if you're into metal R you supposed to go out w/ a bang or just sort of wither away?

[goatschool]

this isn't a poll, but hell as far as i'm concerned i'm hitting a brick wall of age here and i'm unsure of what direction to take.

please, people who actually think things through, tell what your contingency plans for aging are, in fact feel free to. i've taken the first step and created a space where you can feel comfortable doing so.

 

[goatschool]

no wordplay, please.

no "no you're just supposed to 'zither' away", etc and no simpsons humor either. those are the rules.

 

[goatschool]

i mean this forum works for this, right? KD is music for old people, after all.

 

[goatschool]

the non-young, rather.

 

[goatschool]

i'll start by throwing out hooks:

so far i'm going gray, losing my hair, shrinking, getting bags under my eyes, experiencing weakening of the kidneys (after years of pounding), slacking on laundry, avoiding people, thinking supermodels look like babies, NOT wanting to breed, coveting other peoples' children, looking at real estate in serbia even though i've never even seen a picture of serb soil. buying a newer car, watching the local real estate channel, realizing i know nothing about mechanics or home improvement, thinking about going to a tailor, etc etc

 

[lizard]

I prefer to think of it in terms of "branching out" or "flourishing gracefully" as opposed to "withering."

 

[goatschool]

point noted.

 

[lizard]

oops I guess I was guilty of wordplay

 

[minxnim]

<3 zither <3

 

[xfer]

i think the key is making the graceful jump from rad metal dude to tophatted elderly gentlemen in a rotting suit with a pipe and walking stick.

 

[minxnim]

alex is like totally right

 

[goatschool]

what if you were never rad in the first place? is there a pro-rated scale for that endgame, alex?

 

[lizard]

I don't think I've ever been rad. at least, not as rad as alex.

 

[xfer]

how many of lovecraft's genteel antiquarian protagonists sported carcass tattoos under their tweed sleeves? more than one, i suspect!

 

[avi]

I'd like to think of it as "maturity"

I see plenty of old dudes at metal shows. Some are total burn-outs, some aren't. It's pretty obvious.

 

[chupe666]

mine was a withering path over the past 7 or so yrs.
maybe another key is to try not recounting the bands you used to tout as UHMAYZING when the kids bring up all the newcomer bands that basically copy older bands, however tempting it may be (i have trouble with this). don't want to be the closed minded old guy yelling "Back in my day, Repulsion ruled the land. And it was good; we liked it." Being the quiet, knowing guy with all the cool retro shirts is good, though.
i find i have all these first and second releases from these bands we used to make fun of who are now huge, and i'm like "wait, i thought they sucked?"

and in GS' line of thought: i trimmed hedges this weekend and got a blister, sewed a hole in a St. Patricks Day Guinness shirt from 2001, plan to take my shoes to a shoe repair guy because they're comfortable, talked to my father-in-law about what type of electronic pest control device was best, and regularly take allergy medication so i can breathe.
my top hat is on back order.

 

[goatschool]

maybe another key is to try not recounting the bands you used to tout as UHMAYZING when the kids bring up all the newcomer bands that basically copy older bands, however tempting it may be (i have trouble with this)

i WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with this. and empathise.

but repulsion really WAS the shit

 

[chupe666]

i know it, and you know it-

but the kids, they're so young and foolish.

 

[minxnim]

guys they play nirvana on the classic rock station

 

[NAD]

Over the last few years I've begun a progress of regression, growing my hair out and wearing metal shirts much more often. But I drive a new car and sell out to corporate America 40 hours a week with 5 equally distibuted lunch hours.

Several people twice my age have said "oh, growing your hair out, eh?"
"yeah, might as well be young and foolish while I still can"
"never too old for that!"

They're right.