Old rockers. Should they give up or carry on?

[PaulB]

Just watching a programme about rock groups from the 60s such as The Searchers, The Dakotas, Wayne Fontana etc and they are still touring. They draw a crowd of their contemporaries and can clearly still play their instruments but they are well, old. Bald, tubby (Wayne Fontana looks like he's trying to smuggle footballs in to the venue) and not moving too well at all they persist in rocking on. There's clearly still an audience but if you were a successful rocker from the 60s or early 70s, would you carry on or would you have called it a day before now? I'm not saying about people still writing songs and music by the way, these bands are still regurgitating their hits of yore and not doing anything new at all.

 

[Kirstie]

As long as they have tax bills to pay, they'll be rocking on....

 

[Baggy]

If they enjoy it, and their audience enjoys it, why not? At least it keeps them out of trouble.

 

[longers]

At least it keeps them out of trouble.

Wayne Fontana needs to keep out of trouble.

He was in the Glossop paper quite a bit in the last couple of years and turned up to court dressed as The Lady of Justice on one occasion if I recall correctly while being done for setting fire to a car with a Bailiff inside.

 

[vernon]

Last Friday, I saw Tom Jones at the M.E.N. Arena - stunning performance. On Wednesday I'll be seeing The Zombies for the second time in the past three years. Other retreads that I've seen in the past few years include Alan Price, Alvin Stardust, Peter Frampton, Uriah Heep, Jan Akkerman, Andy Fairweather Low, Deep Purple, Yardbirds, 10CC and Al Stewart.

Only Deep Purple and Uriah Heep have been disappointing. I don't care what they look like as long as the music is great. If there's a demand and the performers are willing to meet it, good luck to them.

Anyone for The Bay City Rollers?

 

[PaulB]

Other retreads that I've seen in the past few years include Alan Price,

I wouldn't boast about going to see that scumbucket if I were you.

 

[ufkacbln]

Quite often the music matures with the musicians.

 

[Mr Pig]

I think the real question is do we want to be left with only modern artists? Mmmm....no.

I was watching 'The Band - The Last Waltz' last night. Not many bands around today who are that good.

 

[PaulB]

I think the real question is do we want to be left with only modern artists? Mmmm....no.

I was watching 'The Band - The Last Waltz' last night. Not many bands around today who are that good.

Aye, but they split up years ago. In fact, that was their farewell concert. Even so, there's no comparison between The Band and The Searchers, really, is there? Come on!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

It's kept Chuck Berry in work all this time and he hasn't written a song for about 50 years - mind you what a back catalogue!

 

[Mr Pig]

Aye, but they split up years ago. Come on!

What about The Eagles? They're still going?

 

[Perfect Virgo]

If there's no new material, I believe it's all about basking in the warm glow of nostalgia for the bands and the audiences. It doesn't hurt anyone and plenty of old performers know no other life. They'll die rocking and would probably want it that way.

Not all are out of shape though. Check out 70 year old Ian Hunter, still as skinny as a rake with a head full of curls. He's still releasing new material to a small devoted following. His 60s/70s band Mott the Hoople reformed this month for a 5 night stand at the Hammersmith Apollo and packed it out 35 years after last performing live. If I had been in England I would have been there again too!

 

[Wigsie]

Mick Jagger made an interesting point some years back that if he'd been a black american blueman playing his early stuff, he'd have been more revered the older he got and lauded for playing "classics". Instead of which he just got loads of grief, and called a zimmer-rocker.

Seen the Stones play a few times (Voodoo Lounge and Bridges to Babylon tours) and they are awesome!

You can't see the wrinkles on a stadium tour either, so they may as well be 25!

 

[PaulB]

What about The Eagles? They're still going?

Hardly "still going". The tour was called "Hell Freezes Over" since that's when they said they'd next get together so it was a re-formation in reality. And a re-formation to make money. A bit like Simon and Garfunkel's was.

 

[mondobongo]

Magazine were on Later last Friday and were absolutely fantastic, Howard Devoto was imperious, he may well be 57 but could teach plenty of performers about stage presence.

Shot by both sides

Short interview and The Light Pours out of me

Pure Class