The Art of Aging Gracefully

[nervous]

I have a question that I find bugging me more and more as I knock on the door to 50. We all know how time creeps up on us and before you know it you're singing the same R&R cover/radio hits you were singing 20 or more years ago, just perhaps not as convincingly and certainly without the same youthful believability. Honestly, there are times now when I just end up feeling rather silly trying to pull some of that stuff of. But, once a rock & roller, always a rock & roller. I have always believed it's just inside of you, a part of what makes you tick.

So, I ask, other than the obvious choice of choosing different material what have you done as you aged to maintain your performing dignity (or as much as you may have ever had) as you transitioned into a more 'mature' phase of your musical careers? Perhaps that is the only answer in the end.

[adivin]

You're not alone. Subscribed.

[tapehead]

It's really how you carry yourself....I'm hittin 40, so those thoughts are starting to creep in. I try not to be a fat slob, and look somewhat stylish on stage. And nowdays, if you are doing covers there's a gazillion songs to choose from where you really dont _have_ to play Brown Eyed Girl.

[Ronbassman]

I'm 31 so my days of playing punk and metalcore are over a long time ago. I'm headed more towards a jazz/funk/salsa direction and to a newfound love for the Beatles.

[fingerbun]

I dress a bit less outrageously while still trying not to look like Mr Corporate. Avoiding the "mutton dressed up as lamb" syndrome.

There's plenty of really great music that an old fart can manage, though not necessarily greatly commercial.

[Willie Dizon]

It boils down to you,the performer.I can still watch Tony Bennett sing his classics or do a duet with Elmo and still enjoy it with dignity.

[lfmn16]

Originally Posted by nervous

So, I ask, other than the obvious choice of choosing different material what have you done as you aged to maintain your performing dignity (or as much as you may have ever had) as you transitioned into a more 'mature' phase of your musical careers? Perhaps that is the only answer in the end.

It never occurred to me that songs are age dependent. I'm 54 and play what I like without regard to what might be appropriate. My band plays everything from Foghat, Steppenwolf and Hendrix to Puddle of Mudd, Seether and Rage Against the Machine.

I hate that an unnamed, unknown cultural elite has convinced a huge portion of society that we have to be limited in our choices solely because of our age. I refuse to buy in.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by Ronbassman

I'm headed more towards ... a newfound love for [Insert Here).

There is more music out there than one can ever hear. I hear new artist / songs / ideas / directions every time I play with a different group. My humble advise: Broaden all circles.

[DogBone]

Exploring other genres is the best thing I've ever done musically.

I know R&R is always going to be popular, and seems to be 99.99% of the genre of choice on this website.

But it's a big musical world out there, Latin, Caribean, Reggae, Ska, Jazz, World, Roots, Country, Folk, Old Timey, Bluegrass, Blues, etc etc etc.

Most if not all of those other genres are VERY "age friendly" if you know what I mean.

Other than jamming with my teenage daughter while see sings and plays guitar to "her music", I don't intend to nor have the desire to ever be a part of a (solely) rock and roll band ever again, just too small of a box for me.

[Roy Vogt]

I just think about B. B. King, he's got decades on me and he's still out there.
I've made the transition to different styles, more Double Bass gigs, becoming the "Authority figure" type (bandleader, producer, teacher, etc.). I think everyone has to find their own path on this one.
On the other hand, "Old Guys Rule" as the T-shirt says. I'm about as settled as I've been with earning, career, etc. and can pretty much do anything I want to. That's pretty cool.

[delta7fred]

Originally Posted by lfmn16

It never occurred to me that songs are age dependent. I'm 54 and play what I like without regard to what might be appropriate. My band plays everything from Foghat, Steppenwolf and Hendrix to Puddle of Mudd, Seether and Rage Against the Machine.

I hate that an unnamed, unknown cultural elite has convinced a huge portion of society that we have to be limited in our choices solely because of our age. I refuse to buy in.

+1

I am pushing 61 and while I may sometimes feel it as I get out of bed in the morning or when loading out at 02:00hrs I certainly don't when stood on stage with a bass. More like 19 or 20 to be honest, and I play a damn sight better now than back then.

Tonight we will probably play Saw Her Standing There (it's in the encore list) and definitely Brown Eyed Girl (Opening the 3rd set) without a single thought that it is maybe not PC. The punters never seem to care either, we have never had any complaints, only if we don't play Brown Eyed Girl!

[tekdiver500ft]

Some of the hardest-rocking bands in the world are in their 60s, and still kill it. If they can, then at 44, I can, too.

