The times are changing for Bob Dylan fans. The occasional pandemic aside, Dylan has toured more or less constantly for the past three decades and has, since the year 2000, played Ireland on 19 occasions. (Independent.ie)
Just as the long-haired drug-taking musicians of the 60s and 70s redefined what it was to be a young person (often dying before their time in the process), today the great warhorses of rock n’ roll are upending our concept of old age.
In their youth they faced down the disapproval of their elders, evading boos, hisses and police truncheons. Now they’re taking on time itself.
The Rolling Stones, for their part, spent the summer touring Europe – culminating in dates at Hyde Park in London at which 79-year-old Mick Jagger moved like… well, a rock star half his age. He paid tribute during those shows to Charlie Watts, the Stones drummer who passed away in 2021 aged 80. But if Jagger was feeling the shadow of mortality, this was not reflected in his performance.
David Crosby made it official in an interview: After nearly 60 years of relentless touring, from clubs to stadiums, he’s retiring from the road, as Bestclassibands reports.
After being asked, “Are you going to tour anymore?” Crosby put it bluntly: “No.”
I think I’m too old to tour any more ….sadly https://t.co/1y6dFscymL
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) August 2, 2022
“I’m not, because I’m 80. It’s because I’m old,” he said. “Being on a bus tour is a daunting task. It’s very hard. It takes it out of you. I’m too old to do it anymore. I don’t have the stamina; I don’t have the strength.”
His recent bout with COVID also took a toll on him.
“It has been awful. COVID is a very weird disease. It makes you feel absolutely freaking awful,” he said. “It has been thoroughly unpleasant…it’s no fun at all. You want to avoid it if you possibly can.”
Closer to home, Elton John delighted fans at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork on July 1. And he’s back early next year for dates in Dublin, as he continues his (seemingly never-ending) ‘farewell’ tour.
Why do they do it?
The money obviously helps. Despite Watts’ death and the ongoing pandemic, The Stones’ 2021 leg of their No Filter tour earned about $130m. Bruce Springsteen’s 2016 River tour brought in $170m.
“Sir Paul” topped the Billboard Tours chart in May’s rankings, based on data from nine concerts McCartney played last month as part of his “Got Back” tour. That tour grossed $52.4 million with sales of 206,000 tickets, according to Live Experts.
Mai Leisz: Crosby's Bass player decleard: “The notes you don’t play can be more important than the ones you play”.NowCroz is very tired,but i guess he will do some little venues.
These artists also often have meticulous fitness regimes. Mick Jagger maintains a size 28 waist by working out for three hours every day, six days a week. He supplements this with weight training, Pilates, jogging and dynamic stretching – to ensure he’s limber on stage (nonetheless the Stones travelling retinue is rumoured to include three cardiologists).
Paul McCartney has been a vegetarian since he married Linda McCartney in 1969 and practices ‘eye yoga’ every day (he enjoys finishing his routine with a handstand). He has also expounded on the benefits of meditation.
“I think it’s always very good to get a sort of still moment in your day,” he said. “Whenever I have a chance in a busy schedule, I’ll do it, if I’m not rushing out the door with some crazy stuff to do.”
