My father died at 72 and he was no rock star. He didn't drink much, didn't tour, didn't smoke, but was overweight due to his love of sweets. Obesity related diseases killed him.

Read "Today's Birthdays" in the local e-newspaper every day, and you will read rock stars of our generation who are celebrating birthdays in their 80s, and aren't done yet.

John Cale and Mark Lindsay are 81 today. Robin Trower is 78. Mickey Dolenz hit 78 yesterday. Also yesterday, Sax man George Coleman hit 88, Carole Bayer Sager 79, and Randy Meisner 77.

Those who go to the great gig in the sky make the headlines, but there are others in no hurry to get there.

I've lived most of my life so far as a pro musician. I toured, but only for 5 or 6 years, I did more than my share of recreational drugs, 'dated' more than my share of girls, drank a lot, and ate fast food too.

After all that, I'm still gigging, but I don't do the drugs anymore, I eat sensibly, and my alcohol intake is moderate.

Now I am healthier than most people of my generation. I had tests done, and my heart and circulatory system are that of a healthy person 20 years younger than myself. I am on zero prescription medications, and I am gigging 19 times this month.

For all those leaving the stage, there are some who are still doing it.

So we have the early ones to go, like Buddy Holly, and we have the ones who hang on, like Willie Nelson. The rest are somewhere in the middle. I hope to be in the Willie Nelson category, because gigging is the most fun I can have with my clothes on.

We miss the ones that pass earlier than we do, but there will also be some who are here when we are gone.


Insights and incites by Notes ♫

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
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