50-Year Old Rock Stars

Guardian - Madonna and Prince hit 50

Posted on the sane side as, although New Order were probably far from the writer's mind, he does express the reason why musicians keep at it long after some people think they should stop better than I've ever been able to in years of harping on about it on here.

Nobody associated with popular music ever wants to believe that it is first, last and foremost a business, much less that it is a business in which the same rules apply as in any other sphere of economic activity. In real life, middle-aged people cling to their high-paying jobs for as long as possible, resenting the younger employees nipping at their heels, all the while reassuring themselves that the youngsters can't get the job done the way they can. This sounds like every middle-aged rock star who ever lived, every former headliner who once played the Hollywood Bowl and is now playing small clubs in Norway and the cultural centre in Amiens. Nobody ever gives up a good job, with a nice salary and benefits and lots of prestige just because younger people think that they're out of step with the times or because they've stopped being cool. People in their 50s and 60s have more important things to do than worry about being cool.

Looks a good piece that , Reverend.In a bit of a rush right now but will read it in full later.

Madonna is 50 this year?

Fuck, I'm an old cunt :(

LeggyD wrote: Madonna is 50 this year?

Fuck, I'm an old cunt :(

Nope, she has an old...

Snorri xxx

I think we're in an era that people no longer give up what they like to do or their job extremely easily just because they hit a certain age. As for musicians, I don't care how old they are or how long they've been making music as long as they make good music (to my ears) and they like making music generally speaking. (There are wonderful musicians in their 50s, like the former members of New Order, and there are crap musicians who are in their teens and 20s, so age doesn't determine the quality of your music.) When the average lifespan was 45 or 50 in the past, then age 50 may have seemed extremely old, but with many people living until they're 70, 80, 90, 100 etc... 50 isn't as old as it was in the past.

At what point does it become an embarrassment?

Surely Madonna can't keep looking the way she does and have any kind of credibility for much longer?

Reverend Big wrote: ... although New Order were probably far from the writer's mind,

The results are often grotesque: singers who cannot remember the lyrics

saw a picture of madonna with her daughter today in a local tabloid. I can't believe she's 11 already. She is the spitting image of her mother. Watch out for her.

yes illegitimate children, the spark of all evil.

People always claim artists should retire when they get too old.

Retire and do what? Work at a bank. If I got paid money to dick around on a guitar and sing I'd do it until I was dead.

There's long been a feeling that one should give it up - or at least appear to take a lower profile - when one goes over 30! It has been said that it's impossible for some old duffer of 50 or whatever to have any real clue as to what "ver kids on ver street are feeling" (man) so they shouldn't try to do pop music!

That said, as you say, what would your average I-was-quite-big-once muso do if they retired? Buy a small holding and grow carrots? It doesn't bring quite the same buzz as ten thousand people chanting your name and going mad to the music you wrote does it?

Side topic: the children of big stars (be it of the film, tv or music variety) often become celebs themselves but then after being exposed to "the lifestyle", they're probably not going to opt for being a plumber and live on a council estate!