Kind of inspired by the moratorium on Amy Winehouse, I've kind of been thinking about the whole theory that artists produce their best work in their craft when they're in periods of suffering.

I know this isn't the case for all artists, but I can't help but wonder if some of them are intrinsically linked to their inner demons and I've often heard/read artists say that for some of them, it's therapy or a catharsis for whatever is afflicting them.

Not sure how many dj's that this would apply to (the most obvious applicable case that might be considered is DJ AM), but I'm reminded of how great an album [url="http://www.mercuryserver.com/forums/djdb.php?id=1359"]Massive Attack[/url]'s Mezzanine was and the group was barely speaking with each other, much less sharing any time in the studio when making the album.

Sometimes I wonder that if the artist who suffered for their craft might have been as good or even on the same career path had they had found happiness or balance.

Thoughts?

Re: Artists suffering for their craft

[url="http://www.mercuryserver.com/forums/djdb.php?id=5"]Sasha[/url].

After the release of invol2ver till today. Don't know WTF?!?! is going on.

Re: Artists suffering for their craft

I'm going with Ai Weiwei. No drugs, but being locked up by Chinese authorities because you dare to challenge the gov't is more of a suffering than a self imposed drug stupor.

[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_Weiwei[/url]

Re: Artists suffering for their craft

^yeap

Dont know if you can get this (location), but this was a damn good interview with him: [URL]http://www.abc.net.au/arts/stories/s3184161.htm[/URL]

Taken in 2008.

Re: Artists suffering for their craft

[IMG]http://www.stormthecastle.com/warcraft/images/do-not-disturb-playing-warcraft.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2Wk6C1u-l8/TC-c-VnBaCI/AAAAAAAAABk/Ft0B8-LywNA/s1600/south+park.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://grecosweb.com/spanky/thepictures/SpankyPlayingWarcraftAllDay.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Artists suffering for their craft

^ :roflmao:

So from suffering comes art, or from art comes suffering?

Re: Artists suffering for their craft

It all comes from talent :)

Re: Artists suffering for their craft

Taken from Frida Kahlo's Wikipedia... [URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo[/URL]

[quote]She suffered lifelong health problems, many of which derived from a traffic accident during her teenage years. These issues are perhaps represented by her works, many of which are self-portraits of one sort or another. Kahlo suggested, "I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best."[SUP][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo#cite_note-pp-8"][9][/URL][/SUP] She also stated, "I was born a bitch. I was born a painter.[/quote]

[quote]Frida Kahlo died on July 13, 1954, soon after turning 47. A few days before her death she wrote in her diary: [I]"I hope the exit is joyful — and I hope never to return — Frida"[/I].[SUP][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo#cite_note-herrera-2"][3][/URL][/SUP] The official cause of death was given as a [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_embolism"]pulmonary embolism[/URL], although some suspected that she died from an [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overdose"]overdose[/URL] that may or may not have been accidental.[SUP][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo#cite_note-herrera-2"][3][/URL][/SUP] An [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsy"]autopsy[/URL] was never performed. She had been very ill throughout the previous year and her right leg had been amputated at the knee, owing to [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangrene"]gangrene[/URL]. She had a bout of [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronchopneumonia"]bronchopneumonia[/URL] about that time, which had left her quite frail.[SUP][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo#cite_note-herrera-2"][3][/URL][/SUP][/quote]

Other good examples that come to mind are Beethoven, Van Gogh, and Kurt Cobain.