Despite the fact that psychedelic drugs are still illegal and vilified in mainstream culture, many of the works of art that are beloved by millions around the world have been inspired by the altered states of consciousness produced by them. Whether it is music, film or visual art, some of the most well-respected artists have used drugs to enhance their creativity.
Star Wars animator Phil Tippet recently admitted during an interview with Vice that he took LSD while working on “Return of The Jedi.”
“I took LSD when I was working on ‘Return of the Jedi,’ and it’s fine. It was, like, very calming. And so I decided to go back to work. When I walked into the blue-screen stage, it was like, ‘Ahhh.’ I took way too much,” he said.
Tippet went on to win an Oscar in 1984 as a result of his work on The Return of The Jedi.
Tippet is now 64-years-old and has had a long and successful career involved with some of the most popular movies of our time, including Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Coneheads, Robocob and a dozen others.
Without the creative application of psychedelic drugs, it is very possible that the iPod would have never been invented and DNA may have never been discovered. Francis Crick, the scientist credited with discovering DNA, was taking psychedelic drugs when he made his groundbreaking revelation.
Years later, another scientist and LSD user by the name of Kary Mullis advanced our knowledge of DNA even further with the development of the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, a process that made it possible for scientists to better study how DNA works.
Steve Jobs, the mind behind the first Apple computers, iPods, iPhones, and other revolutionary technology, frequently said his experiences with psychedelics were among the most important events in his life.
Steve Jobs wasn’t the only technological pioneer who used psychedelics to boost creativity. Douglas Englebart, the inventor of the computer mouse, was also a psychedelic user.
Even the world of sports has seen extraordinary performances by athletes under the influence of LSD. The most popular case is that of Doc Ellis, the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher who threw a no-hitter while he was high on LSD.
As we reported earlier this month, Bill Wilson, the co-founder of the alcoholics anonymous program, actually considered promoting LSD as a tool for alcoholics to shake their addiction. Wilson was a close associate with many early adopters of LSD and took numerous trips in controlled, scientific settings while he was involved with the AA program.