How Drugs Tore Johnny Cash's Band Apart 

Mr. Cash's brutal childhood and various addictions, women, etc. shaped his music, good and bad. It's hard to walk in another man's boots, especially if they're the wrong size. Thanks for posting, Joe.

A painful but necessary story. You hit one out of the park again, Joe. This could save a lot of lives. Thanks for posting.

That large cross hanging around Marshall’s neck is no ornament. Although he never mentions the word during this interview, I believe ‘forgiveness’, even unspoken, was the reason he could walk into John’s hospital room and repair a decades-long broken relationship within 30 seconds of his arrival. Thank you for deciding to air this segment of the interview. Marshall was transparent and to the point.

Being the Johnny Cash fan that I am, this one was hard to watch. But I guess, as they say, sunshine is a good disinfectant. Thanks for another great video Joe. Don’t know how you get so many big stories. 🧨🧨

It's such a shame that people can't see through the destructive haze of drugs and alcohol. It's good Marshall and Johnny were able to put their relationship back together. Their brotherly love for each other conquered past mistakes. I pray that someone will learn a lesson from Johnny's trials, tribulation, and his death that was caused by addiction. Thanks Joe for shining a light on this totally avoidable destroyer of far too many lives... =(

To tell such a personal and powerful story of someone as famous and beloved as Johnny Cash and not come across in the telling as vindictive, speaks to Marshalls sincerity and integrity and his genuine love of Johnny Cash. This man is a true friend.

I don’t know where to begin. My dad passed the year after John, in the intervening years Johnny and his music has become the main bridge to memories of my dad. The Johnny Cash show was when a very quiet man and his young son bonded. Back then, it wasn’t the music that I looked forward to as much as sharing this time with my father. Since, I’ve come to love the music, The American recordings by Rick Rubin are responsible for me taking a closer look at Johnny and are now my most prized records. I don’t care how accurate the movie was about his life and I don’t care, it was an awful movie in my opinion. This short video has brought more clarity and more emotion than anything I’ve read or seen. Thank you so much Joe. Marshall makes a point here of telling us what a great man John was, I would have to say, he is equally as great a man. I’m not embarrassed to say I cried standing in the Cash museum watching the Hurt video, today I cried again. Thank you dad, thank you John, thank you Marshall and than you Joe.......

Joe, such a touching interview! Johnny was Blessed to have Marshall in his life! A real friend will tell you what you don’t want to hear! God Bless Marshall, he was Johnny’s Angel on earth!💫

Wow, that was a heavy duty one on about 4 levels. Thanks so much, Joe!

Drinking got me kicked out of a couple of bands and now I have permanent nerve damage to show for it. Hurts so bad I can’t even explain it. Quit drinking 10 years ago. I have to look myself in the mirror every day and reaffirm my desire to move forward, which is hard because I’m stuck in bed most of the time. But I’m grateful to be alive and alcohol free, because if i had kept going, I would surely be in a wheelchair, and possibly dead now, and I’m still just shy of 60. Another guy I played with is having drug related health problems. The chickens are coming home to roost. “If I had known I would live this long I would have taken better care of myself.” Bruce

Ya gotta tell the story, Joe. No matter how painful it is, ya gotta tell it!................. Kudos!

Its great to hear this concise historical account from Marshall. He has a fantastic memory and clearly loved Johnny and what they built together- and reflects it without a grain of bitterness. What a great man...

“....living on reds, vitamin c and cocaine and all their friends can say is...ain’t it a shame”

Boy what a cautionary tale! I knew Mr. Cash was an addict but I didn’t know that it was the direct cause of death. He was Country Music’s Bob Dylan,if you like. Such an amazing talent who came from such humble beginnings. May his memory and his music live forever.

What a great testimony, yet sad indeed...

Mr Cash was indeed a great American. Thank you for relating this important story about the dangers of addiction

God bless u Joe. I love these shows. I love Elvis, Johnny, Waylon, Glen, Willie, Kris and Merle. Thanks for all your work . God bless. From Ireland. 🇮🇪

Every young musician should hear this. So many great talents lost their lives due to drugs! Yet, it keeps happening. I’ll never understand why. Hope they’ll listen to this and refuse to ever go near any drugs. Thanks for sharing this. May God bless you & all of the musicians with good health, always.🙏🏻🎵🎶🎸🌹

Truth! So sad, I have seen it first hand many times but sometimes there is resolution and good that these guys had their chance many others don't. Amen

What a great video, as a Cash fan and as a singer who in the 1980's had a 'Johnny Cash Tribute Band' (if you type in Ron Ryan, Johnny Cash on youtube you can hear a song I wrote about him), and having read all the books about him I feel that in this short but informative video you can learn more about the man, also what a great friend Marshall was to John.

Love your interviews also,Joe. I believe Marshall's words and his feelings for a dear friend he watched go off the deep end. I have been a Cash fan since my childhood in the '60's. My dad and I would listen to his records all the time, back then. I still think the man was brilliant. But everyone has has that side to them that is not so brilliant. Great message in this interview. R.I.P. J.R. Cash,Luther Perkins, Marshall Grant,and Bob Wooten. I still play those great songs. That will never change.

