Geezers Just Wont Quit

[lfmn16]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Not true.

BTW, I'll turn 60 next month. I'm not an old guy, I'm an older guy, big difference.

Blue

I'm not sure how you got off my ignore list but you're going back on. As usual you are absolutely wrong. This forum would be much better off if you kept your limitations to yourself, were able to recognize when someone is using humor, and didn't assume that everyone else is like you and shares your situation.

[drummer5359]

A couple of months before my 49th birthday I suffered my first stroke, a rather serious one. I had speech issues and serious lack of motor skills. I was a mess.

I had a second, less serious stroke about five months later. I went through heavy physical therapy and was able to return to work at my high pressure day job. I used my drumming as part of my recovery. I had to start back at the basics, but I eventually became a decent drummer again. At age fifty I decided to jump off of the high pressure treadmill. My sweetheart and I both retired, sold the big "dream house" and moved back to my hometown to live a simpler existance.

Part of our simpler existance has been for me to play music full time. I got seriously into hand percussion and play congas and cajon in two different acoustic projects. I always dabble a little bit into bass. I would play an occasional song with a band, playing roots and octaves for the most part, but I was no bassist. For the past two years I have strived to change that. I've been working hard toward being a "real" bassist and I think that I'm doing okay.

I'm in the middle of putting together a blues trio with me on bass and a rock trio (with totally different musicians) as a drummer.

So, I'm not quitting soon, in fact I keep getting deeper and deeper.

[lowsideonacurve]

Originally Posted by drummer5359

A couple of months before my 49th birthday I suffered my first stroke, a rather serious one. I had speech issues and serious lack of motor skills. I was a mess.

I had a second, less serious stroke about five months later. I went through heavy physical therapy and was able to return to work at my high pressure day job. I used my drumming as part of my recovery. I had to start back at the basics, but I eventually became a decent drummer again. At age fifty I decided to jump off of the high pressure treadmill. My sweetheart and I both retired, sold the big "dream house" and moved back to my hometown to live a simpler existance.

Part of our simpler existance has been for me to play music full time. I got seriously into hand percussion and play congas and cajon in two different acoustic projects. I always dabble a little bit into bass. I would play an occasional song with a band, playing roots and octaves for the most part, but I was no bassist. For the past two years I have strived to change that. I've been working hard toward being a "real" bassist and I think that I'm doing okay.

I'm in the middle of putting together a blues trio with me on bass and a rock trio (with totally different musicians) as a drummer.

So, I'm not quitting soon, in fact I keep getting deeper and deeper.

I tip my hat to you sir.

[dbd1963]

Originally Posted by lowsideonacurve

I tip my hat to you sir.

As do I.

[bassvi]

I love you guys. I have had a rough weekend and reading this thread has made me laugh and feel better about myself. I am one of you (56 here) and still going.. My day job gets me down but the music is still with me so I think I'm ok... long may we all rock

[Grabow]

I played all thoughout my 20's and early 30's, quit for 16 years, and after being back into bass again for 2 years, I am a better player now then I have ever been, I am 51 now, go figure

[Kryptos]

bass (me) - 62
fiddlers - 75 & 42
mandolin - 24
banjo - 68
guitars - 60 & 71

Biggest issue seems to be someone is always off having a knee replaced, bypass, hip done or some other ailment corrected.

[Scatterblak]

Originally Posted by deepBassie

For all you old farts out there that are still workin' it.

What's the deal? Some people (not pointing out anyone in particular, Blue ) hint that age effects the ability to write and/or perform music. Do any of you experienced, matured TB'ers find this to be true? If so, what was the first thing to tarnish and how old were you when you realized it?

Don't know about the writing part - can't be objective about that, but as far as playing goes, my chops are better right now than at any time in my life. I'm 47 right now - have dates lined up in the U.K., Germany, and probably Ireland this year; heading for a big gig in LA shortly. My hands and mind are still as quick as they always were (as far as I can tell), but after a big show, there's a longer recover time, and I do need more sleep than the road dog days of my youth - so, for me, it's the wear and tear on the body associated with running around and playing and sweating and singing for two hours. It sure takes longer to recover the next day! I recommend a lot of hydration, Gatorade, V8, and only very high quality high gravity beer...

