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AZF View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: When Should A Musician Stop?
    Posted: April 07 2016 at 12:05
No Poll with this one, but when do you think musicians should call it a day, and should they?

AC/DC are rumored to be getting Axl Rose (!) in to sing their next shows, due to the letting go of Brian Johnson due to hearing problems. Before AC/DC's online forum went down, the choice of "They should call it a day" got the most votes, over 70%.

Aerosmith have now announced they are also quitting as a band (Insert snarky funny about Aerosmith's abilities) next year.

And yet, Motorhead carried on until Lemmy died.
And of course Keith Emerson apparently felt he couldn't do justice to his musical abilities and sadly took his own life.

Did Pink Floyd show the way to do it? Break up and reform once, but carry on with occasional solo projects.

Yes carried on. Even Gong are said to be carrying on with the band Daevid Allen was last playing with.

If you are physically able to still play the instrument you made your name on, should you go on until you drop?

The Rolling Stones (From You Tube videos) really aren't the same live.

Maybe the more richer the musician became, the less desire or need to prove themselves exists. And quite content to retire knowing they've made an impact.

It's entirely up to the musician and I can imagine Prog musicians still working. But if Paul McCartney is getting bored complaints that he only does "Hey Jude" and not very well either, then what about singers like Debbie Harry.
It must be harder for non-Prog acts as their music may have more youthful connotations. 

Sorry if this has been asked before, but I'm interested to read your thinking.
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Mascodagama View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2016 at 14:22
If they're enjoying what they do and have an audience, why should they stop? I mean as far as I'm concerned Yes could have ended in 1974 as they've done nothing since that I've got any time for. But plenty disagree and it's no skin off my nose that they've made another 273 albums.

Edited by Mascodagama - April 07 2016 at 15:03
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2016 at 14:35
Dignity?  To paraphrase Dylan - dignity is usually the last to leave the party. 
I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there.....
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2016 at 14:43
If you're a successful musician you should stop when you don't have an audience anymore and move onto other things. When you're not successful you stop when you die.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2016 at 14:53
When the muse leaves.
Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive
Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2016 at 14:54
Originally posted by Mascodagama Mascodagama wrote:

If they're enjoying what they do and have an audience, why should they stop?
 
I would have stopped the sentence after "if they are enjoying what they do."  Who cares if you play to an audience of 10 people, as long as you enjoy playing?
 
 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2016 at 15:05
Originally posted by AZF AZF wrote:


Did Pink Floyd show the way to do it? Break up and reform once, but carry on with occasional solo projects.



ahhhh... NO!!!!!! Angry  They showed what exactly bands should not do.. prey on gullible fans selling nostaglia to buy sh*t albums made only for making point to certain ex members LOL


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2016 at 23:40
^ A bit harsh, Micky......
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2016 at 00:13
^ And mostly true
"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."   -- John F. Kennedy
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2016 at 00:32
When s/he gets to a red light, of course

Edited by siLLy puPPy - April 08 2016 at 00:33
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2016 at 03:20
......when they no longer have anything worthy to offer.........
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2016 at 03:32
Originally posted by emigre80 emigre80 wrote:

Originally posted by Mascodagama Mascodagama wrote:

If they're enjoying what they do and have an audience, why should they stop?
 
I would have stopped the sentence after "if they are enjoying what they do."  Who cares if you play to an audience of 10 people, as long as you enjoy playing?
 
 
Well, an audience of 10 is still "an audience" LOL
 
But I take your point.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2016 at 03:57
Originally posted by AZF AZF wrote:



AC/DC are rumored to be getting Axl Rose (!) in to sing their next shows, due to the letting go of Brian Johnson due to hearing problems.



Whaaaaa??? Where the hell did you hear that? You do realize GNR just started a reunion tour?


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2016 at 06:15
Preferably on a Friday. That way you have the weekend to contemplate your decision. 
“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

- Douglas Adams
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2016 at 07:59
Originally posted by Mascodagama Mascodagama wrote:

Originally posted by emigre80 emigre80 wrote:

Originally posted by Mascodagama Mascodagama wrote:

If they're enjoying what they do and have an audience, why should they stop?
 
I would have stopped the sentence after "if they are enjoying what they do."  Who cares if you play to an audience of 10 people, as long as you enjoy playing?
 
 
Well, an audience of 10 is still "an audience" LOL
 
But I take your point.
 
which is that the musician gets to decide, not the hypothetical audience, no matter what its size.
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Tom Ozric View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2016 at 19:17
......they'll all end up doing the crooner circuit.......(Pete Cetera, anyone ??)
Fast-forward to 2041 - Jens Kidman will be a wedding singer in Las Vegas
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2016 at 21:27
It seems old musicians don't retire anymore, they just go on an extended coda.
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to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2016 at 06:50
When they get to the Stop sign??
Thank you for supporting independently produced music
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2016 at 08:45
Never.  As long as you're having fun playing there's no reason to stop Wink
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2016 at 10:45
I've been playing drums for 39 year's and I'm still learning and getting better. When I start getting worse I'll stop and that's a pretty good benchmark for any player I think, unless your someone like Neil Peart who could lose half his powers and still be better than most.
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