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What do you think about this? Some thoughts on getting older in the rock scene
Since starting this site, I've begun to take notice of others in the music world who are commenting on how their musical lives change as they move up in years. Saw this from Gerry Hannah of the Canadian punk band Subhumans in the latest (excellent) issue of The Big Takeover:
We were just talking about this...about getting older and how you become invisible. When you're young, you're kind of used to being noticed on some level, and interacted with, but as you get older, you're less and less noticed...you're more like, just a fixture, like a lamppost or something (laughter). It used to be, when we went to shows..it was a community...We're not really in that anymore. We're kind of on the outside looking in.
Interesting stuff. I'm not sure I personally feel that sense of disconnect, but then perhaps I'm just oblivious to it. But Bruce and I did, on some level, know that many people feel that way. I guess that's one of the reasons we built this site -- to address the sense of alienation (or perhaps irrelevance) that Gerry discusses here. (By the way, the rest of the piece is about how Gerry and his crew are still out there kicking ass in front of younger and younger crowds -- so it's clear that he's hardly wallowing in self-pity. He's doing it exactly right: not giving in and always moving forward.)
What are your thoughts about Gerry's comments -- and the issue in general? And how can The Rock and Roll Tribe best be used to improve things?
(PS: if you're not familiar with The Big Takeover, you really should be. Just a superb music mag. See Heroes of the Tribe: 6 Non-Musicians Who Have Inspired Us to Keep Rocking for our thoughts on the publication's main man, Jack Rabid.)
We were just talking about this...about getting older and how you become invisible. When you're young, you're kind of used to being noticed on some level, and interacted with, but as you get older, you're less and less noticed...you're more like, just a fixture, like a lamppost or something (laughter). It used to be, when we went to shows..it was a community...We're not really in that anymore. We're kind of on the outside looking in.
Interesting stuff. I'm not sure I personally feel that sense of disconnect, but then perhaps I'm just oblivious to it. But Bruce and I did, on some level, know that many people feel that way. I guess that's one of the reasons we built this site -- to address the sense of alienation (or perhaps irrelevance) that Gerry discusses here. (By the way, the rest of the piece is about how Gerry and his crew are still out there kicking ass in front of younger and younger crowds -- so it's clear that he's hardly wallowing in self-pity. He's doing it exactly right: not giving in and always moving forward.)
What are your thoughts about Gerry's comments -- and the issue in general? And how can The Rock and Roll Tribe best be used to improve things?
(PS: if you're not familiar with The Big Takeover, you really should be. Just a superb music mag. See Heroes of the Tribe: 6 Non-Musicians Who Have Inspired Us to Keep Rocking for our thoughts on the publication's main man, Jack Rabid.)
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Thomas Cruz on -
Your notion that we should find time to feed our souls really hit home, Julie. The neverending cycle of get paid/pay the rent can really get to be soul-stealing if you let it. I must remind myself of this-then after that work on being a kick ass grownup!
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Phillips on -
I am 50 and although I have many friends around my age who are rock fans I find that most of them seem reluctant to come into the 21st century when it comes to rock music. Of course we all love the Led Zeppelin's of this world but nowadays there are so many fantastic rock bands bringing new, raw and powerful music and lyrics to us all that it's a shame many refuse to listen thinking they couldn't possibly be as talented as our favourite rock legends. These bands (my personal favourite being My Chemcial Romance) are influenced by our old favourites such as Iron Maiden, no shame in that.
When I go to see bands like these I may well bring the average age of the crowd up by a notch or three and many other older folk there are probably parents of fans rather than fans themselves so I get a funny reaction when I'm jumping around and headbanging like a nutter! But they are refreshing and different and make no mistake there are some extremely talented young musicians out there.
Much as I love all the classics as most of us do I am sick of the same old same old..... try something new! I usually listen to bands on MySpace to see if I like them or maybe even buy a CD when they are on special offer or even second hand. I picked up a Billy Talent CD and bought it simply because I liked the name, what a reward! They are absolutely incredible. I thought Rush and Anvil were they only decent rock bands to come from Canada, how wrong I was (and I like Alexisonfire too) but Billy Talent are a revelation.
