Father Time is undefeated. This is true in sports, but these days, we’re reminded that it’s true in music, too. You don’t have to be a rockstar or famous athlete to understand this. You can’t do everything you did when you were a teenager or in your 20s when you’re in your 50s. As the aging process takes hold, things change.
For some of us, our athletic or performing careers ended when we finished high school. Some of us could perform at a high enough level to keep going for a few more years. There are the lucky few that made a career out of it. But today, we have generations of rockers who play large venues and charge enormous prices for tickets, and they are in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s. This leads me to my question: Is there a certain point when it’s time for a band to hang it up?
Aerosmith is currently on their “Peace Out” farewell tour. They’re celebrating 50 years as a band and looking to send their fans off with one last awesome show. It’s a valiant idea. They’re giving the fans a “thanks for the memories” blowout. And they’re making a good amount of money off it, of course. But singer Steven Tyler is 75. The power in his voice from 1973 to the early 2000’s was always incredible. Unfortunately, you can’t scream-sing every few nights at 75 years old. To hammer home this point, ten days after the tour kicked off, Aerosmith has postponed their upcoming shows because Steven injured his vocal cords during their show in Long Island. Doctors told him that he needed to rest them for 30 days. The chances that this is a 1x issue seem slim, but issues should always be expected when touring the country at 75.
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On the flip side, The Rolling Stones just announced a new album and released a new song. Do they plan on touring? Probably. Mick is 80, but he doesn’t scream the way Steven does. He’s had his issues in the past, including a heart issue that he’s recovered from, which put an entire tour on hold years ago. Mick’s ability to tour remains a possibility because he’s taken better care of himself than Tyler. It was only last year that Steven was in rehab and had to cancel Aerosmith shows.
There really isn’t a stop date on when classic rockers should call it quits, but at a certain point, the quality of the shows takes a major dip. Is it better to go out on top or to peter out with poor concert reviews? It seems that some of these bands need someone to tell them “leave ’em wanting more.”
