by Larkin Williamson

Created on: January 06, 2009

Sing to the last breath boys! Performing quality has nothing to do with age. Most of the people who want to hear the oldies are oldies themselves. We grew up listening to the Beatles and Stones. Many first kisses were done during one of their songs. Even my children who are in their twenties like the Beatles and Stones along with many other bands of the era. If the performers want to continue playing on stage, then why not? They are a part of musical history and I believe it is admirable of them to keep sharing it with us.

All of the music today is influenced in some way by the performers of the past. You can hear it in the styles, melodies and lyrical content of every song. All new music should respect the music made in the past. Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger have earned the right to take their music in whatever direction they wish. If one is not interested in the history of music, then one does not have to attend their concerts. To judge these artists "too old" is ridiculous. Do performers have to be under 30 to have the right to rock?

If a concert tour was made available to hear McCartney and the Stones, it would sell out immediately. It really has nothing to do with the music business. The music business is about money and only money. The performers who reach the level of these guys have gone far past the money. When you hear them, it is about the music and performing for the people. Will the young people of today not want to see their favorite entertainers perform 30 years from now?

Just because someone is old does not mean they are "Not Cool". Cool has been around since Sinatra. Believe it or not but 2 Pak and Britney Spears did not invent cool. I grew up in the 70s and still loved the music of the 50s. Ya can't sit in the tree and bitch at the roots. The music of today was simply born from the music of yesterday. I have written many songs myself and I can not escape the influence of past writers and performers. They were there first and that remains eternal.

I would love to see these guys perform at any age. Their music is a part of life. Just go to an oldies concert, close your eyes and open your ears. The old music is new to anyone who has never heard it before. Clint Eastwood still makes great movies at 78 years old. Performing only gets better with age and is always a treasure if you know what treasure means? Even a rocking chair can rock!

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