I can't retire from music

I will be 67 years old this year, and for years have thought about hanging it up. But every time that thought hits me, something great comes up, and I keep playing. 5 years ago, when I thought of retiring, along comes Edison Freeman, who made the Billboard Top 100 with a band called Kingdom, and was Captain Heavy, Doctor Demento's first sidekick DJ on his radio show. The music was great, and I had the opportunity to be part of it. Last December, after playing in pain for more than a year with a slipped disk in his back, Edison hung it up and retired. I thought I would too, but am now a member of a band called The Voiceless Thunder. Had I been in any other state but Texas, I would have retired, but Texas has so many damn good bands I just can't quit. After my last show with Edison, I pretty much did fill in jobs with various bands until this opportunity came along. I turned down several offers, but this I cannot. These guys rock, and I want to rock. So, it's time to rock again. Here's a video by The Voiceless Thunder. Yea, this is Texas, baby. And, as we all know, God blessed Texas.

So I am not retiring, as I planned to do so many times before. In fact, if I make it to 100, I am sure that I will still be playing. And, when I finally die, I will approach my grave at mach 7, skid sideways into it, and say "Damn, what a ride, let's do it again".

danarhea said:

I will be 67 years old this year, and for years have thought about hanging it up. But every time that thought hits me, something great comes up, and I keep playing. 5 years ago, when I thought of retiring, along comes Edison Freeman, who made the Billboard Top 100 with a band called Kingdom, and was Captain Heavy, Doctor Demento's first sidekick DJ on his radio show. The music was great, and I had the opportunity to be part of it. Last December, after playing in pain for more than a year with a slipped disk in his back, Edison hung it up and retired. I thought I would too, but am now a member of a band called The Voiceless Thunder. Had I been in any other state but Texas, I would have retired, but Texas has so many damn good bands I just can't quit. After my last show with Edison, I pretty much did fill in jobs with various bands until this opportunity came along. I turned down several offers, but this I cannot. These guys rock, and I want to rock. So, it's time to rock again. Here's a video by The Voiceless Thunder. Yea, this is Texas, baby. And, as we all know, God blessed Texas.

So I am not retiring, as I planned to do so many times before. In fact, if I make it to 100, I am sure that I will still be playing. And, when I finally die, I will approach my grave at mach 7, skid sideways into it, and say "Damn, what a ride, let's do it again".

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Love this post! God bless.

keep on rockin'.

Good for you! It's part of you and you obviously love it....play to the end!

Some people don't retire because they can't afford it. Others don't retire because they love their careers. Everyone should be so fortunate as to be in the second group.

danarhea said:

I will be 67 years old this year, and for years have thought about hanging it up. But every time that thought hits me, something great comes up, and I keep playing. 5 years ago, when I thought of retiring, along comes Edison Freeman, who made the Billboard Top 100 with a band called Kingdom, and was Captain Heavy, Doctor Demento's first sidekick DJ on his radio show. The music was great, and I had the opportunity to be part of it. Last December, after playing in pain for more than a year with a slipped disk in his back, Edison hung it up and retired. I thought I would too, but am now a member of a band called The Voiceless Thunder. Had I been in any other state but Texas, I would have retired, but Texas has so many damn good bands I just can't quit. After my last show with Edison, I pretty much did fill in jobs with various bands until this opportunity came along. I turned down several offers, but this I cannot. These guys rock, and I want to rock. So, it's time to rock again. Here's a video by The Voiceless Thunder. Yea, this is Texas, baby. And, as we all know, God blessed Texas.

So I am not retiring, as I planned to do so many times before. In fact, if I make it to 100, I am sure that I will still be playing. And, when I finally die, I will approach my grave at mach 7, skid sideways into it, and say "Damn, what a ride, let's do it again".

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I honestly tried retiring a few years ago. I figured I was in my late 30s, had 2 kids and would never be a rock star.

I couldn't do it. Couldn't stay away. I have, however, retired from Tuesday night gigs for "exposure."

Hey, I'm 60 y/o and I'm still rockin'. Here's a short clip from Saturday night. (Smartphone video.. No MTV. LOL!)

