Been wondering about this of late. What acts have remained relevant and continued making new music that was popular after they turned 50?
I know of many acts that remained popular themselves, like the Rolling Stones and Queen, but their popularity rested mostly on past music. And I know of several acts that continued to put out new music after 50, but only sold them to their limited fanbase and not to the general public.
The best I can come up with is David Bowie, but that might be a stretch.
Aerosmith without a doubt.
I truly admire the fact that these guys hit the bottom, and somehow came out it to become an even better band than ever before.
I would also perhaps include Paul McCartney, AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac.
Sadly Queen has only made 4 brand new songs since Freddie's death. Wish they could come up with more.
- No One But You
- The Call
- Invisible Hope
- Say It's Not True
Am I missing any?
Mr.Jingles79 wrote: Aerosmith without a doubt.
I would also perhaps include Paul McCartney, AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac.
Aerosmith- yes. Hadn't thought about them.
Macca- maybe. He came out with a couple of albums in the 1990s that were moderately received, but it seems like he's living off past accomplishments more now than anything new. (As for Ringo, no. When was the last time he did anything new?)
AC/DC- not sure. I have no idea what their new output has been, if any. The last new song from them that I can remember was around 7+ years ago.
Fleetwood Mac- unclear. The Dance was a huge hit, but it was mainly old material perfromed live, with the biggest hit being an old b-side. Not sure how their new stuff has done, but I don't think the album that came out in the Spring did that well.
Neither of the bands I mentioned and also David Bowie have been able to have any major hits to compete with the pop/rock/pop/R&B mainstream music. Aerosmith is perhaps the only exception.
AC/DC had some hits on Classic Rock radio when they released 'Stiff Upper Lip' back in 2000. The title track as well as 'Safe In New York City' had quite some airplay, although this last track was dropped from the airwaves after 9/11.
In the same way Fleetwood Mac had some modest hits on adult/contemporary radio earlier this year with 'Say You Will', and 'Peacekeeper'.
I don't recall hearing any of Bowie's new tracks on classic rock, or adult/contemporary radio.
(As for Ringo, no. When was the last time he did anything new?)
Actually, Ringo came out with a new album in February of 2003. It's called Ringorama. Paul's last album was Driving Rain in 2002. Both albums were completely new material too.
Tina Turner was still going strong touring and recording through age 61 (2000) but has vowed not to do large scale tours again. Hopefully she'll still record...
Oh, as far as being popular, I do believe she had a minor hit in the U.S. with 'When The Heartache Is Over' (a clone of Cher's 'Believe' by the same producers) and it was even bigger elsewhere. But prior to that, she had a ton of hits after 50, in fact her big comeback didn't even start until she was mid-40s.
rmtfictionqueen wrote:
Actually, Ringo came out with a new album in February of 2003. It's called Ringorama. Paul's last album was Driving Rain in 2002. Both albums were completely new material too.
I realize that, but coming out with new material was not the sole criteria here. REO Speedwagon, Boston, and Styx have also come out with new material lately, but like Ringo, have not sold much outside their core audience.
Other examples, like Tina Turner, are new to me. I think one trend I am seeing is that many of these artists, such as AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac, are having some success, but only in their particular genre and not across the mainstream.
I wonder why?
Tom Waits
Carlos Santana
Phil Collins
Scatman John (kidding)
In other, not so popular genres there are loads, e.g. Miles Davis (also had mainstream-success in the 80s), and the guys of Buena Vista Social Club are THE exception (have there ever been any other newcomers that old?). Even hiphop has its Africa Bambaataa.
I think that after they become too famous and too rich and finally get used to being filthy rich most rock stars lose interest in music and therefore are unable to develop new style. If you ask me, the same happened with Queen in the early 80s.
Perhaps a better explanation is that rock is/was more than music, it was the youth's culture. Young people developed it, and young people listened to it, mainly to rebel against their parents or the older generation. When you get older, these indispensable conditions disappear and what used to be honest expression is then replaced by comic bathos (just look at Keith Richard's or Brian's attempts to look like hard-rocking, 30-year old axe-heroes).
In a nutshell, rock and age are paradoxical.