Bob Dylan’s new album Tempest comes out Tuesday, and while I haven’t had a chance to hear it yet, the early buzz has certainly been positive. Rolling Stone gave it five stars, and the consensus seems to be that Dylan has came out with yet another late period gem. Of course, Dylan’s continued excellence isn’t much of s surprise at this point, but it is pretty astonishing when you consider that he’s 71 years old, and a full 50 years removed from his self-titled debut. Dylan’s ability to remain relevant at this age is pretty amazing. He’s music’s quintessential Cool Old Dude.
It’s hard to say exactly when the Cool Old Dude phenomenon began, but my best guess would be right around 1994, when Johnny Cash released the first American Recordings album. It was a brash, bold reminder that his music still mattered. The image that came along with it, of a 61-year-old Cash flashing the middle finger amplified the statement considerably. Cash continued putting out strong albums until his death in 2003, and remains a posthumous Cool Old Dude to this day.
While Dylan and Cash might be the most obvious examples of this concept, they certainly aren’t alone. Bruce Springsteen’s late-period work has been incredibly strong, and often times, even on-par with 70s and 80s heyday. His most recent album Wrecking Ball is one of the best albums of 2012, and his epic live shows tell us that he hasn’t lost any of his trademark energy. Paul Simon also keeps putting out gems, as does Neil Young, and somehow, despite being 78, Leonard Cohen churned out yet another brilliant record this year with Old Ideas.
But as amazing as all these juggernauts are, none of them can last forever, and that begs the question: who will the torch be passed to? Which musicians currently in their 40s and 50s have the best chance of stretching their careers well into old-age? Let’s take a look at some middle-aged rockers who will likely be among the next generation of Cool Old Dudes.
Eddie Vedder: If last year’s Ukulele Songs, and 2007’s Into The Wild soundtrack have told us anything, it’s that Eddie is feeling mellow these. Sure, he can’t still belt out “Even Flow” with the same fire that he did, but his recent recordings have been a lot more relaxed, and it suits him well. He’s always been a laid-back surfer dude, in spite of Pearl Jam’s heaviness, and write introspective acoustic tunes might be has true calling. Vedder is a big Tom Petty fan, and I think his career will take the same shape that Petty’s did after the release of Wildflowers, where the songs aren’t quite as loud, but many of them are more rewarding.
Morrissey: He’s already 53, and does anyone doubt that he’ll have interesting things to say when he’s 80s. Morrissey is one of those guys who will never change. I highly that there will ever be a time when he isn’t causing a stir with his politics, and releasing songs with hilariously cranky titles including recent favorite: “It’s Not Your Birthday Anymore.” Moz will never settle down, and he’ll never stop being interesting. Also, he’s going to be immaculately dressed the entire time, too.
Jack White: As this year’s excellent Blunderbuss has told us, White has placed the White Stripes firmly in his rearview mirror, and there’s no telling where he could go next. The fact he’s still in two other bands means that his next endeavor could pretty much go anywhere. As for longevity, let’s consider two things: in almost 15 years in the business, Jack White has yet to put out a single weak record. And getting old shouldn’t be an issue since his gritty blend of blues and punk is timeless. By the time he’s reaches 60, we’ll likely be talking about astonishing discography of 50 or 60 albums, made with 20 or 30 bands. There’s no telling where he’ll go in the future.
Michael Stipe: When R.E.M. broke up last year, Stipe told Rolling Stone he had no plans to do a solo album. I really hope reconsiders, or at the very least, gives us some sort of side project. Stipe is a great songwriter, with one of the most beautiful voices in rock, and I’d be stunned if he didn’t have anything left to say. He claimed that he didn’t want to make a solo album that would be “watered-down R.E.M.,” but that certainly wouldn’t have to be the case. Many of his longtime fans would enjoy a mellow, introspective album from Stipe, like the records made by one of his biggest heroes, Leonard Cohen. Hopefully, he’ll reconsider the thought of a solo album, and grace us with a post R.E.M. masterpiece.
Dave Grohl: The Foo Fighters are the most well-oiled machine rock, and they show no sign of letting up. Dave is already in his 40s, but he has the same knack for writing catchy, headbang-worthy tunes with big, anthemic choruses. I can’t any reason why he won’t still be doing that 20 years from now. However, if Grohl ever gets tired of rocking out, he just as easily thrive by going the mellow route. Some of the Foos’ most rewarding tunes are gentle ballads like “Miracle,” and “Walking After You.” Either way, I’d be shocked if he doesn’t remain relevant well into his 60s.
Dave Grohl: The Foo Fighters are the most well-oiled machine rock, and they show no sign of letting up. Dave is already in his 40s, but he has the same knack for writing catchy, headbang-worthy tunes with big, anthemic choruses. I can’t any reason why he won’t still be doing that 20 years from now. However, if Grohl ever gets tired of rocking out, he just as easily thrive by going the mellow route. Some of the Foos’ most rewarding tunes are gentle ballads like “Miracle,” and “Walking After You.” Either way, I’d be shocked if he doesn’t remain relevant well into his 60s.
Ad-Rock/Mike D.: Let’s all agree that without MCA, the Beastie Boys can no longer exist. That doesn’t mean the two surviving members can’t still make great music though. Throughout the Beasties run, they were an unstoppable creative force, and I’d hate to say Ad-Rock and Mike D. never make another album. Whether they continue to work together – under a different name, of course – or experiment with so discs, these are two of the most talented people in music, and if they stick around, whatever they do will probably be excellent.
