New Springsteen Album "Western Stars" June 14*

I think he sounds fine, maybe a little subdued in his conversation as anyone might be considering the occasion. His performance sounds great.

 

Yeah, the plastic surgery is annoying. A lot of artists, I think, feel pressure to look the same way they did in their prime as long as possible...like David Coverdale still has to look like David Coverdale because everyone has the image of those videos burned in their brains.

I don't think Bruce has that issue, he certainly doesn't go out with a bandana and jeans and try to look like 1984, but I can see him putting that pressure on himself since he was still willing himself (and succeeding) to do the same kind of shows in 2016 as he was doing 40 years earlier. Maybe less running around, but still doing the crowd surf, playing for 4 hours, challenging himself and the band, etc etc, and so perhaps part of that was feeling like he had to make himself look younger than he is. I think it's finally starting to take its toll, but as long as he sounds good and is playing and performing, it doesn't bother me that much I suppose. There's definitely rock stars whose surgery looks way worse.

 

Have you seen paul Simon lately? Oof.

 

He was great in 2016, and I thought he had that somewhat disconnected demeanor when you'd see interviews with him for awhile before then. He's been eloquent in what he says, but not how he says it, for a pretty long time. I'll be concerned when the substance of what he's saying drops off. He's obviously going to continue to slow down in performance, but I don't think there'd be a drastic decline from the last tour. Hopefully we'll get the chance to find out next year.

I've met a number of performers who have a bit of a freaky look when you see them in real life. I think sometimes it does look better on camera or on stage.

 

For a number of patients, plastic surgery becomes addictive. It is never enough, there is always something else to tweak, and it turns into an endless cycle. After enough procedures, the person starts to look unnatural. Springsteen is now in that territory. It is certainly his prerogative -- aging is not always easy, and as an entertainer, his appearance is likely that much more important to him, but he is heading into cyborg territory.

 

He looks like (surprise!) a 78-year-old Paul Simon.
I'm a casual PS fan at best, but...c'mon, man.

 

Beyond their music, I admire Robert Plant and Dylan for letting nature take its course. Plant especially for not trying to maintain the “golden god” look of the 70s. With their plastic surgery and botox, Bruce and Joe Biden are starting to have the same look. Hopefully Bruce won’t end up looking like Kenny Rogers did - really weird. The strange thing is that one might have thought that Bruce would have just wanted to age gracefully i.e. authentically. But to each his own.

 

Well, if one bought into the "blue collar, working man, everyman" rhetoric, sure. But there was always a lot more going on with Springsteen.

 

Springsteen has always struck me as more than a little vain. The BITUSA muscle stuff, the posing on the TOL tour. I’m not all that surprised.

 

yeah, whether or not Landau's feeding his ego or he just came by it naturally, he does have that vain streak
He really sees himself as part of American poets/troubadours........Woody, Bob, maybe Neil (yea I know where he was born), and Bruce
Whether he is or not, time will tell.......but that's a heckuva ego stretch

 

So is the hardcore fanbase really denying the stiff upper lip at this time?

 

I would definitely put him in the same category as those guys. His place on Mt Rushmore is secure, and well earned.

 

Dylan is definitely letting nature take its course. Neil young too. Neil looks like a fur trapper.

 

One thing is Bruce always had a strong, prominent jaw-line, or at least that’s how he appeared in photos and on film.
Judging from recent pics, that is no longer the case.

 

Well, Patti is 66 years old, and to me, she is looking damn fine!

 

If you see photos before - like in the space of a couple of years - he looks fine. I like the guy si I'm not going to begrudge him. They both have hair issues too!

 

With all the talk of Bruce's aged appearance here, I decided to listen to the WS film soundtrack again. I actually appreciate his aged voice on this recording, it's quite different from most of his studio album vocals and suits the music and theme very well. How's the DVD / BluRay, does anyone have it?

 

Who would give a thousand pelts to sleep with Pocahontas and find out how she felt.

 

Yes, but Simon’s hair issues go back to the ‘60’s.

 

Oh yeah.

 

I recall being shocked at his lack of hair when he appeared in Annie Hall from 1978.

 

Funny thing is: Artie was just the same! I wasn't even aware he was wearing a wig. Simon's sudden 'growth' of hair for One Trick Pony (and baseball cap. Nothing like a belt and braces approach) was rather obvious. Still, hasn't affected what he's doing

 

its not the hair, it’s the face.
I looks like they injected his face with cream cheese and then pulled it tight behind his ears.
He looks uncomfortable.

 

Upon further pondering, Mick Jagger doesn’t appear to have any significant “work” done either. That’s somewhat surprising. Keith has had a lot of work done - all by nature and the “elements”.

 

I think Planr has had some work done in the past. You could tell by the eyes usually. Speaking of eyes, Biden and the late Kenny Rogers looked/look— am I allowed to say this?—Asian.