Post by Edith Grove on Oct 1st, 2014 at 12:00pm
Rolling Stones live shows drugs are good for your health, Italian mayor suggests
Ignazio Marino, the mayor of Rome, says the vitality of the Rolling Stones in a recent performance in Italy makes it harder to claim drugs are bad for your health
Ignazio Marino, who before being appointed to the job was a surgeon, said he was struck by the vitality of the band during a concert in June
Ignazio Marino, who before being appointed to the job was a surgeon, said he was struck by the vitality of the band during a concert in June Photo: Brian Rasic/REX
By Nick Squires, Rome 01 Oct 2014
The mayor of Rome has attracted criticism for suggesting the energy and endurance of the Rolling Stones showed that the use of illicit drugs might not be such a bad thing after all.
Ignazio Marino, who before being appointed to the job was a surgeon, said he was struck by the vitality of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the rest of the British band when he watched them perform at a concert in the Circus Maximus, an ancient chariot racing track, during the summer.
The centre-Left mayor was particularly impressed by drummer Charlie Watts during the concert in June, when around 70,000 fans packed the 2,000-year-old arena near the River Tiber to see the Stones in action.
The concert was part of the band’s "14 on Fire" world tour to mark their 50th anniversary.
“I was impressed to see the drummer, who is in his seventies, play non-stop for two and a half hours,” the mayor told a national radio channel, Rai2.
“To see these guys, who have admitted to using stuff in the past, play with incredible physical energy, it makes it harder to explain to your kids that they shouldn’t use illegal substances.”
He said that in the past he had been “strongly attracted by drugs” but had never taken anything “because I was afraid from a medical point of view” of what they would do to his mind and body.
His remarks were condemned by opposition politicians in Rome, who said they were irresponsible and would encourage young people to underestimate the dangers of illicit drugs.
“The mayor should apologise for this absurd advertisement for illegal drugs,” said Gianni Alemanno from the centre-Right, who was Mr Marino’s predecessor as mayor.
Another politician on the opposition benches of the city council joked: “He’s never tried drugs? You wouldn’t think it, seeing as how he is running the city.”
A colleague quipped that Mr Marino would be better off as mayor of Amsterdam.
The head of a youth welfare organisation added the mayor’s remarks were “irresponsible and crazy”.
“He’s going to tip into the abyss a generation that is already in trouble,” said Maria Teresa Bellucci. “Drugs mean suffering and death.”
Mr Marino should remember the likes of Kurt Kobain, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, all rock stars who had died of drug abuse, his critics said.
The mayor dismissed the row, saying he had been speaking off-the-cuff in a jokey manner. “Come on, it was just a bit of humour,” he said. His staff said that during his career as a doctor he had saved the lives of several drug addicts.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11133827/Rolling-Stones-live-shows-drugs-are-good-for-your-health-Italian-mayor-suggests.html
Ignazio Marino, the mayor of Rome, says the vitality of the Rolling Stones in a recent performance in Italy makes it harder to claim drugs are bad for your health
Ignazio Marino, who before being appointed to the job was a surgeon, said he was struck by the vitality of the band during a concert in June
Ignazio Marino, who before being appointed to the job was a surgeon, said he was struck by the vitality of the band during a concert in June Photo: Brian Rasic/REX
By Nick Squires, Rome 01 Oct 2014
The mayor of Rome has attracted criticism for suggesting the energy and endurance of the Rolling Stones showed that the use of illicit drugs might not be such a bad thing after all.
Ignazio Marino, who before being appointed to the job was a surgeon, said he was struck by the vitality of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the rest of the British band when he watched them perform at a concert in the Circus Maximus, an ancient chariot racing track, during the summer.
The centre-Left mayor was particularly impressed by drummer Charlie Watts during the concert in June, when around 70,000 fans packed the 2,000-year-old arena near the River Tiber to see the Stones in action.
The concert was part of the band’s "14 on Fire" world tour to mark their 50th anniversary.
“I was impressed to see the drummer, who is in his seventies, play non-stop for two and a half hours,” the mayor told a national radio channel, Rai2.
“To see these guys, who have admitted to using stuff in the past, play with incredible physical energy, it makes it harder to explain to your kids that they shouldn’t use illegal substances.”
He said that in the past he had been “strongly attracted by drugs” but had never taken anything “because I was afraid from a medical point of view” of what they would do to his mind and body.
His remarks were condemned by opposition politicians in Rome, who said they were irresponsible and would encourage young people to underestimate the dangers of illicit drugs.
“The mayor should apologise for this absurd advertisement for illegal drugs,” said Gianni Alemanno from the centre-Right, who was Mr Marino’s predecessor as mayor.
Another politician on the opposition benches of the city council joked: “He’s never tried drugs? You wouldn’t think it, seeing as how he is running the city.”
A colleague quipped that Mr Marino would be better off as mayor of Amsterdam.
The head of a youth welfare organisation added the mayor’s remarks were “irresponsible and crazy”.
“He’s going to tip into the abyss a generation that is already in trouble,” said Maria Teresa Bellucci. “Drugs mean suffering and death.”
Mr Marino should remember the likes of Kurt Kobain, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, all rock stars who had died of drug abuse, his critics said.
The mayor dismissed the row, saying he had been speaking off-the-cuff in a jokey manner. “Come on, it was just a bit of humour,” he said. His staff said that during his career as a doctor he had saved the lives of several drug addicts.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11133827/Rolling-Stones-live-shows-drugs-are-good-for-your-health-Italian-mayor-suggests.html