Remember, you're never too old to gig...

[Neo1]

Every so often, I see threads talking about getting too old to play (I'm not talking about physical injuries here, just about the mindset that one gets too old to have a place out there gigging). Last night I saw John Lodge (Moody Blues' bassist) perform at quite a high level, and he's 77!

Yes, 77, and yes, those are leather pants. His playing was sharp - a combination of growly and smooth (hard to explain), and I didn't notice any missteps on some great classics (the first half of the show comprised of random songs, the second half they played the entirety of their Days of Future Passed album).

Here are guitarist and Lodge's set-ups (guess who had a multitude of pedals, and who had none?).

Played a jazz the entire night, and you can see his Ampeg behind him here. Guess at that age you can leave your drinks on top.

One of my friends (a non-musician) asked me before the show why John Lodge was still out playing. It was obvious through the night that he really enjoys playing for people, and so what if he doesn't work those pants like a younger person. It was encouraging to see someone older than me (and I'm getting up there) moving around the fretboard with ease. He had fun, and so did the packed crowd.

 

[Wanker_Joe]

Never too old! My grandfather, once his health was severely ailing and he obviously knew time was short, pulled out his guitar, walked down to the pagoda outside and performed a long set of songs he knew (he was a great singer and guitar player) to the fellow residents, visitors and workers of his long term care facility, and then passed shortly thereafter, he was 91.

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to see his last concert, but from what I was told he sounded great. Gotta admit that's kind of how I want to go. Playing right up until I literally can't anymore.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Never too old. My dad is still gigging regularly and he'll be 80 in April. It's polka music and he plays accordion. It makes me laugh when I hear even my complaining about bass guitar weights when I know how heavy those accordions and the old Cordovox models are.

Not that it didn't take a toll. He is actually having surgery today to repair/replace his right shoulder joint, it's completely shot and painful. When they took xrays prior to surgery they showed how both of his clavicles have bowed over the years from having the straps on them for over 65 years of regular gigging. The recovery downtime will drive him crazy, my stepmom will have her hands full.

I plan to try and reach that milestone, we'll see what happens.

 

[Marko 1]

Man, whoever ran the cabling did a pro job.

 

[LiptonJigglers]

75 and far from sedate.

 

[2saddleslab]

 

[1960jbass]

Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna is 82 and still touring. Jack Casady is right behind him at 79 and still put on great shows.

 

[Shooz]

Never too old!
I caught Lodge play in 2019 and they were awesome, great vocals and did all the MB tracks very well. He is highly under rated as a player, love his lines, tones, etc.

 

[walksupright]

Saw Ernest Raglan perform at 80 and Roy Acuff at 87.

 

[JimmyM]

When I was doing oldies shows, I regularly worked with performers in their 70s and 80s who rocked it. Very inspiring to see how great they are and were.

And then there’s Vito Picone, who wrote “Little Star” and sings lead with his group The Elegants. He’s still great, but has had to drop the key a couple whole steps. When he introduces it, he says something like, “A lot of acts when introducing their big hit songs will say, ‘And that record sounded exactly like this.’ Folks, I’m 81, I’ve got a bad back, I’ve had 3 major surgeries, and I’ve been sick and was hospitalized recently. This song ain’t gonna sound a thing like the record.”

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I plan to gig steady up to 75, then call it quits for a few months, then resume until physically unable or death, whichever comes first.

 

[Michedelic]

Top this, they had to pry the bow from her fingers…

 

[deesonic]

That's awesome! I just hit 50 a few weeks ago and am having more fun playing now than I ever have. Probably because I'm playing with the most laid back and dependable group of guys who, like me, prefer to play for the love of music and not other ulterior motives. Plan on doing it until my fingers no longer work.

 

[Grinderman]

View attachment 4977926

75 and far from sedate.

It's hard to find a better role model for how to grow old with style and class.

 

[57pbass]

“ Until The Wheels Fall Off “ as the saying goes.

I’ll be 65 in a few weeks and have no intention of retiring from playing. My dad was an orchestra leader and performed regularly until his untimely death at 70 ..

 

[CaribooBass]

Thanks for this post.
After reading this thread I went and looked up more on Mr Lodge and discovered something that I have been thinking about.
The article I found only touched on this and I would like to understand his concept better.
John mentions about playing his bass often in what he called the “cello part of it”.
Have any of you heard of this before?
Have you seen this idea in other articles or a video I could find?

please let me know.

Thanks in advance
Clayton

 

[pfschim]

My aunt, the last of her generation in my family, is still playing URB at 87 in a well regarded community symphony on Chicago's north side. She's been playing that thing since she was in high school. She graduated with a bass performance degree from Northwestern University in the 50's. Amazing!

 

[CaribooBass]

Any chance you have a picture of your aunt or a video?

 

[DJ Bebop]

So what's up with the plywood under the SVT?

 

[JRA]

...the mindset that one gets too old to have a place out there gigging

just means more gigs for the rest of us!

i used to play for a living. but now i play for life! it's the best reason to keep playing! JRA, 875 months.