Old Musicians
Not all musical acts fade away with the years.
Some for better or worse hang on for many years. Some of them continue to produce exciting new music and some just hang around.
A few years ago an editorial cartoon showed a future Rolling Stones concert where Mick Jagger yelled "Let's Rock!" from a rocking chair surrounded by whithered looking oldsters with musical instruments also sitting in rocking chairs.
Another cartoon showed a middle-aged couple sitting at the table talking to someone off the panel saying "Yes we know the Rolling Stones are in town and you want to see them but we're not paying that much for your birthday present - - -DAD!"
This is a case by case situation.
Some of them, though a little long in the tooth, can still rock with the best of them (and to be honest, I would sooner see some of them in concert than a lot of contemporary musical acts.)
Others should have retired years ago and still others should have never started.
Now German critics are taking these "wrinkled rockers" to task for still performing when they are old and . . . Wait a minute . . . are we here to hear music up close and personal or are we here to see beautiful people on stage?
In the end it will be ticket sales that decide.
Some for better or worse hang on for many years. Some of them continue to produce exciting new music and some just hang around.
A few years ago an editorial cartoon showed a future Rolling Stones concert where Mick Jagger yelled "Let's Rock!" from a rocking chair surrounded by whithered looking oldsters with musical instruments also sitting in rocking chairs.
Another cartoon showed a middle-aged couple sitting at the table talking to someone off the panel saying "Yes we know the Rolling Stones are in town and you want to see them but we're not paying that much for your birthday present - - -DAD!"
This is a case by case situation.
Some of them, though a little long in the tooth, can still rock with the best of them (and to be honest, I would sooner see some of them in concert than a lot of contemporary musical acts.)
Others should have retired years ago and still others should have never started.
Now German critics are taking these "wrinkled rockers" to task for still performing when they are old and . . . Wait a minute . . . are we here to hear music up close and personal or are we here to see beautiful people on stage?
In the end it will be ticket sales that decide.
posted by shoprat at 9:36 PM
5 Comments:
Those critics do indeed need to check ticket sales.
There are old groups like YES out there (first album, 1968) who are still selling out stadiums and still delivering great concerts.
The problem with many cultures, including our own, is that we don't respect our elders enough, Shoprat. It is a proven fact that we will all become "oldsters" one day, unless we don't live that long, but death is the only way out of ever growing old. Also, old people have so much to offer... they remember things that today's youth have no clue about. Heck... I remember things today's youth have no clue about! We put far to much value in this country on looks and youth, but the real value of a person has nothing to do with either. It has to do with what one makes of one's life and our older folks should be honored far more than they are.
I have a question: Why do we say "long in the tooth?" Our teeth don't get longer, our gums wear away, so shouldn't we be saying "short in the gums?" Sorry... it's simply a weird thought that just occurred to me.
Gayle: you're right about needing to look up to the elders.
Long in the tooth?
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/7/messages/390.html
I knew it had something to do with horses.
Seth They aren't the only ones either.
Seth: correct. Yes's Jon Anderson STILL sounds great, Chris Squire picks a great bass. Bought some DVDs recently; one was of a one-time reformation of Cream, in concert, at the Royal Albert Hall in 2005. Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker looked like hell (check out Baker's black socks as he operates the high-hat and kick bass!) but I'll still stack their chops against other current bassists and drummers! Also, acquired a DVD of Blue Oyster Cult -- they can still KA, as can Buck Dharma.
BZ
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