According to The Guardian, a coalition of managers and record label execs are working on a legal clause that will enable labels to 'suspend' (not pay) any self harming artist (too stoned/drunk) until they are in a suitable state (rehab?). It’s been nicknamed “The Michael Jackson Clause”
Is this a good idea?
Though I’m not promoting drug use (disclaimer!) if it weren’t for them, we’d miss a hell of a lot of great albums. Revolver! Rumours! Are You Experienced! David Bowie’s brain should look like swiss cheese because of the album Station to Station! He doesn’t even remember recording it! According to biographer David Buckley, Bowie wrote the album while in an LA Mansion full of mummy artifacts while surviving on the gastronomically nightmarish diet of cocaine, milk and peppers. Speaking of nightmares, he was convinced The Stones were sending him secret messages, bodies were falling past his window and witches were trying to steal his semen. And because of it, we have songs like "Golden Years."
However, my references involve artists that were still able to do their job. If you’ve ever been to a show where the band shows up obliterated for a 12 minute set, well, perhaps it would make sense to pull them gig. Still, that could be a memorable show. Apparently in the 70’s George “No Show” Jones was so wasted he did an entire set in the voice of Donald Duck (I wish I was there for that.)
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