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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