[Music] Frankie Valli, Brian Wilson, legends and other “museum acts”

[Man of Harveys]

Nothing will ever beat Chuck Berry at the Crapham Gland in about 1994. Just awful.

Famously chaotic live but…the great man turned up ages late to a full crowd of very pissed up but adoring Teds. Nothing kills a recent rapturous welcome more quickly than halting the first song halfway through to tune your guitar. In silence. For about ten minutes.

Then later in the gig he - highly unadvisedly - asks for people to get on stage to dance. This is a Very Bad Idea: one reveller is so twatted that after one song Chuck Berry has to shout into the microphone for him to “GET OFF THE STAGE”, to which the highly refreshed punter responds by having a proper swing at the septuagenarian old perv before security get involved. Messy.

 

[herecomesaregular]

Nothing will ever beat Chuck Berry at the Crapham Gland in about 1994. Just awful.

Famously chaotic live but…the great man turned up ages late to a full crowd of very pissed up but adoring Teds. Nothing kills a recent rapturous welcome more quickly than halting the first song halfway through to tune your guitar. In silence. For about ten minutes.

Then later in the gig he - highly unadvisedly - asks for people to get on stage to dance. This is a Very Bad Idea: one reveller is so twatted that after one song Chuck Berry has to shout into the microphone for him to “GET OFF THE STAGE”, to which the highly refreshed punter responds by having a proper swing at the septuagenarian old perv before security get involved. Messy.

Sounds like a classic show!

I should have gone to see Chuck Berry at his last Brighton Centre gig but decided against, regretful because this was a time before these ridiculous priced shows we have now.

 

[SittingbourneSeagull]

It’s pretty much common knowledge within live music circles that Mr. Valli has lip-synced since at least the 80’s - and I am not talking TV spots, but whole concerts and tours.

He is currently on a farewell tour, using the same vocal playback tracks from his 2005 tour. Indeed, I understand most of the instruments are actually click-tracked.

Now it is worth pointing out that Frankie Valli is 90 years old, and this (in my opinion really rather uncomfortable) video is very telling. Scuttlebutt is that Mr. Valli has a lot of bills to pay, even at 90, and even after earning a fortune over the last two decades from “Jersey Boys”.



I have been stung in the past by desperately poor concerts by “legends” (Brian Wilson, Meatloaf) who were - to put it very kindly - way past their prime and not exactly singing every note live.

So I guess my question is would/have you paid to see “legends”? Can be a big tour, on oldies circuit, anything really - who did you see and how was it?

Seeing Deep Purple in November , just seen Billy Joel in Cardiff and always go to see Alice Cooper. All of them worth the money I think.

 

[Flounce]

Saw Brian Wilson in 2002 and he just about had the strength of vocals to still sound good. Loved the concert.
Saw him again with the Beach Boys in 2012 and there was a lot of deterioration.
Had tickets for 2020 but COVID meant it was postponed.. he's still apparfently coming back but i got refunded instead as I'm sure his voice is shot now, although it's amazing he can get anything in tune out at all given his renowned deafness.

Likewise Paul McCartney. In 2003 he still sounded good but his voice has totally gone now.

True never a big fan but at his peak he had an incredible range, last time I saw him (on tv) I thought his voice was shot, quite sad to see

At least 15 years ago I saw John Sebastian of the Lovin’ Spoonful in concert at a small venue in London, his voice was absolutely gone, again sad to see as I loved the band at their peak.

 

[Cheggers]

Yeah, but how many PIZZAS has Brian Wilson invented, eh?

Sloppy Joe B. Apologies. I'll get my coat.
And yes, I know he didn't write it.

 

[Kosh]

Seeing Deep Purple in November , just seen Billy Joel in Cardiff and always go to see Alice Cooper. All of them worth the money I think.

The reviews for Purps have been pretty uniform in their praise … Granted it’s not Gillan (even) circa 2000s but he knows how to work his voice with the material … hope you enjoy it

 

[jackalbion]

Saw Kim Gordon at Glastonbury this year, an amazing performance from one the key components of my favourite all time artists (Sonic Youth), modern music, performed impeccably and across the whole weekend, probably the most interesting, modern, experimental and new sounding music I heard from any artist. She's 71.

 

[Quebec Seagull]

I saw Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and his son Matt, and Blondie Chaplin recreate Pet Sounds in 2018 in Ottawa. Brian had had back surgery several months prior and couldn't walk without help. He sat at the piano and played and whispered when he had the energy. Thankfully, the other former and honorary Beach Boys, as well as the band and backup singers, were *really* on the ball and having fun; it was an infectious atmosphere, even more so because we all felt this would be the last 'BB' gig we'd ever see.