We beat them the **** up. Right now, rock and roll is being velly, velly good to me. :mrgreen:

You inspire me to keep going.

danarhea said:

I will be 67 years old this year, and for years have thought about hanging it up. But every time that thought hits me, something great comes up, and I keep playing. 5 years ago, when I thought of retiring, along comes Edison Freeman, who made the Billboard Top 100 with a band called Kingdom, and was Captain Heavy, Doctor Demento's first sidekick DJ on his radio show. The music was great, and I had the opportunity to be part of it. Last December, after playing in pain for more than a year with a slipped disk in his back, Edison hung it up and retired. I thought I would too, but am now a member of a band called The Voiceless Thunder. Had I been in any other state but Texas, I would have retired, but Texas has so many damn good bands I just can't quit. After my last show with Edison, I pretty much did fill in jobs with various bands until this opportunity came along. I turned down several offers, but this I cannot. These guys rock, and I want to rock. So, it's time to rock again. Here's a video by The Voiceless Thunder. Yea, this is Texas, baby. And, as we all know, God blessed Texas.

So I am not retiring, as I planned to do so many times before. In fact, if I make it to 100, I am sure that I will still be playing. And, when I finally die, I will approach my grave at mach 7, skid sideways into it, and say "Damn, what a ride, let's do it again".

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danarhea said:

I will be 67 years old this year, and for years have thought about hanging it up. But every time that thought hits me, something great comes up, and I keep playing. 5 years ago, when I thought of retiring, along comes Edison Freeman, who made the Billboard Top 100 with a band called Kingdom, and was Captain Heavy, Doctor Demento's first sidekick DJ on his radio show. The music was great, and I had the opportunity to be part of it. Last December, after playing in pain for more than a year with a slipped disk in his back, Edison hung it up and retired. I thought I would too, but am now a member of a band called The Voiceless Thunder. Had I been in any other state but Texas, I would have retired, but Texas has so many damn good bands I just can't quit. After my last show with Edison, I pretty much did fill in jobs with various bands until this opportunity came along. I turned down several offers, but this I cannot. These guys rock, and I want to rock. So, it's time to rock again. Here's a video by The Voiceless Thunder. Yea, this is Texas, baby. And, as we all know, God blessed Texas.

So I am not retiring, as I planned to do so many times before. In fact, if I make it to 100, I am sure that I will still be playing. And, when I finally die, I will approach my grave at mach 7, skid sideways into it, and say "Damn, what a ride, let's do it again".

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It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll!


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rocket88 said:

I honestly tried retiring a few years ago. I figured I was in my late 30s, had 2 kids and would never be a rock star.

I couldn't do it. Couldn't stay away. I have, however, retired from Tuesday night gigs for "exposure."

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I have a standard response for anybody who tells me I can play for free, but will get "exposure". I actually said this to a club owner one time, and I thought he was going to **** his pants.

"Why thank you for the opportunity, sir, and while I'm exposing myself, may I pee on your shoes"?

danarhea said:

I have a standard response for anybody who tells me I can play for free, but will get "exposure". I actually said this to a club owner one time, and I thought he was going to **** his pants.

"Why thank you for the opportunity, sir, and while I'm exposing myself, may I pee on your shoes"?

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Of course, I could care less about the money. All the money we make goes into the beer fund. A Friday night playing rock and roll with my friends? Sign me up!

danarhea said:

I will be 67 years old this year, and for years have thought about hanging it up. But every time that thought hits me, something great comes up, and I keep playing. 5 years ago, when I thought of retiring, along comes Edison Freeman, who made the Billboard Top 100 with a band called Kingdom, and was Captain Heavy, Doctor Demento's first sidekick DJ on his radio show. The music was great, and I had the opportunity to be part of it. Last December, after playing in pain for more than a year with a slipped disk in his back, Edison hung it up and retired. I thought I would too, but am now a member of a band called The Voiceless Thunder. Had I been in any other state but Texas, I would have retired, but Texas has so many damn good bands I just can't quit. After my last show with Edison, I pretty much did fill in jobs with various bands until this opportunity came along. I turned down several offers, but this I cannot. These guys rock, and I want to rock. So, it's time to rock again. Here's a video by The Voiceless Thunder. Yea, this is Texas, baby. And, as we all know, God blessed Texas.

So I am not retiring, as I planned to do so many times before. In fact, if I make it to 100, I am sure that I will still be playing. And, when I finally die, I will approach my grave at mach 7, skid sideways into it, and say "Damn, what a ride, let's do it again".

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"They're too old to play" is the stupidest thing I've ever heard, so yeah, keep going.

Besides, most of the older musicians still playing sound far better than the random crap I overhear on other peoples' radios. I'm only a tad over half your age, but damn, kids these days. No taste.




