Too old to rock?

[matthew rosedon]

I'm 53 and probably one of the oldest Hideout members.  This started me thinking.  Here in the UK you would have first heard Elvis in 1955.  If you were 16 then you'd be 72 now.  Does anyone know of senior citizens out there who are still rocking?  By rocking I don't mean listening to Oldie stations on a Sunday drive.  I mean actively listening to the Chocolate Watchband, Beefheart, Downliners Sect or whoever.  Or even seeking new and wild sounds.  Can you be too old to rock?

[G. Wood]

I'm 57, for another few weeks. I've been rocking since I was about 10, I guess, the breakthrough moment was Meet the Beatles. My band, Undercover Bonobos, was on Hideout comp #3. There may come a time when one is too old, or maybe too unhealthy to rock, but I'm not there yet, just completed a series of recordings with my 58 year old drummer, and a youngster in his 40's. 

[whatwave dave]

I think the key is too unhealthy to rock as G. Wood says below...age seems to have little to do with good musical taste or the ability to rock at any age! I just turned 55 and if anything, i'm getting more and more into this as my kids are now older and i've given up trying to get them into rock'n'roll.

G. Wood said:

I'm 57, for another few weeks. I've been rocking since I was about 10, I guess, the breakthrough moment was Meet the Beatles. My band, Undercover Bonobos, was on Hideout comp #3. There may come a time when one is too old, or maybe too unhealthy to rock, but I'm not there yet, just completed a series of recordings with my 58 year old drummer, and a youngster in his 40's. 

[Rockin Rod Strychnine]

I met someone on myspace 6 years ago who spent almost all ten years of the 60s in Vietnam so he was mostly just familiar with what he heard on Armed Forces radio.  He spent the 70's through the 90's listening to a bunch of corporate stuff but in '98, he specifiacally asked for a copy of the Nuggets boxset for Christmas wanting to start a collection of 60s music that he missed when being overseas.  Since then, he's also collected other garage rock collections and revival bands as well as 70s and 80s punk bands.  Only band he didn't like was the Mummies.  Oh well.

[John Battles]

Old dame? I see old dames that look as good as Ronnie like I've seen Kid Rock or Axl Rose carry a tune in a bucket....But , yeah , it is the original Mysterians. Robert Martinez was their first Drummer , but , he joined the Army before the band had a hit. So , he's back with them , now. But , "?", Bobby Balderrama , Frank Rodriguez , also all founding members. Frank Lugo was their second Bass Player (Who , along with Rodriguez , knew his number was coming up , so they enlisted on the "Buddy System".) , but, the first one , whose name I forget , was'nt with the band that long. So , yeah , they've got a right to say "Original ?ATM."
 
swt said:

Yes, Question Mark! When I saw him in New York last year, all the Mysterians, allegedly,were the originals and they were full of crazy energy. Here's a video of them playing "96 Tears" with an old dame named Ronnie Spector:

 

kopper said:

There are lots of bands still playing out with members in their 50s and up. The Fuzztones, D.O.A., The Cynics, The Fleshtones, The Chesterfield Kings... I'd bet all those guys are in their 50s. Nikki Corvette is still rockin', too. Take a look at the lineup for the recent Norton Records fest... The Real Kids (they ain't kids anymore!), the Great Gaylord, Andre Williams, The Sonics, ? and the Mysterians, Randy Fuller (Bobby's brother), Flamin Groovies, etc.

[Scott_hn]

At 48, my slam-dancing days may be over, but the concept of "too old to rock" does not compute. Fuck that shit.

[Warren Moore]

My band (original spirit-of-66 style stuff) includes a 65-year-old guitarist, a 46-year old drummer (ahem), a 33-year-old bassist, and a 22-year-old keyboardist. It's not the years -- it's the mileage. (Although I use earplugs now -- trying to save what I have left.) I expect to keep playing as long as the body holds out. The spirit remains willing.

[John Carlucci]

I'm 55 and I played Coachella last weekend. In 2 weeks I fly to France to headline the Cosmic Trip Festival. I've been playing in bands since 1972 & I've never had a time that I've not been in a band. In fact, at the moment I'm in 2 different bands.

[b0nes tra5hyf]

i might still be listening to slayer when i'm a wrinkled grandma, shonny!  ; )

[b0nes tra5hyf]

dang, i used to be all up in those mosh pits

Scott_hn said:

At 48, my slam-dancing days may be over, but the concept of "too old to rock" does not compute. Fuck that shit.

[The Lizardmen]

You're never too old to rock!!  All the Lizardmen are in our late 40's or early 50's and we still kick ass!

[Psychiatric Consultations]

Too young to Roll!

[IDON MINE]

I like what you guys bring on here lately.

URGENT FURY said:

Dude, you didn't have time to get old...

John Carlucci said:

I'm 55 and I played Coachella last weekend. In 2 weeks I fly to France to headline the Cosmic Trip Festival. I've been playing in bands since 1972 & I've never had a time that I've not been in a band. In fact, at the moment I'm in 2 different bands.