See ‘Em While You Can

I was around twelve when Elvis passed. While young, I had several older cousins who were huge fans of the guy and remember the profound shock many experienced. I’d seen more than a few of his movies and heard the hits so often the shock was real for me, as well. Elvis had been a regular in my father’s eight track rotation in his old Bel-Air station wagon. This was my first experience at losing an icon.

The murder of John Lennon just a scant three years later would serve to reinforce the notion that when many of your heroes live on the edge, with money and fame, you might not have them very long. That would prove to be true throughout the 80s and 90s on occasion. The Rock n Roll lifestyle does present an early bill now and again.

 The current exodus is different. These are the ravages of father time, and we’ve been damned lucky more haven’t followed those earlier exits.

Looking back on those experiences from childhood, as so many of our icons fade from the stage, it seemed a bit surreal. Youth doing its usual job on our ability to process the realities of loss or trauma, I suppose. Now those realities are knocking hard on the front door. The Stygian Ferry? Not yet, I hope…

 But the next decade for those of us over fifty or sixty may be a rough one.

 Mick and Keef are past eighty. Sir Paul is 83. Other luminaries of the music stage and screen are not far behind. Even my contemporaries have come to the age where the performances may still be worthwhile, but we will see fewer and fewer of them. So let me use this space as a reminder to see these folks now, while you have the opportunity. Some of the higher notes and stage antics may be history, but we’re all a little past that, and the music still sounds pretty damned good. 

I used to snicker at the old timers, going to see a band who left the main stage long ago. Acts with nothing more than a remaining original member or two, at best. I no longer have the luxury of looking on with the same arrogance at an attempt to simply preserve the memories just a bit longer. Just human nature.

So go see those heroes and icons from your past.Put on that ratty old AC/DC shirt and live a little! Live performance remains the best way to see any band worth calling itself that, and you need no better reason than making a few new memories,right?

Have fun! 

-Quillbilly Jeff