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?

Fair play to them if it's what they want to do.

I wouldn't personally go to see them because it would only serve to highlight the contrast between the present and their heyday - which in turn would highlight the miserable contrast between my present and my heyday (such as it was) and would thoroughly depress me.

For people who don't wake up every day and wish it was 1978 / 1983 / 1990 depending on mood, I'm sure it's a good experience.

Best old band that I e seen recently was The Angelic Upstarts.
Sweary, good humoured, funny great songs. The crowd loved them even though a great many were born 20odd years after they were last on Top of The Pops!

The letter said that we needen’t fear too much about the noise, as the concerts were aimed at “a mature audience” and will be over by 10.45pm

at "mature audience" I've been to a few concerts by 80s peeps over the last two years, and the one thing I've noticed is that said mature audience don't have the energy nor the bladder capacity they once did. The entire audience is sat down - no dancing in the aisles - and most go to the bathrooms at least once during the headline act ....

Mrsjayy

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

at "mature audience" grin grin I've been to a few concerts by 80s peeps over the last two years, and the one thing I've noticed is that said mature audience don't have the energy nor the bladder capacity they once did. The entire audience is sat down - no dancing in the aisles - and most go to the bathrooms at least once during the headline act
Clearly not an iron Maiden or Saxon or similar gig!!!
The oldies ( and I include myself) can still drink, make a noise, headbang and rock all the way through a decent rock set.

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

Oh they have. Lots.

I think that the OP is right to think some groups should not re-form.

Though the Spice Girls did not write much of their material, do not play any instruments, and so they are not a band, but a group. Or a bad karaoke act in my opinion.

Take That (or Gary Barlow and others) are the only ones who have re-formed and brought out successful new material it seems.

Total agreement with you op

I agree with sparkling too, I don't want to see my heroes with punchy guts and receding hairlines (I can get that at home)

The comedy spoof documentary of Brian Pern Life of Rock, sends up the old rockers who hate each other coming back for the £pension money. I think Brian Pern is supposed to be a pisstake of Peter Gabriel. Bloody funny.

I'm a massive The Jam & Paul Weller fan, From The Jam with Bruce Foxton are probably playing more gigs a year than the original band & selling venues out plus playing festivals as well. It's great still being able to hear the music live as it was written, Paul Weller has played odd songs over the years but has remodelled them & they just don't have the energy From The Jam have. The fans are mainly the ones who followed The Jam when they were massive but now are bringing their own kids to hear the music.

ssd I often wonder what they think of their audience once made up of teenage girls screaming their heads off turning into middle aged women-it must feel the same for them!

@MenuPlant

While it didn't feature T'Pau, I saw Go West, Nik Kershaw and Cutting Crew supporting not too long ago. They were all brilliant and I would recommend if they did similar again..

I love Go West and try and see them when I can but both together was great fun, Nik is hilarious.

True sparkling, but they are all married to stunning ex models aren't they?

Well can tell you all that the Eagles concert last night was nothing short of absolutely bloody fantastic . I enjoyed every single second. Totally unbelievable to hear and see them live .Glen Frey's son Deacon took his place and did him proud. He is the spitting image of his father.It was just hard to fathom that they have been singing together(on and off) since the early seventies and could still sound so wonderful.Sad to think though that such talent is so rare these days. I am still on a high and so glad that I got to see them.

I guess it depends for both the audience and the band whether it was mainly about sex appeal or the music in the first place.

My era was really indie mid 90s through to mid 00s. I think they've mainly aged pretty well tbh.

Saw Blur in 2012 and they were actually far better than when i saw them in 1996. Coming off the drugs seems to have done them all the power of good. And yes i fancied 3/4 of the band (sorry Dave) back in the day, but for me at least 90% of the appeal was the music, most of which has stood the test of time.

They sounded amazing, they had great rapport with the audience and I couldn't have cared less that they were all 16 years older. And if they missed us being teenagers (which I doubt) it didn't really matter because there were tonnes of actual teenagers there who were as obsessed with their music as I was at that age.

If someone is happy to listen to the music then why not. Supply and demand, it's very basic, if no one liked their music then It wouldn't be feasible.

I personally think it's bloody brilliant having the bands of my youth still going. Music isn't only for the young, what a bizarre attitude, although seemly quite a common one.

@schnubbins - lucky you! What was the set list?
I’ve been to a handful of McCartney concerts in the past few years and they were astonishingly good, as were eg Bowie’s return to Hammersmith odeon in the early 00’s, Bruce Springsteen doing the whole of Born to Run. Fleetwood MAC doing Rumours was less great.

I went to see Shakespears Sister last night and was reminded of thus thread.

I can confirm that they have still got it. They looked and sounded absolutely amazing. The were also very entertaining with the banter they had with each other and really seem to appreciate their audience.
Sionhan in particular was super energetic, dancing around stage.

It was a brilliant show and I am pleased that they buried the hatchet to perform on stage again.