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Rolling Stones Can Still Rock 2/6/2006 12:01:36 AM
The Rolling Stones played at the Super Bowl 40 Halftime Show. Despite the fact that three of four members have passed the age of sixty, they show no signs of slowing down. I've been a fan of the Rolling Stones since 1965, when (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction came out. I was six years old then. 2006 marks 44 years (That's right...44 years) since the group was founded. I can think of no other rock band that has endured with most of the original members for this long. In 1962, the group was formed in London and was undoubtedly the Beatles' top rival. I'm also a huge Beatles fan, but there's one big difference: The Beatles split up 36 years ago, in 1970. In an era when the train of thought was to trust no one over the age of thirty, who ever expected Mick Jagger to still be strutting around the stage at 62? Who ever thought that Keith Richards would still be belting out his unique rhythm guitar licks at the same age, let alone survive this long, given his history of, shall we say, substance abuse? Charlie Watts, 64, had a bout with throat cancer a couple of years back, but one would never know it as his drumming is still as precise as a metronome. Ron Wood, 58, jokingly referred to as the "New Kid," replaced guitarist Mick Taylor in 1975, who in turn replaced the late Brian Jones in 1969. Bill Wyman, the original bassist, left the band in 1993. Since that time, the Stones have been using a session player for recordings and live dates. Wood and Richards complement one another as no other two guitar players can. It's no wonder. They've been playing together for over thirty years. The Rolling Stones and the Beatles were two major influences in my life. From the age of 15 until I was into my early 30's, my goal in life was to be a rock musician. I played bass guitar in an uncountable number of bands from 1975 until around 1990. I still putz around from time to time, but basically gave up on the dream when the realization that a decade and a half of playing had netted less than $10,000 of income. Now I'm a writer, and could very well make even less. What can I say? I'm of the creative breed and thus will never wear a suit and tie. But I do have a "day job." Despite my failure as a musician; in fact BECAUSE of my failure, I have the utmost respect for any band who has been around for even HALF of the Rolling Stones' length. This was even made apparent nearly 12 years ago when at long last, I was able to see them in concert at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, of all places. I laughed and remembered the 1970's as a man of around fifty sitting on the opposite side of my wife offered her a hit off of his joint. She declined, as did I. We had grown up. But rock and roll was still with us, and always will be. Here's to seeing Mick and the boys continue to perform into their 70's and beyond..............
