Should Market Forces Decide Longevity

[royclough]

I am basically of course referring to 60's acts.

Should artists carry on regardless of their age provided there is a market for them.

On the recent solid gold tours that do the rounds now in UK nearly every year, I can't help feeling that some acts are just a pastiche (hope that's the right word) of their former self and one can't help but think in certain instances that it would have been best to remember them as they once were.

Yet on the other hand some still put on a great show even though they are approaching their 8th decade.

[winston]

I believe that no one really wants to be put out to pasture before they believe their time is up. I say let the public decide whether or not they still want to see these acts, who may in fact be past their prime. Although they may not be what they once were, they are still performers with a show to put on. Go break a leg guys and girls!

[sowhat]

As long as there's a market (those who go to concerts in order to see "them more than anybody else") and as long as they have enough energy to carry on & are willing to and needing that — yes. No matter how old they are.
That may be their whole life. They may be living as long as they perform. Some birds live only while they sing and die at the moment they close their mouth.
All imho, of course.

[dedicated_follower]

Should artists carry on regardless of their age provided there is a market for them.

In a word yes. That doesn't mean I like all of them, but as long as someone does.
I keep thinking Tom Jones should give up. Anyhow he doesn't have much more skin left to stretch across his face!
Jim

[paologregorio]

Yes.

What could possibly be a better alternative?

The Comets still play, and they're from the 50s.

"King of Swing" Benny Goodman played until he died.

Jazz great Lionel Hampton played well into his 90s.

Cab Calloway played well into his 80s, until sidelined by a stroke six months before his death in `94( The stroke forced cancellation of his Los Angeles HOB concert that a friend and I were scheduled to attend).

What better way is there?

[nick_allen]

Well there are (and should be) two elements that decide whether an act continues to perform. One is whether people are willing to pay to see them, and the other is whether they want to perform. Tony Bennett, B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis are all still performing in their own fields at 70+ if not 80+. On the other hand, George Harrison undoubtedly could have performed as much as he liked, but chose not to (except the occasional one-off show). And I'm sure there are other examples of those who have simply chosen to stop appearing in public.
Parenthetically, I heard the radio broadcast of a McCartney concert at the Roundhouse over Christmas, and sadly I do think it's time he should consider whether he wants to continue performing...

[nick_allen]

I forgot the other aspect - the most important from the musicians' point of view! - and that is that musicians generally don't have much of a pension plan. Unless you've written a song or two that has become a "standard" (Paul Anka, John Hartford, Kris Kristofferson) you need to make a living, and performing is how most of them do it. I suspect he was exaggerating a bit, but even Bill Wyman in a recent Daily Telegraph interview said he needed to keep working to maintain his standard of living...

[paologregorio]

I forgot the other aspect - the most important from the musicians' point of view! - and that is that musicians generally don't have much of a pension plan. Unless you've written a song or two that has become a "standard" (Paul Anka, John Hartford, Kris Kristofferson) you need to make a living, and performing is how most of them do it. I suspect he was exaggerating a bit, but even Bill Wyman in a recent Daily Telegraph interview said he needed to keep working to maintain his standard of living...

Very true. Although a musician who learns to be a savvy investor wouldn't necessarily have to keep playing, but if there's a demand for the musician's services, the musician still enjoys performing, and has a chance to earn some $, then it's probably the best option with which to keep up or supplement one's standard of living.

I agree wit h your previous point as well; namely that the musician has to wantto keep playing, but then I don't think anyone except Phil Spector puts a gun to anyone's head and tells them that they have to keep playing.