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Geezers Just Wont Quit
- Thread starter deepBassie
- Start date
Sorry. Just having a little fun here.
Some of my favourite gigs are the ones I play with twenty year olds (well, maybe 22/23).
I'm 43 and my band consists of two other blokes my age....all full time workers with families.
At work (in an 11-18 school) however, I am in the HUGELY priveliged position of getting to jam and perform with the next generation of musicians and wow, some of these kids are just awesome.
I've sat in on bass for school productions (Grease, Les Miserables, Hairspray, Cats...), played with sixth form bands covering everything from The Beatles, The Stones and The Who to Muse, RHCP and Take That(!). I've even sung with school choirs, in fact just the night before last I sang bass parts with three 16 year old boys (in a choir of 30) in the school Christmas concert in the town cathedral. Gabriel's Message. And it gave me just as much of a buzz as rocking Tool's 'The Pot' at the local pub in front of my drunken mates.
Funny thing is, even though I've never been anything other than a just-for-fun amateur player, these kids see me as some sort of old, seasoned pro! I take that as a huge compliment and the only advice I ever give is "keep playing for as long as you love it".
That's why I still do it.
At work (in an 11-18 school) however, I am in the HUGELY priveliged position of getting to jam and perform with the next generation of musicians and wow, some of these kids are just awesome.
I've sat in on bass for school productions (Grease, Les Miserables, Hairspray, Cats...), played with sixth form bands covering everything from The Beatles, The Stones and The Who to Muse, RHCP and Take That(!). I've even sung with school choirs, in fact just the night before last I sang bass parts with three 16 year old boys (in a choir of 30) in the school Christmas concert in the town cathedral. Gabriel's Message. And it gave me just as much of a buzz as rocking Tool's 'The Pot' at the local pub in front of my drunken mates.
Funny thing is, even though I've never been anything other than a just-for-fun amateur player, these kids see me as some sort of old, seasoned pro! I take that as a huge compliment and the only advice I ever give is "keep playing for as long as you love it".
That's why I still do it.
I'm 46, and I have really long hair which is usually tied back in a ponytail. My band-mates's younger girlfriend recently commented that I looked a tragic old hippy. She might have a point. I think it's time for the shears.
I'm 55, have really long hair usually tied in a ponytail too. The day I let some young snot-nose dictate how I look is the day I crawl into the grave and pull a shroud over me. Let's see how she feels when she's 46 and somebody is telling her how to dress.
I wish I had a voice like his, I don't care old he is. People rave about his guitar playing (rightly so), but I reckon he's got one of the best blues voices I ever heard. I saw him about 15 year ago, and his singing just blew my mind.
Who the hell cares what some kid thinks about me? I certainly don't. I'm doing things now -- shows, size of crowds, paychecks -- that most of them would give their left nut to do or have. If you can knock us off our pedestal and steal our shows, go for it. Otherwise, just keep working. Resenting other musicians will never make you a better one or your band more popular.
In fact, if you can't beat out a bunch of "geezers" for a gig, I'd question how good you and your bandmates were anyway.
In fact, if you can't beat out a bunch of "geezers" for a gig, I'd question how good you and your bandmates were anyway.
At 56, I have a much better handle on my Warwick than 25 years ago. The band in general puts out a much better quality show than ever before and folks our age are real happy us ol duffers are still rockin' it out. Gear is better, band ethic is better, musicians our age work much better together than back in the high level testosterone days. Music will also fend off Alzheimers by keeping the brain sharp. (I hope)!!! 
