BBC News Online: Entertainment

Too old to rock and roll? Your views

There is only one thing I can say: Go and see the show!
Thomas Wermuth, Germany

I date back to 1965 as a Stones fan; I have aged, as have they. They are still an excellent band; I am an excellent fan. We are not dead...yet!
Mike Otis, USA

I saw the Stones in Cleveland this year. Mick still has what it takes to entertain. In fact he puts most rockers half his age to shame.
Gary Flanagan, USA

I do not think that you can ever really be too old to play music as long as you can still keep the beat. I will say however that I went to see the Rolling Stones in Oakland California last year and think they put on a good show. My only complaint is the stage set-up. It is all spectacle. I think that having large blow up half-naked women on the stage as a prop is a bit much. The music is what it is about for me. Not a massive stage that takes away from things.
Erik, USA

Die young, stay pretty. Or get old and wrinkled like the rest of us, having a good time. You're never too old for what you like.
Graham Bell, Brazil

If I were a rolling stone, I would keep doing it as well. But rock and roll is defined by change, and the Stones haven't shown any creative change in years. I hate to say it, but too often musical creativity (at least for rock stars) seems to disappear with age.
Charlie Griner, USA

"Never trust anybody over thirty" I think one rock and roller once said. As far as the Stones go why not. If Sean Connery can still go around doing essentially "James Bond" and snogging 29 year olds in his movies then there is no reason the Stones should pack it in. Besides "Bridges to Babylon" was their best album maybe even since "Some Girls." I mean they have proven beyond a shadow of doubt that they are not just a harder edged version of the Beach Boys or other nostalgia acts.
Cullen Guzik, USA

You're never too old. The boys (old men) are an inspiration to all. I hope that they continue growing old disgracefully.
Justin Ridley, New Zealand

Although they have frequently been billed as the greatest rock 'n' roll band in history, the Stones have long-outlived their welcome. The last album of any real musical value was Exile On Main Street, more than a quarter of a century ago. Do they really need to subject us and themselves to the embarrassment of what amounts to a Vegas revue of their oldies? Let's face it, Mick and the boys have gathered just a little too much moss to be taken seriously any more.
Bruce, USA

As an ageing (47) rock fan myself, I say that you are never too old. That goes for any kind of music. It is inspiring to me to know that there are people my age and older still out there rocking on. More power to them! If fans still want to hear them, they should be out there playing!
Robert Woodard, USA

They can still do it - I'm heading over to London tomorrow for the two Wembley shows (my 50th so far) and I am as excited as when I went to see them the first time in 1966.
Stonesdoug Potash, USA

I think it is up to the fans to decide if they are too old to rock or not. As long as the stones still turn in a good performance and the fans still turn up, why does age matter. No one accused Yehudi Menuhin of being too old to play the violin in public. We should stop pandering to the culture of youth. If people can still perform, then let them.
Tony Swain

The Rolling Stones were a great band. The problem is, they (and their fans) are still living off of past glories. In their heyday they were innovative and controversial, but their newer material just sounds dated.
Steve, UK

I saw the Rolling Stones in Las Vegas a few weeks ago and the concert was as good as any I've seen them perform in the past 18 years. They make me feel young again so why bother to worry about their age? Keep on rocking!
Bob, Canada

The Stones are not to old to rock in my opinion. In comparison with the majority of the audience around me at The Murrayfield Gig they were positively young. They held the attention of the crowd for the two hours they played, which is more than can be said for some of the Nineties bands that are disposable as the nappies some of them seem still to be wearing?! They did it for me and I would recommend any young guitar band to go see them to perfect their cool poses and stage performances? They looked pretty young and fresh to me....granted I didn't have binoculars but what's a few wrinkles between a combined age of over 200!!!
Roy Alexander, Scotland

As the song says: "I'm free to do what I want, any old time!" The Stones have always walked it like they've talked it - which is more than you can say for most modern acts. I'm going to Wembley on Friday to see the lads in action and it's gonna be fantastic! You ain't too old if you ain't too ashamed - just get down and get yer rocks off - you only live once after all!!
Dave Strong, UK