I went to a gig to see Black Tide two years ago, I didn't even know the headliners Mindless Self Indulgence. Black Tide were great (they do what it says on the tin) but MSI just blew me away. I spent the whole set with my mouth gaping open, here was a frontman to rival the likes of Ozzy Osbourne! I bought a t-shirt and went straight online when I got home and bought the whole back catalogue, only gutted I hadn't discovered them years earlier.
So open your minds folks, think outside the box and give something new a try. A lot of us probably have teenagers who have a lot of these albums, give them a listen and you decide.
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Permalink Reply by Ian Hall on -
Great post, Deborah! I couldn't agree more. I love my old Sabbath, Purple, Metallica etc, but these days I'm trying all sorts of new stuff thanks to my very recent decision to get on Facebook, MySpace etc. There is so much great new music coming out that I'll never feel jaded by rock. Just today I "discovered" a new band, Wired Desire, who are absoultely superb and will almost certainly go onto become huge. I just bought their EP from their webstore and can't wait to get it on my car stereo! They are all young enough to be my sons, but I've absolutely no problem in going to see them when they get to tour in the West Midlands.
I'm 49 and my son is 11 and we constantly trade band names and videos etc with each other. He's become a massive Avenged Sevenfold fan after hearing the M Shadows track on the Slash album and I've become one too. I'm always putting my old classics onto his ipod and he keeps giving me names of new stuff from his mates at school.
We recently saw an absolutely fantastic gig by Alter Bridge in Birmingham a few weeks ago and the mixture of age groups in the audience was very wide. Will was probably the youngest and though I half expected to be the oldest there were some real veterans there. It was wonderful to see such a spread of ages and evryone seemed to mix in and enjoy it all. A great night and one that makes me wish I could afford to go to more gigs. It was his first gig and I had to stop myself from laughing when he said the music was too loud. He'll soon get used to it!
Funny, it seems the older I get, the heavier my musical tatses have become. Perhaps it's just the onset of old-age induced deafness.....
Never too old to rock and roll! :-)
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Permalink Reply by Lee James on -
I've been a massive metal fan, ever since I was 11, and a friend of mine sold me Iron Maiden's Live After Death on double vinyl. At the time, all I heard from my parents etc was, "Oh, it's just a phase" and "You're too young for this kind of music" - how wrong they were! I'm 36 now (which ain't that old), and for at least 10 years all I've heard from the same people is "shouldn't you have grown out of that stuff by now?"
I have noticed that at certain types of gig, ie Thrash gigs, I am one of the older guys there, and I can't help going mental in the pit (even though it takes quite a few days to recover now!). On the other hand, when I go and see one of the classic metal bands, ie Sabbath, Maiden or Motorhead, then I'm somewhere in the middle of the age range. I can't even begin to conceive of the day when I give up my music - if a band I like is still touring, I'll still turn up and see them in my 80's!
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Permalink Reply by Adam Marsland on -
I definitely like the title to the overall thread.
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Phillips on
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Thanks Ian you are absolutely right, I got into a lot of new stuff thanks to my daughter who is now 18 (she's down at Worcester uni now) but likewise I introduce her to a lot of stuff too. I will have a listen to Wired Desire and let you know what I think. I have Alter Bridge III but have just started listening to it, so far so good.
One of my biggest surprises was Billy Talent..... give them a listen if you haven't already (try Billy Talent II first). Do you go to the Hard Rock Hell weekend? It's the best festival of the year 2nd Dec Pontins, Prestatyn - sold out this year but look out for next years, it's just fabulous!
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Permalink Reply by Ian Hall on
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I've heard of Billy Talent, but never heard any of their stuff. I suppose I have a mental image of a large stupid oaf in a gold shiny tracksuit "rapping" on one of those "talent" shows my son loves - I think that's put me off so far. Just found their MySpace page and judging by the first track they sound pretty good so far.
Wired Desire are not a million miles away from being a British version of Airbourne - similar but with enough differences to be original and exciting.
