My friend Matt Cullen shared an excellent story.  He was working as a tech for the Massachusetts band Fat, who were being courted by majors.  Somebody signed them to a production deal and hired Ronson to produce.  After months of cocaine and no work (on the part of both the band and Mick) The band fired Mick and threw him out on the street, literally, in a fit of meglomania and paranoia.  Matty described a humiliated Mick begging for 5 dollars to get a cab, which he was more than glad to give to his idol.  Felix Papparlardi came in and finished Fat's crappy demos.

So people have productive periods and unproductive periods, I guess.  A cautionary tale about drug abuse and sticking with talented artists is probably hidden somewhere here.  Like baseball managers, producers probably get a bit too much credit for good and bad.