When did you stop gigging due to age?

[QORC]

I stopped gigging when I realized that it was way too much hassle for the small bucks, drunk crowds and a******** club owners to be worth it.

I no longer play instruments because of a rare brain disorder known as Corticobasal Degeneration. Corticobasal degeneration is a rare disease in which areas of your brain shrink and your nerve cells degenerate and die over time. The disease affects the area of the brain that processes information and brain structures that control movement. This degeneration results in growing difficulty in movement on one or both sides of your body.
The condition may cause you to have poor coordination, stiffness, difficulty thinking, trouble with speech or language, or other problems.
The symptoms of corticobasal degeneration progress to serious complications, such as pneumonia or sepsis, a life-threatening response to an infection. Corticobasal degeneration complications ultimately lead to death.
People with corticobasal degeneration usually do not survive beyond an average of 7 years after symptoms begin. Aspiration pneumonia or other complications are usually the cause of death. My symptoms began over 2 years ago, so my haters can look forward to my death soon.

I'm 58 years old, and I wasn't expecting to be able to say this, but I plan to leave a good-looking corpse.

wow. so sorry to hear that!! Gosh, you are a brave man

 

[Hot Rats]

I stopped gigging when I realized that it was way too much hassle for the small bucks, drunk crowds and a******** club owners to be worth it.

I no longer play instruments because of a rare brain disorder known as Corticobasal Degeneration. Corticobasal degeneration is a rare disease in which areas of your brain shrink and your nerve cells degenerate and die over time. The disease affects the area of the brain that processes information and brain structures that control movement. This degeneration results in growing difficulty in movement on one or both sides of your body.
The condition may cause you to have poor coordination, stiffness, difficulty thinking, trouble with speech or language, or other problems.
The symptoms of corticobasal degeneration progress to serious complications, such as pneumonia or sepsis, a life-threatening response to an infection. Corticobasal degeneration complications ultimately lead to death.
People with corticobasal degeneration usually do not survive beyond an average of 7 years after symptoms begin. Aspiration pneumonia or other complications are usually the cause of death. My symptoms began over 2 years ago, so my haters can look forward to my death soon.

I'm 58 years old, and I wasn't expecting to be able to say this, but I plan to leave a good-looking corpse.

I got out of one of my bands for the same reasons as your first sentence. Your strong opinions and videos were always cool with me. Take care man.

 

[stringthrough]

I stopped gigging when I realized that it was way too much hassle for the small bucks, drunk crowds and a******** club owners to be worth it.

I no longer play instruments because of a rare brain disorder known as Corticobasal Degeneration. Corticobasal degeneration is a rare disease in which areas of your brain shrink and your nerve cells degenerate and die over time. The disease affects the area of the brain that processes information and brain structures that control movement. This degeneration results in growing difficulty in movement on one or both sides of your body.
The condition may cause you to have poor coordination, stiffness, difficulty thinking, trouble with speech or language, or other problems.
The symptoms of corticobasal degeneration progress to serious complications, such as pneumonia or sepsis, a life-threatening response to an infection. Corticobasal degeneration complications ultimately lead to death.
People with corticobasal degeneration usually do not survive beyond an average of 7 years after symptoms begin. Aspiration pneumonia or other complications are usually the cause of death. My symptoms began over 2 years ago, so my haters can look forward to my death soon.

I'm 58 years old, and I wasn't expecting to be able to say this, but I plan to leave a good-looking corpse.

That's a tough break.

I hope you stay with us beyond the average life expectancy and continue to find joy in this life.

 

[DJ Bebop]

My symptoms began over 2 years ago, so my haters can look forward to my death soon.

I'm 58 years old, and I wasn't expecting to be able to say this, but I plan to leave a good-looking corpse.

Stay frosty my friend!

 

[2saddleslab]

I stopped gigging when I realized that it was way too much hassle for the small bucks, drunk crowds and a******** club owners to be worth it.

