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Are aging rock superstars like Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones timeless or too old to perform on stage anymore?
Results so far:
| Too old | 27% | 605 votes | Total: 2210 votes | |
| Timeless | 73% | 1605 votes |
Too old
by Hector Castro
Created on: July 19, 2010
There is no doubt that there are certain rock superstars who have timeless music. Unfortunately, just because their music hasn’t aged horribly, doesn’t mean that they haven’t. Honestly, I must say when I see rock legends such as The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, or even The Who perform today it makes laugh uncontrollably to the point where there are tears in my eyes. It just doesn’t make any sense that these once great rock musicians would rather embarrass themselves by trying to act like they’re still in their twenties than retire and be remembered for who they were. Now, I understand that bands such as The Rolling Stones have made history with their music, but honestly it’s painful to watch them perform now because it’s clear that they can’t just let go of their past.
Now, we, the fans, aren’t helping them at all by encouraging them. People need to accept the fact that bands like these have no business performing, and let’s be honest. Nobody actually believes that these bands should continue to perform at their age because when you go to a Metallica concert today, you’re still thinking of the old 1980’s Metallica you fell in love with when in actuality they’re not the same. Also, no matter what anyone thinks, I think that most of us can agree that bands such as The Rolling Stones can’t create music as well as they used to because they set the bar so high for themselves.
No matter how great you were in the past, no band is good enough to continue forever. As far as I’m concerned these rock legends go through mid-life crises just like everyone else. The only difference is that they have millions of fans encouraging them to be who they were twenty, thirty years ago. Now, a reunion concert here and there is fine, but going on world tours and performing on national TV trying to be who you were twenty years ago is just sad.
Now I understand that fans want to be able to see their favorite bands from their childhood perform, but honestly, a group of sixty-year-olds have no business on the main stage. Thanks to their continuous music careers, I no longer think of The Rolling Stones or Paul McCartney as rock legends. I think of them as old, washed up posers who couldn’t let go of their pasts. Please, explain to me why they can’t just hang up their guitars and let the legend live on. You either retire a rock legend or continue to play long enough to watch yourself become a pathetic imitation of your former self.
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Timeless
by Anthony Megna
Created on: February 05, 2009 Last Updated: October 03, 2011
Remember the Beatles song with the lyrics: "Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64".....I wonder how many times Sir Paul McCartney thinks about this song he helped to write so many years ago? Did he think he would still be going at it more than forty years later? Deep down, I think he did. What else is he going to do? Become a greeter at the local Walmart? He was born to perform.
Most musicians still going today who made their mark in the flower power decade and even before love what they do. That is what keeps them going. If the marketplace won't pay for their records or to see them in concert, then they might think they lost it. The guitar heroes and crooners might just give it up. But it's hard to do when you love what you do. And when you love what you do, the shine goes on. True talent doesn't die, it keeps on keeping on.
I recently watched Mick Jagger in his latest concert movie directed by Scorsese, and although not as agile as he was in his early days, he still moves around the stage better than most bloated teens can. It takes a tremendous amount of energy to perform a concert and put out for a couple of hours like he does, but he does it. Of course, he has been doing it for over forty years! That is amazing in and of itself. Who would of thought back in the sixties the band would still be performing today. "Hope I die before I get old".....I know, that was written by The Who, who by the way are still performing years later, and loving it.
No, I don't think there is some artificial time limit on performing. The time limit is dictated by the audience. If the people still want to pay to see their favorites perform, who is to say that they shouldn't? As long as the artist has the ability to entertain for a certain period of time, why not? Wrinkles and all. Go to it, I say. Retire just because one has a few wrinkles? Humbug.
Some of the best songs have been written from aging artists. I actually think that the experience of life deepens the quality of the song. When one actually experiences the ups and downs of life and it's myriad paths, only then can a true meaning of living come through. It just has the ambiance of an aged wine. So keep writing I say to all those "aged rock stars". I don't have any problems going to see a favorite artist perform, I don't care how old they are. Elton John, a singer and pianist from the sixties is performing in Vegas and packing them in with his new show entitled "The Million Dollar Piano". It's got a three year run at Ceasar"s Palace. I don't care how old you are, it's tough to perform six nights a week to demanding audiences. Sometimes you just need a rest!
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