When Love Is The Drug

The song "When Love Is The Drug" by The Great Affairs from their album Sleepwalker has become a fan favorite among the Zoo Freaks, the dedicated listeners of THE ZOO radio station. In a 2023 interview with RockVibes Magazine, lead vocalist Denny Smith shared that the song was inspired by a late-night jam session where the band experimented with blending classic rock riffs with a modern, gritty edge. Smith described the track as "a love letter to the chaos of falling hard for someone, wrapped in a sound that feels like a punch you didn't see coming." The band posted on their Instagram in 2022 about the recording process, revealing that the distinctive guitar solo was almost cut but kept after a heated debate, with drummer Kenny Wright insisting it was "the heart of the song." Fans on the Great Affairs Fan Club Facebook group have echoed this sentiment, often citing the solo as a highlight during live performances.

Another piece of trivia comes from a X post by the band in early 2024, where they shared a behind-the-scenes story about a power outage during the mixing of "When Love Is The Drug." The studio lost electricity for hours, forcing the band to rely on a backup generator, which Smith jokingly called "the real MVP of the album." This raw, unpolished energy seems to resonate with the Zoo Crew's hippie DJ vibe, as they frequently spin the track for its "free-spirited swagger," according to a fan comment on the Great Affairs Fever fan website. The song's lyrics, which explore the intoxicating pull of love, were partly inspired by Smith's rediscovery of 1970s rock anthems, though he noted in a 2023 podcast with Tunes & Tomes that he wanted the song to feel timeless, not nostalgic.

The Great Affairs began their journey in 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee, when Denny Smith, a seasoned songwriter with a knack for crafting hook-heavy rock, teamed up with guitarist Patrick Miller. According to their bio on their official website, the duo bonded over a shared love for bands like Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and Cheap Trick, aiming to create music that was both heartfelt and unapologetically loud. They soon recruited bassist Matt Andersen and drummer Kenny Wright, completing the lineup that would define their raw, energetic sound. Smith had previously fronted a short-lived band in the early 2000s, but it was the chemistry with Miller that sparked The Great Affairs. Their debut album in 2011, self-titled, was recorded in a friend's garage, a scrappy start that the band credits for their DIY ethos, as mentioned in a 2021 Facebook post.

The band's rise was fueled by relentless gigging in Nashville's dive bars and small venues, where they built a loyal following, including the core members of the Great Affairs Fan Club Facebook group. Their bio highlights a pivotal moment in 2013 when they opened for a major rock act, gaining attention from local radio stations like THE ZOO. This exposure led to their second album, Dream in Color, which cemented their reputation for blending introspective lyrics with high-octane performances. Fans on the Great Affairs Fever fan website often share stories of discovering the band at these early shows, drawn to their unpretentious stage presence. Today, The Great Affairs continue to tour and release music, staying connected with fans through their Instagram, Facebook, and X accounts, where they regularly post updates, live clips, and playful banter with Zoo Freaks and beyond.