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Can You Age Out of Performing? Nope.
You see it everywhere these days, fifty-plus year old bands out on the road. I just saw that Kansas was going back out, what!? When someone asked Willie Nelson when he was going to retire, he said, "Retire from what? All I do is play guitar and golf”. It is true that performing on the road can be fun and a great way of life if you are so inclined, but it can also take a serious toll if you’re not careful. Prince and Tom Petty are examples of touring beating a body up to the point of needing daily pain medication, which eventually took their lives. There is also the ”27 Club,” a group of musicians gone far too soon from Jimi and Janis to Kurt and Amy. Substance abuse, long nights on the road, lonely hotel rooms and grueling 200 shows-a-year schedules are not for the faint of heart.
There are, however, survivors and thrivers in the world of touring. I guess the prime and penultimate example would be Willie but there are many other senior members of the music world that keep on going. Even when a major partner like Walter Becker of Steely Dan died, Donald Fagen took up the mantle and continued. My old band, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band formed in 1966 (NINETEEN SIXTY-SIX!) and continue to go on the road several times a year. There are only two original members but they are in their mid 70s and show no signs of slowing down. My most current bandmate and original Dirt Band member, John McEuen, will be 78 in December and is working as much as he ever has. People keep showing up, so he does, too. I just turned 74 and, after 7 years of touring with John, decided to step away. It was not because touring was hard. I still love it myself but I was neglecting my own work and wanted to produce another record. So, I am now pursuing some solo gigs. I totally get why some of us just keep at it. When you hop on that bus or into that van and head out, the sense of freedom is palpable. All you have to think about is playing music for people. What could be better? The years I spent on the road with my bandmates have been some of the very best times of my life. It’s never been work.
Working at Maple Street has introduced me to many working, local musicians in my demographic and they seem to be busy and happy with the amount of work they get. Many of these folks have had other careers, made a little money, and are retired. They have the luxury of not relying on gigs to survive. They are fulfilling a life long dream of being a rock star. Some have formed bands, others have taken up songwriting, but they are all scratching that creative itch that started when they were young. Others are winding down music careers of many years but still continue to play locally. Some would complain that they are taking jobs away from the young up-and-comers who need those stages to develop but I think there is room for all. At least, that’s what I’ve seen here in Atlanta. It is also heartening to see the younger performers teaming up and sharing bills with their senior counterparts. I think we all can learn something valuable from each other and grow musically.
All in all, I guess it’s the old cliche, you’re only as old as you feel. If you find yourself in this little article somewhere and are thinking you might be too old for these shenanigans, take heart by looking around at all the white hair on stages all over Atlanta and many other cities and realize you can do it if you want. Pick up that guitar and hit that open mic!
John Cable -2023
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