Tom Petty RIP

[Jerjo]

Alex and Geddy seem to be doing fine in their last interviews. They appear ready to enjoy life and work at their own pace.

I was watching the end of The Last Waltz this morning and Robbie Robertson said something to the effect that the road will kill you and he was getting off while he was still alive. Of course, it helps to be financially secure and we know how many of our heroes burned through fortunes and were forced to tour again and again. Or worst of all - the county fair/casino circuit. Then there's Dylan, who's paying alimony to three wives.

[JJ88]

Poor Chris Rea had some sort of on-stage collapse a few weeks back. This is someone who has had a long history of health problems, and yet he's still out there doing it.

Tony Bennett is still treading the boards aged 90.

[Jerjo]

And there's guys like the Stones that have more money than their great-grandchildren could ever spend still hitting the road.

[Vic2012]

As long as they're still healthy they can tour to their heart's content. It's when they're sick and still have to keep touring. Sell the mansion, buy a modest home, and enjoy however many years you have left without the stress of the road. Work something out with the ex wives for God's sake.

[progeezer]

The post-partum road depression thing is very real, and not just for arena-filling performers.

In 1971, I did 3 tours of 5 weeks each as the front man in a lounge-type pop-rock cover band. We played in hotel lounges, bars, fairs etc. in exotic places like Moorhead, MN, Rapid City, SD, Buffalo, WY etc. (we did play Fargo-only relevant in the last few years). I won't get into all the depressing specifics of being on the road in a scuffling bar band (a lot of musicians on PE know all those already), but even at that level, the applause and minor-league star-like status is every bit as intoxicating as it is for millionaire bands, and coming off the road back to less stimulating drudgery can be very hard for some, even young people (like me then), without all of TP's health issues).

[JKL2000]

Alex and Geddy seem to be doing fine in their last interviews. They appear ready to enjoy life and work at their own pace.

I was watching the end of The Last Waltz this morning and Robbie Robertson said something to the effect that the road will kill you and he was getting off while he was still alive. Of course, it helps to be financially secure and we know how many of our heroes burned through fortunes and were forced to tour again and again. Or worst of all - the county fair/casino circuit. Then there's Dylan, who's paying alimony to three wives.

Do you know that he's still paying them alimony? If any of them remarried, he's probably not. Actually, do you know if he was paying them alimony in the first place? He may have been, or maybe not. You might know these things - I definitely, don't just wondering. I never knew he was married three times.

[yamishogun]

T but even at that level, the applause and minor-league star-like status is every bit as intoxicating as it is for millionaire bands, and coming off the road back to less stimulating drudgery can be very hard for some,

While the swings seem natural to a degree, it is sad how many performers need that "Look at me on stage! I'm so special!" affirmation for years on end.

[Vic2012]

I've had a little bit of experience playing in bar bands and getting pats on the back, and "hey man you're pretty good." It's a nice feeling but I never had the ambition to take it too seriously. I don't miss all the bullshit, primadonnas I've worked with. Usually the leader of the band was the worse musician with the biggest ego. But in order to advance in a career in music it becomes a job. Once it becomes "work" all the enjoyment in it gets sucked out. I thought of pursuing doing session work as a percussionist but it would've meant moving to LA or NYC. I just didn't want to do that. I know the biz would've chewed me up.

[Rarebird]

I suppose playing live is what some musicians really love. They may not be able to write songs like they did in their heydays, but they still love to perform and be the centre of attention.

Not about a musician, but about another kind of entertainer, I saw on television recently in a series of short documentairies on some people sufferering from Alzheimers who were still living an active live and the entertainer still did performances for other elderly people, just because he loved it.

[SteveSly]

As some of you may know I work in Pharmaceutical manufacturing. Back in the 90’s we used to make an injectable version of Fentanyl (called Remifentanil) in the plant where I work. The drug was used in conjunction with anesthesia for certain types of surgeries where patients had to be brought out of sedation quickly, but would be in significant pain. This stuff was considered a controlled substance, and was very potent. In fact, in the manufacturing process, strict precautions were in place because just inhaling vapors / fumes from this stuff could cause a person to pass out immediately. We no longer make the product and I don’t know what version of it Petty was taking, but Fentanyl certainly could be dangerous potent stuff.

[Gruno]

Usually the leader of the band was the worse musician with the biggest ego.

When a singer in a band has the biggest ego, they often are referred to as having LSD -- lead singer disease.

[progeezer]

When a singer in a band has the biggest ego, they often are referred to as having LSD -- lead singer disease.

Spending my musical life pretty much singing in bands where I was lucky and overachieving in terms of the level of musicianship from the rest of the players kept me pretty f*****g humble w/my bandmates (but not w/the audience).

[BravadoNJ]

........ accidental overdose?

[moecurlythanu]

........ accidental overdose?

Yes. A drug cocktail that didn't mix.

[JKL2000]

While the swings seem natural to a degree, it is sad how many performers need that "Look at me on stage! I'm so special!" affirmation for years on end.

That seems kind of judgmental and as though you're able to discern which performers need that and which don't.

[Poisoned Youth]

There's no definitive answer. Each musician varies. A common answer I have heard is: when they aren't on tour, no one applauds for them. They are used to the adulation and the crowds. Some state that when they come off a long tour, they get depressed. Some resort to drug/alcohol abuse because of it. This is cited in many interviews and biographies/autobiographies. Some do not know how to cope with life OFF of the road because they have toured so much through their career.

As a non-musician who has toured with bands throughout the years, I certainly can relate. When I've come off of a long tour, I know the first week or two are a huge adjustment. On tour, you are on a schedule. It's all laid out for you from hotels to food to travel. You really don't have to think about any of that. Once you return home from touring, it's all on you. Of course the higher caliber musicians might have paid help guiding them along the way, but that's just that portion of it. Some of these musicians feel lonely when not performing to the crowds they are used to.

Excellent post.

[yamishogun]

That seems kind of judgmental and as though you're able to discern which performers need that and which don't.

No, in general I can't tell and never think about it except this thread reminded me of a couple of musicians I know where it is the case.

[ronmac]

Then there's Dylan, who's paying alimony to three wives.

Do you know that he's still paying them alimony? If any of them remarried, he's probably not. Actually, do you know if he was paying them alimony in the first place? He may have been, or maybe not. You might know these things - I definitely, don't just wondering. I never knew he was married three times.

And the inference was that Dylan is touring to pay his alimony, which couldn't be further from the truth.

[Halmyre]

Sad way to go. I'm reminded of something I read about Nick Drake, and the uncertainty as to whether he overdosed accidentally or deliberately. His sister said if she had to choose, she'd rather he'd died by his own hand than by accident: "in the sense that I'd rather he died because he wanted to end it than it to be the result of a tragic mistake. That would seem to me to be terrible."

[ronmac]

^^ Often, when people die by their own hands, it's also a tragic mistake.

[JKL2000]

His sister said if she had to choose, she'd rather he'd died by his own hand than by accident: "in the sense that I'd rather he died because he wanted to end it than it to be the result of a tragic mistake. That would seem to me to be terrible."

Far be it from me to question her feelings, but if it was me I think I'd prefer it to be an accident than to know he was that unhappy. But either would be horrible.