Rock and Roll
I don’t believe this. I just read an article about a new Rolling Stones album. I listened to a track. I’m excited. Keith Richards is 79 and Mick Jagger is 80. And they’re still making music, creating music. And I’m 77 and I’ve started back writing songs and singing. And I know there are lots of years behind me and them, but it feels as though there are still plenty of years ahead for me and them.
And it appears there’s something to this idea that happiness is the key to longevity. Making music makes me happy and it obviously makes the Stones happy, although it also makes them a lot of money whereas it makes me none at all. But I’ll take the choice of making music because as the credit card commercial says, some things are priceless. And besides, I make no pretense that I’m in it for the money. It’s simply fun.
All of this means I might need to rethink my entire approach to what I call geezer rock, meaning the old bands of my youth. Except maybe not. The Stones are still creating music to go with their old music. And it’s that new music I want. I can still appreciate them without having to hear Satisfaction again. Although, it’s still nice once in a while. But it’s the new stuff I want. Songs that give me the tingle that came with the first bell and drum licks of Honky Tonk Women. The buzz of the guitar on Satisfaction. Songs that say here’s something to sing for the rest of your life, no matter how long that life might be.