Famous People who were/are Talented but Troubled

dseag2

dseag2

Dallas, TX
Location
Dallas, TX
So, this popped up in my head as I was listening to Tina Turner's rendition of River Deep/Mountain High. I remembered it was written by Phil Spector. He was incredibly talented but deeply troubled. I was also thinking about the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial where both are talented but clearly damaged.

So it got me thinking that this might be a topic worth discussing. We all need a diversion these days. A few I listed were:

  • Phil Spector
  • Woody Allen
  • Vincent Van Gogh
  • Amy Winehouse
  • Elvis
  • Johnny Depp

Some involve drug addictions, some involved mental disorders. Anyone care to add any names to the list?
 

Marilyn Monroe/Norma Jean

Jonathan Winters Not only brilliant comedic mind, he was a painter too. And spent time in mental hospital. Been so long since i read his autobiography can't recall exact diagnosis, tho i think it was something with a depressive component.

Robin Williams, who Winters was mentor figure for, also had depressive issues. But both were deeply compassionate and kind human beings.
 
Heath Ledger
Keith Moon
Jim Morrison
John Belushi
Prince
Judy Garland
Billie Holliday
I just remembered something an ER physician said after treating John Lennon.
"If he wasn't murdered, he didn't have much longer to live, anyway. He was brought to the ER with a blood level of alcohol that was non-survivable in 99% of people on several occasions. And that was in addition to his heroin use. Due to internal damage, it would be a miracle if he lived another month."
 
Last edited:
Deseag, Phil Spector was listed as co-writer, yes, but it was the talent of Jeff Barry (also known for the Archies) and wife/lyricist Ellie Greenwhich, they wrote many 60's classics.
 
ohioboy said:
Deseag, Phil Spector was listed as co-writer, yes, but it was the talent of Jeff Barry (also known for the Archies) and wife/lyricist Ellie Greenwhich, they wrote many 60's classics.
Click to expand...
Thank you for that. He was still talented.

"Spector developed the Wall of Sound, a production style that is characterized for its diffusion of tone colors and dense orchestral sound, which he described as a Wagnerian approach to rock and roll. He is regarded as one of the most influential figures in pop music history[2] and one of the most successful producers of the 1960s.[3][4]"
 
dseag2 said:
Thank you for that. He was still talented.

"Spector developed the Wall of Sound, a production style that is characterized for its diffusion of tone colors and dense orchestral sound, which he described as a Wagnerian approach to rock and roll. He is regarded as one of the most influential figures in pop music history[2] and one of the most successful producers of the 1960s.[3][4]"
Click to expand...
I have the "Let It Be" CD that was recorded without Spector's wall of sound. I was surprised because I expected it to sound "Empty" like something was missing. It sounds great. Paul wasn't too crazy about Phil Spector's addition.
(It's the CD with the 4 of them in negative photos.) I think it sounds "cleaner."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Be..._Naked

It reminds me of a 3-CD album of Buddy Holly I found several years ago. Some of the songs were recorded in his home - with only vocals & guitar. It's as if he showed up at your front door with his guitar & just started playing in your living room. It's GREAT!
I found some of it:
 
Last edited:
Jim Morrison has some serious issues with his mother. The book No One Here Gets Out Alive talks about it a bit. She was a real wacko — probably a sociopath, and destroyed his self-esteem, which is probably why he was so self-destructive. He was an incredibly unique and gifted songwriter who had no knowledge of music... couldn't play a note on any instrument, but he wrote some great songs. Granted, that's a matter of taste. Some people don't like the Doors.
 
Two British sportsmen who were arguably the greatest in their day

George Best - football
Alex (Hurricane) Higgins - former world champion snooker player

Both victims of their success - and alcohol.

The (true) story is told about the waiter who was taking breakfast to George Best in his hotel room. He found him in bed with the (then) Miss world. Empty champagne bottles and money were littered all over the room. The waiter looked at them and said "George, where did it all go wrong?".
 
SeniorBen said:
Jim Morrison has some serious issues with his mother. The book No One Here Gets Out Alive talks about it a bit. She was a real wacko — probably a sociopath, and destroyed his self-esteem, which is probably why he was so self-destructive. He was an incredibly unique and gifted songwriter who had no knowledge of music... couldn't play a note on any instrument, but he wrote some great songs. Granted, that's a matter of taste. Some people don't like the Doors.
Click to expand...
Morrison was quite a genius And NO ONE could tell him what to do. When the Doors appeared on The Ed Sullivan show, Ed told them to "Smile a little more." And he also wanted Jim to change the lyrics on "Light My Fire" from "Girl we couldn't get much higher" to
"Girl we couldn't get much better" because of the implication of drug use. Jim said, "OK," then he sang the original lyrics & the camera went to Ed & he looked really angry. He banned The Doors from any future appearances on his show & Jim couldn't care less.

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/the-doors-banned-from-the-ed-sullivan-show-september-17-1967/
 
the-ultimate-list-of-musicians-lost-to-drugs-min.png
 
Last edited:
I have no evidence to this, but I think many of the Hollywood types and professional singers had mental issues due to drug toxication. Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye are two that come to mind. Curt Cobain would be another. Drugs can really screw up a mind through long term use. It’s a shame that we lost so many talented singers and performers. When Bobby Hatfield died, his death really took me by surprise. Who would have ever thought someone as successful as him would be hooked on Cocaine. The autopsy showed he had severe coronary disease from long term use and probably was headed for a massive heart attack.
 
dseag2 said:
Famous People who were/are Talented but Troubled
Click to expand...
I don't know what the statistics are on the state of mental health among(or amongst?) famous people[entertainment industry] but it seems greater than the general population. The extreme creative process, the extreme effort these people put forth, not to mention the high pressure business itself, takes an enormous toll.
Have you ever had to give a speech or presentation in front of an audience? Multiply that bit of anxiety by many magnitudes for a typical professional performer.
 
Nathan said:
I don't know what the statistics are on the state of mental health among(or amongst?) famous people[entertainment industry] but it seems greater than the general population. The extreme creative process, the extreme effort these people put forth, not to mention the high pressure business itself, takes an enormous toll.
Have you ever had to give a speech or presentation in front of an audience? Multiply that bit of anxiety by many magnitudes for a typical professional performer.
Click to expand...
Nathan… That wouldn’t bother me. I used to enjoy speaking in front of people. In high school English class, we had to give a speech or an oral book report in front of our class each year while in 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades. I usually was the first volunteer. My English teachers would limit us to 5 minutes. I would go longer, or until he would tell me to wrap it up.
 
You don't have to be famous to be troubled.
I remember at secondary school (12-18 years) one pupil a year above me was the 'golden boy'. Always had the highest marks in every subject and came under a lot of pressure to do even better. Just before the final exams (A level - usually required for university entrance), he had a massive mental breakdown and ended up in hospital. He recovered and ended up taking a minor clerical job. Not sure what happened long term.

I never had any trouble giving presentations, although I'm told that it really worries some people.
 
Last edited:
Capt Lightning said:
You don't have to be famous to be troubled.
I remember at secondary school (12-18 years) one pupil a year above me was the 'golden boy'. Always had the highest marks in every subject and came under a lot of pressure to do even better. Just before the final exams (A level - usually required for university entrance), he had a massive mental breakdown and ended up in hospital. He recovered and ended up taking a minor clerical job. Not sure what happened long term.
Click to expand...
That's almost the story behind Hesse's Beneath the Wheel. Tragic.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top