Joe I totally agree with the comments another person made. He said you totally hit this one out of the park and it couldn't be better said. When I was in Middle School I watched a program called Cal's Corral. It was a country music program put on every Sunday by the owner of a large automobile franchise here in Southern California. One Sunday he had on Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Two and from then on I became a fan of Johnny Cash. I knew he had all kinds of problems with drugs and possibly alcohol but I didn't know or really think that it was this bad. I'm so glad that Marshall and Johnny resolve things.

Thanks for uploading this interview.

Heart breaking. I love Johnny cash. It was my first concert I ever went to. Was John cash avd June.

Brilliant work Joe,,Thank you!

Thank you for posting this. I hope this serious message reaches ones that need to hear it.

Another great one Joe, thanks for posting.

Brilliant interview Joe, sad, inspiring and very much a cautionary tale, thanks as always for posting this up, best wishes from Chesterfield in the UK..👍

Very Interesting Thanks so much Joe you are great

Another great one, Joe!!

Man Joe that was powerful! Thanks for all you do Brother. PJ

Sadly a story told over and over again in the music business, luckily John was one of the few to recover and make amends.

Man, what a lesson for the future. I remember the Statler Brothers on the Old Time Gospel Hour on either WLAC TV 5 or WSM Channel 4 around noon every day. The song "I've Been Changed" was the first song I ever sing harmony to. I met them later in about 1992 at the Kentucky State Fair in Owensboro when Tanya Tucker was on her black velvet tour. Man what a night! I love those guys. Peace!

Fame, idolization, money, lust, greed, selfishness, but blame drugs for it all. Worst of all is either arcane ignorant laws or those who sit in judgement of others.

Great interview. Marshal is a class act.

Really well told story, thanks Joe.

Great video

Thanks again Joe.

Wow. These interviews are priceless, Joe. You're a good man. Have you been able to reopen the museum yet? I need to come check it out.

Johnny Cash was my first musical hero starting from the age of 3. Its so sad to hear this, Cash was a driving force in music of all kinds. Its sad to know he fell back onto that awful world. And just right after Elvis had passed from the same abuse. They started from the same place and the same thing was the reason for their ending. This was hard to watch But it needed to be told like you said Joe if just one life is spared from that life then its worth the telling. Thsnk you for all of these great informative interviews

Thank you Joe, Thank you Marshall. That was incredible

Speed absolutely kills!! it's best to stick to the weed, look at Willie Nelson..

Outstanding ❤️

what a great insight thx bubba:)

Wow What a story ... God Bless the Story Teller ... Thank you for posting such great stories, They make you respect the journey that these amazing people took while they created history !!! I thank God everyday I am addicted to cigarettes and You Tube !!!

Thank you Joe for another emotional and powerful video, even though it was painful to watch. Since time immemorial there was always a price to be paid for path we choose... choices and of course, consequences. I wish John's addiction had never happened.

I’m with everything you said except one thing which I’m only 1/2 way behind. At the end you said, basically, that he was successful despite the drug use and that it was the people around him that made him successful. I think first and foremost his songs and songwriting made him successful. His family and team him even more so.

Mr Cash seems to have had very good friends. But when you don't know when enough is enough (or for some reason can't stop it) it doesn't make much difference in the end. I have witnessed it myself. Great post, Joe (again!)

Great story. Wow! Glad they resolved their friendship.

Very well done, and, the bottom line is this, drugs will take the mightiest of men and women and reduce them to ashes in the end, a horrible sentence for all involved because it rips everyone to sherds along the way, it takes no prisoners but certainly makes you, your loved ones, and friends, feel as if you're living in a prison-like hell! ~Johnny Cash was one of those, the mighty, I loved Johnny's music, as so many did and do, and, I believe he could still be here if his sobriety had lasted, but addiction is a wicked beast, it, unfortunately, has beaten many a human being, rich, poor, the supremely talented, like Johnny, and millions of the average Joe, no discrimination when it comes to drugs and the insidious beast of addiction, of that, I'm positive ~ Thank you for the beautiful music, Johnny and June, all the Carter and Cash families as well ~ Rest easy, and in peace ~ God bless to any and all who may happen to read this ~

Addiction sneaks up and grabs you easy, especially the prescription drugs. No one is immune or too good to get sucked in. It's not to be excused, but rightly understood as a very easy trap to fall into and a hard one to get out of. Grace, forgiveness, and love are the only things that can truly kill the darkness around us and in us.

I read Marshall's book some time ago in which he talks about these drug issues with Johnny Cash. He lays it all out, good and bad. Marshall is a great and good man who has lived an amazing life. Whether you are religious or not, a higher power definitely put his hands on Johnny Cash, Marshall Grant, and Luther Perkins when they first started playing together in Marshall's house all those years ago. The sound those three made together is completely and utterly unique in music history. Sam Philips recorded it for the world to hear. It still stands up as strong as it ever did, all these years later. And the popularity of Johnny Cash is global, not just an American phenomenon.

