I was flipping channels and came across one of those PBS fundraiding specials, “My Generation: The 60s.” I’m glad these people are all still making music, really I am. But how many drugs did they do? Most of the live acts look really old for their age and sort of dead inside. (Except Felix Cavaliere of Young Rascals fame, who still has a light in his eyes and looks like there isn’t anyplace he’d like to be but groovin.’)
I wonder if they’re going to have the Box Tops, my other favorite singles band of that era? Somewhere I have their greatest hits collection - I think Alex Chilton was maybe 12 or something when they recorded their first album…
Oh, they may look “rode hard and put away wet”, but on the other hand, Jim Fixx = dead, Keith Richards = alive. Also, I saw Ronnie Wood on the BBC’s Top Gear recently having an absolute blast racing a car around a track.
Every time I see one of those shows I really look forward to Eric Burdon the most. He’s SUCH a leaping gnome even today, but he’s a lot of fun to watch!
Every time I see this sort of thing I can only think of Juthro Tull: ‘Too old to rock-n-roll, too young to die”
I am your age also but lets be honest they do not have the range or the rage left to do justice to the music. They are sad parodies of what once was.
The absolute worst was the award show for Paul Simon on PBS a few months ago. He sang a couple & Artie joined him for a couple. Neither should ever be allowed to sing the old stuff in public again. It was so bad it damaged the memory of some great music.
I think frank’s on to something, although I wouldn’t go as far as calling them parodies. But when you’ve had a whole lifetime of doing the same thing for a living, and the market expectation limits you from creatively altering that thing for your own interests, maybe the repetition eventually just kills the passion.
Susie -Hello ! 1967-68 was 40 years ago so they are old!
Agism!
Got bad news for you, S. We all end up like that.
I’m totally impressed that they still rock on. Be thankful, pay attention.
Total Rascals geek here: if the show you saw was the PBS special that aired this past weekend in the Philadelphia area, that was not Felix Cavaliere. The band was the “New Rascals” and the only original members in it are Gene Cornish on guitar and Dino Danelli on drums. The organ player was passable, but definitely not Felix–he’s at least 20 years too young, for one thing. Felix has his own band that played the Mann Center last summer on a 60s reunion bill. He still has the same strong, soulful voice and distinctive organ style. In my opinion, he WAS the Rascals, and no matter how competent the substitute, you’re not seeing the Rascals if Felix is not there.
You mean Felix wasn’t the lead singer? Wow, it really sounded just like him. I’m shocked.