Twilight Of the Gods [Part II]

No one really ever wants to say it. That this might really be the Last Go ‘Round. But one day it really will be. Whether announced form the stage or some press conference [or not]. The Rolling Stones said it in 1974: Time waits for no one, and it won’t wait for me.  But the Stones have withstood predictions that this will be The Last Time since at least 1972. But they’re still rolling..

Some might ask why. Well, damn, it’s what they do! For sixty years in the Stones’ or Paul McCartney’s case. They’re musicians, musicians need to play. [And some with Lead Singer Syndrome still need the adoration and approval of 40,000-50,000 people a night.]  I must say the Stones in November [2021] were tight and look like they are still having fun up there. And why not? The Rolling Stones have nothing to PROVE to anyone – except that they can still bring it.

Even though the Stones were good, it raised the question: Is it better if the artists just say “I’m getting too old for this”?

It kind of depends on your expectations.  It gets kind of silly to see faces lifted, hair dyed old men still doing pelvic thrusts and singing about “girls.” Ozzy and Peter Frampton have said that they can’t do it anymore [health reasons]. Elton John is doing one last goodbye tour. Bob Seger just wrapped up his farewell tour. David Lee Roth has said he’s hanging up his rock and roll shoes.

Kiss is on one last one for the road. Word is that they’re using taped / sampled vocals in spots, so maybe they really can’t bring it like they used to. But with Kiss you’re going mostly for the spectacle, right? Are you looking for substance or style when you go to that kind of show? Does anyone care if Judas Priest tunes down so Rob Halford [if they are, I don’t know] can hit the notes or do they just want to whip themselves into a frenzy, hear something loud and see Rob ride his Harley on stage?

But could James Taylor just take out his guitar and stand and sing? Sure. Jackson Browne?

Bob Dylan doesn’t care what you or I think. Does not give a fuck.

But one day there will not be a Rolling Stones to tour. No Mick coming out and shaking his ass. No band for Keith to command. Face it - they’re all well into their 70s. [But I also said that losing Charlie Watts would end the Stones but (with Charlie’s blessing) they came out again this time, so who really knows.] Bruce sadly moved on without Clarence Clemons but even Buff Bruce won’t be able to do it forever. Prince was already suffering from years of his on-stage work. I don’t know how Paul and Gene still get up on those platforms every night, yet they do.

But one day, they will not be there to tour and people will talk about seeing the Stones / Who / McCartney / Springsteeen / U2 on their “last tour.” Did the people who bought tickets to Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers last tour think it might be Tom’s last tour? Are folks who said “ah we’ll see them next time” kicking themselves? Mom and I missed out to Ray Charles and George Carlin with this “We’ll see them next time” thinking. When I saw Queen with Freddie did I think that would be the last time they played U.S. dates?

Time waits for no one.

Think about this as well: the Stones haven’t toured new music in 15 years. To be fair, most people plunking down to see the Who, Paul McCartney or Elton John are NOT there to hear “Here’s one from our new album.” [With a temperamental artists like Bob Dylan or Nei Young, you should know going in what you get is what you get.]

For comparison, contemporaries who also put out albums in 2005 have. Paul McCartney has put out 4 albums of new music and an album of covers. Not exactly prolific but not the movement of glaciers either. Bruce Springsteen has put out 6 of new music plus the tibute album The Seeger Sessions. Dylan didn’t put out a record in 2005 but put out Modern Times in 2006. Since then he’s also put out 6 albums of new music and a Christmas [!!!] album. 

Neil Young on the other hand continues to pop them out, with varying degrees of my attention. I learned during the Geffen years not to just hop on anything with Neil’s name on it. I like some Neil Young but sometimes I find him preachy. And meandering. But since 2005’s Prairie Wind, Neil has put out 12 albums of new material [number 13 is scheduled for a December 2021 release], plus his archives series.

But it’s not just the Rolling Stones, it’s all of the artists from the golden age of Rock [say 1967 – 1976], those people who dominate the ever-shrinking playlists of Classic Rock stations that will soon be shuffling off this plane of existence. The tributes will pour out on Facebook and Twitter and people will all say “we’ll always have the music.” Which is true of course. Sales of back catalog will see an uptick for a couple of weeks and then things will return to normal.

