# Are there any rock stars who've never used recreational drugs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 30, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365 "2015-08-30T02:20:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/1 "2015-08-30T02:20:06Z")
Drugs and rock and roll seem to be so much a part of each other that I suppose it would be rare to find any major stars who have never used drugs (let’s leave alcohol out of the picture here). I know there are many who no longer use drugs (rehabbed or dead), but are there any who are known never to have used them? ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/2 "2015-08-30T02:27:47Z")
Ted Nugent claims to have never used alcohol or recreational drugs with the exception of one week in 1977 when he used crystal meth with the specific intent of avoiding the Vietnam draft. I suggest taking this claim with a few grains of salt. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/3 "2015-08-30T02:28:36Z")
Frank Zappa? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/4 "2015-08-30T02:32:16Z")
Bruce Springsteen, as cited in many articles and interviews. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/5 "2015-08-30T02:36:13Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Frank Zappa? [Well according to this essay Zappa did admit to experimenting with marijuana, but didn’t get the appeal.](https://strictlyzappa.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/zappa-coffee-cigarettes/) ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/6 "2015-08-30T02:52:24Z")
Wait, Zappa was sober? That–kind of explains some things, actually. ---
**Author:** ![desertmonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@desertmonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desertmonk)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/7 "2015-08-30T02:54:43Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > Ted Nugent claims to have never used alcohol or recreational drugs with the exception of one week in 1977 when he used crystal meth with the specific intent of avoiding the Vietnam draft. > > I suggest taking this claim with a few grains of salt. What? There’s a number of problems with what you typed, let’s start with the date of 1977 and then ask for a cite for the rest. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/8 "2015-08-30T03:02:15Z")
Gene Simmons? Or does he just avoid alcohol? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/9 "2015-08-30T03:03:23Z")
There is the whole straight edge punk movement; but I don’t know if any of those people were stars. Frankly, they scare me a little bit. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/10 "2015-08-30T03:13:47Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > [Well according to this essay Zappa did admit to experimenting with marijuana, but didn’t get the appeal.](https://strictlyzappa.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/zappa-coffee-cigarettes/) > [@foolsguinea](#): > > Wait, Zappa was sober? > > That–kind of explains some things, actually. I didn’t read the article (but the mousing over it seems to agree with what I’m going to say) and I know next to nothing about Zappa, but I’ve always heard he didn’t do any drugs other than drinking an incredible amount of coffee. Also, I assume this thread is mostly aimed at classic (60’s-70’s) rock stars. I’d be surprised if it’s anywhere near as prevalent now as it was then. Maybe with the bands that have been around since the 90’s, but the ones that have cropped up in the last 10-15 years or so, I don’t know. I just don’t see Taylor Swift or Justin Timberlake chasing the dragon after a show to relax. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/11 "2015-08-30T03:21:05Z")
iirc, Roger Daltrey wasn’t into the drugs and at times used his fists on other band members to make them get more in tune with the straight and narrow. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/12 "2015-08-30T03:48:41Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Wait, Zappa was sober? > > That–kind of explains some things, actually. I’ve heard the same thing about “Weird Al” Yankovic. That, too would explain some things, actually. 😛 I also wouldn’t be surprised if at least some of the guys in U2 have never used illicit drugs. I could also be very mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/13 "2015-08-30T03:54:43Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Gene Simmons? Or does he just avoid alcohol? Gene is and always has been completely alcohol and drug-free, if you can believe it. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/14 "2015-08-30T04:07:12Z")
Not a rock star so forgive the slight hijack, but Penn (of Penn and Teller, who I know have a lot of fans here) says he has never had a drop of alcohol or tried any recreational drug in his life. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/15 "2015-08-30T04:09:29Z")
Henry Rollins claims to have never had any time for drugs, not even alcohol or cigarettes. It’s always the ones you least expect. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/16 "2015-08-30T04:17:01Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Henry Rollins claims to have never had any time for drugs, not even alcohol or cigarettes. > > It’s always the ones you least expect. Why else would he look so angry and pissed off all the time? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/17 "2015-08-30T04:18:34Z")
The members of Pink Floyd have said that while they did some drugs early in their career, they had stopped by the time they recorded pretty much all of their albums. Apparently Syd Barrett’s example scared the rest of them straight. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/18 "2015-08-30T04:21:35Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Henry Rollins claims to have never had any time for drugs, not even alcohol or cigarettes. > > It’s always the ones you least expect. He strikes me as being the ultimate straight-edge, and that includes his sexuality. To me, he comes across as being completely asexual. He has stated that as a child, he was a victim of multiple episodes of sexual abuse, although AFAIK he’s never said by whom. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/19 "2015-08-30T11:59:34Z")
> [@desertmonk](#): > > What? There’s a number of problems with what you typed, let’s start with the date of 1977 and then ask for a cite for the rest. You’re absolutely right, I screwed up the date. It was a 1977 _article_. Mea culpa for this unacceptable error on my part. See his wiki page for details. As for the rest, I’ve heard him claim in concert that he has never used. The closest thing I could find to a cite is from [SNOPES.COM](http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/nugent.asp) > [@](#): > > Q: “Are you still a hard case on drugs?” > > A: “Real hard. I have never done a drug in my life. I have never smoked a joint in my life. I took two tokes off a joint with the MC5 one night and almost gagged and thought it was stupid. And that’s it. I took two tokes off a joint once. I snorted one line of cocaine. And one line of crystal methedrine before my draft physical — but God, that was worth it because I wanted to see the look on the Sergeant’s face. That’s it for drugs.” ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365/20 "2015-08-30T12:01:31Z")
Bassist from Queen John Deacon was enough of a straight edge that the others in the band gave him the nickname ‘Deacon John’ on their first album. In a band questionnaire for their video collection under ‘Favorite Drink’ he put ‘tea’. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-rock-stars-whove-never-used-recreational-drugs/729365.md?page=2)