Sting still has it, as I mentioned in the man's thread. Peter Gabriel... are you kidding?!? Just wow. Still at the very top of his game in every way imaginable.

I saw Gordon Lightfoot in 2018 when he was 80, and was surprised that his voice had nearly fully recovered after his throat cancer a decade before. He was healthy, alert and joyful 'til the end, obviously grateful to be alive, still singing and playing music -- and at a pretty decent level, to boot.

I'm going to see Macca in Manchester in December. I don't care that his voice isn't the same, just as no fan cares that Joni's a contralto now -- she suffered a brain aneurysm 9 years ago, but is now fit enough to sing and play the guitar and piano in public after years of rehab. They are legends, and I am happy to bask in the glow of their slightly diminished greatness. I mean, if they sincerely love their audience and still get off on performing, let's do them the honour!

I've never seen them in concert, but Neil Young is still rocking at local clubs in California, putting out new material now and again. David Crosby was a more prolific and better singer-songwriter in the last decade before his death than he'd ever been in his life -- top-notch stuff, and his voice was *exactly* as it was in the 60s and 70s... Just beautiful and pristine. YouTube him.

.

 

[Lenny Rider]

Saw him in Stanmer Park and agree he’s still got it.

Sorry old boy, got to disagree, saw him for the first time at the Centre in 1991, and 5 further times including Vegas in 2004 for my 40th, then went to Stanmer Park last year and was extremely disappointed and actually quite sad , I know his age is a huge factor but a pale shadow of what he was.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Saw Mavis Staples about 8 years ago. Her voice was obviously different to the phenomenal talent of her youth, so she belted out a deep bluesy end and had a guy that pulled the high stuff. Worked well.

I’ve seen her twice in the last few years - once in Cardiff and then about 5 years ago at the Union Chapel in London. Stunning.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

I saw Ray Charles on probably his last European tour a few years ago. The Band/orchestra played two full numbers before he came out. He was very old and obviously without the energy of a younger man, but he performed well….. and he was still Ray Charles!

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Sparks are well old and “legendary” well they are in my book anyway. Always put on a great VFM show,,I always try and see them if they’re this side of Northampton.

I was lucky enough to see Arthur Lee (Love) at The Dome and I really enjoyed and I certainly felt like I was in the presence of greatness.

I don’t go and see many of the old guys mentioned on here, one old band I do see when they’re about is The Monochrome Set but I don’t suppose they can be called legends

 

[The Clamp]

It’s pretty much common knowledge within live music circles that Mr. Valli has lip-synced since at least the 80’s - and I am not talking TV spots, but whole concerts and tours.

He is currently on a farewell tour, using the same vocal playback tracks from his 2005 tour. Indeed, I understand most of the instruments are actually click-tracked.

Now it is worth pointing out that Frankie Valli is 90 years old, and this (in my opinion really rather uncomfortable) video is very telling. Scuttlebutt is that Mr. Valli has a lot of bills to pay, even at 90, and even after earning a fortune over the last two decades from “Jersey Boys”.



I have been stung in the past by desperately poor concerts by “legends” (Brian Wilson, Meatloaf) who were - to put it very kindly - way past their prime and not exactly singing every note live.

So I guess my question is would/have you paid to see “legends”? Can be a big tour, on oldies circuit, anything really - who did you see and how was it?

I’m sure the old dears going to see him can barely hear a note or see past their own feet so it probably goes down okay.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Barely a song title gag on the entire thread! Is this NSC?!

 

[aftershavedave]

Apart from crooners, who I think can make a passable effort into their elderly years, the whole idea of watching the reformed Oasis/ Sex Pistols etc leaves me completely cold. I can't understand the attraction, why didn't you go first time round?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Ralf Hütter is 78 and touring with Kraftwerk. Age is no barrier to him, he’s still able to crank out the hits perfectly .

 

[Flounce]

The only old codgers I’d pay money to see these days are Bob Dylan and Neil Young but only in a smallish venue, so never going to happen.

The only band I’d pay to see in a Stadium are Coldplay - shoot me

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

The only old codgers I’d pay money to see these days are Bob Dylan and Neil Young but only in a smallish venue, so never going to happen.

The only band I’d pay to see in a Stadium are Coldplay - shoot me

 

[Super Steve Earle]

These guys still have it too, Blunstone and Argent are both 79

Not any more. Rod Argent recently suffered a stroke and sadly was forced to retire. I was going to joke that he can no longer hold his head up, but that would be in terrible bad taste.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Sadly Rod Argent had a stroke not so long ago and has given up touring. The Zombies were amazing live.

Sorry I duplicated your post before I read he whole thread. Schoolboy error.