The (badly) aging metaler

[monsterthompson]

No you don't.

Devin is probably well aware of his image, and cultivated it with a purpose. This is a guy who worked his way into Steve Vai's world at a very young age. He's no fool.
Here is 2015:

 

[MobileHolmes]

That goes for any genre.
Although if you can still bring it and are doing it for the right reasons then i have no issue with it.

I've heard some pretty depressing stories about various 50s and 60s rockers on the county fair circuit in the 80s. It's hard getting old in any genre that praises youth.

 

[Max Blasto]

One of the things I respect about Lamb of God, from my home state capital, is that they don't seem to care about image:

LOL!! Cuz matching black T shirts and jeans, facial hair, scowls and tuff-guy poses isn't image conscious? What would've happened if the bass player showed up in a pink T shirt?

If you think these guys aren't image conscious, it's because you dress like them too. Which means you play metal.
I work with a (metal) guitarist that thinks black T shirts are normal stage gear. Cuz that's what he wears all the rest of the time. Then his job made him wear a collared shirt. Now he thinks he looks like a dork. Funny how people wear uniforms and don't realize it.

 

[T_E]

I've heard some pretty depressing stories about various 50s and 60s rockers on the county fair circuit in the 80s. It's hard getting old in any genre that praises youth.

If someone had enough going on to be milkin' their past, 30 years later, their current depressing position is due to being... shall I say, stupid... when they were making it.

Life is choices.

 

[T_E]

He's dressing better. Can't say much for the Eagle Scouts standing behind him.

Then again, this was already done:

Devin is probably well aware of his image, and cultivated it with a purpose. This is a guy who worked his way into Steve Vai's world at a very young age. He's no fool.
Here is 2015:

 

[Joebone]

I'll swing by Blabbermouth from time to time and once in a blue moon spot something of interest, but the biggest takeaway I have is a growing sympathy for so many of these guys that should just stop already. So many just look to be on death's door all tattoed and pierced up with skin as grey as last week's fried chicken. Like that bloated, hairy perv from across the street who keeps the JD next to the his shotgun and spaghetti-O stash .

At some point I would just think they'd look in the mirror and make some adjustments in direction - "Am I still really this angry all these years later?" I'm not denying there are some good acts out there in the vintage class of heavier music, but the vast majority have just turned sad and silly.

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Youth is wasted on the young.

If one has to rock, then one has to rock. If you don't like what you see, then change the channel or avert your gaze.

Seriously, is whatever you are into, musically, visually, vibrationally, immune to attack?

Ask yourself what your story will be 30 years from now.

 

[JimmyM]

Jimmy, I'm not a youngster myself. But I think it's clear that as we grow older more is expected of us and we learn to let go of our anger or deal with it in better ways than we did when we were younger. At the very least, there's a change of perspective. I remember an interview I heard with the singer from Pearl Jam and he was talking about how easy it was for them to make music when they were young and angry at the world. After they had some success, got married, had kids, they weren't so angry anymore, so they had to find other things to write about.

If a 2 year old cried over spilled milk, we accept it because he's a child. If a fifty year old cries over spilled milk...?

Not an apt comparison at all. There are plenty of things in the world that people SHOULD be angry about, regardless of their age.

 

[SlugThrower]

As a young person, I feel like the age gap doesn't really make a difference. There are plenty of cool silver-hair, beer-guts out there. What really matters to us is whether or not you slay.

 

[matante]

Not an apt comparison at all. There are plenty of things in the world that people SHOULD be angry about, regardless of their age.

Agreed, and when you're 15 all you can do is blast your amp and bang your head over those things. It's different when you're fifty.

 

[Bassheart365]

That goes for any genre.
Although if you can still bring it and are doing it for the right reasons then i have no issue with it.

Note at all true across the spectrum, IMO. Just one example, Buddy Rich played drums well into his 60's and he did not look at all uncool doing it.

 

[T_E]

Note at all true across the spectrum, IMO. Just one example, Buddy Rich played drums well into his 60's and he did not look at all uncool doing it.

Not to mention that, still to this day, nobody can play drums better.

 

[Bassheart365]

Of all the genres of music, I think metal heads might have it the worst with the whole aging thing. On the other hand, jazz & Blues musicians have it pretty good. How old was John Lee Hooker when he was still packing them in for God's sake? And what about Buddy Rich, playing drums into his late 60's and looking cool doing it.

