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Name some artists whose output remained strong well into their 30s and beyond. Also theorize on the tendency of artists/bands just just completely lose it at some point in their 30s.

― herbert, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 16:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Tom Waits
Bob Dylan and Neil Young (although both are very, very erratic)

For some reason, country artists seem to do better throughout longer careers. I don't know if this is because country places less of more of an emphasis on tradition, etc...

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 16:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Every time I buy a 'world music' compilation I'm struck by how old the artists seem to be relative to western pop forms. I don't know whether this is because other cultures lack the cult of youth and accord respect to their older musicians etc etc or because the people putting the compilations together are rockist old codgers.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Randy Newman
Van Morrison (though erratic)

― Doobie Keebler (Charles McCain), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 16:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Willie Nelson is probably the oldest musician I've seen live who's stunned me. (Great context, too: Benefit concert for recovering addicts. Everybody went nuts.)

With country, I think the emphasis on tradition matters. There's less downward pressure to innovate, therefore less of a likelihood of your fans abandoning you when they/you turn 30 (you can't stop being cool if you weren't cool in the first place), therefore less of a likelihood to fall into a sinkhole of alcoholic self-loathing and creative decline.

― m.e.a. (m.e.a.), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 16:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Richard Thompson - saw him live last year and it was truly special.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

the rolling stones (quite strong throughout their 30s, but not necessarily beyond)
bruce springsteen (ditto)
johnny cash
marvin gaye
john prine
peter stampfel
john lee hooker
lucinda williams
robert pollard/guided by voices
merle haggard

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

robyn hitchcock

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't think pop artists "lose it" at any particular age. rather, i think they lose it after they've been doing what they do for a certain length of time. most of them have limited wells to draw from, and they just dry up at a certain point. maybe they've got 10 years, maybe 15. so if they start when they're in their teens or early 20s like most do, yeah, they're gonna run out somewhere in their 30s. but if they start later, then they might keep going strong into their 40s or 50s.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

scott walker.

though he sort of cheats by only making an album every 10 years.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Rick Ocasek was 29 when the first Cars record came out.
Sonic Youth were in their 30s in their prime, but they stared late.
Leonard Cohen was in his 30s when he started recording

Mark E Smith kept it going throughout but maybe you could blame his 30s for the metabolism change with regards to the effect of drinking on his output???

― SexyDancer, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 17:13 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't have any theories, but i'll take this opportunity to say that John Cale just put out one of his very best albums last year -- at the age of 61.

― tod (tod), Thursday, 11 March 2004 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)

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