When are you too old to start a band?

[>Mojave_Gary<]

NEVER too old to ROCK and ROLL !!!

[jv]

I woke up this morning with the thought that I was needlessly cruel to Jerry Lee Lewis and John Fogerty in that post (above) yesterday. My point should have been that they looked and sounded dreadful trying to do exactly what they did in their 20s. I wish they would ditch the old songs about girls and cars, and do something relevant to their current station in life. That would be interesting.

It's just sad and ugly to see former artists late in their lives trying to pretend they are still youthful by doing poorly the exact things that worked so well for them when they were young. That should have been my point.

Johnny Cash adjusted his approach late in his life and it was really cool - a dispatch from that stage of life. One does theoretically become wiser with age (or one dies trying to become wiser, at least)

(somehow, though, the remaining Rolling Stones totally pull off the 'youth-in-the-mid-sixties' trick though - I can't explain that one)

Have you heard the Jerry Lee album "Last Man Standing" that came out a couple of years ago? I usually don't go for those kind of things (old guy does duets with younger, hipper people), but this one I really enjoyed. I thought he was in fine form, and some of the songs have more mature themes.

[dave watkins]

indeed, no one is ever to old to rock. a prime example for me is Tim Barry who's the lead singer of Avail (and those guys still put on an awesome live show). he's been doing a solo career thing for a couple of years now. he tares it up with some really intense song writing / story telling acoustic stuff. for me it's real nice to have people like that still playing, gives you someone to look up to. so keep rocking!

[Derrick]

Another perspective... I have some guitars and amps that are 40 and 50 years old. They still have the ability to rock any bit as hard as when new so why couldn't I when I get old? Old is a perspective and that is always going to be differnent to everyone else. It's really what YOU do with it that matters. The Stones, Neil, Fogerty, Pollard, and Bruce made a choice. Now it's your turn. You show us how old you are.

[caffiend2049]

I look at it this way: every day you are older than you have ever been AND the youngest you are ever going to be.

If you start thinking that you are too old to do something now....well that just makes the future look pretty bleak. Who wants to live a life like that?

I recently started playing again with my old rock band....we've been on again/off again for about 9 years. When we started, I was in my 20s, our drummer was in his 30s and our guitarist was just turning 40. Well, we played a show the other night with a few similarly vintage punk/rock acts and pretty much killed. (and had a lot of fun)

I don't necessarily jump around quite as much as I used to.....but I'm a hell of a lot better player now.

"you can come back, baby, rock and roll never forgets" - seger (bob)
lol

[Judas Jetski]

"There is no sanctuary!"

"Those cracks in your face--do they hurt?"

[Judas Jetski]

The way I figure things: if you've got something worth saying, say it. Who cares how old you are or aren't?

[swelle]

"WOT?!! WOT??!"

I read some quote from Joe Strummer or somebody about there being a racial element to this fear - i.e. that nobody minds aging blues, soul, or jazz men of color, but somehow white guys need to stay in their 20's forever to remain "relevant." It's the same fear that motivates Viagra sales and hair replacements. Do it because you enjoy it, try to play well, and see where it goes.

[junomat]

I'm talking namely an original rock band with the intent of playing the local scene. I think it is different for someone who found some success in their 20's and 30's to start a 'new' band at age 40, vs someone who has not made any real 'mark' on his/her scene to give it one more go at a 'later' age. Obviously, this is a lighthearted solicitation for thoughts on the matter. It just so happens that my 32 year old self is getting something together, and the insecure part of me is afraid of feeling like a douche opening up for the hot band who's members just earned the right to drink legally.

You're too old when you're DEAD.

Now go play some music.

Quote of the year! Hells yeah.

[lancebug]

"WOT?!! WOT??!"

I read some quote from Joe Strummer or somebody about there being a racial element to this fear - i.e. that nobody minds aging blues, soul, or jazz men of color, but somehow white guys need to stay in their 20's forever to remain "relevant." It's the same fear that motivates Viagra sales and hair replacements. Do it because you enjoy it, try to play well, and see where it goes.

+1 on Lemmy. What was the topic again. 40 years and not too old, but maybe too lazy.

[RefD]

"There is no sanctuary!"

"Those cracks in your face--do they hurt?"

only when i fart.

[NewAndImprov]

I'm 45 and just started a new band. Photo's from our (sort-of) debut gig here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24573506@N ... 93/detail/

It's a free-jazz poetry hip hop dub fusion soul jazz organ trio + rapper. I know, I'm old.

[O_ellinas]

Well you know these days, rock n roll is an old guy's thing. How old is Chuck Berry, by the way?

anyway, fuck it. I am 36 and I am the kid in my band. The other guys are 45ish. We kick ass and plan to do so until we can't stand on our feet anymore.

Rock is a lot like sex. When you are young, you have the power, drive, stamina and enthusiasm. But when you are older, you have the experience, the knowledge, and you tend to like more sophisticated stuff

BUT ITS JUST AS GOOD. ENJOY WHILE YOU STILL CAN.

[;ivlunsdystf]

I read some quote from Joe Strummer or somebody about there being a racial element to this fear - i.e. that nobody minds aging blues, soul, or jazz men of color, but somehow white guys need to stay in their 20's forever to remain "relevant." It's the same fear that motivates Viagra sales and hair replacements.

A white guy can still go off on a Harry Dean Stanton badass tack late in life; that, or morphing a fat older guy with a beard might be a good option. If those avenues don't work out, there's still the dessicated lizard genre of old man, eg Willie Nelson. The point is, even us white guys have some good options later in life, "relevance"-wise.

[I'm Painting Again]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_TpXhxG0uc

RIP
Ted Franko

Oldest NYHC singer ever..