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  • Kurt Cobain (front man of the grunge band Nirvana) was addicted to heroin for a stomach problem: he said he could not get any relief from any other substance. He allegedly committed suicide after taking heroin.
  • Jim Morrison reportedly died of an overdose of heroin in a bathtub in Paris.
  • The Velvet Underground song "Heroin" (from their first album The Velvet Underground and Nico) describes the use and effects of the drug, with Lou Reed singing from the perspective of a heroin addict, describing his thoughts and feelings while under the effects of the drug, while the music (led by a dissonant viola and guitar strums) is played to resemble the effects of heroin use (with rushed and calm parts interchanging). The song was ranked #448 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Another famous song from the album, "I'm Waiting for the Man", tells the story of a New Yorker waiting for his drug dealer, describing the city environment, and then buying and using the heroin, only to conclude singing "until tomorrow, but it's just another time".
  • Led Zeppelin guitar player Jimmy Page struggled with heroin from 1975 to the early 1980s. The heroin had very serious effects on him, including hampering his guitar playing skills, and making him ultra-thin in the early 80's.
  • Dee Dee Ramone of punk rock band The Ramones was addicted to heroin throughout most of his career. After leaving the band in 1992, he seemed to give up the substance. However, he was found dead from a heroin overdose in 2002.
  • Brad Nowell died of a heroin overdose shortly before Sublime's first major label album came out.
  • B.G. (rapper from New Orleans) raps about his previous addiction to heroin (via injection) in numerous songs.
  • Etta James stated in her autobiography that she had many troubles with heroin addiction in the 1970s and 80s, admitting she was often in rehabilitation centers.
  • Jerry Garcia (guitarist for the Grateful Dead) was a user of heroin for many years. He died in a rehabilitation facility, undergoing treatment for his heroin addiction.
  • GG Allin, cult punk rock singer, was addicted to heroin and died of an accidental overdose in 1993, only six days after leaving prison and three days after attending the premier of the film, Hated.
  • NOFX drummer, Erik Sandin was a heroin addict from the 80's to the early 90's. The band told him if he didn't quit doing heroin, they wouldn't allow him to play on their new album. He quit taking heroin and since then has been completely sober and has been NOFX's drummer since that period.