(Source: Far Out / Columbia Records)
Ever since ancient tribesmen figured out how to create a rhythm using whatever objects they had on hand, music and mind-altering have been a breeze. In prehistory, various rituals and celebrations were sometimes accompanied by the ingestion of naturally occurring psychedelic substances. In the 1960s, this indulgence was modernized by the rampant use of synthetic LSD. By the 1970s, the use of such drugs was eclipsed by cocaine, courtesy of cartel leaders like Pablo Escobar. Among its many clients was the soft rock band Chicago.
Half a century later, drug use, including cocaine, is still widespread in Western society, and the use of opiates and stimulants is still widespread among show business personalities. However, the enormous quantities of high-quality cocaine fresh from Latin America, coupled with the glorification of the drug in music, television and the media, created the perfect storm for widespread use. Everyone from David Bowie and Elton John to John Belushi and Carrie Fisher dove deep into the snow.
The effects of cocaine are comparable to the effects of several cups of coffee. It often causes heart palpitations, extreme concentration, increased confidence, and the urge to talk to anyone who will or will not listen. Consequently, stars have enjoyed a few lines at social events, keeping the exchange going into the wee hours of the morning and sometimes into the big, scary hours. Over time, the drug’s addictive properties meant that most addicts would end up in a sad state of depression after all-night binges, wishing they hadn’t blown a small fortune.
In addition to social lubrication, some also discovered the performance-enhancing effects of cocaine. For people with stage fright, the drug can banish the butterflies in the stomach, and for others, it can make the experience a little more intense and wild. Some of the most famous performances of the 1970s were fueled by cocaine, from Fleetwood Mac Rumors Tour to the stage of Martin Scorsese and The Band’s The last waltz concert. During the latter, Scorsese famously had to carefully edit every frame of Neil Young’s performance to remove a drop of cocaine from the tip of his nose.
Similarly, most of their Chicago gigs during their heyday involved the use of copious amounts of Colombian marching powder. The band’s addiction became so uncontrollable that they decided to build a private cocaine consumption unit into their elaborate stage set. “Over the years we kept building sets,” trumpeter Lee Loughnane once recalled. “We came up with the street scene and had the brilliant idea of putting a phone booth on the stage, which we called the Snortatorium.”
The Snortatorium was undoubtedly a little suspect, as band members would disappear into it one by one and reappear wide-eyed and clenched in their teeth, swinging their instruments like aimless chainsaws. “Once you went into the booth, no one in the audience could see you – you just disappeared,” Loughnane continued. “We had cocaine in it and we went in and took a hit of cocaine.”
The trumpeter, who was relatively healthy in his old age, recognised the danger of drinking before, during and after performances. “It’s completely crazy when your heart is beating like a Maserati on a bend and you’re just playing away. And you could die just like that (snaps fingers),” said Loughnane. Drummer Danny Seraphine added: “We were drinking during the Hot streets album than when it was recorded.”
In January 1978, just months before Chicago Hot streetsGuitarist Terry Kath accidentally shot himself while playing with a gun at a roadie’s house while under the influence of alcohol. The band considered quitting but decided to stick it out. The band members struggled with addiction problems for several years before they realized the point of abstinence.
Fortunately, in the 1980s, Loughnane was able to kick his cocaine addiction and spend more time with his newborn son. He remains an active member of Chicago to this day. “I was always out of control,” he eventually mused. “For some reason with drugs, you tell yourself it’s not that bad – I’m not as bad as other people. I just remember being alone in a room and snorting cocaine and it was never enough. And I remember taking a hit and timing it to see how fast my heart was beating. That’s crazy, because I could have killed myself at any moment.”
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