I no longer play instruments because of a rare brain disorder known as Corticobasal Degeneration. Corticobasal degeneration is a rare disease in which areas of your brain shrink and your nerve cells degenerate and die over time. The disease affects the area of the brain that processes information and brain structures that control movement. This degeneration results in growing difficulty in movement on one or both sides of your body.
The condition may cause you to have poor coordination, stiffness, difficulty thinking, trouble with speech or language, or other problems.
The symptoms of corticobasal degeneration progress to serious complications, such as pneumonia or sepsis, a life-threatening response to an infection. Corticobasal degeneration complications ultimately lead to death.
People with corticobasal degeneration usually do not survive beyond an average of 7 years after symptoms begin. Aspiration pneumonia or other complications are usually the cause of death. My symptoms began over 2 years ago, so my haters can look forward to my death soon.

I'm 58 years old, and I wasn't expecting to be able to say this, but I plan to leave a good-looking corpse.

Sorry to hear this. Wishing you strength & serenity.

 

[RustyAxe]

I'm 67, worked the past three weekends, and got two gigs this weekend coming up. We stopped working late night (early morning) gigs years ago, and this year we even turned down New Year's Eve. None of us need the money, and none of us need the hassle.

 

[RichardW]

62 and have a gig next month. The pandemic has slowed things considerably, but prior to COVID my band was playing 6 - 8 gigs a year for over 10 years. I did trade in a very heavy SWR amp for a lighter Fender Rumble, but that's the only concession so far. I'll keep going til I can't.

 

[13bass]

At 59 and just played my first gig on halloween, so I'm giving it 20 more years and then I'm done with the grind

 

[portpc]

I'm 67, worked the past three weekends, and got two gigs this weekend coming up. We stopped working late night (early morning) gigs years ago, and this year we even turned down New Year's Eve. None of us need the money, and none of us need the hassle.

NY Eve in my experience has pretty much been a forgettable gig over the years with a high % of lonely souls on barstools, I did an out of state NY Eve wedding once, even that was a PITA, The last few years I've done an early NY Eve gig at a church, They drop the ball at 9PM, I actually look forward to that one!

 

[stratovani]

I'm 67, and my last gig with the Petty tribute I play in is coming up this December 10. I'm the last original member of the band, which formed in the spring of 2012. It's going to be an emotional gig for me, but my body is telling me it's time to hang it up, and besides that I've been playing Tom Petty's music for so long I can honestly say that I'm getting tired of it. I don't know what the future will hold for me, maybe I'll join a cover band in a year or so, or I'll just play in local jams.

 

[CharleyJackson]

I admit I have not read every post here, yet. Those who are starting to feel the onset of infirmity I do understand. But you have to fight it every way available to you. It is literally never too late for anything until…The End.

 

[CharleyJackson]

I’m 67, played a local bar last evening. So much fun!

 

[WayneP]

Sixty-six and still playing, mainly at church. There’s a great local oldies band I’d love to join, but the problem is I’m ready for bed by 9:30 or so, which is when the first set starts.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
Pedulla Club #45

 

[G Aichele]

Ha! Our band (see above) often has gigs that start as early as 11AM or so, and our few evening gigs rarely run later than 10PM. Why? Our audiences are often older than we are!

 

[stringthrough]

Sixty-six and still playing, mainly at church. There’s a great local oldies band I’d love to join, but the problem is I’m ready for bed by 9:30 or so, which is when the first set starts.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
Pedulla Club #45

I'm 66 and also like to black out around 10pm..... I just joined my 3rd gigging band. Like me you may find the excitement of a gig will keep you awake longer than you'd think.

 

[Analogeezer]

I haven't read the entire thread and it's been a while since I was in a gigging band but for me the types of "old guy/gal" bands limit the choices in what I would want to do.

