After (and often before or during) a rock concert, people “in the know” say that the era of “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll” is no more. It seems that this is driven by a number of things; namely, performers growing older and more mature; families traveling with stars; and health concerns. However, the main driver has to do with the profitability of many concerts exceeding the sales of a band’s recordings along with external factors caused by technology, piracy and so on eating profits.
The advent of even longer, non-stop touring for extended periods causes fatigue and wear and tear on human body. Therefore, there is greater need to emphasize on health. Even younger stars, thrilled to be just that, famous bands on tour, discover they need to find balance between excess and moderation. Otherwise, they may not be as creative or may not be able to tour at all.
Yes, there are still things written in rider form on contracts such as Madonna requiring a new toilet seat for each venue and Happy Mondays wanting one bottle of absinthe but ONLY after the show.
But more likely are things like one band wanting a list of local Alcoholics’ Anonymous meetings waiting at each venue for use before and after concerts; all organic, healthy food to eat; champagne not to drink but rather to shoot at one another in celebration after a bottle is shaken; and tea served during a concert’s post mortem. Heavy drug users on tour may be pulled by a promoter in order to do a stint in rehab in order to be in shape to go back to do 3-4 concerts a week.
Dr. Gabrielle Francis on her “The Rockstar Remedy website, advertises: “ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE TREATMENT FOR ROCK BANDS AND PERFORMANCE ARTISTS BACKSTAGE AND ON TOUR. Services provided for performers, crew, management and production companies at concerts, festivals, hotels and homes.”
Francis maintains that, of course, after the show they are both sweaty and fatigued and the adrenaline flows. People come backstage to talk with them. Sometimes the post-concert party results in getting back to their rooms at 3 to 4 a.m. The possibility of maybe as much as six hours of sleep eludes the rockers.
Francis says, “Most nights they have trouble falling asleep because they’re so pumped up from the show, so I’ll use natural medicines to calm their nervous systems and help them sleep, like acupuncture, herbal remedies or an amino acid blend that helps produce serotonin and GABA so they can relax and get over the anxious post-show feeling. If they don’t sleep, their bodies cannot rejuvenate for the next day.”
Have you ever wondered why the Rolling Stones can still tour as septuagenarians? No all day drinking, sex and drugs. Mick Jagger may still be amazing, but he could not cover the amount of stage he does in a night’s time in a sleepless stupor.
A 2012 YouTube video shows Bruce Springsteen leaving the stage in Vienna, Austria with one white towel around his neck. He got help removing his jacket and a black shirt, slipped into one white robe, followed by another (clean) black shirt. He got into an SUV and left the venue. Not exactly a party for the Boss.
And if not for the Boss, then whom?
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