The Depressing Reality of Geezer Rock: The Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary Tour Makes Allowances for Performers', Audiences' Advanced Age

I consider this to be both inspirational and depressing--the Rolling Stones are setting out on yet another tour:

The band announced, then postponed, and then re-announced new tour plans, assuring fans they’ll be on the road in 2012–2013 to celebrate their 50th anniversary. 

But there’s a new twist: This tour will take into account the aging nature of the band, and of its fans. Indeed, the new tour, tentatively called the Steel Wheelchairs tour, was delayed because of technical and health issues involved in doing live events with such an old audience, and such old musicians. “This tour is different from others we’ve done,” the band’s promoter explained.

How different? For openers, the Steel Wheelchairs tour will not be playing big stadiums, but smaller arenas and theaters. “Half our fans are dead, and the other half are on Medicare,” the Stones’ business manager explained. “They can’t fill up stadiums they way they used to. Heck, they can’t make it up the stairs the way they used to.”...

"What's your favorite Rolling Stones song?" my sister-in-law asked me the other day. We were listening to the all-70s oldies show on The Moose, the Parry Sound radio station. "Actually," I said, "I always preferred The Who to the Stones, but if I had to pick, I think it would have to be "You Can't Always Get What You Want." A song that, both musically and in terms of its message, never gets old.

Why, this year, fingers crossed, it will apply (and perhaps offer solace) to all the Obama fans who are still hoping against hope that their hero will prevail.

 

Update: The Beach Boys are also celebrating their 50th, but it looks like Brian Wilson's bandmates have given him the boot.