Wow. Very powerful.

Amazing but painful interview Joe, Thank You.

thank you for these amazing stories. i can't say I agree with marshall on right and wrong being black and white, but i certainly know where he's coming from. pretty remarkable that they were able to stay friends at all considering what JC put everyone through.

i will always contend that great and real artists ...singers ..have more often than not.. endured pain...and it infuses their "voice" George ..Tammy..Merle..Johnny ..Elvis ..Elton etc etc.

I watched this twice and teared up both times. I thought his addiction ended many years ago.

Addiction is a cruel disease

... Great incite for future generations ...

R. I. P. JOHNNY CASH Luther 🎸 Perkins Marshall Grant W.S. Holland Bob🎸 Wootton

I feel very sad that many people will watch this and think Johnny Cash was all about drugs. Yes, he had a drug problem for a number of years, but eventually he got clean; if he hadn't, he would have died much younger than he did. It's like with Elvis, people just want to talk drugs, drugs, drugs. To them I say, "you never walked in that man's shoes, never saw the world through his eyes; so help your brother along the way; for the same God that made them made you, these men with broken hearts".

There is a story about Johnny Cash going to Nickajack Cave . . . and June bringing him out of it. I'll try to find this story.

It took me till about 36 to pull my head out but unfortunately at the time it took also getting away from music for a while. Being in a bar band made life to tough to kick the old habits. My Mom still tells me she never thought I would see 18 but here I am at 56 enjoying life drug free. I know that if I had kept up the way I was going my days were numbered. My wife and I cleaned up together and are about to celebrate 20 years of marriage. Its amazing how much easier a relationship is when sober.

I always had a lot of respect for Johnny Cash (R.I.P.)! Still do! I saw a documentary on him not too long ago that said, he was doing in excess of 100 UPPERS and DOWNERS a day! I couldn't believe it! I can't see myself swallowing 100 of any kind of pills a day, like vitamins, etc, yet alone UPPERS and DOWNERS! If true, I'm surprised he lived as long as he did! That's not even counting the alcohol and cigarettes, etc! GOD BLESS HIM.

Truthfully, as someone who is going through alcohol addictions at the moment, nothing can change us from our desired life. One day, I’m will kick this addition but it isn’t now. Maybe the old timers can save men like me but ultimately it’s our choice just has it has been for centuries

I wish he were here... I appreciate your story. Very sad.

What a shame that this happened. The side of this business that no one wants to talk about. Great interview.

Still did not answer the 1978 question, why? Why after 1970-1978, good years, did he fall down? What did they say to each other in 30 seconds that made things right, with no one apologizing? So much pain and wasted life. At least it was put back together at the end.

RIP Marshall.

Fantastic interview, very sad how drugs interfere and can wreck the best of things. Thanks for posting

Courage to change...

Thank you for sharing this video. He was only human. I’m not saying that makes it ok. It’s heartbreaking. People are posting about him and Anita Carter hooking up. I hope it’s just BS. It’s a shame they have to post that everywhere. if it’s false the family should sue these people.

He was 71 when he died, its not like he was 35. Ill trade 10 broken down, lonely, boring old man years for 20 prime years of partying and killin it. I guess some people have different priorities

Salvation happened to Johnny Cash! And he went thought about all a person could and live to sing about it.

A sad ending suffered by so many great entertainers.

I hope this helps one person as well

Wow Joe There’s the Silence in our Hearts that keeps beating .. beating...like the Grandfathers clock woven to threads that were all connected to... click clock click clock

I Love you Mr. Johnny Cash! We all are asked to do a different work on this earth. We carry a load others cannot carry for themselves, as they carry a load we cannot carry for ourselves. No Not one of us is worthy of the kingdom, except Jesus.

What a painful story.

"Just like Jesus Christ" !? You, sir, are nuts!

Can anyone give a breakdown on what pharmecuticals cash was on and what him an Waylon Jennings were doing ontop of cocaine.... This channel shows the Real history more than any other references i have looked into... Respect Joe

♥️

I miss the Statler Bros!

What I think is awesome is that Johnny named his kid Carter for a middle name. He honored the first family of music and his wife's namesake.

Drugs...Early 70s it was cool...pffffffffft. its never cool to waste life and money and friends.

the greater the man the greater the flaws

Look, I wasn’t there but it seems pretty obvious to me they weren’t a good match for that period of time. I don’t think you can blame this one on drugs. Drug abuse and alcoholism isn’t a disease. It’s a symptom

For all these years I'd thought John had been cured. But I guess it's just like Carrol Burnett said, addicts can't be cured.

Got to stay away from them drugs.

Wow. How much cash can a person spend on Dexedrine?

The medical community has defeated many ailments but addiction is still a medical mystery.

i thnk johnny would made it withoout marshal but would have marshal made it without johnny?

Amphetamines and other things ?

Didn't Luther die in a fire in the sixties?

Awesome video! Take a look at my music and follow if you like 😎😊

Sounds a bit one sided but an interesting tale.

If Jehovah could give me a chance to be Johnny Cash I would