Illicit Drugs Have Changed the Cultural Landscape of America

Illicit Drugs Have Changed the Cultural Landscape of America

VH1 in association with the Sundance Channel Announces Milestone Documentary, 'The Drug Years' a Four-Part Series Chronicling the Rise of Illicit Drug Use in America and Its Impact on American Pop Culture Premiering Monday, June 12 at 9 PM*

Notable interviews include Peter Coyote, Jackson Browne, Russell Simmons, Chuck D, Ice-T, Liz Phair, Juliette Lewis, Ally Sheedy, Common, Tommy Chong, Henry Rollins, Richard Lewis, John Mellencamp, ?uestlove and numerous others.

Produced by Award-Winning Filmmakers, Dana and Hart Perry of Perry Films Inc.

NEW YORK, April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- VH1, in association with Sundance Channel, have produced the original documentary series "The Drug Years," a four-part look at the rise of illicit drug use and its cultural impact in the second half of the twentieth century. Based on the book Can't Find My Way Home: America in the Great Stoned Age, by Martin Torgoff, "The Drug Years" premieres on VH1 on June 12 at 9:00PM* with encore showings on the Sundance Channel beginning June 16 at 8:00PM*.

Spanning the 1950's to the present, "The Drug Years" explores the development of a commercial drug culture in America, using archival footage and interviews to illustrate how popular culture -- including music, movies, comedy, television, and theatre -- both shaped and reflected public perceptions of illicit drugs.

"The Drug Years" also looks at how drugs became part of the nation's political landscape, from the youth rebellions of the 1960's to the War on Drugs and beyond.

This epic recounting of American drug culture is told through dozens of exclusive interviews with actors, musicians, journalists, policy advocates, former drug smugglers, and former drug enforcement agents. Exclusive interviews include Peter Coyote, Jackson Browne, Ray Manzarek from The Doors, Ice-T, Liz Phair, Juliette Lewis, Rob Thomas, Tommy Chong, Common, Richard Belzer, ?uestlove, Richard Lewis, Chuck D., Russell Simmons, B-Real, John Mellencamp and Henry Rollins.

The episode lineup for "The Drug Years" is as follows:

Episode 1: Break on Through (1950s-1967) -- The role played by drugs in the rejection of conformist America, a revolt championed by artistic and social subcultures including the Beats and the Hippies. The rise of marijuana use as a cultural and political statement, the advent of LSD, and other psychedelics, hailed by Timothy Leary and Ken Kesey, and embraced by free- thinkers, musicians and young people eager to expand their consciousness. This episode premieres on June 12 at 9:00PM*.

Episode 2: Feed Your Head (1967-1971) -- Drugs are now part of the schism between traditional America and the youth-fueled sociopolitical rebellions of the era, including the antiwar movement and the sexual revolution. Pot and LSD have arrived in films and on television, and the psychedelic generation expresses its idealism at Woodstock. By 1971, however, the psychedelic era has been eclipsed by death, darkness and Richard Nixon. This episode premieres on June 13 at 9:00PM*.

Episode 3: Teenage Wasteland (1972-1979) -- The Nixon administration continues its battles against the drug culture, linking it to political subversion. But drugs are part of the mainstream landscape and a rite of passage for 70s teens. Pot is more popular than ever, with swashbuckling smugglers, the popularity of High Times magazine, and a new era of drug humor by comedians like George Carlin and the hugely popular stoner duo Cheech & Chong. Cocaine becomes the glamour drug, beloved by celebrities, and spoofed by Woody Allen. This episode premieres on June 14 at 9PM*.

Episode 4: Just Say No (1980-present) -- As cocaine culture peaks, the pendulum begins its swing back to a more censorious perspective on drugs. High-profile casualties in sports and entertainment -- not to mention the arrival of crack -- contribute to the momentum for the Reagan administration's stepped-up drug war. Rap artists and producers deal with the devastating impact of the crack epidemic. Twelve-step programs are everywhere, but drugs aren't going away, and new favorites arrive with new eras: Ecstasy, Oxycontin, and Methamphetamine. This episode premieres on June 15 at 9PM*.

Producer/directors Hart Perry and Dana Heinz Perry are leading creators of documentary films and series related to music and popular culture. Their company Perry Films Inc., founded in 1989, pioneered music videos, music documentaries and long form video, and has produced over 50 films to date, including the recent "Imagining America: Icons of 20th Century Art" and the Peabody Award-winning "John Hammond: From Bessie Smith to Bruce Springsteen." In 2004, Perry Films produced for VH1 the critically-acclaimed five-part series, "And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip Hop."

"The Drug Years" is produced for VH1 and Sundance Channel and by Hart and Dana Heinz Perry of Perry Films, Inc. The series is executive produced by Brad Abramson, Shelly Tatro, and Michael Hirschhorn for VH1 and Laura Michalchyshyn and Lynne Kirby for Sundance Channel.

Viewers can log onto VH1.com for exclusive VSPOT footage and to learn more about the series.

Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel is the television destination for independent-minded viewers seeking something different. Bold, uncompromising and irreverent, Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries, and original programs, all uncut and commercial free. Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel is a venture of NBC Universal, Showtime Networks Inc and Robert Redford. Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of encouraging artistic freedom of expression. Sundance Channel's website address is www.sundancechannel.com.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in over 86 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital services including VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, VH Uno, VH1 Mega Hits and VH1 Country. Connect with VH1 at www.VH1.com.

VH1 is a registered trademark of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.

* all times ET/PT

Contact:
Toni Herron/VH1 Scott Acord/VH1
(212) 846-7528 (310) 752-8075

Sarah Eaton/Sundance Channel Samantha Nemeth/Flying Television
(212) 654-1613 (212) 741-3066

Source: VH1

CONTACT: Toni Herron, +1-212-846-7528, or Scott Acord, +1-310-752-8075,
both of VH1; or Sarah Eaton of Sundance Channel, +1-212-654-1613; or Samantha
Nemeth of Flying Television, +1-212-741-3066

Web site: http://www.vh1.com/
http://www.sundancechannel.com/

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