song would be outdated before it came out. However, the problem worsened by 1986. The music video featured James Woods, Scott Glenn, Leslie Ann Warren, and Randy Quaid and was banned by MTV. The network obviously did not get the anti-drug message.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLr43Slkwis

Nirvana: Lithium (1992)

Nirvana began recording "Lithium" in 1990. Front man Kurt Cobain disliked drummer Chad Channing's effort on the record, which helped lead to Dave Grohl's entry into the band. The song is about a man that turns to religion to cope with his girlfriend's death. "Lithium" was inspired by Karl Marx's comments about religion being an opiate for the masses. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkcJEvMcnEg