Much has been written about the tragedy of talented and celebrated musicians who develop the disease of addiction.  From legendary blues artists of the 1930's through the jazz greats of the 1950's and 60's to the tragic stories of today's music industry -- addiction has been there as muse unto creativity as well as angel of death.

While many have debated whether the jazz icon John Coltrane's music was better before or after getting clean, the phenomenon is not limited to musicians.  It seems to me that creative genius -- whether musical, artistic, or simply creative -- has an unusually high frequency of addiction associated with it.  Music is just the most obvious to us because that particular form of creative genius most easily leads to fame. 

It is an observable fact that the gift of creative genius is often accompanied by the disease of addiction. 

Eric Clapton illustrated this fact very clearly when he performed before a huge audience of addicts at an NA (Narcotics Anonymous) convention some years ago.  After talking the stage he was met with overwhelming applause as he introduced himself with the words, "Hello, my name is Eric, and I'm an addict." 

Judy Garland's story is not as rosy.  Unbelievably talented and phenomenally gifted, she nevertheless died of a secobarbital overdose in 1969.  This was in a time when the disease of addiction was hidden, not spoken about openly.  Recovery for celebrities was far more difficult then.  Can you imagine the repercussions if she had made a public admission such as Eric Clapton did?

We found this video today.  This is Judy in 1964, body showing many telltale signs of addiction, mannerisms betraying that she's high -- but she nevertheless delivers an outstanding performance.  Healthy folks may not see the cues, but we addicts can spot them a mile away.  What a tragedy that she had no choice but to die in her addiction.