 

[Bassheart365]

Not to mention that, still to this day, nobody can play drums better.

Absolutely. And he stayed the best of all time into his 60's. And we are not talking flute or cello, he was a DRUMMER.

 

[Hues]

Agreed, and when you're 15 all you can do is blast your amp and bang your head over those things. It's different when you're fifty.

That's not how it works...For example,...Because you're older doesn't mean you'll able to stop religious fanatics from decapitating children in public executions.

And this is but one tip of the bloody iceberg.

 

[matante]

That's not how it works...For example,...Because you're older doesn't mean you'll able to stop religious fanatics from decapitating children in public executions.

And this is but one tip of the bloody iceberg.

No, but life experience teaches you to view that inability from a different perspective. When you're a kid you can dwell on the thought of decapitated children all day and write songs and lyrics about it. When you're older you have more important things to do than to dwell on what you can't control. I'm sounding like the 'serenity prayer' but seriously, cranking your amp and screaming into a mic isn't going to save the children.

 

[andruca]

I'm 41 and overweight, not photogenic at all and, well, at least my hair's still there so far. I front a band and literally get told what to wear by my bandmates (and I'm totally OK with it, I don't feel like getting in the middle if I just lack the necessary criteria for a certain thing). So bad shape and looks have this great cure called "the man in black", which does the trick almost for anybody. It's public domain and, as anyone can see, is a thing many artists do when aging. Now, altho' I hate my image I happen to be way more obsessed with my own voice. If I hated my image as much as I hate my voice I'd probably be anorectic.



I watched Bad Religion live for the zillionth time last year. It's one of the few bands whose looks I've witnessed carefuly thru' the years. I don't know what it is that keeps Jay Bentley look so (almost unfairly) young, magnetic to watch, with such attitude (a thing that's beyond just being handsome and in good shape). I'd kill for such a gift. No wonder why hes front of stage center in BR's performances (Greg Graffin having been displaced to a side years ago), he fronts the shaging band!

 

[Hues]

No, but life experience teaches you to view that inability from a different perspective. When you're a kid you can dwell on the thought of decapitated children all day and write songs and lyrics about it. When you're older you have more important things to do than to dwell on what you can't control. I'm sounding like the 'serenity prayer' but seriously, cranking your amp and screaming into a mic isn't going to save the children.

As a 50+ person myself, I've not gotten to the point where one of the 'more important things to do' is being indifferent to the world I exist in....As artists,you really have only two options...Comment on the world around you and within you, or make candy for the mind and soul.

I'll add this; I lived through the whole LiveAid and We Are The World,Comic Relief.etc,decade....I see people are still starving and homelessness is worse now...That the music didn't and won't make a lasting dent...The beat goes on.

I need to go take a nap now.

 

[Robus]

They're still hanging in and doing what they love. Why should they stop? Oh, somebody thinks they look silly!

 

[NeonVomit]

Some bands age gracefully, like Iron Maiden. Their songs are now more progressive, longer, experimental, with a stronger storytelling element but still have a metal heart. Their songs march where they once galloped.

Examples? Early Maiden, both studio and live:





Latter-day Maiden, studio and live






They can make an 8-minute-long music video because why the hell not. They're not sticking to any formula which made them famous, they're just doing their own thing now - they've reached a stage where they can literally do whatever they want and are making the most of it. Release a 2-disc album with an 18-minute track? Who will tell them not to? Put out a single that's too long to be included in the singles chart? Whoever doesn't like it can simply do one. To me, Maiden are the ultimate in terms of evolution and endurance.

Other bands are trying to stay what they once were despite it being painfully obvious that they can't do it anymore, or are treading water in the same spot as the world passes them by. Seeing Lemmy almost collapse during a gig is painful to watch, he's given us everything and has nothing left to prove. Seeing Kiss embark on yet another farewell tour with the same songs, same costumes and same vibe as they've been putting out for the last 35 years is just boring.

If you have nothing left to say, move on and make space for the new acts of today.

 

[Jeffrey Bryan]

Some bands age gracefully, like Iron Maiden. Their songs are now more progressive, longer, experimental, with a stronger storytelling element but still have a metal heart. Their songs march where they once galloped.

If you have nothing left to say, move on and make space for the new acts of today.

Funny, because it's up to everyone to decide for themselves when it should be over. For example; to me, Iron Maiden is long gone. The production value drops below their 80s counterparts, Nicko his impact drumming and Bruce completely lost his voice.