I think there are some tricks that a lot of us older guys start adopting that we don't even think about, though - new economies of motion, better use of open strings, different muting techniques that are a combination of long hours playing and necessity. I took a class with Adam Nitti a while back, and Victor Wooten was a guest instructor, and one of the topics he touched on was how he's dealing with aging; he's specifically developed a lot of rakes and right hand tricks that specifically cover the portions of his style where he feels he's slowing down, and they're very well though out.

My humble belief, and the one that keeps me going, is that once you reach a certain level of proficiency, it's all just style after that, and as you age, you slowly turn flash and ferocious execution into a more seasoned approach, better use of space, better note choice, and a lot of the intangibles improve as well - who you know, how well you interact with people, comfort level on larger stages, what's expected of you as you work with larger acts and organizations over the years (if you're doing this bass guitar thing right, you'll play with bigger and bigger acts over time - at least as a sideman, if that's your thing).

Very interesting question - I definitely spent some time thinking about my playing and my future, and I think it'll pay off to be more conscious of the ramifications you raise - I wasn't thinking much about them before, and obviously it's time. Thanks!

--S

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Scatterblak

....after a big show, there's a longer recover time, and I do need more sleep than the road dog days of my youth - so, for me, it's the wear and tear on the body associated with running around and playing and sweating and singing for two hours. It sure takes longer to recover the next day! I recommend a lot of hydration, Gatorade, V8, and only very high quality high gravity beer...

For me, taking a large daily dose of liquid B complex vitamins and a 4k unit dose of D3 has restored a lot my energy and vastly improved my memory and general well being. Also, if you feel fatigued and you're not yawning (even if you've been getting 6-8 hours sleep and taking vitamins) , I suggest getting your thyroid checked out. I really wish I had known more about this stuff a couple of decades ago. All you young people 20 and older need to pay attention! Even younger if you're eating a lot of fast food and not high quality proteins and greens!

[MarkMgibson]

My great grandfather is 118 years old, and he's never missed a gig in 50 years. Of course, he's been dead for 50 years, but his ashes seem to enjoy the music.

[El Barbero]

Originally Posted by Stewie26

I did not take it as an insult to me or to the genre, (classic rock) of music we were playing. In fact she said she loved the music and her dancing showed it. It was only at that moment when she refered to the genre as Geezer Rock that I fully realized how far apart the perspective of a 21 year girl is from my world. Ageing is not something that happens overnight. It slowly sneeks up on you. This was one of those moments when I had to mentally deal with the fact that I am getting older.

That realisation and the mental strength to get over it without deserately clinging to a false self image is the defining point of becoming a geezer. It is what seperates geezers from old farts.

[Marley's Ghost]

Mick Jagger will be 70 in July. That is all.

[Stewie26]

Originally Posted by El Barbero

That realisation and the mental strength to get over it without deserately clinging to a false self image is the defining point of becoming a geezer. It is what seperates geezers from old farts.

Yeah, but I am with Blue here. Not all older guys have to become geezers.

[El Barbero]

Originally Posted by Stewie26

Yeah, but I am with Blue here. Not all older guys have to become geezers.

Thats the translation difference at play. In the UK a ´geezer` is simply a man (of any age), and is usually used to infer a good man. A ´diamond geezer` is an exceptionally good man that can always be depended upon to do the right thing, even to his own detriment.

Unfortunately the common trait of mangling language has resulted in this case in ´geezer` becoming a derogatory term for an old man, at least in the US. The stress there is the derogatory part. A bit funny when one sees that the person giving the insult does not even really understand the correct use of the word.

So my explanation, with me being English and using the non-bastardised definition, is in fact a complement. With the caveat that it should be done with grace and tatste and not presented, as can all too often be the case, as being a desperate clinging to the life of ones long gone youth. Or even worse an attempt to recapture something without fully accepting the passage of time.

[bassfart]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

I will have something that tarnishes.......


I'm gigging so much I don't have time to learn every current tune --- with pandora and 25000 songs on my iPod I've not gotten around to learning the latest Bruno Mars

Locked out of Heaven is a great song. When you get around to learning it, you'll enjoy playing it.

[bassbully]

A couple of weeks will be 51 (God willing) did two shows last week one on a Tuesday night and have one this weekend...... still going strong.