Question for Musicians: At What Age Do You Lose Your "Cool"*

Just wondering if there were any 50+ musicians here who get the cold shoulder from other younger musicians regardless of your ability and chops who in my humble opinion seem to be more about image and visual appeal than music.I understand that if you are actively pursuing a career that image matters and I went through that stage as well but when it comes down to jamming or playing local clubs and getting up and going to work the next day should the age of the people you are playing with matter or is it just the whole be cool/get the chicks thing on a micro instead of macro level.

 

You're "old" the day you turn 30.

 

I bet it's immediately following your successful, "reunion" tour.

 

Remember you said that in 7 years kiddo.

 

Cool has more to do with looks and attitude than chronological age. Al Pacino and Dolly Parton for example are cool.

 

when this comes out. I am just going to post this all day.

 

I guess he got younger after "Let's Work" then, because the next single from that same album kicks ass, and with Jeff Beck no less.

 

I know that when you reach a certain age, for me around 40 probably, when you stop caring if anybody thinks of you as being "cool". You just be yourself and don't really care what others think. It's very liberating, and is probably one of the few real benefits of the aging process.

Not sure how this translates to musicians though. The ones I most respect never really tried to chase trends, even when they were in their 20s. They were always just themselves.

 

Yep, spot-on. That's exactly how I remember it.

 

No, never... they are in awe...always. : )

 

When I was younger I wanted to be cool, but as time went on it just didn’t matter anymore because I knew that I wasn’t. I’m actually the furthest thing from cool and I’m content with this.

 

You're not cool anymore when your first child turns ...?
For me, it was 16.

 

I'll let you know. I'm 55 now, and am way cooler than my younger neighbour.........

 

Some people just "have it" and are always cool no matter what age - like Tom Petty.

 

The question is not about the stars but about regular folks who have been playing for decades and have the ability and chops but are rejected by younger musicians simply for their age,we are not talking about playing Madison Square Garden here but playing local clubs or just jamming.

 

I lose my cool every day...

 

I guess I should have known better

 

You're never uncool as long as you DON'T fall into the image trap. Make interesting music, and throw fashion to the side. Otherwise, you'll look like an idiot trying to look 20 years younger than you are. Also, if you were in your 20's when pointy guitars were all the rage in the 80's, you were already uncool by 1992. Throw that BC Rich away and just play something organic.

 

I’m 63 and I have people in their 20’s and 30’s wanting to make music with me. The other day some 20 something came up to me on the street in New Paltz, NY and told me I seemed like a guru. I responded “Nah, I’m just as effed up as everyone else”.

 

Other people know before you figure it out.

 

...no...you're "old" the day you stop playing.

 

I'm 37. I just quit one of the bands I was in, and I'm still playing in the other.

My ex-bandmates (from the one I just quit) are all still very active and "visible" in their other projects. Still going to other peoples' shows, liking all the "right" posts on social media, etc.

The band in which I've remained, we are focused on writing new music, getting out of town to play, and playing as best as we can. I've almost entirely removed the "social" component from my music making endeavors - when I'm not at band practice or playing a show myself, I'm at home with my wife. This summer, I figured out that I really, really enjoy being "boring." The band I'm still in has some great jams and we all get along fine. I found that the preoccupations with scene politics and scratching the proverbial backs not only led the music to suffer, but it was also very *depressing.*

 

In terms of trying to look cool or act like a young person, I’ll give the benefit of the doubt somewhere into one’s thirties. For most folks, there’s severely diminishing returns in this category as you progress beyond the big three zero, and depending on genetics, the rate of attrition is highly variable. Beyond that point, the notion of basing one’s career upon image becomes embarrassingly laughable. Just have a glance at Marilyn Manson these days.