How Old Are We

[PaulCISSA]

Started playing at age 7 and spent the next two decades being intimidated by everyone that I played with that was older than myself. By 30, I was playing 4-5 nights a week and making bank with a decent career trajectory (although not in music). The music was always there.

I’m now 58 and genuinely enjoy playing with younger folks and sharing what I’ve learned as they try to “raise the bar” for themselves. Time has made me more patient and a better listener. All the things I wish I had employed in my thirties. Mentoring and coaching gives me great pleasure and (unlike some of those childhood memories) can be done graciously without being a dick.

It’s fulfilling to see younger musicians strive to improve as they work on being better amongst a bunch of old farts. We all have good to share. The guys and girls younger than me will be carrying the torch when I can’t. That’s wholesome musical goodness. It’s as important as the music itself.

 

[Bobby Bass]

I'm just plain OLD. 70 in May.

 

[3bc]

I’m 37 still playing with a band and gigging mostly in central and eastern NC. The music scene has aged in my area also. Most young bands can’t seem to keep it together for more than a year. Some of the better younger musicians just pack up and move to better paying markets. But yeah it’s really rough around here for young bands. I remember playing shows when I was 21 to 500 people packing out a small club with a fire capacity of 300, these days it’s like kids have no friends. The young bands pretty much just play to other bands and their girlfriends.

They have thousands of friends. All on Instagram, Snapchat and FB.

 

[3bc]

I’m 36 and haven’t gigged regularly in close to 10 years. Before that I played guitar in a touring band that did a couple hundred shows a year all over the world for probably 5-6 years. I have a young family now and won’t be gigging again regularly for probably about 10 years at least, hope there is still a live music scene to fall back into when I’m ready. In the meantime I’m having fun boning up on the music theory I ignored when I played in a emo/pop punk band for so long so that when life slows down I’ll have the chops to sit down with a nice jazz gig.

 

[Nephilymbass]

They have thousands of friends. All on Instagram, Snapchat and FB.

Those aren’t “real” friends lol

 

[TomB]

Wouldn't a poll be helpful for this thread? I'd like to see the histogram.

 

[3bc]

Those aren’t “real” friends lol

Amen, brother!

 

[StyleOverShow]

Starting playing gigs at 14 in 1964, will be 69 next week.

Considering retiring from performing at 70, been a long time coming. Knees are killing me, demands of touring life aren’t for seniors IMO. Dunno, trying PT/conditioning and weight loss to help out. By September last year my legs were rubber.

On a related note, yes plenty of ‘grandad’ bands out there, too many for my tastes. I don’t want to go out that way, playing covers at car shows...

 

[3bc]

Wouldn't a poll be helpful for this thread? I'd like to see the histogram.

Only someone over 50 would use the word histogram...!

 

[TomB]

Only someone over 50 would use the word histogram...!

Ain't that the truth! We can probably guess age just by who likes the post !

 

[drummer5359]

In my current busy band the singer recently turned fifty, I, the drummer, will be sixty in less than thirty days, the rhythm guitarist is sixty one, the lead guitarist is sixty three, and our bassist is sixty eight.

We still work to "bring it" every night. Most nights we put on a pretty good show. This is what our stage looked like last night.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Holdsg]

Started playing bass at 40, now 56.
Started playing keys at 8

 

[Bassamatic]

I started around 1968 on bass. It's been a wild 50+ years, for sure! Now 73 and still crankin' it out with at least one rock band. Gigging about 2x a month with an interesting Americana/Swamp/Originals band - all over 60.

 

[MichelD]

65

 

[postalflunkie]

Started playing in '82
Never been in a band (after high school) but never put the bass down. Playing every day brings me my own joy.
I'll be 52 in may

 

[Crash 181]

I'll be 60 this year. Quit playing a few years back because of the drama that playing with younger musicians and five and six piece bands. A drummer friend desperately needed a bass player for a three piece all over 50. A year and a half later I am having the time of my life. And we work hard with practice and adding new songs every week. It's great being in the old farts club.

 

[BadSanta1281]

59 and just started studying music.
Guess I'll have to live to be 100 to catch up for all the time I wasted.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

I'm 26, starting playing bass when I was 12, so I've spent more than half my life with a bass in my hand! Don't think I'll ever stop!

 

[Pdaddy1978]

I'll be 60 in July...( The same b-day as Ringo Starr)
Got my first bass at 13 in 1972. One band after another until
about 15 years ago.... Sorta retired from the rehearse, gig,rehearse, gig thing .
Now it's get together with old friends and jam sessions and just for the joy.
I'm back in a garage band.... Its come full circle. HA!

 

[B-Lo]

Sounds about right to me I'll be 45 this summer and I started at 41. I mainly play in church now, but if I do join a band and start gigging at other events, I'll be in my 50s by then.