That's one cool-lookin' band.
Be honest now...you're dying your hair, aren't you?
And you've had plastic surgery?
And there's been photoshoppery done here...
Ahh, don't mind me...I'm just jealous...and a little bit bitter...
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That's one cool-lookin' band.
Be honest now...you're dying your hair, aren't you?
And you've had plastic surgery?
And there's been photoshoppery done here...
Ahh, don't mind me...I'm just jealous...and a little bit bitter...
Wow...that is some evolution, for sure.
I really like the new sound, especially your melodic bassline, but honestly would have hated your earlier stuff...I hope your fans accept the new direction.
- Oct 7, 2000
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
That's one cool-lookin' band.
Be honest now...you're dying your hair, aren't you?
And you've had plastic surgery?
And there's been photoshoppery done here...
Ahh, don't mind me...I'm just jealous...and a little bit bitter...
LOL... I've been dying my hair forever. Used to be lots of different colors. Now just dark brown.
Plastic surgery - nuthin doin. I'm ascaird of doctors, don't want it, and don't feel I need it.
No photoshoppery either. Pretty sure 2 of those pix are iPhone pix. The band sent them out about an hour after the shoot.
I look young for my age, and I think there's lots of reason for that. It's not something that's in my genes, as I have 2 brothers, and well... yeah...
Though I'm still not entirely comfortable with book promo, I believe my not looking my age has everything to do with what I outline in that book. I'm nowhere near perfect at doing the 50 things I wrote about in it, but they are all things that I'm very conscious of and work at regularly. Some of them are no brainers, the simplest of things to do too -- but people just don't do them. Lifestyle changes seem overwhelming, and most people think they'll never get there, or be able to follow through. One of the things I think I was fortunate to realize a while back is that time is going to pass regardless of what I'm doing with my life. If I'm still here 5 years from now, I can be a better me - or a worse me. Tiny little steps in the right direction keep me pointed where I want to go.
Thanks for the positive thoughts and words
.
I've been playing bass 48 years now. I remember asking for a guitar around 3yrs old. Gone from being the youngest in the band (played my first "pro" gig after 3 months of owning a bass w/my first band at 17) to being the oldest in other bands and everywhere in between.
3-5 active bands now and in the most active i'm now the youngest again (at 64!). That band plays 50s, 60s some 70s and plays to packed houses in local club/restaurants and pvt venues.
In most of my appearances I provide bass, lead and backing vocal and sound tech from the stage (not the front man in those instances). I feel that my value to the other musicians and the audience is greater than ever, based on my experience, ceaseless gig calls, audience reaction and resulting income.
When I/we can no longer fill rooms with happy dancers regardless of THEIR ages i might consider stopping, but as for now, i plan to fall over dead onstage at maybe 90 during a packed house show with a bass strapped on me. Chuck Berry proved it CAN be done.
As for the youngsters coming up who want a 'career' of their own do you really want to play 50s-70s, do wop and R&B to a 50-70 y.o. crowd who want to dance till THEY drop? Didn't think so. I have my place. You'll find yours too if you've got the goods (btw we have teen dancers out there and grandson roadies too ha ha).
3-5 active bands now and in the most active i'm now the youngest again (at 64!). That band plays 50s, 60s some 70s and plays to packed houses in local club/restaurants and pvt venues.
In most of my appearances I provide bass, lead and backing vocal and sound tech from the stage (not the front man in those instances). I feel that my value to the other musicians and the audience is greater than ever, based on my experience, ceaseless gig calls, audience reaction and resulting income.
When I/we can no longer fill rooms with happy dancers regardless of THEIR ages i might consider stopping, but as for now, i plan to fall over dead onstage at maybe 90 during a packed house show with a bass strapped on me. Chuck Berry proved it CAN be done.
As for the youngsters coming up who want a 'career' of their own do you really want to play 50s-70s, do wop and R&B to a 50-70 y.o. crowd who want to dance till THEY drop? Didn't think so. I have my place. You'll find yours too if you've got the goods (btw we have teen dancers out there and grandson roadies too ha ha).
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I have a friend -- early 80's, sax player -- is still plays every week and is one of the most in demand sax players in my part of the country. His chops are as good if not better than when I first heard him when he was in his 20's.
