Okay, so almost all of the big groups from the sixties that are still around are full of guys (mostly) in their sixties now. They have been playing their respective style of rock/pop/whatever for literally ages now, and I don't even think it feels weird to them to be doing it in the September of their years either. I have seen and met many veteran performers in the last few years and they seem pretty happy to me. Some are happy to still have an appreciative audience… some are happy just to still be around to play at all.
But what about people like me? And I am part of a large and growing group. We've never been famous, we don't even have a one-hit -wonder in our back catalogue, and most of us missed out on being in a band when we were young. We were too busy finishing school, having kids of our own, or working on our career. But now? Today we are starting bands, writing songs, releasing CDs and playing bar gigs. Not because we have to. Just because we can. Realizing a dream from our younger days, we have found others who share our passion, or at least our interest, and we are getting out there and doing it.
I thought of this today because I am now in my second serious (sort of) band of my forties. And this one is awesome. Musically we have some real potential, but the awesome part comes from the people. We are having a ball playing together and everyone looks forward to our weekly practices. It has become a big part of all our lives.
I played in a punk band that had some actual success… industry award nominations, songs that charted on respected alternative radio, great media support. My favourite thing to tell people was that "I was 42 before I owned my first electric guitar". It was mostly fun. Like a poker night but without all the drinking. I did that for four years and have no regrets at all. But what is happening now is so much better. The music is beautiful, the company is beautiful, and I encourage any and all of my friends to do it too. You are never too old to start a band my friend.