The only caveat: I did buy the Stones' "A Bigger Bang", and in one of those songs, Jagger laments that to some woman, he's "just another ****." C'mon, Mick, I really don't need to hear about your viagra adventures at this point. Keep going, but, y'know....

They used to say rock was a young man's game. As they got older, that saying went away. Likewise, the talent didn't quite flow to the younger ones.

So, I would say play until yer dead, and then hope a mad scientist finds a way to make a zombie rock.

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danarhea said:

I have a standard response for anybody who tells me I can play for free, but will get "exposure". I actually said this to a club owner one time, and I thought he was going to **** his pants.

"Why thank you for the opportunity, sir, and while I'm exposing myself, may I pee on your shoes"?

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lol

I tell them that I'll play for free when they start giving the beer away.

I'm 56 this year and still going. The only real difference now is that I'm one of the older guys in the band and I really like gigs where the house supplies the backline. Thankfully one of the places we routinely play at does just that. Show up 30 minutes before the gig starts. Plug in. Play our hour set, unplug and go home. In bed by midnight.

Fiddytree said:

They used to say rock was a young man's game. As they got older, that saying went away. Likewise, the talent didn't quite flow to the younger ones.

So, I would say play until yer dead, and then hope a mad scientist finds a way to make a zombie rock.

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I always wonder whether Pete Townsend ever regretted that "hope I die before I get old" line.

Gaius46 said:

I always wonder whether Pete Townsend ever regretted that "hope I die before I get old" line.

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Too late for that now, Pete!

danarhea said:

I will be 67 years old this year, and for years have thought about hanging it up. But every time that thought hits me, something great comes up, and I keep playing. 5 years ago, when I thought of retiring, along comes Edison Freeman, who made the Billboard Top 100 with a band called Kingdom, and was Captain Heavy, Doctor Demento's first sidekick DJ on his radio show. The music was great, and I had the opportunity to be part of it. Last December, after playing in pain for more than a year with a slipped disk in his back, Edison hung it up and retired. I thought I would too, but am now a member of a band called The Voiceless Thunder. Had I been in any other state but Texas, I would have retired, but Texas has so many damn good bands I just can't quit. After my last show with Edison, I pretty much did fill in jobs with various bands until this opportunity came along. I turned down several offers, but this I cannot. These guys rock, and I want to rock. So, it's time to rock again. Here's a video by The Voiceless Thunder. Yea, this is Texas, baby. And, as we all know, God blessed Texas.

So I am not retiring, as I planned to do so many times before. In fact, if I make it to 100, I am sure that I will still be playing. And, when I finally die, I will approach my grave at mach 7, skid sideways into it, and say "Damn, what a ride, let's do it again".

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I can understand it. All of my baby boomer friends in Michigan that I was a lead singer for in a garage band are still practicing every week and playing gigs. My brother-in-law is dong the same.

danarhea said:

I will be 67 years old this year, and for years have thought about hanging it up. But every time that thought hits me, something great comes up, and I keep playing. 5 years ago, when I thought of retiring, along comes Edison Freeman, who made the Billboard Top 100 with a band called Kingdom, and was Captain Heavy, Doctor Demento's first sidekick DJ on his radio show. The music was great, and I had the opportunity to be part of it. Last December, after playing in pain for more than a year with a slipped disk in his back, Edison hung it up and retired. I thought I would too, but am now a member of a band called The Voiceless Thunder. Had I been in any other state but Texas, I would have retired, but Texas has so many damn good bands I just can't quit. After my last show with Edison, I pretty much did fill in jobs with various bands until this opportunity came along. I turned down several offers, but this I cannot. These guys rock, and I want to rock. So, it's time to rock again. Here's a video by The Voiceless Thunder. Yea, this is Texas, baby. And, as we all know, God blessed Texas.

So I am not retiring, as I planned to do so many times before. In fact, if I make it to 100, I am sure that I will still be playing. And, when I finally die, I will approach my grave at mach 7, skid sideways into it, and say "Damn, what a ride, let's do it again".

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If Keith Richards can't retire then neither can you!

Old rockers never die- just the young ones. :cheers:

Rock on brother. It's great that you can do what you love. Why stop?

