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Paul McCartney turned 70 last year. So did Brian Wilson. Bob Dylan hit 70 two years ago. Grace Slick, Paul Simon, Jagger’s bandmate Charlie Watts — they’re all in their seventies.
Hey, BB King is pushing 90 and he’s still touring.
* But to put this into a little perspective, I’m 51. My father turns 70 next month. Mick Jagger is older than my father.
I’ve always known this, but now that the big seven-oh has hit, it kinda blows me away.
* I saw the Stones at the United Center in June. It wasn’t the greatest show I’d ever seen, and I saw more people using canes than at any other concert I’ve been to, but it did rock and I had fun and that’s all I cared about.
So, let the naysayers say what they say. Who needs ‘em anyway? Here’s hoping for many more years, for both my dad and Mick.
* From 1981 at the Checkerboard Lounge with the man who started it all…
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 12:41 pm
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Many happy returns
Hey(to quote that one Duck Dynasty dude) Speaker Madigan is 71 and still rockin IL pretty nicely
Have a great weekend!
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 1:02 pm
what a drag it isn’t, getting old.
the Stones will always be a little bit snarly and dangerous, the bad boys of rock. still see Mick swinging from a rope and the star stage that opened, 1975 tour, my first Stones concert. Happy Birthday Mick!
Comment by Amalia Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 1:11 pm
I saw that on PBS a few months ago, it was awesome seeing the greats in such a small venue.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 1:16 pm
Thanks Rich! The greatest front man in the history of Rock & Roll without question. There will never be another band with the staying power of the Stones.
Comment by Stones Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 1:22 pm
Rich, you should listen to yesterday’s episode of Marketplace, a radio program put on by American Public Media. They have a podcast.
http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/art-money/aids-research-punk-rock-and-hot-sauce-side
Yesterday, Kai Ryssdal interviewed Dexter Holland the lead singer of the Offspring, who just turned 40. Here’s the takeaway quote:
“Ten years ago, I was like, I can’t imagine doing this when I’m 50,” Hollan says. “Now I’m like, hell yes! 75! Let’s do it!”
“You can’t sing about the same things as you did when you were 20, it would be ridiculous to sing about, I don’t know, being in the quad,” he says, but adds that “You can’t really write about mortgage payments or stuff like that … but you can talk about, let’s make the world a better place.”
Comment by Empty Chair Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 1:27 pm
70 is the new 40.
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 1:38 pm
===70 is the new 40. ===
Keep telling yourself that. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 1:40 pm
70 may not be the new 40, but Mick definitely seems younger than my old man at that age. LOL.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 1:53 pm
A few years back I was wandering in downtown St Louis and was treated to a free concert by Chuck Berry. It was great to see the old guy still rockn’.
Comment by Jack Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 2:01 pm
Who was it that said never trust anyone over 30? And all of these guys listed probably believed that back in the early 60’s (except for Rich’s dad).
Comment by Been There Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 2:09 pm
Old Chicago blues men, whether they started in the Mississippi Delta or suburban London, never stop playing.
Next up for 70 is Keith — lots of lost bets that he made it this far. Let’s hope he can stay out of the coconut trees.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 2:26 pm
Rich your Friday choices for music have been stellar this year. Great to see Mick and Keith with Muddy. Keep up the good work.
Comment by Etown Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 3:11 pm
Speaking of Chicago blues greats, and that’s what the Stones started out trying to be, Buddy Guy’s new album “Rhythm & Blues” comes out on Tuesday, his 77th birthday. I also encourage everyone who enjoyed this post to buy that Checkerboard Lounge performance of Muddy & the Stones, it is nothing short of fantastic.
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 3:47 pm
Buddy guy published an autobiography last year — really a collection of stories.
But great stories. Coming up from Louisiana, gigging on the South Side, being a session player at Chess Records for Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, working with Willie Dixon, touring with the Stones….
Just a great read, funny and profane. “When I Left Home: My Story.”
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 3:57 pm
That is a great DVD which anyone who appreciates the blues should like. Rich, you (and other blues fans) may also enjoy books by Ace Atkins which feature a character named Nick Travers-a Tulane blues historian. He ends up chasing “lost” Robert Johnson recordings along Hwy. 61,in southside Chicago, and Memphis. They are fiction but relate to some of the legends. Very enjoyable.
Comment by Skip Dawson Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 5:36 pm
I will know that the curtain is finally coming down on Mick and Keith when Mick hobbles out on the stage behind a walker and starts singing a tune about “My Arthritic Hip” or “The Social Security Blues”.
I am around your dad’s age. I also find it hard to acknowledge that Mick is 70. When they finally decide to quit touring maybe their final song should be “Fade Away”. General Douglas MacArthur would like that.
Comment by A Casual Observer Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 5:46 pm
I saw the Checkerboard Lounge performance on television recently. It was great, that the Stones jammed with the person who turned on so many British youths, and who gave them their name. The Stones and other bands brought the blues influence right back to America, where it started.
I used to listen to a classical radio station in Chicago years ago that played the blues early in the morning. One of the deejays was Big Bill Collins. He recently passed away. He used to play the blues hits and deeper cuts. He played some great, great songs by the likes of Little Milton, John Lee Hooker, Albert King and others.
Happy birthday to Mick Jagger. What a career, and what an inspiration, still playing music after all these years.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Jul 26, 13 @ 6:22 pm