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Sound Off: Rock of ages


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Is there a future for aging rock stars besides bingo on Sunday? Who should hang it up? Who still has the moves?

Reunion tours are all the rage anymore – just ask the artists-formerly-known-as-bands raking in the cash each summer from fans willing to fork it over to relive the glory of days gone by. The Police, The Who, Van Halen, Stone Temple Pilots and New Kids on the Block are just some of the most recent groups to bury the hatchet and climb back into the old tour bus (or several personal tour buses, as the case may be).

The reason, of course, is the almighty dollar. However, I’ll concede that some of these acts have reportedly put on shows good enough to almost warrant the ticket prices, and some appear to have had fun with their old mates along the way.

But instead of questioning the motivation or integrity of such examples, I’m left wondering if there’s a shelf life on the ability to really rock and whether certain artists have long passed their freshness dates.

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Though the Rolling Stones never called it quits, calling them the elder statesmen of rock ‘n’ roll might be considered generous, and they keep selling out stadiums worldwide. Neil Young and Elvis Costello seem to be enjoying long-lasting renaissances in the autumn of their careers. And a 2008 documentary called “Young@Heart” convincingly shows that a New England chorus of senior citizens can breathe new life into hits by the likes of Ramones and Coldplay.

So maybe there’s a future for senior screamers and aging ax players. What do you think?



Without question there is a...

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Without question there is a place for great musicians, however old they may be, but the New Kids on the Block reunion tour?
Were they "musicians" in the 80s?
Could they ever "rock"?
I equate their shlef life to a bag of potato chips left open on a humid, summer day... short.
Full disclaimer, I have been to a New Kids on the Block concert. Yep, the Minnesota State Fair in 198-something. I was right there hangin' as tough as the as I possibly could on that special night at the Grandstand.
But some 20 years later, I have nearly healed from that experience, and can honestly say, "What happened on that Grandstand stage on that Minnesota night, should have stayed on that Grandstand stage on that Minnesota night."
These clowns are going to perform at the Xcel?
That's rich...
I can't wait to see how many tickets are sold to that.
But to try and stay true to the blog topic, I think a great musician has no shelf life.
Their songs may have to be played and sung by new, more hip musicians to be noticed, but they can write great songs.
I'll have to check this documentary out!!


Submitted by shawn hogendorf on June 9, 2008 - 3:12pm.

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