rock solid

They were megastars of the 1960s and 1970s and might have been
consigned to music history. But these oldies are making waves all over again with dramatic comebacks, writes M. Khosla

A long time ago, Mick Jagger, the front man of the Rolling Stones, turned singing into gold and platinum. Fifty years later, he is still doing the same.

At the 2011 Grammys ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, 68-year-old Jagger had the audiences up on their feet belting out his all-time hits. That many in the audience were young enough to be his grandchildren did little to diminish his appeal.

And Jagger wasn’t alone. Along side him were two other golden oldies —70-year-old Bob Dylan and 69-year-old Barbra Streisand — who performed live. And they all got a standing ovation.

Despite advancing years, Streisand is still the princess of music. Her strong, velvety voice is proof enough that she will be singing for many more years. The suave, adored, detested, admired Streisand is imitated in America and all over Europe. But no one can deny that she has been the star of the screen and sound for almost half a century.

The world of music is seeing more and more rock legends well into their sixties and seventies and yet going strong. Despite more than three to four decades since they started, most of these megastars are not spent forces artistically and can still rock as good, if not better, than the new artistes. "We are a generation of inspired musicians," says the 1980s’ super rocker 64yearold David Bowie, who is planning a new album of heavy rock.

But deep down many people did not take these comebacks seriously till the time when multi-million dollar tours began selling out within hours. The sudden surge took critics by surprise with songs like "One Night Only" by the 1970s chartbusting group Bee Gees and "Believe" by the 65-year-old Cher — replacing many of the current heavy weights on the popularity charts.

In fact, 13 years ago Cher made a dramatic comeback when at the age of 52, she released "Believe". Critics were prone to dismiss it as the swan song of an aging singer-actor. But Cher proved that age is no impediment to talent. "Believe" went on to become a smash hit, making Cher once again one of the biggest pop stars of all times. It won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording and was nominated for the Record of the Year.

There’s been no looking back for this modern-day Cleopatra. Last year, at the age of 64 she, along with Christina Aguilera, released the original soundtrack of the film Burlesque. Critics have been so taken in by the two songs she has sung in the album that they have been literally singing paeans about her.

Like Cher, the last few years have seen a monumental increase in the number of comebacks. The trend seems to be reaching a crescendo with rumours that Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones are planning their 50th anniversary tour in 2012. Other heavyweights like 66-year-old Eric Clapton, The Abba (all in their sixties) and the 64-year-old Elton John are as active as they were in the last century.

For more than 45 years, Elton John has been one of the most enduring pop stars the world has seen, a man who has defied the conventional stereotype of superstardom.

He’s short and stocky, bordering on the obese, balding with a penchant for outlandish hats, multicoloured eyewear and platform shoes. In the 1990s, an exasperated critic had once described him as the ‘Worst Dressed Woman of the Year!’

Yet, ever since the 1960s decade of the last century, the Elton John phenomenon shows no signs of receding. He is one of the highest selling singers, having sold over 250 million albums. His 2010 album The Union has been a huge hit and his piano duet with Lady Gaga at the 52nd Grammys created a sensation seldom seen at the awards night.

The jingle of money is not the only inspiration for comebacks. The albums released by these artistes are some of the most enduring works in the history of rock ’n’ roll. One of the America’s greatest band of the 1970s, Aerosmith’s 2011 release Tough Love — Best of the Ballads has been the most satisfying work by the group in years together. "We missed those stagelights," confesses bandleader Steven Tyler.

Sir Paul McCartney, who entered his fifth decade in music, however, has never missed these arclights. This year the 68-year-old former Beatles took home a Grammy for best vocals for the Beatles tune Helter Skelter, which he recorded for his album Good Evening New York City. McCartney has shown that with age, comes maturity, and with maturity comes artistic excellence.

Like McCartney, a number of 60-something rockers are pirouetting on stages all over the world regaling listeners with their new albums. A critic says, "Rock ’n’ roll is now like professional tennis: It has a Senior’s Tour".

