Here’s one of the musical aspects of COVID-19 that scares the crap out of me.
Paul McCartney may have played his last gig. At least that’s his fear because of the coronavirus. Here’s what he told the BBC:
“I look back at the last gig I did in LA last year, and I’m thinking ‘Uh-oh what if that is the last? It would just be great to be in a crowd and not worry and be able to go crazy and listen to a live band, or be the live band. Fingers crossed.”
Macca is 78. If the dire predictions are true and the touring industry won’t get rebooted until 2022, he’ll be 80 years old. Will be still able to perform then?
Then consider the following artist who might be in the same boat:
- Bob Dylan (79 years old)
- Paul Simon (79) and Art Garfunkel (78 but turning 79 this week)
- Carole King (78)
- Brian Wilson (78 but always seemingly fragile)
- Mick Jagger (77) and Keith Richards (76, turning 77 next month. Then again, can you imagine anything that could kill Keef?)
- Joni Mitchell (76, turning 77 this week. Plus she’s still recovering from a brain aneurysm five years ago)
- Jimmy Page (76) and Robert Plant (72)
- Ray Davies (76)
- Roger Daltrey (76) and Pete Townshend (75)
- Roger Waters (77) and David Gilmour (74)
- Rod Stewart (75);
- Eric Clapton (75);
- Debbie Harry (75)
- Neil Young (74, turning 75 later this month)
- Van Morrison (75)
- Bryan Ferry (75)
- Elton John (73)
- Don Henley (73)
- Ozzy Osbourne (71 and suffering from Parkinson’s, among other things)
- James Taylor (71, turning 72 on December 3)
- Jackson Browne (72)
- Billy Joel (71)
- Bruce Springsteen (71).
Yet another reason to hope for a safe and effective vaccine as soon as possible.