The Stones are past it not because of their ages, but because of their music. In the sixties they were one of the most exciting and innovative groups around, but they haven't produced anything original or even half way decent in twenty years.
Graham Howard, USA (British)

At 45 I am still rocking. Speak to the younger generations, they are jealous of our times, they missed it! I have a son of 23 and it takes me all my time to keep him from my record collection. The real question is, when will the Stones or the other old Rockers (Quo, Rod Stewart etc) stop having sell out tours? Keep on Rockin!!
Paul St' Pierre, U.A.E.

When a band or an artist is still able to perform at a high level, I see no reason for them to stop, if they don't want to. In recent years I've enjoyed concerts by Michael Jackson, who turns 41 this year and Tina Turner, who still have the power and the talent to show many young artists what it takes to entertain a crowd and what it takes to become a superstar. The Stones are a legend and with their current tour, they only show why, and not just take you to a trip down memory lane.
Ruud, Netherlands

Yeah most rock stars are done by age 40, but the Rolling Stones are not just any band. To anyone who has seen them this decade, age is definitely not the issue! This band rocks and never falls short of delivering the greatest show on Earth!
Bob Formont, USA

The Stones should have stopped years ago. Who wants to see these geriatric rockers - only nostalgia freaks. They were never the bad men of rock and roll they claimed to be. MJ's only interest in music is because he can earn huge amounts of money.
Iwan Turzanski, The Netherlands

Were Satchmo or Ellington too old to swing?!
Patrick Dey, USA

I saw the band in Hartford, CT earlier this year. I was amazed at the energy they had. I'm much younger than them and I don't think I could run about the stage for as long as they did. So no, I don't think they're too old to rock and roll.
Janina Mroz Rocheleau, USA

Quite simply - they are still 'the greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world'!
Ron Chapman, Australia

I think the Stones should continue to play music because this is what they do best. I don't understand when people have to be judgemental with how much money the Stones have made - they worked hard but they still deliver the goods. If this wasn't the case then I would have agreed with any kind of criticism.
Elias Sarantopoulos, USA

Rock and roll used to be about rebels, not tax schedules.
Mark, UK

Belonging to the R&R generation one is never too old for R&R. The Stones and especially Keith are exactly what R&R is about.
Marjan Podgornik, Greece

One is never too old to rock and roll. However, one does get too old to let one's kids SEE one rock and roll.
Ken Mitchell, USA

The Stones are way past it and no mistake. They have not made a decent record for years and what were an exciting, innovative and avant garde bunch of rebellious rockers in the 60s now verge on the ridiculous. Messrs Jagger and Co should be rolling stones in the rockeries of their respective retirement homes.
Neil Ashurst, UK, living in Ghana

The 51,000 audience says it all - "keep on rocking". They should stop the day no-one turns up.
David Saxby, UK

I don't think people realise just how disciplined Mick Jagger has been throughout his career: he is a fitness freak, with brains and loves his trade. Keith Richard is not as wasted as we have been led to believe over the years, as no one could play and write such good songs if they did not have the total commitment that Keith has shown us both on and off stage. This is a group that are playing because they love what they do, respect their friendship, and treasure the joy that they have given their fans for so many years. They will never be too old beacuse the music is still sounds fresh.
Kio Amachree, Nigeria

Never too old!! As older fans we can't see the wrinkles anyway - just hear the good sounds.
Ian Pappin, Australia

I saw the Stones at Edinburgh last night, and their show was absolutely fantastic. Who cares how old they are - get over it.
David Smith, UK

I personally would not pay to watch a bunch of aging rockers performing on stage, but then if other people enjoy watching them and are prepared to pay for it then I see no reason why they shouldn't continue.
Shirlianne Johnson, Canada

You're never to old to rock'n'roll. I think the Stones are still the best. Keep rocking!
Paul Lamb, Egypt

