The times they aren’t a-changin’
MARION McMULLEN on the music legends who are still hitting all the right notes
1
US folk and rock singer Bob Dylan has announced his first UK tour in more than five years. The 81-year-old Nobel prize winner is playing nine dates in October as part of his Rough and Rowdy Ways Worldwide Tour, which began in December in Milwaukee.
2
Frankie Valli came to fame as the lead singer of the Four Seasons in 1962 and the 88-year-old is still entertaining audiences with tour dates until the end of 2022. The band inspired stage hit Jersey Boys and enjoyed success with songs like Big Girls Don’t Cry and Sherry.
3
American rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis turns 87 in September. Known as The Killer, he began his career in the 1950s and is known for hits like Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, Great Balls Of Fire and High School Confidential. He recovered from a minor stroke in 2019 saying: “I just think it’s a blessing from God that I’m still living ... and I’m still rocking.”
4
Sir Tom Jones, 82, released his 41st studio album, titled Surrounded By Time, last year, becoming the oldest man to top the UK album chart. The Welsh music legend is on tour and is due to perform nearly 20 more dates this summer, including a handful in the UK.
5
Sir Paul McCartney celebrated his 80th birthday by headlining Glastonbury. The two-hour performance included classic songs including Hey Jude, Live And Let Die, Ob-La-Di, ObLa-Da and Get Back.
6
Fellow Beatle Ringo Starr is now 82 and was knighted for his services to music in 2018. He is touring America, Canada and Mexico later this year and sent 80th birthday messages of “peace and love” to Paul McCartney.
7
Crooner Engelbert Humperdinck had to cancel his entire UK tour last year after falling ill with a viral bronchial infection.
He said in a statement, “this has never happened to me before”. The 86-year-old now has shows starting again in September.
8
The Rolling Stones are touring to celebrate 60 years of the world-famous band. Sir Mick
Jagger turns 79 this month and Keith Richards will be 79 in December. They dedicated their recent Hyde Park concert to drummer Charlie Watts, who died last August at the age of 80. Mick told the crowd: “We played with Charlie for 60 years and we really, really miss him.”
9
Sir Rod Stewart is now 77 and has been busy touring. He performed at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Party concert outside Buckingham Palace and said he wanted to stay on the stage “all night”, describing it as a “once in a lifetime opportunity”.
10
Country music icon Dolly Parton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year at the age of 76. The Jolene singer says it has inspired her to put out a great rock ‘n’ roll album in the future.