[EpiRipper]

I'm planning on aging disgracefully... I'm 45 and still playing loud AC/DC style rock 'n' roll. I can't see that changing in the forseeable future

[packhowitzer]

I've always thought David Gilmour has aged well with his onstage persona. He has a very confident, mature command of his music as he enters the latter half of middle age. As I approach these years myself (I'm in my thirties), if I could pull off his demeanor and bearing, I'd be pleased with that. Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler are more than a bit buffoonish to me as the enter that same age range. Obviously they are giving their audience what they want, so I'm not suggesting they quit doing their thing, but they are certainly a bit creaky and trying to pretend they aren't.

Bottom line, that period of your life, IMO, is when you show how well you've mastered your craft. It's the time to show with quiet cool the skills you've amassed over your decades of playing. I've never seen a show with guys in their 50s playing and wondered why they weren't jumping around more or wearing flashy clothes. I've been more concerned with their skill.

I worked in a music store in high school that was owned by one of the best tenor sax players in Georgia. We lost touch as I went to college and the store eventually closed. 15 years later, I ran into his wife and she told me about his monthly jazz/standards gig. He's got to be in his early 70s now, and no in his band is younger than 50. They absolutely killed it when I saw them. They did play some rock and blues mixed in with the jazz and the crowd went bananas. No prancing around, no flashy clothes. They did look like they were enjoying themselves. They didn't act like robots. But they also displayed a quiet confidence in their abilities that was the coolest part of all.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by packhowitzer

I've always thought David Gilmour has aged well with his onstage persona. He has a very confident, mature command of his music as he enters the latter half of middle age.

Jeff Beck also comes to mind.

Jeff Beck (w/ Jimmy Page) in the '60s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHNL5_2LspE


Much more recent Jeff Beck-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHxnjBqz_kY

[JimK]

Originally Posted by EpiRipper

I'm planning on aging disgracefully... I'm 45 and still playing loud AC/DC style rock 'n' roll. I can't see that changing in the forseeable future

Miles Davis is an example of going the opposite direction...his music & attire got more outrageous.
The "normal" thing may have been to settle into the more "mature" Jazz thing...

[Saxn]

Originally Posted by packhowitzer

I've always thought David Gilmour has aged well with his onstage persona. He has a very confident, mature command of his music as he enters the latter half of middle age. As I approach these years myself (I'm in my thirties), if I could pull off his demeanor and bearing, I'd be pleased with that. Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler are more than a bit buffoonish to me as the enter that same age range. Obviously they are giving their audience what they want, so I'm not suggesting they quit doing their thing, but they are certainly a bit creaky and trying to pretend they aren't.

I like this, and it is one of my goals as well. There are loads of artists that fit both categories, IMO. Someone above mentioned BB King as one that's "still got it" - after going to one of his concerts a while back I have to say I completely agree. However, I saw Styx performing at the Ga music hall of fame a while back and they were still sporting the way-out-there clothes, still (trying) to jump and run all over the stage, etc. - basically still trying to act 20something. Somehow it was just... wrong

Originally Posted by packhowitzer

I worked in a music store in high school that was owned by one of the best tenor sax players in Georgia....

Sorry to jump OT for a minute, but can I ask who the sax man was?

[tekdiver500ft]

Here are a few older groups that are still rocking HARD, just off the top of my head: KISS, Rush, Van Halen, Alice in Chains, Aerosmith, AC/DC, the Who, Black Sabbath, AudioSlave, Rage Against the Machine, Velvet Revolver, Ted Nugent, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, Eric Clapton, and Metallica.

Dylan Thomas must have been a rocker:

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

He's right, you know. Fight aging, be who you are, enjoy your life. I rock the way I did when I was 20, only better. My hair is short (and grey) now, but I'm in the best shape of my life, and intend to keep on playing as long as the crowds keep coming.

[voodoobassist]

Being 58 and working in a band where we are all a bit "long in the tooth", there's an old geezer phrase for ya, I would agree with the "quiet confidence" thing completely.

One other point though is this,...enjoy the hell out of what you're doing and let it show. We're playing everything from Steely Dan to old shuffles to Dave Brubeck and even playing a pretty fair amount of original music. We're having a great time doing it and it shows. The crowds definitely see that and that more than anything I believe, is what "sells" us.

The age thing seems to be of little importance when people see you're doing something that you love and are doing it well. Our crowds last week were a pretty even split between 20 somethings and a more "vintage" age group. Both ends of the age spectrum were up and dancing, even to our original music. The overwhelming majority of comments I heard from people in the crowd were, "you can tell that you guys love what you're doing".

If you give folks a show that's honest and from the heart, I believe they see that more than the wrinkles on your face and hands. Of course, I could just be getting senile and self deluded, but that's fine too. At least I'm happy.

[skwee]

To echo what the wise contributors have already said in this thread, I'd like to throw a vote in for playing material that turns *you* on, that also fits as something girls will dance to. And if there's a song you like, but the genre of the song might be a stretch: make a new arrangement that fits your style. A great tune will hold up across genres.