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Too old to front a rock band?


OldVox

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Right to the point...anyone here 40,50 singing lead in a rock band? At the ripe ol age of 50, I want to give this a shot. I have the talent to back it up, just not sure if the club, bar crowds will go along with it or not. Anyone have any experience like this? Thanks for your thoughts.

My wife and friends say, the crowds won't care once they hear me sing, but you know how kind friends and family can be. ;) lol...

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Actually, the average age of people in the music industry in this day and age is 42.  So really, 50 isn't THAT unusual.  I've jammed with people quite a bit older than me in the past, to be honest, I don't think age is as big an issue as people think it is.  Like your friends say, no one'll mind if you can back it up with the music.  I say go for it.

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Go for it. Just make sure of one thing: Make sure you can really nail the stuff you are singing and can do it for 4 hours a night if you intend to do any drinking. I have a friend i have  done everything but sang for, and he doesnt; want to do any kind of practicing, and he can;t understand hy his vocie is gone by th end of their third set, and he does it weekend after weekend.

His band asked me what they can do and he wasn't too happy when I told them to repalce him. If the guy won't train to strengthen up his vocal muscles, and he wants to drink liquor and smoke cigarettes all night until his voice is dead by the end of the third set, you have one option left - replace him with somebody who can do the gig. Even with teh drinking and smoking, if he would just train his voice to build the muscles up, he would be able to sing the whole night.

 

 

So, that is really it - just make sure you can sing 4 sets. in fact, build a set list of 5 50-minute sets (just make 5 CD's) and pick a day and sing them all in a row and see how far you get. And make sure you throw in a variety of material and stuff that is both easy and stretches your limits. you want it to bea real-world situation for training.

 

Why  sets?

If you can sing all 5 of them, then singing  4 45-minute sets won't be an issue at all.

 

 

 

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Hi, I started singing in my first band at the age of 49, and five years on we're still gigging.

We're a covers band with a basic set covering punk/new wave stuff from the 70s, plus some early Who, and venturing into the 90s and 00s (Kaiser Cheifs, Fratellis, etc.). Mostly up tempo stuff.

I'd sung in amateur dramatic plays a couple of times before, but never in a band. Of course I wish I'd done it when I was a teenager, but this is great as most of our stuff is the soundtrack to my teenage years.

Most difficult thing is actually getting four middle-aged guys together on the same day for rehearsal - if we were 17 we'd just hang out in one band member's bedroom or garage weekly, but with kids' rugby, ballet, swimming, and other family commitments it's a nightmare.

As for the crowds going along with you, we find we tend to attract bookings from, and audiences of, those who will remember our set from their own teenage years, so it's never been a problem. 

I actually find my wife is one of the few who can be trusted to give an honest opinion!

Do it. You won't regret it.

Steve

 

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Consume wrote:

 

 

Go for it. Just make sure of one thing: Make sure you can really nail the stuff you are singing and can do it for 4 hours a night if you intend to do any drinking. I have a friend i have  done everything but sang for, and he doesnt; want to do any kind of practicing, and he can;t understand hy his vocie is gone by th end of their third set, and he does it weekend after weekend.

 

His band asked me what they can do and he wasn't too happy when I told them to repalce him. If the guy won't train to strengthen up his vocal muscles, and he wants to drink liquor and smoke cigarettes all night until his voice is dead by the end of the third set, you have one option left - replace him with somebody who can do the gig. Even with teh drinking and smoking, if he would just train his voice to build the muscles up, he would be able to sing the whole night.

 

 

 

 

 

So, that is really it - just make sure you can sing 4 sets. in fact, build a set list of 5 50-minute sets (just make 5 CD's) and pick a day and sing them all in a row and see how far you get. And make sure you throw in a variety of material and stuff that is both easy and stretches your limits. you want it to bea real-world situation for training.

 

 

 

Why  sets?

 

If you can sing all 5 of them, then singing  4 45-minute sets won't be an issue at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think your points hold for any band member no matter what age you are.   You are there to perform, and not party.  I play in two different bands that are both fronted by 58 year old guys.  What do they have in common?  they both have been full time for 30 years and knock out 5 and 6 shows a week and have for years. They work in multiple formats , solo duo and band formats.  Neither smoke , and one drinks and the other doesnt. The one that drinks , does not touch a drop of booze till the show is over and the gear is struck from the stage. I feel blessed to be working with these two guys.  Like the guys say , go for it 

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This is awesome, I am 37 and just started playing music (a former student of mine taight me and now we play in a band), if you get up on stage and kick butt i would much rather pay money to see a kick ass 49 year old play with energy and experince than a whole lot of other things.  Good luck to you!  And what is the end result anyway?  To get famous...no it is to have a good time and enjoy life, do it up! 

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sure.  I'm 57 and still front a rock band.  This current bunch is just an average, non prestigious cover bar band, but I have no intention of quitting.  Maybe start another band with some other friends, but not quit.

 recorded with a cheap camera phone but what the heck...................

 

 

edit: I'd note that old mic stand with the gooseneck is older than my son, who is playing bass.  ehheh. 

 

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I'm 52 and have fronted Classic Rock, Dance and 80's metal cover bands for over 30 years. I currently front a Classic Rock cover band and an 80's hair metal type, original band.  I agree with the poster above who mentioned making sure your voice can handle 4 - 45 minutes sets (about 40 songs) two nights a week, if your plans include fronting a rock and roll cover band that will gig in clubs.  If you put in the practice time with the band and on your own, your voice should eventually be able to handle the load. 

I've found that people will forgive the age thing as long as you don't try to look or act too young, AND you don't look or act too old.  You have to find that perfect middle ground.  In other words...don't dress in clothes from Hot Topic and don't stand there like you're too old to move.  Also, make sure you book venues where most of the clientel is over 30.  

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