ABIII is a real "grower" there are a couple of instantly accessible tracks but the album repays repeated listens. Very dark in tone, but with some epic riffs and solos and very deep lyrics. Grown-up stuff indeed! It's knocked both Slash and BCC off the top of my "Album Of The Year" list.
I'd love to get to a Hard Rock Hell sometime, but at the mo I'm struggling to afford a £17.00 ticket at a mid-sized venue. Oh well, one day :-)
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Phillips on
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Billy Talent are a Canadian punk/rock band with undertones of Green Day and Rush (sounds like an odd combination I know) lol - I bought the CD cos I was looking at the two for a tenner offer in HMV and I liked the name. I thought it was a bloke not a band. It was Billy Talent II that I got first and I instantly loved it. The vocals are not everyone's cup of tea (quite high pitched) but you make your own mind up. They have 3 albums now all self titled, I is raw and punky, II is more metal/punk and III is a mix of all genres. If you are skint try and get a copy 2nd hand on Ebay.
Hard Rock Hell is immense. I think of it as my annual holiday to Wales lol. This year's line up is the best yet with Airbourne, UFO, MSG, Skid Row, Diamond Head, Helloween, Paul Di'anno, Uriah Heep, Saxon, Blaze Bayley, Lizzy Borden.... the list is endless.
If you decide to go next year you can pay a deposit of £30pp to book (it goes on sale at this years gig) and the more sharing a chalet the better and cheaper. It will sell out quite quickly so be warned. Get yourself on the HRH forum matey, it'll be the best thing you ever do! :-)
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Permalink Reply by billsifer on -
love the site, man! just discovered it today. actually, my dad (a fellow rocker at 60) turned me on to it. This thread is exactly why I'm excited to have found this place. It's so refreshing to hear from others who haven't given up on their passion. I'm 35 and for the last few years it seems my peers have been dropping like flies. Not just out of music, but out of whatever passions they once had. instead of living, they're choosing to slowly wither away. they haven't seemed to figure out that you can be a husband and a father AND be cool. they're sheep following an archaic adult model. can you tell it irritates the hell out of me? LOL Anyway, like i said it's really inspiring reading all these accounts. as for myself, i pick up a new album every week and check out live shows as often as i can, sometimes with my dad (wonder where i get my passion from...).
on a side note, i started my own website a few months back combining my love of writing with my love of music. each week i post a new, what i call "record review" though they're not really reviews so much as me giving you my take on the music as it relates to my life. check it out if you get bored: http://mylifeinreview.net
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Permalink Reply by Jon Bard on -
Glad you found us Bill -- now get your dad in here! :)
Love your blog - very cool indeed. Feel free to repost your stuff onto your blog here on the Tribe and I'll feature them on the front page. This link should take you to your blog: http://rockandrolltribe.com/profiles/blog/list?my=1
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Permalink Reply by Gail Manchester on -
I always think when I check out some of these old topics in the closet that Jon Bard's bowling ball is going to bounce off my head.
"but as you get older, you're less and less noticed...you're more like, just a fixture, like a lamppost or something (laughter). It used to be, when we went to shows..it was a community...We're not really in that anymore. We're kind of on the outside looking in. "
I was recalling a stint I did at an assisted living facilty and how my little oldsters living there had lost interest in what was "happening"..so much of the refrences I think about in conversation are related to pop culture, social media, what's on, what I've read, music I've heard and none of that was ever anything they seemed to be able to relate to being internet free. (firmly believeing the internet was indeed a series of tubes invented by Al Gore)
I'd like to imagine where the boomers will be spending their golden years, the Stones piped in as muzak, wireless everwhere, yoga and tai chi and jam sessions instead of bingo, maybe pot instead of prozac..who knows.....let's hope so.
My kids, 24, 18 and 16 along with some amazingly hip friends keep me up on new tunes. Getting out to shows and hearing live music is also a vital way to staying with it. (I do love seeing the ladies in their Cold Water Creek sweaters, looking fresh from the church bake sale fist pumping and screaming at a concert.)
I just keep repeating to myself as I keep buying hair dye, low neck sweaters and denim..NOT FADE AWAY..NOT FADE AWAY...
I Do not plan to go gently into that good night...
till I have to anyway.
Grateful for this cool community
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