Question: Do you even get tired of someone in the crowd screaming, "Freebird! Play Freebird! Freebird!

danarhea said:

I will be 67 years old this year, and for years have thought about hanging it up. But every time that thought hits me, something great comes up, and I keep playing. 5 years ago, when I thought of retiring, along comes Edison Freeman, who made the Billboard Top 100 with a band called Kingdom, and was Captain Heavy, Doctor Demento's first sidekick DJ on his radio show. The music was great, and I had the opportunity to be part of it. Last December, after playing in pain for more than a year with a slipped disk in his back, Edison hung it up and retired. I thought I would too, but am now a member of a band called The Voiceless Thunder. Had I been in any other state but Texas, I would have retired, but Texas has so many damn good bands I just can't quit. After my last show with Edison, I pretty much did fill in jobs with various bands until this opportunity came along. I turned down several offers, but this I cannot. These guys rock, and I want to rock. So, it's time to rock again. Here's a video by The Voiceless Thunder. Yea, this is Texas, baby. And, as we all know, God blessed Texas.

So I am not retiring, as I planned to do so many times before. In fact, if I make it to 100, I am sure that I will still be playing. And, when I finally die, I will approach my grave at mach 7, skid sideways into it, and say "Damn, what a ride, let's do it again".

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Dude, ride that horse until you both give out. I'm only 60 but I can't play guitar anymore due to a spinal cord injury, and I miss the catharsis of playing music absurdly. My spinal cord (cervical) is shot and my L3/L4 disc is herniated. I can't play sitting or standing. Left hand fingers can't do much.

I tried Slinger guitar straps and Gracie stands. Neither helps me. FWIW, Slinger isn't for anyone with a bad lower back. The Gracie stands are as solid as possible, but you do have to bend over them slightly which can screw with a lower back injury. My favorite guitar is only 7 lbs. Used to be able to manage a Paul for 4 hours with no issues.

Rock it as long as you can.

danarhea said:

I will be 67 years old this year, and for years have thought about hanging it up. But every time that thought hits me, something great comes up, and I keep playing. 5 years ago, when I thought of retiring, along comes Edison Freeman, who made the Billboard Top 100 with a band called Kingdom, and was Captain Heavy, Doctor Demento's first sidekick DJ on his radio show. The music was great, and I had the opportunity to be part of it. Last December, after playing in pain for more than a year with a slipped disk in his back, Edison hung it up and retired. I thought I would too, but am now a member of a band called The Voiceless Thunder. Had I been in any other state but Texas, I would have retired, but Texas has so many damn good bands I just can't quit. After my last show with Edison, I pretty much did fill in jobs with various bands until this opportunity came along. I turned down several offers, but this I cannot. These guys rock, and I want to rock. So, it's time to rock again. Here's a video by The Voiceless Thunder. Yea, this is Texas, baby. And, as we all know, God blessed Texas.

So I am not retiring, as I planned to do so many times before. In fact, if I make it to 100, I am sure that I will still be playing. And, when I finally die, I will approach my grave at mach 7, skid sideways into it, and say "Damn, what a ride, let's do it again".

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The band sounds really good! I really like the singers voice.

I didn't see you in the video though.

I am glad you decided not to retire from DP too. :fart2

good on you Dan
trite but true: it's only work if you had rather be doing something else

as a sports official approaching 65, i keep having to talk myself into staying in the game. no surprise, i am not able to run with the kids like i used to

but when i watched Kennedy Meeks tonight, i remembered officiating his games when he was 8 years old and recognizing even then that he was something special. then watching him trim down while expanding his game in high school
and Lexi Davis at the same age, long before she pitched for Auburn in the world series, and watching her progress
the tiny 10 year old girl with a huge heart who pitched the best game of my year last season; the football players who are going to college only because their talents were enough to earn a free ride
the bunches of other athletes who learn to play as a team and become part of something bigger than themselves
and the (other) old timers who still play a kids' game and realize how fortunate they are to be able to do so
so, yea, as long as i can continue to officiate without being detrimental to the outcome of the games, my commitment to sticking around has been rejuvenated

altho i have been a guitar owner since 1963, and have a studio filled with professional gear, can't say i am a player. yea, maybe that's going to happen after 55 years of trying
so, from someone who wishes he had the talent to be a musician, keep playing your bass and making music until the moment that plug is eventually pulled

Risky Thicket said:

Rock on brother. It's great that you can do what you love. Why stop?

Question: Do you even get tired of someone in the crowd screaming, "Freebird! Play Freebird! Freebird!

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I'll play Freebird for a 100 dollar tip. And I'll play Mustang Sally for a 1,000 dollar tip. LOL.

SheWolf said:

The band sounds really good! I really like the singers voice.

I didn't see you in the video though.

I am glad you decided not to retire from DP too. :fart2

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That was made in 2013. I just joined the band last week. LOL.