OP - I turned 46 last week. I grew up on classic Dio, Priest, Maiden, Accept, VH, Sabbath and AC-DC with Bon Scott. I love that stuff. It's on constant rotation on my MP3 player. However my listening pleasure has grown with age. I listen to 70's funk, Prince, Mike Stern, Johnny Winter, Frank Marino, Electric and acoustic blues. It's a heady mix of genres.
I don't play metal anymore. Not because I can't or I worry about my image. I play what I hear in my head. These days its stuff like Johnny Winter, Frank Marino and Eric Clapton. I actually used to worry that my metal friends would think I sold out. LOL!!
Play what you love. The rest will fall in place.
Thats cool, I love me some old school Metal!
I have always enjoyed listening to all kinds of music and I think that there is a bit of everything in my music.
The thing is it was Metal that inspired me to pick up the guitar and what keeps me picking it up (I'm a singer and programmer also).
I have a freind who when asked what kind of music he likes says
"Iron Maiden. Everything else is {censored}". He says it completely deadpan, its hilarious!.