by J. Favreau

Created on: June 11, 2008

I think that the generation of Paul McCartney and Rolling Stones are too old to rock. I do not agree that Paul McCartney is too old. I know that I am talking out of both sides of my mouth here when I say this. Rolling Stones may not be who they used to be and neither may Paul McCartney but they have more to offer then some of the has beens that are continually trying to rock our stages. These artists are the ones that I believe are high on the Too OLD ladder.

I work in the industry and see acts that are good and bad on a daily basis. The legends are never too old to rock. They are timeless in their own right. It is the ones that are lesser known that should know when to say when. I am talking about the Blue Oyster Cults, Foghat, Foreigner's, and Eddie Money's of this world. They need to know when to say when. Eddie Money does countless tours every summer. He does not change anything and has a basic stage. He comes back to town almost as a passing of seasons in some states. It is generally a bad show and normally not a lot of people come to see him. Then there are other bands that have aging rock stars that bring out the crowds. The Eagles, Genesis, The Police, and Phil Collins can come back and fill up large arenas. I realize they are younger then the Paul and the Stones. Rod Stewart can fill up any arena that he wants too on a regular basis. He is on the older side and he still has groupies. BB King is still appreciated and he is 80 years old. Eric Clapton does not have what he used too but he can still fill up arenas. Clapton has mellowed out in his old age but can still strum the guitar like no one else.

They do not put up the shows that the rock legends do and they are basically a couple of sets short of a county fair. These shows are generally dreadful, not worth your money, but people attend them because they are cheap. They have not really come up with anything new in the last decade and generally look aged and worn. These shows are the shows that need to call it quits because they are too old.

Some people may say that Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones are too old. I believe it is the context that they are in and the stories that they tell through there music that make them the story tellers of our time that they are. Yes, they are high on the old scale but they bring something that the others players don't. They bring a rock library that some of the acts that I have listed just do not have. When you are rehashing the old times and not bringing anything new to the table. Then you should pack your bags and head off to retirement because you are not doing anything to the rock world. Your influence over culture has not been there since the sixties, you only had one ticket to paradise, or you just are not a good band live. These are the reasons that some bands need to retire.

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