If this is a Senior’s Tour then the leader must be Bob Dylan, the rock ’n’ roller who shows no signs of let up. The 2010 release of his Bootleg Series,`A0The Witmark Demos, has already gone platinum as Dylan goes back to his roots producing his most substantial album in years. His concerts, too, have proved to be strong favourites among the 25plus audience.

If McCarteny and Dylan come, can their contemporaries like Paul Anka, Bryan Adams, Barry Manilow and the Eagles be far behind? They, too, are making their presence felt all over again. Many of these artistes from the 1960s and 1970s, start with an anthology of their super-hit numbers, which is the sure ticket to success.

But the most interesting comebacks of the year have been of Eric Clapton.

In November 2010, the God of guitar released Clapton, his third studio album after Pilgrim and the 1989’s Journeyman. The bluesy new album contains some of the best vocal performances of Clapton’s long and winding career.

More than 40 years back, in 1969, the graffiti adorning the walls of London and New York subways had screamed ‘Eric Clapton is God’. It spoke volumes of the popularity of the man, who, even today, is referred to as god of modern guitar.

At 66, today Eric Clapton is the most complete musician the world has ever seen. He has single-handedly created the in-and-out-of-love song cycle, which has been effectively copied by a stream of newcomers.

Though his scorching solos are still the rage, way back in the 1960s, people were amazed at how he created the sounds with only his old Gibson Les Paul guitar. But that was 40 years ago. Already a triple inductee into the rock ’n’ roll hall of fame, the legendary guitarist is showing no signs of slowing down.

"I may be past 65, but my music is still in tune with the new generation. It will outlast me by years," says Clapton. He could be talking for all the oldies, who have made their comebacks and are ample proof that nostalgia can still be lucrative and old stars never die.

Indeed, it won’t be wrong to say that the best music in the last few years has come from artistes on the wrong side of fifties. — NF

Tina Turner: Private Dancer

Back in the 1970s, Tina Turner was the undisputed queen of pop but privately she was suffering abuse at the hands of husband Ike. She divorced him in 1978 and disappeared from the music scene. When fans had forgotten her, she returned in 1983 at 44 with the mind-blowing Private Dancer which sold 11 million copies, put her in the Grammy’s Hall of Fame and list of the Greatest Artistes of All Times.

John Fogerty: Revival

In 1970, when he released Pendulum John Fogerty and his band Creedence Clearwater Revival outsold the Beatles. But the following year he separated from the band and went solo. Though he did release some albums but success eluded him. In 2007, exactly 37 years after Pendulum, Fogerty released Revival, which became an instant chartbuster and also the Top 50 Rock Albums.

Bruce Springsteen: The Rising

With 20 Grammy, two Golden Globes and albums like Born in the USA and Glory Days, Bruce The Boss Springsteen is considered among the greatest American musicians of all times. But his career hit the skids in the 1990s. The terror strike of 9/11 provided the catalyst for a new album The Rising putting Springsteen back on top after a decade of oblivion.

Bob Dylan: Time Out of Mind

In 1963 when a little known artiste released Blowin in the Wind followed by Times They Are a-Changing Bob Dylan became a symbol of social unrest in the US. But during the 1970s, 1980s and part of 1990s he languished as an artiste. In 1997 when he was a fading memory, Dylan released Time Out of Mind and regained the title of the greatest singer-songwriter the world has ever seen.

Meatloaf: Bat Out of Hell II — Back Into Hell

In 1977 he created a sensation with his album Bat Out of Hell, which was written by his friend Jim Stienman and sold a staggering 43 million copies. But the two fell out and Meatloaf’s career took a nosedive. Years later they re-united and released Bat Out of Hell-2—Back Into Hell. It became a global superhit putting him in VH1’s list of 100 Greatest Artistes of Hard Rock. — MK