Bands from the 90s, 80s and even 70s reforming and flogging themselves around on tours

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

What do you think of this?

I am late middle aged and I hate thoughtless/everyday ageism as much as anyone, but honestly I'm quite dumbfounded at the number of old rockers who still can't quite quit the fame game.

Think of the bands who have regrouped in recent years (even though they hated each other when they split). Or the solo artists who think they can have a career without the rest of their group. I find them all a tiny bit pitiful tbh.

The Spice Girls?! Come on, have a bit of dignity. You made gazillions at the time, can't you be content with that?

actual musicians hidden back stage, no mics on keith or charlie

Heh. My husband knows the voice double for one old rocker who shall remain nameless. He stands in the wings belting out all the hits while the big name prances around centre stage miming

First off, you had to be able to play in them Pre-Cowell days.

Second, many of them were done out of their songwrting and recording rights in return for advances, back in the day.

Third, the economics of the industry have been inverted: You used to go on tour to promote the album. Now you release the album to promote the tour.

There was a really good documentary on bbc about sidemen (and women,) who support major bands. Really worth watching

What was it called Processedpea?

God yes Paul Young was gorgeous!

They show some of them in cinemas too, my local one has take that this month and Westlife next month.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08xdlts Guns for hire

Leonard Cohen was very open that he had gone back on tour after being rinsed financially by a former manager.

I saw leonard at the 02 he was brilliant

@Processedpea I was gutted not to see him live. I just meant that not all are doing it for their own enjoyment. Perhaps the spice girls weren't as savvy with contracts back in the day and aside from Victoria need to do this tour to top up the pension fund?

boringbertha Duran Duran never actually stopped releasing music and touring though.

I saw my heart throb Paul Young last year.
It was proper cringy.
I did like hearing No Parlez again but his voice was no way near as good.
He was also Dad dancing

I would have been gutted I saw him4 times as a teenager

@curbsideprophet the spice girls made money but one of them has had two ruinous divorces plus a multi million dollar loss in a libel case. I imagine they're doing it for her

Back in the 80s I was a huge Duran Duran fan. They were part of my growing up. Posters, concerts, getting autographs, the whole thing. I was there and wore the t-shirt. Literally.

I don't want to see them live now because it's not the same. I am much older, they are much older. It's not 1982 any more, unfortunately.

I still appreciate their music and videos from back in the day, and will always love that they were the soundtrack of my teens, but for me that's where they stay.

I think what the Spice Girls are doing is lovely.Helping a friend out.
But the ones that couldnt stand each other,pretending to be pals now so that they can tour is a bit sad really.

Sparkling that's because they haven't released much since the 80s

Depeche mode were the band I loved in the 80s and still live as their music remains as relevant as ever. Though I hated seeing them at the 02 as it's a shite venue.

What a weird thread. The Spice Girls aren't to my taste either but they are musicians of a sort, and being a musician is a job like any other. We're expected to work into our 70s now so why should musicians be any different?

I suppose I'm coming to it from the perspective of the folk side of things where it's expected artists just go on doing what they've always done in terms of touring because they never sold many albums, even pre-internet.

My Dd is going to see The Cure and I really hope she isn't dissapointed

The cure are not really a come back band, they never went away!

True they didn't

Sparkling that's because they haven't released much since the 80s

Eh? Since the 80s they've released studio albums in 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2015 and are currently working on another.

Ok take that back then was never a fan and can't recall many if their recent releases

MrsJayy
A friend of mine is a huge fan of The Cure, sees them at every opportunity and swears they ate still brilliant.

Not that I have a clue about cool bands, I'm just waiting for 1D to get back together

That is great to hear