Who wouldn’t grow up
Tour until he’s 80 we profile the other wrinkly rock stars who refuse to retire
Formed in Boston in 1970, the band were originally regarded as Rolling Stones rip-offs but quickly established themselves in their own right and are now regarded as America’s greatest ever rock ‘n roll band.
Remarkably, all five original members – Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer – remain in the line-up. Led by the evergreen Tyler, now 71, the band have had hits in the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s, and have just performed their first Las Vegas residency, which was such a success they are adding more dates at the end of the year. Plans are expected to be announced soon to mark their 50th anniversary next year. Formed in 1969, the Alice Cooper Band had huge hits like School’s Out and I’m Eighteen and saw their profile boosted in the UK thanks to Mary Whitehouse, who tried to ban the shock rockers.
Singer Vincent Furnier legally changed his name to Alice Cooper, went solo, ramped up the theatricality of his live shows Just last weekend, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend performed at Wembley Stadium for the first time since Live Aid in 1985. Backed by a symphony orchestra, and joined by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, the legendary act performed two new songs taken from their forthcoming 12th studio album, and continued to record hit albums.
After overcoming alcoholism, Alice made a mainstream comeback with hits like Poison and Feed My Frankenstein, as well as a cameo in Wayne’s World.
Now 71, Alice will be in Aberdeen later this year as part of his 50th anniversary tour. their first new release in 13 years, as well as classics such as Substitute and The Punk And The Godfather.
Formed in London in 1964, The Who frontman Daltrey, 75, and guitarist and singer Townshend, 74, still perform songs about their generation and teenage wastelands with an energy that belies their age. The Queen of Pop is also the queen of reinvention, changing her image countless times over the decades.
Now 61, Madonna enjoyed her ninth number one album when Madame X went to the top of the charts last month. She still knows how to court controversy, too. The video for her latest single, God Control, A life-saving heart operation for Mick Jagger delayed the US leg of the band’s latest tour, but not for long. Formed in 1962 and consisting of childhood friends Jagger and Richards, alongside Charlie Watt, Bill Wyman, Brian Jones and Ian Taylor, they were at the forefront of the British Invasion and regarded as part of the 60s counterculture.
Jagger and Richards, both 75, and 78-year-old Watts are the only original members to remain in the band. featured a shooter firing at a packed nightclub dancefloor. While it gave an anti-gun message at the end, victims of the real-life Pulse nightclub shooting spoke out against it. Her performance at the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv also courted controversy for its politicised stance.