Foursticks
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Feb 19 2003
Posts: 1015
Loc: California
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A friend and I had an interesting discussion recently, one I'd like to share with the rest of you and hopefully get your comments.
My friend thinks that some older musicians just shouldn't be playing rock. (He specifically mentioned the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney). His reasoning is that rock 'n roll is for the young and rebellious, not for the old and decrepit (his words, not mine). He thinks that the "dinosaurs" just look silly trying to rock out on stage.
Interestingly, he places no age restrictions on country, blues or jazz musicians. As far as he's concerned, these musicians can keep playing well into their 60s, 70s and even 80s, as long as they can play their instruments. In fact, he thinks that musicians who play and sing country, blues and jazz gain more credibility as they get older.
My own feeling is that if you can play what you like, you should play what you like, no matter your age, although I tend to agree that Mick Jagger looks more than a little ridiculous prancing around on stage like he's still 17.
I should mention that I'm 58 and I play in a country band, so I guess by my friend's standards I'm okay.  And my band does throw in the occasional Eagles, ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd tune, so I'm not sure what that makes us.
Anyway, I'd be interested in hearing from some of the other drumheads on this forum, both the young guns and the dinosaurs.
Any comments?
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James Walker
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Mar 18 2002
Posts: 1283
Loc: Connecticut
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Hmm...so if Jagger is onstage with the Stones, with Buddy Guy sitting in, playing the blues, it's OK, but if the next song in the set is "Jumping Jack Flash" or "Brown Sugar," they should retire? Sorry, I'm not buying that one.
There are some musicians who should continue on, regardless of age.
There are some musicians who should just hang it up, regardless of age.
If someone can do the job, they should do it.
If some young guys don't think the old guys should be out there, then the young guys should go out and do it themselves, and if they're good enough, they'll put the old guys out of business.
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moderator, mallet forum
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bongobrad
Tiger Talk Trainee
Reged: Nov 30 2010
Posts: 22
Loc: WI
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$ talks. As long as Mick is getting paid, he'll keep going. If people are paying top dollar to see old timers rock, they must not agree with your freind. Plus you can't expect rock stars to stop playing rcok just because they're old. Some of these guys invented or tranformed the music.
Plus, does anybody want to see Mick Jagger doing anything else?
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roger strange
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Dec 09 2003
Posts: 1650
Loc: Nova Scotia Canada
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Well now that's just a hoot. I'm 71. I play the whole gamut. Blues, country, Jazz, fusion, and I DO ROCK SHOWS. Not only do I do rock shows I also do Metal shows. What ever comes along on the phone or the emails I do. I teach the whole gamut also, and some of those Metal and prog-rock shows I do are because my students are ill, or tied up and I go in and sub for them. I do workshops in all styles of drumming from old Dixieland right through to the Fusion/jazz of today and when I do those shows I'm even more rebelious than the kids a third my age I'm playing with. Man we wrote the book on that Music and sometimes we have to go out there and show the younger cats where the fire really is. I just shave my head, dress today's cool and knock the crowd through the back wall. of course the next night might find me playing in a corner lounge somewhere with a cool post bop piano player and bass with a five-piece kit and brushes
and after that I might be working a fusion Latin-Afro gig before I tie on the armor and go and nail the grooves to the back wall again the following night. Tell that guy to wake up and smell the roses. Us older drummers BUILT THAT STYLE AND IF THEY CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THOSE OF US THAT STILL DO IT THEN GET ON THE HORSE AND LEARN TO DO IT OR GO SELL SHOES IN WAL-MART.There's nothing more potent than an older drummer who still has the fire of Rock rebelion. AFter all that fire was kindled a long time ago and we really know how to tend the flames.
Edited by roger strange (Fri Feb 18 2011 05:08 PM)
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Foursticks
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Feb 19 2003
Posts: 1015
Loc: California
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Thanks for the replies. I should mention that my friend is not a musician, and has never felt either the compelling need to make music or the intense satisfaction that comes from doing so.
He is an observer of musicians, a member of the audience if you will, and as such he stated only his opinion of what he sees. I'm not defending his opinion, only throwing it out there for discussion purposes, and in fact he is a really nice guy - just not a musician.
I agree with the views expressed here - if you can make music, you should make music, no matter your age. As a matter of fact, I believe that age is more a state of mind than a matter of chronological fact.
In other words, rock on.... 
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roger strange
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Dec 09 2003
Posts: 1650
Loc: Nova Scotia Canada
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Your'e right there! All age means to me is more miles on the speedo of drumming which equals a much more savvy drummer. So this cat is not even a player. I suppose he digs American Idol. Thinks everyone in the Music game should look like those kids etc. Yeah right. he'd be surprised at the age of some of those drummers in the "youthful" rock bands like Nico McBrain and Tommy Aldridge. And he'd really be shocked if he knew who has done some of the session drum tracks for the real kid bands out there. But then again that is in some ways a real kudos for the media cats. They've done a good job at hiding who the players really are. I suppose he thinks Cindy Blackman is about 30 tops in age. Think again oh wise one.
Edited by roger strange (Sat Feb 19 2011 12:30 PM)
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awfulldrummer
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Jun 26 2007
Posts: 984
Loc: the internet
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I've had that very exact conversation a few times in my life too! when i was a teen i would have agreed with your friend, but boy how your mind changes as we grow older. I'm 44 now and am horrified by the thought of any age limit on any style of music. I like that Mick Jagger still has the energy he has. Part of being a great musician is not worrying about looking foolish!
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roger strange
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Dec 09 2003
Posts: 1650
Loc: Nova Scotia Canada
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Rock is much more than a style of Music. It's an attitude, a statement of life, it brings a message to the players and the listeners. Anyone who thinks it's just some "cool thing" to do and listen to, does not know what Rock is really saying. Rock is about self empowermant as much and sometimes more than other genres of Music. It's about standing up for yourself and your People and has it's own History of development like any other type of Music and it speaks directly to the listeners. It's about being blunt, straightforward and honest as to who you are as a player and a person, and is as valid as Bebop, Classical or any other serious Music on the Planet. Like Jazz it takes in many other forms of Music and in fact it comes from the Blues and Jazz as well as Bop. It just says it differently and with a huge freedom in its heart.
To me, Rock is just another form of Jazz where it came from through the Blues. It also encompasses the more powerful sound of a full symphony at times and in many cases such as prog-rock, Metal and Progressive Metal it IS a modern Classical Music. Anybody who says to me that I'm too old to express that side of my playing persona is in for first, a steely glare and then a treat as far as what is going to happen with their tunes. Rock is an expression of our times and our society and By God no-one is going to tell me I'm too old to play what in my own small way I helped to build as a drummer growing up and playing from 1954 to the present. If people don't want to see an older cat playing drums in Rock, then don't worry, because when I Rock the kit is so stacked up and big that they'd have to climb over mountains to actually get a good look at the drummer. I'm there to be heard and I'm there to drive the machine and when I rock I love it just as much as any other contemporary Music I play. Sometimes more.
Edited by roger strange (Sun Feb 20 2011 04:09 AM)
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have fun play drum
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Feb 01 2005
Posts: 124
Loc: kansas
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Thanks for saying that, Roger.
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roger strange
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Dec 09 2003
Posts: 1650
Loc: Nova Scotia Canada
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It needed to be said!
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