Ian Anderson – still doing the kokopelli thing at 63
I don’t get out much..between two jobs (one in high tech project management, one as a writer), I pick and choose among outings that cut into writing and research time. But Jethro Tull came to town and I bought tickets. My husband enthusiastically indulged me and came along. (He doesn’t quite groove on my love of ‘story songs’) My inclination to piss and moan about limited time and energy as I move into middle age and work to become more widely read as a fiction writer was doused by 63 year old Ian Anderson playing the flute standing on one leg and rocking the lawn at Edgefield in east Portland Friday night. Lots of boomers stretched out on the grass, and a surprising number of 20-somethings alternately tapping, clapping then up on our feet for Aqualung and Locomotive Breath.
Grey haired rockers, blew out great tunes, played and sung flawlessly, and yes I still think Ian is as hot as I did when I was in my twenties.
The bottom line: Creativity only dies if you let it. And you’re never Too Old to Rock and Roll, and ALWAYS too young to die.
Love your bottom line
Sadly never got to see the great JT..but I am not surprised that he’s still going…there are many like him and I just hope I have the same energy as they do when I get to be as old as some of them.
I went to see Status Quo last week, Francis Rossi is now 62 and Rick Parfitt a year older. I first saw them in 1978 and they’d been going for about ten years then!
The week before I went to see Thin Lizzy with a somewhat spritely Scott Gorham and Brian Downey both tipping in at just 60.
There must be somnething about all that sex n drugs n rock n roll that is actually good for us