There is no age limit for rock or any other kind of music - you just have to be able to play and sing. However, when the voice starts to really give out - time to look for something else to do.
David Brew, Brazil

Two words:
Iggy Pop.
Nenad Radakovic, USA

Of course, you're never too old to rock. In fact, I would go as far as to say that older singers are much the better. My evidence is the recent Divas 99 show where the two old Divas, Cher and Tina Turner totally outshone the younger ones. No-one performs to a crowd with wonderful energy like Tina Turner! Long may she continue!
Craig Bardsley, USA

Too old? Never! As a 58 year old rock fan they will never be too old. And as they try to put me in the ground I will be beating on the coffin lid yelling: "Gimme Queen", "gimme the White Album", "gimme R&B, Rod, Phil - the Greats of Brit music...."
Keough Daffydes, USA

I think it is extremely prejudiced to criticize people just on the basis of age, particularly when Mick Jagger is still arguably the best front man in rock. The age criticism is just as repugnant as racial prejudice, in my opinion.
Maria Calderon, USA

I saw band play Arco Arena in Sacramento earlier this year...part of their No Security Tour. Our drive was about 2-3 hours, we went to the arena after dinner, and the Stones absolutely amazed me with their performance. An outstanding display of energy, skill, and raw enthusiasm. A riveting exhibition. Meanwhile, my thirtysomething fiance fell asleep at one point during the show (fatigue from the drive) and I pulled a calf muscle walking to the luxury box's lavatory. Mick and Company are dancing madly for a few hours, driving red hot guitar and vocal licks into our brain stems, and we, marshmallows that we are, can hardly keep pace. Are you ever too old to rock and roll? Clearly we are, but the Stones...I don't think so.
Chris Weiss, USA

These days asking "are you ever too old to rock and roll?" is like asking "are you ever to old to play Beethoven?" Rock and roll is an established musical form. Today's 70 year olds were listening to it in their early 20s. If they want, the Stones should rock until they drop.
Robert DeHoet, USA

No comment is needed when they can still fill Wembley Stadium after 35 years.
Martin Wilsher, UK

Ageing rockers are the most beautiful people in the world. They have an animal magnetism surrounding themselves which I find quite sexy.
Sean Mullan, Northern Ireland

I don't think age matters in the Stones' case they are still a great band and they sound better than ever before.
Cecilia, Argentina

The debacle with ticket distribution is beyond belief. Are the silly promoters playing the money markets with our money? The level of service from the "official" ticket agency - Ticketmaster - is dreadful!!!
Dave Speight, UK

If you're lucky enough to see the Rolling Stones this summer, the age question will be answered by the end of the first song.
Ian MacCuish, Canada

Saw The Stones last Wednesday in Groningen and will see them again on the 18th in Landgraaf. They're definitely not past it! They beat any other band with an enormous energy and great music. The Stones will never be to old tot rock-and-roll!
Lieke Muyris, Netherlands

No, What about BB King now in his 80's & stilll touring
Steve Rhodes, UK

I saw them last March; they haven't slowed down a note in 30-plus years. Mick still snarls like at the heavens like a born rock-n-roll sinner; he'll always work up a crowd. Keith enjoys not caring if he can't sing worth a hoot. Ronny - sweet, lovable Ronny - he's still the boy who can't believe he's made it this far. I hate to say this to all the purists but he ties this band tighter than Brian or Mick T. ever did. Charlie is the grizzled chief-engineer; his arms are pure muscle when he's pounding his drums. When Mick introduced Charlie the others (half) mockingly kow-towed to him. Bill may be happy having left but the Stones have a great replacement in Daryl Jones (why he isn't a full-fledged Stone I can't imagine.) When they did "Route 66" it was just as fresh and biting as the old live recording on "December's Children." About the only noticeable change is that they finally weaned themselves off "Satisfaction" and I didn't notice that until the ride home from the show.
T.J. Cassidy, USA

Are you ever too old to rock and roll? Tell us what you think of the ageing rockers.

Relevant Stories

The Stones (and the years) roll on (04 Jun 99 | Entertainment)