A somewhat philosophical answer, but I think getting old and aging are two different things - you can't help aging, obviously, but you can stop from getting old. I'm only 30, so take my advice for what it's worth, but I've see old people who are 40 and young people who are in their 60's! It really is a state of mind.
When you stop doing the things that young people do (experimenting, learning new things, being creative, living without limits, being a sponge to everything around you) you start to get old, and it's all downhill from there. But that's a choice! You can choose to stop progressing and begin declining, or you can choose to continue doing the things you did when you were younger, granted at a pace more appropriate for your health and state of life.
I think it's important to apply this principle to every aspect of your life - your relationships, physical activity, mental state, music... I think the problem with "old people" is that they feel like they've arrived already, and once you've done that there's only one place to go - down. But if you ask any wise person (regardless of age) they'll tell you that they're still trying to get there, that they haven't arrived yet. That's beautiful and I think something wonderful for me to aim at.
So I say - keep rocking!
When you stop doing the things that young people do (experimenting, learning new things, being creative, living without limits, being a sponge to everything around you) you start to get old, and it's all downhill from there. But that's a choice! You can choose to stop progressing and begin declining, or you can choose to continue doing the things you did when you were younger, granted at a pace more appropriate for your health and state of life.
I think it's important to apply this principle to every aspect of your life - your relationships, physical activity, mental state, music... I think the problem with "old people" is that they feel like they've arrived already, and once you've done that there's only one place to go - down. But if you ask any wise person (regardless of age) they'll tell you that they're still trying to get there, that they haven't arrived yet. That's beautiful and I think something wonderful for me to aim at.
So I say - keep rocking!
Hi Mantis
You are right! A lot of things change when you' re getting older
In two years, being 40 you will tell more people that you play in a rock band (most people like rockmusic).
In twelve years, being 50 you will tell everybody that you play in a rockband because most people like serious
musicians and because it' s cool
but you will be very discreet about working in a law office
(most people don' t like lawyers) 
greetings
Wise
+1
My younger brother went straight from short trousers to being a geriatric, he missed fun and life out completely.
A guy in our village said "I saw your dad in the pub the other day"
Me "It wasn't my dad, he's been dead for 30 years"
Him "It was an old guy who looked a bit like you and said he was related to you"
Me "Ah you have been talking to my younger brother"
That took a few years off me!
It was kind of an extreme comparison. One of our heavier songs off of our last album with one of our softest songs on the new album. We've had ballads on a few our our previous albums (all except the last really) but when we were younger the crowds at shows weren't into them. We'd get all kinds of request to play them live and then when we would occasionally play them half the people went to the bar. So our fan base getting older I think is a big contributor to us playing more softer stuff live and it being taken much better these days.
Thank you Jimmy! It's mainly good genes, but I do not smoke and am an occasional/social drinker. My motto is that I don't go into a bar unless I'm being paid to be there! It works for me.
I'm 64. I played a bike gig a couple of weeks ago and got flashed by a couple of rather attractive 20 somethings. Why on earth would I think about ever quitting.
I'm 63, and I'm the second-oldest in our band (our keyboard player has me beat by a few months). A while ago I told myself that the time for me to quit would be when my body tells me so. It's not the actual playing, it's the load-in and especially load-out that's the deal breaker. We usually finish up by 1AM, and then it's another hour to break everything down, load our vehicles and then drive home, sometimes an hour for me. That's what gets really old, but I'm still strong enough to do it. I'll quit when I don't want to do it anymore.
They say just before BB King passed, he was suffering from Alzheimer's to the point that he gave a show where he got caught up talking to the audience and forgot to play, then had the crowd sing "You Are My Sunshine" to him for twenty minutes.
I would have sung to him all night if I'd been honored with the chance.
--^@
I would have sung to him all night if I'd been honored with the chance.
--^@
I just turned 62, never had any ambitions beyond playing covers locally. Just got told yesterday by the latest project I joined that I should renew my passport 
.
.Saw him a few years back. He was a legend.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
You have to consider the situation. I wouldn't be playing with teenagers looking to "make it big", but there are plenty of older weekend warriors. I know of at least three guys here in their 70s who are gigging regularly. As long as you are having fun, do it.
