by Edgar Frost

Created on: September 21, 2008

I enjoy attending concerts and seeing both new and upcoming bands, and performers that have been around a while. When I get a chance to see some of the veterans of the music business, it's a treat. All those new bands that I listen to wouldn't be what they are today without the inspiration and influence of those who came before. While it is true that some performers may have lost something over the years, an opportunity to see a legend is something that should not be missed.

When I saw the title of this debate, I was shocked that someone would even suggest that the Rolling Stones or Paul McCartney don't belong on stage anymore. I've never had the opportunity to see them perform live, but from what I've seen, they've still got it. I don't think the issue with rock stars is their age, rather, I think it has more to do with how they carry themselves on stage. Put more succinctly: Are they growing old gracefully, or are they forcefully being pulled into old age.

The last time I saw the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney perform live on television was at the Superbowl a few years ago. They both performed well, but I was struck by how Mick Jagger carried himself on stage. Without getting into specifics, he was acting and dressing like an elderly, male Britney Spears. In my opinion, it took away from the performance. In some Paul McCartney videos I've seen, I also get the feeling that he forgets that he is past 60 years old.

It's not the age that bothers some people, it's the way they carry themselves. Let's look at some other performers who are in a similar age bracket: Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Van Halen, The Who, Rush, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc. Why weren't these performers mentioned in the title? I believe it's because they handle themselves better on stage. They've aged, they know it, and they're not trying to kid themselves. It also allows concert goers to focus on the show and not be distracted by weirdness that will be a distraction. A good product doesn't need any filler.

With that said, there is no age that is too old to perform. Some performers probably should have hung up their mic when they were 40 years old, while others can go on strong well into their older years. It all comes down to whether they can still put on a great show, and in the end, that's really all that matters to the fans.

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