I have seen a lot of articles lately about tours by bands like the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and the like, and invariably the story line is “They’re still playing after all these years!” To which we bluegrass fans say “What’s so amazing about that?” We’ve all seen our bluegrass heroes playing deep into their sunset years, as long as their health would allow.
It’s not fair or appropriate to compare the rock and bluegrass worlds of course – they are markedly different. Rock music is born of youthful rebellion, and there was a time where some thought it could not survive once the earlier practitioners aged. Pete Townsend sang “I hope I die before I get old!”, and that was the thought behind rock music – that it is a necessarily youth-oriented art form.
Another contrast is in the economics of the two genres. Rock musicians who make it big can, if they choose, stop playing in public any time it stops being fun – they’ve made enough to retire, sometimes by the time they’re 25. Bluegrass musicians have had a much tougher row to hoe. Many of them tour past their comfort level simply to keep food on their tables.
The passing years have proven that talent doesn’t necessarily diminish with age. At some point, the physical dexterity may wane, and those high notes for the vocals can be difficult, but great players generally don’t become less interesting just because they’re 40, or 50 (or 70, or 80!) – something bluegrass fans have known for a long time.
So, rock and roll doesn’t require youth to be authentic, despite its genesis as a youthful rebellious statement. And yet, every generation since rock’s early days, has produced some amazing talent, and so it true with bluegrass. You don’t have to be young to play rock and you don’t have be old to play bluegrass!
I love the easy multigenerational appeal of bluegrass and its stars. For watching and listening to bluegrass professionals, I can be thrilled by amazing young players and marvel at the older masters – all the same festival! And as a player of bluegrass, and a person who continues to age (at an accelerating rate it seems!), it’s a music I can share in a circle with people of all ages. And I have learned that players of any age are willing to share what they know – everybody, it seems, has something to offer. Hey is there a CBA Campout coming up anytime soon?
