Grammy Night: The guitarists strummed their guitars with great force and speed. Flames were bursting out all around the stage. In the middle of this loud dramatic scene stood Alice Cooper. He of the black makeup around his eyes as if he were a ghoul with music serving as his prey.
One question – Why can’t we let our stars fade?
Alice Cooper reached the zenith of his fame in the 70’s. The man is now nearly 70 years old. His cheeks are puffy, and he looks annoyed. At one point, the pissed-off look was probably part of his persona – the angry bad ass rocker. Now, I imagine he’s more like Krusty the Klown. He gets off stage and is hacking and cranky – for real.
The whole thing seemed pitiful. I don’t blame Alice. I’m sure he was professional and performed to the best of his ability. My guess is that Alice might even love this. After all, he’s been playing and performing since his teen years. This is what he does. This is who he is.
It’s we, the public, who are pitiful. We can’t let our stars fade.
Our need for nostalgia must be fed. Keep our stars in front of us. They must stay forever young, so we can pretend we are young right along with them. We’re back in high school or college or wherever it is that we first heard the music.
Now, I’m as guilty as anyone. I want Springsteen up on the stage singing Born to Run and all his other hits including those he made famous when he was in mid-20’s which was 40 years ago. I love the music. I don’t want it to end. Prop him up, and let him sing. He still sounds great to me.
It’s not just rock stars that we don’t want to fade. We don’t want any of our stars to fade – acting, sports, etc. But the others have alternatives.
A fastball pitcher gets older and find a way to become a craftier pitcher. He learns how to pitch where before all he did was fire away. He finds a way to survive. A basketball player comes to rely more on his jump shot and positioning when his legs fade and his speed diminishes. There are similar adjustments in football and hockey and, I suppose, in every sport. Ultimately, however these guys retire – they have no choice. They make their final wave and bow to the crowd and move on.
Then, there are actors and actresses. Like rock and roll stars, they never retire. However they can change. They start off playing action types, beauty queens, etc. You know – roles that rely on their physicality. As they get older, they eventually get the grandma and grandpa roles – most of which require them to give sage advice and finally die. Think about it. In the last Rocky movie which actually was called Creed, Sylvester Stallone didn’t even fight. Nor should he have. The man is 69 years old. The only fighting he should be doing now is against ill health.
But a rock star is not afforded the luxury of change. He or she doesn’t retire. After all, music is their passion, their muse. They must continue to follow their muse. They don’t get to play a new role.
Instead, they must continue to perform – not to mention look reasonably fit and attractive – the hits they created when they were young. What would happen if you went to see a Stones or Who or Aerosmith or whomever is your favorite ancient rock star/band concert and all they played were ballads? They focused on their newest music exclusively which is more in line with where they are artistically and lyrically at the moment. You’d be pissed! I paid 100 bucks plus parking, beer, popcorn, and a t-shirt for this?
No, we can not let our stars fade away.
We insist they get up on the stage and feed our nostalgia. We insist they play their hits and keep us forever young.
I saw Ozzy about seven years ago now, and I felt uncomfortable, like he was a dancing bear on stage for my amusement. I can’t imagine what he looks like now, still out there hobbling across the stage
I hear your Jeremy. The fact that he moved differently at his age – well, who wouldn’t?
It’s almost sad.
I don’t mind older musicians who can still play or sing.
It’s not a question of mind. As I said, I enjoy seeing Springsteen. It’s just letting them age out and be different. Sometimes, they simply should and sometimes they might want to.
It’s totally true. It’s what makes us happy. It’s what we pay money for. If they can still do it and enjoy themselves, (at least to some extent) I say we let them.
I hear you. I suppose I agree. I heard Springsteen has been great on this tour.
The past few years I saw a few bands, getting older – but not fading (yet). I enjoyed every single concert very much.
I was invited to go to a concert from a younger, upcoming musician. It wasn’t bad… but in my opinion he still needed to gain, what “The Who” and The Boss, Bruce Springsteen got a few decades ago: legend and charisma.
I’m glad you enjoyed them. There is something classic about the old bands – no doubt there. I’ve enjoyed seeing them.
I love music, but I rarely go to concerts–either young or old performers. It does seem it’s a rare performer who keeps changing things up as he or she ages. A couple who have are Madonna, and of course, David Bowie, who had just released a well-received album shortly before his death. So I think it’s less ‘sad’ for those who produce new stuff. Then again, if people want to still see the rock stars perform their old songs and still shill out money to do so, then I guess I’d tell the performers to go for it. 🙂
I probably should not have used the word sad. Anyway, those than can adjust and whose fans appreciate the changes as much as the original – well, impressive. What it is – I just think growth is good.
For sure.
I remember when I was younger and my mother and her friends would discuss which actor or actress was getting old, and they always sounded horrified. Now I understand their horror! I can’t believe some of my favorites are in their fifties.
If they’re old, that must mean we’re old with them.
My parents did the same. They would be in shock when someone looked “terrible” which meant they aged. How could they? Finally they started realizing they got older too.
My friend BA and I giggled after we left the last Meatloaf concert we attended… there were several songs he didn’t even recognize until I started singing! It sucks when our stars start aging, it reflects our own life, too!
Exactly.
I hope you all managed to enjoy the concert despite the singing. Sounds funny to even say that.
So true. I could do without SEEING some of these old (and even younger) musicians. I like the music better when I just hear it.
I hear you. Take the back row!