But the list…

Eric Clapton. Mick. Keith. Paul. Ringo. Ron Wood. Rod Stewart. Jeff Beck. Jimmy Page. Robert Plant. Elton. Neil. Van Morrison. James Taylor. John Fogerty. Steven Tyler. Joe Perry. To name a few. Of course, there are those who have already gone on – Prince, Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Rory Gallagher. And the trifecta of Jimi, Janis and Jim Morrison have been gone since I was a tyke. But all their legends and legacies live on. 

Even the bands of the Metal Years, the hair band guys are getting there. Nikki Sixx will be 63 in December. Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden is 62. Bret Michaels is 58. Axl is 59. Slash is 56.

It just puts a little bit of sadness in my heart is all. But I take it all a little too seriously anyway because of the way music affects me personally.

To quote the Stones again:

When you hear the music trouble disappear
When you hear the music ringin' in your ears
Can you feel the magic floatin' in the air?
Can you hear the magic? Oh, yeah, yeah

When you hear the music ringin' in my ear
Can you hear the music? Oh, yeah
Can you hear the drummer? Gets you in the groove
Can you hear the guitar? Make you want to move? Yeah

 Twilight Of the Gods?

No one really ever wants to say it. That this might really be the Last Go ‘Round. But one day it really will be. Whether announced form the stage or some press conference [or not]. The Stones said it in 1974: Time waits for no one, and it won’t wait for me.  But the Stones have withstood divorce, slander, rip off, slagging, drugs and booze and predictions that this will be The Last Time since 1972. Or 1969. They’ve managed to keep rolling and here we are almost 5 DECADES later – 50 years folks! – and they rolled into the Cotton Bowl in Dallas last night.

Some might ask why. Well, damn, it’s what they do! For sixty years! They’re musicians, musicians need to play, [And Jagger I think still needs the adoration of 40,000-50,000 people a night. Lead Singer Disease.] The band was pretty tight and by God it looks like they are still having fun up there. Ronnie Wood still gets out there and proves the clown prince of Rock & Roll, Jagger still works the stadium with the moves he’s famous for. And I give Mick Jagger credit where credit is due – the man can blow on the harp. I kinda dig it when he stops strutting and jiving and running about and gets into the groove with the band! Keith… well, Keith is still Keith. At least on the video screen one could see Keith smiling a lot. 2 story tall nice white teeth, too.

Hits? Played several. Classic favorites? Yep. With the vote song winner Heartbreaker [Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo] the great run from Beggar’s Banquet to Goat’s Head Soup were well represented. Although oddly Sticky Fingers was not hit with the retirement of Brown Sugar from the set. 19^th Nervous Breakdown and Paint It, Black provided a couple of wild card songs. The new song Living In A Ghost Town was merely okay.

Keith’s segment… well as my brother in law said, you’re not going to remember Keith as a vocalist. Connection is an oddball if not fun choice and Keith and Steve used to do it with Keith’s other band. Slipping Away was beautiful. Keith had a beautiful Gibson and seemed to be searching for the right notes and tone to express some blues. Keith was flashing those teeth on the big monitors but it seemed like there was a touch of sadness in the corner of his eye. Lines like “Here comes just another day / That’s drifting away / Every time I draw a breath / It’s dying away” can carry more meaning than just a relationship on the rocks or missed opportunity.  [Yeah I’m reading a lot in there – artistic license. ]

I think the only points it seemed a little odd: a bass solo from Daryl Jones during Miss You and the drumming seemed off during Midnight Rambler. Charlie used to take his cues from Keith but this time it seemed that Jordan was pulling Keith along a bit. Maybe that’s just me again.

Time waits for no one. One day it there will not be a Rolling Stones to tour. No Mick coming out and shaking his ass. No band for Keith to command. Face it - they’re all well into their 70s. But I also said that losing Charlie Watts would end the Stones but [with Charlie’s blessing] they came out again this time, so who really knows.

So the big question: Did the show itself live up to my expectations? Absolutely! I am 111% happy that I got to see the Stones again and I gratefully thank my sister and brother-in-law not only for the fine birthday present but for coming along to make sure I didn’t get into any trouble.