Pubdate: 14 Jan 1999 Source: Austin Chronicle (TX) Contact: http://www.auschron.com/ Copyright: 1999 Austin Chronicle Corp. Author: Paul Mitchell ADDICTS EVERYWHERE Editor: After reading the Curt and Cris Kirkwood article ["Shooting Star," Vol.18, No.18], I feel compelled to write of my own experiences here in Austin. I moved here about two years ago at the insistence of friends in Springfield, Mo. "Move to Austin. Do your music there. Great scene, etc." So I did. Cold. Not knowing anybody. After awhile I started making contacts, new friends, and started my group the Fabulous Pimps. Work is good and the money is fine with my day job, and the music scene is great. One thing, though. I've been a casual drug user over the years, but I used to have a meth habit over 12 years ago. A jail stint got me straight, feelin' good, and doing meth left me feeling like crap so I stopped that. Then again, I moved here, and hanging with my new pals, I found I not only could smoke weed and drink beer, but due to the abundance of coke, crack, and later heroin, I could pretty much be high every day, whether I was looking to or not. I mean, it's easy as hell to go down in front of the cop shop and score crack, for Christ's sake! Basically, the point is, almost all the seasoned musicians I've played or recorded with here are addicts or well on their way. I would be too, but I couldn't give a damn. I don't have that compulsive, kid in a candy store thing going. I mean, watching some of the folks I know can be pretty ridiculous. And the one-track mindset til they've scored really bugs me too. No one in my circle has died yet. (Yet.) But it seems the more junkies that form in front of me or I have the pleasure to meet, the more often my stuff ends up missing; i.e. cash to pay day laborers, back door kicked in with my rootbeer-colored Strat gone, etc. The thing is, these are my friends? I used to take one fellow to his old lady's ATM so he could snake money out of her account daily. One time I lied to her and said it was for work materials. They're married now. I'm getting sick of this shit. I guess it's about time to travel again before I have to hear about one of my acquaintances dying or going to jail. Sure, there's drugs everywhere, but in Austin it's almost easier to score than it is in L.A., and that's easy. Wherever it is that I'm going (not along the Mexican border, that's for sure) it'll take a while to meet new people, establish work, make music connects, and find dope. In other words, a nice little break. Sincerely, Paul Mitchell - --- MAP posted-by: Rich O'Grady