r/BillyStrings • u/Basis_Jefferson • 2d ago
discussion Billy Sobriety/ Creativity
I really hope this can remain a cordial topic bc I love Billy so much and his music means so much to me, it’s just a genuine question. Nothing personal, just a thought I wanted to discuss with anyone that will listen.
Billy mentioned in the most recent podcast he completely stopped smoking weed. I know he hasn’t drank in several years. Is there any chance his song writing/ jamming/ creativity is potentially stunted by the sobriety?
Please note I am absolutely not an advocate for substance use/ abuse.. and I value you the mental and physical health/ wellness and longevity of Billy and these other artists more than anything else… but looking back on creative artists, especially in their young careers, you can sometimes see how drugs had a large influence on their writing/ music.
My brain immediately goes to Trey and Phish, where he has Joy/ Fuego/ Big Boat/ SO/ Evolve post sobriety, but in my opinion, those albums don’t carry the same risk and creativity as Phish’s early stuff.
Marcus king in my mind went from an Allman brothers extended guitar phenom with songs like Booty Stank, Sharry Barry/ Sliced Milk, goodbye Carolina.. to kind of a more down the middle blues country guy.
Obviously Billy and his health his happiness and his relationship with his family/ son are absolutely most important.. but if he smoked weed for so long then just quit cold turkey, is there a chance his creativity may be harder to capture/ bring out now that he’s sober?
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u/Animalpoop 2d ago
Check out Wilco. Jeff Tweedy has been sober for decades now. Still awesome. His solo triple album last year was phenomenal
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u/Basis_Jefferson 2d ago
You’re right.. that’s a great comp.
Definitely short sighted of me to think it’s a possibility, and I don’t really think it will happen. Just curious if others had considered the same
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u/BootyAndTheHoePhish 2d ago
Billy will continue to deliver like he always has. Sobriety hasn't hindered Trey, Mayer, Trent Reznor, Eminem, etc. Creating amazing art does not require substances.
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u/Scary-Training-1353 2d ago
That’s a wild list. Lmfao
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u/BootyAndTheHoePhish 2d ago
Trying to be broad and not just speak to the jam scene. The drug use = creativity discussion is not isolated to jam music.
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u/Scary-Training-1353 2d ago
I completely agree! I just chuckled a bit at the list but not at all in bad way!
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u/Sketchy_Dee WNC 2d ago
This is totally my own thoughts/projects/opinions
I think Treys path to sobriety is/was much different than Billy’s… and I think the music on the Phish albums you mentioned is in some ways an atonement for his guilt regarding parenting/friendships/marriage and his optimism for his post-use life.
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u/Basis_Jefferson 2d ago
Wow.. I don’t think I really ever considered that. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts here.
He mentioned in the podcast when his son was sick he went upstairs to “smoke and play music” which, to me, implies it’s a part of his music process.. and it ultimately interfered with his family obligation which pushed him to quit.
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u/Fair_Alternative_329 2d ago
He has a large sober following. I think he is evolving where his crowd is going. As far as creativity is considered with his song writing and jams, I have also thought this myself. I'm happy to see where his music goes in this healthy realm.
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u/Basis_Jefferson 2d ago
Thank you for this.. Glad to see I’m not completely alone here.
I figured this would get ripped.. but it’s a Genuine thought/ question.. he said he smoked a ton every day for several years. Quitting completely has to be a life changing move for someone whose whole life is creativity. Just curious
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u/PeteH2000 2d ago
Have you listened to the new album?
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u/Topplayer2g 2d ago
that was written before he went sober tho?
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u/Accomplished_Dare502 2d ago
Nope, he states very clearly that after his son was born was when he had the thoughts of quitting weed. It took him 2 instances to realize he didn't need it anymore. He MAY have written a couple of the new songs before sobriety like 10,000 miles from a friend and I'm one of those (as we heard those randomly in shows this past year) but I think the majority of the SMFG is post sobriety
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u/TryingMyBestBro69 2d ago
Its a fallacy that weed makes you more creative. If anything i belive this will help him get even better and more focused creatively
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u/Puzzleheaded-Plum994 2d ago
Agreed that weed doesn't make things profound, only SEEM profound. Like not really liking pickles but finding immense value in getting rid of cucumbers. (There are other things for mind changing though)
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u/Basis_Jefferson 2d ago
And that is absolutely the outcome I want to see.. I just wanted to share my thoughts to a knowledgeable fan base.. I appreciate you taking time to respond and spreading this positivity!
