A number of African-American musicians settled in Paris , but Davis decided to return home . When Sartre asked him why he refused to ask Gréco to marry him , he replied : “ Because I love her .” “ He knew that black and white didn ’ t go together ,” she said years later . “ He knew I would be unhappy , and that I would be treated like a common whore in America .” Davis maintained a healthy lifestyle eating a vegetarian diet and avoiding alcohol and drugs in the early days . As time went by , however , he began to indulge in the same vices as many of the other musicians . By 1946 , his alcohol and cocaine use were so intrusive that it drove a wedge between him and his partner Irene After abusing alcohol and cocaine for three years , Davis was depressed and uninspired . Because of his erratic behavior , work o ers came to a halt . Influenced by his fellow musicians , Davis turned to heroin , and by 1953 , those he collaborated with could tell it was a ecting his music . Though Davis thought he was hiding his addiction well , during an interview with Cab Calloway , his heroin use was made public . While Davis never forgave Calloway for outing his problem , the unintentional intervention was the push he needed to get clean . After the public announcement of his addiction , Davis left New York and headed to Detroit to try and overcome his demons . Sadly , his behavior became even more selfdestructive in the motor city , resorting to what he called “ pimping a little ” to support his habit . After a heart-to-heart with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson , Davis left Detroit in 1954 to get clean . The trumpeter-turned-addict retreated to his father ’ s house , where he locked himself in a room for over a week so he could go through withdrawals . In an interview , he explained he was sick and tired of using , saying , “ You know you can get tired of anything . You can even get tired of being scared . I laid down and stared at the ceiling for 12 days , and I cursed everybody I didn ’ t like . I was kicking it the hard way ." Though Miles Davis was a brilliant musician , he was not the easiest person with whom to work . He was a meticulous perfectionist who wanted to create music that had never been done before while collaborating with other musicians . If those fellow musicians did not live up to his standards , he was sure to let them know ; just ask Thelonious Monk . According to jazz pianist Charles Mingus , during a gig , Davis spent the entire time belittling pianist Thelonious Monk while accusing him of not knowing the correct chords to play . As his rage escalated , he eluded to Monk as a “ non-musician ” and then proceeded to threaten him . Apparently , Davis ’ s unprofessional and cruel behavior didn ’ t phase Monk .
Miles Davis and Charlie Parker
Flashmag ! Issue 143 August 2023
33