High culture

Artists under the influence

Amedeo Modigliani

Said to have provided the blueprint for the troubled artist, the Italian painter developed his portrait style under the influence of absinthe, cocaine and cannabis, as well as joining Pablo Picasso for opium sessions. But he became penniless trying to fund his habits, and died aged just 35 of tuberculosis.

Hunter S Thompson

The writer would rise at 3pm, breakfast on Chivas Regal whisky, take cocaine and cannabis “to take off the edge” until he dropped acid just before midnight and was ready to write. He ended the session with champagne and fettuccine alfredo in the hot tub at 6am. Miraculously, he lived to 67, when he killed himself.

Andy Warhol

Warhol was addicted to Obetrol – now known as Adderall – an amphetamine. He initially took the drug to help with his mental health, but his daily dose is thought to have fuelled his increasingly frenetic work as his career progressed and possibly contributed to his death aged 58.

The Beatles

The Beatles were fans of marijuana, leading John Lennon to describe Rubber Soul as the band’s “pot album”. But their experiments with LSD were most influential, forming the inspiration for Revolver. While other bands of the era, including the Grateful Dead and the Doors, sought to make music under the influence, the Beatles wanted to capture the feeling of taking LSD. As Ringo Starr said: “We found out very early, that if you play it stoned or derelict in any way, it was really shitty music, so we would have the experiences and then bring that into the music later.”