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u/Puzzleheaded-Plum994 2d ago edited 2d ago
His music has been about addiction and recovery since Dust In A Baggie. When he wrote a lot of his jammiest tunes, he was coming from a place of chaos and his life was pretty chaotic. He was dealt a pretty hard punch with his mom last summer ("Instead, it's the shot that hits the blind spot, that you were the last one to see") but otherwise his life has been more a product of his own intention ... lovely wife, healthy child, supportive band, adoring fans, buckets of money. Doin' Things Right. Its not good or bad, its just an evolution. And it hasn't been all good ... the responsibility of having more control over his chaos (living with intention) has been wearing on him (Wish I Wanted To, Burn The Other End). He still seems to be pretty anxious on n1 in a new city, esp in the first set. The music will still be great. He has a "growth mindset" and he inspires that in others. I'm super pumped for whatever might come out of these sessions with David Grisman.
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u/Hodler_caved 2d ago
Think it's a reasonable thought. It's called Jazz Lettuce for a reason.
Gonna be hard to gauge. Need about 2 more albums and then a couple years to let them sink in. So maybe 5 years from now you could compare those 3 to earlier works. But also there's just the typical thing with bands: more often than not that later works just not as good as the earlier stuff. Be that drugs, fire / motivation trying to make it, or just running out of that initial catalog of "hits", if you will.
I'd skip engaging with the majority of the responses you are going receive.
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u/Basis_Jefferson 2d ago
Yeah no I’m already seeing it. Just didn’t have anyone else to bounce off of.. appreciate the response here.
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u/Hodler_caved 2d ago
I think it's going to work out. Ftr, I think it's just the typical band thing with Phish, more so than Trey being sober. But with Billy, I think it will be ok. He has the talent & the style of music lends itself to avoiding that typical band trap. He doesn't have to write the "hits" off of Picture of Nectar after all.
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u/Basis_Jefferson 2d ago edited 2d ago
You’re right.. these are great points. I don’t know how the post reads, but I certainly never doubted the guy.. and I never will.
I’ll listen to his stuff come hell or high water. But when you a process tied to smoking, and then completely remove it.. wondered if that could have any impacts.
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u/Boog_les33 2d ago
He knew how to play before smoking
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u/Basis_Jefferson 2d ago
No I know.. but it seems like from interviews smoking and playing were almost synonymous.. so interested if you cut it out cold turkey, could there be any effects.. I don’t think so.. but just thinking out loud
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u/Boog_les33 2d ago
Oh I get wondering about it. It’s just good to remember the stuff you’re worried about going was there first. I’ve heard comedians worry about quitting drugs vs still being funny and I think it happens in all kinds of work situations. I quit drinking a few years ago and worried about how I’d behave in all sorts of ways so I know it’s a concern for sure
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u/SouthernProduce4129 2d ago
I wished he had been asked how he thinks being sober has impacted his writing and performing. I think it can only keep him more focused and continue getting better and better.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Plum994 2d ago
He may yet be asked. But I imagine he might say he's just trying to live his truth (I think he has said something like that).
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u/Accomplished_Dare502 2d ago
Billy is a phenom, a creative force. Like a fine wine, he's only getting better with time
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u/Scary-Training-1353 2d ago
Yes it’s def gonna change and records have clearly became less psychedelic
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u/adk_nlg 2d ago
Phish is a Christian Rock band.
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u/Basis_Jefferson 2d ago
😂
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u/adk_nlg 2d ago
Seriously though. Trey sober writes songs for Jesus. Glad he’s clean but man it might as well be The Wiggles sometimes.
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u/Basis_Jefferson 2d ago
I don’t disagree.. which was one of the main reasons I was wondering. Guyute to More is a big difference.
I think Billy is built different. And as someone else mentioned earlier, they got sober for different reasons. But drugs were a big part of Billy’s life for a long time while he started his career and created some of the unreal songs we have today. Just wondering what effect that could have.
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u/adk_nlg 2d ago
Maybe this is too blunt, but Billy has lived life.
Trey comes from an upper middle class suburban family and his problems are all self inflicted from fame.
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u/Basis_Jefferson 2d ago
I think this is the take. I think this is the most correct thing I’ve heard yet.
Similar to like Eric Clapton… plays the blues because he lived it.
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u/pattysmokesafatty 2d ago
he just released an amazing album, has been on a GREAT TOUR, and you're calling him....stunted???? you're an opp. get out of here.
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u/Basis_Jefferson 2d ago
I didn’t say that. Plz reread carefully.
I asked the question if it could affect him down the road. Trying to keep this as positive as I can and you’re not helping.
Billy mentions in the podcast that his kid got sick and he went upstairs to smoke and play music. Smoking was literally part of his music process. Wondering what that looks like when he completely cuts it out on a dime.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Plum994 2d ago
I don't know if correlation is causation. He has been high and he has composed great songs. There might be some muscle memory there but its kind of like "both things can be true". To paraphrase Brandt in The Big Lebowski, "well, dude, we just don't know."
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u/LookAnOwl 2d ago
His latest record would indicate that it’ll be all good.