The book opens with a brief discussion of Western drug-taking before drugs were made illegal in America under the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914. The review of the music-drug connection, however, begins with a review of the parallel rise of jazz and marijuana use in the early 1920's. Each development in popular music is noted to have brought with it a new fashion in drugs. The book catalogues these trends and relates them to sociological factors such as race, class, and society's attitude toward musicians. The review details the drug abuse of many famous musicians, from Charlie Parker to Sid Vicious. It provides evidence of collusion between the drug and music industries and describes how drugs are used as enticement in various music transactions. Also examined are contemporary press accounts of well-known drug arrests, such as those of the Rolling Stones and Boy George. The book considers the ironic 1980's phenomenon of pop stars crusading against drug abuse. The role of organized crime in the drugs-music association is addressed as well. Chapter notes, 176-item bibliography, subject index.