What I am not into at all:

1. Country
2. Southern Rock (hated it when I was young and it's just as lame as it ever was)
3. Worship bands (just not my thing, I don't have anything against people who do this but it's not my thing)
4. Blues (hated it when I was young, it's basically wank off music for guitar players, so boring for bass)

The last band I was in was a cover band and we always went down the storm. We played "Classic Rock" but from the 1960's through the 2000's. Most of what we played was concentrated around the 1980's and 1990's.

Our "Specialty" was U2 and The Who (and a handful of Bon Jovi) and we killed on that material, having a great lead singer and great backups helped a lot.

As far as more "modern stuff" we did Lenny Kravitz, Foo Fighters, Buck Cherry.

Except for a handful of songs, I never felt embarrassed by the material we did.

Man that was a fun band (we got Yoko'd by the drummer's wife so he quit and the singer moved away to NC) and the material was fun to play and always got a great reception.

I'd love to replicate that material we did, but most old guy bands want to play the stuff on my list above.

Analogeezer

 

[Twobass]

I feel like you can play at any age but the thing that will stop you is health and I guess that comes with age. However you can be older and healthy

 

[MoneyGreene]

I stopped at 36 d/t going back to school for new career as a Paramedic and was tried of being a band leaderand dealing with some of the attitudes . Since Pandemic hit I have taking up Bass (keyboardist prior) and I'm loving it and want to get back out there now. I'm turning 53 in January.

 

[OldCoupeTom]

I'm 52 and bass days are over. Over the last year started to get moderate to severe arthritis in fingers and hands. Too the extreme a few knuckles double in size. Also downsized my equipment a few years back and sold the PA but after having 3 hernias repaired, it's over.
Was gonna give a last go with a really promising group but not into the bar and club scene.
Got to give to the guys that are still playing every week. I have roughly a 20 year run and will really miss playing live. Best to all!

Not saying it will help in your case, but as I near age 80, I can report it helps me. That is, the "ick drink cocktail" made starting with a cup or mug of water (I use room temperature for ease of mixing) add two tablespoons of Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar with "the mother" (no poopie...says so right on the label) and one tablespoon of raw, unprocessed honey. Mix it up...drink it down. Read all about it in Dr. Jarvis' book "Folk Medicine" for the explanation of how and why (if you care). I had two trigger fingers started and arthritis in my thumbs. Now, and from about a month after starting the "cocktail", no more trigger fingers and arthritis far less symptomatic...AND...there are NO MEDS in my regimen. Nothing to lose by giving it a try, right?! Good luck. I'm just a home player firmly anchored in the mediocre class, but it would be bad for my soul to have to quit!

 

[JamesDeGrandis]

How old was I when I last gigged?
33 Years, 4 Months and 21 days.

That was the last gig - I'm 45 now.
I will not gig again.

As to why...
That's a relatively long story. I wasn't even planning on gigging in my 30's. I am a studio guy... but a situation arose with a band that I knew and they asked me to fill in for a tour - Which I did.

The short version is that it ended with a bunch of bad juju and I should have just stuck to session work because band politics are insane.

I toured for years in my early days, and I am honestly amazed at the people who are still playing 4 or 5 nights a week in their 50's, 60's, and even 70's. I'm even more amazed when they are not in a house band and are actually on the road. (Not that house bands aren't still amazing - but being on the road is a different animal.) I appreciate the grit of the guys who go out there and do it night after night - and give it their all.

You will miss the crowd when you stop. You will miss the tension and the butterflies. You will miss the frustrations of gear failures, the crappy sound guys, and the late nights. I know all the reasons why you keep doing it - and I miss them... as you will when you stop.

I hope you love your band mates like real brothers. (Or sisters...)
I hope the respect and trust never fail you.
I hope the magic is always there.

If you love it and you are physically able - do it.
If you love it and you can no longer do it - find something you can do... write, record, fiddle, come here and impart your experience... stay connected to it somehow.
If you lose your love for it... stop. Maybe it will return if you take a break... maybe it won't.