Hey all you old guys that are still out there giggin'. (I'm 54)

How you holding up? How much effort does it take to get up and play on that stage?

How much meds are you on just to perform?

My knees pop everytime I crouch down to plug something in; my joints in my hands ache from day to day use; my back is killin' me everytime I unload the pa, or lift my 40lb amp up on to a chair. Thank God I'm not hauling around a Twin or a Marshall stack anymore! I've got a cold now that has settled in my ears, so I'm getting a muffled sound from everything around me. My ears ring when I'm driving home from the gig. But I love to play so much that I take my Aleeve every day, and my cold medicine every night. The satisfaction I get from playing my Strat and jelling with a band-the appriciation from the crowd and the times my hair on the back of my neck stand up when everything sounds right. Not to mention the view from the stage of the girls out there dancing!

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Life is like a sh*t sandwich. The more bread you have, the less sh*t you have to eat.

I don't gig but I shovel tons of snow in the winter, if it's deep I run a huge snow thrower instead, I heat with wood, ride motorcycles all summer, and walk quite a bit with the dogs. My advice... hit the gym. Work out. I'm 56 with a heart condition (dropped dead when I was 44). Crashed more time on motorcycles than I care to remember.

Getting older and having some pains... well... it beats the alternative.

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You're only as strong as
the drinks you pour,
the tables you dance on,
and the friends you roll with.

I'm 57, type 2 diabetic, WAY too fat, but hitting the gym for that, and eating better. Yeah, more aches and pains than in the old days, but it's certainly still worth it to haul around the gear. It's the fun stuff that i love, like those loud and sudden surprise farts that always want to occur in mixed company, like at a restaurant when i go to get up out of a chair, or sneeze. As if having this new gray hair, even in my ears and nose weren't enough already!

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I believe in Christianity as i believe that the sun has risen. not only because i see it, but because by it, i see everything else. C.S. Lewis

Last year at age 58, I had to give up the regular local gigs.

I just found out today that my PET scan was clear, so I just might
still do the occasional gig, but when and where I want to.

I've been somewhat successful at writing jingles and instrumentals
for commercials and I do some charity work for some programs
like Kids with Cancer.

Anyday about ground is a good day!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I'm almost 60yrs, I workout every day, 25mins on step-machine, and free weights, lower body one day, and upper body the next. Everyone thinks I'm 50yrs .

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Tony Houston

You give me hope Masterhacker...I'm 51. I just cut the grass twice a week with a push mower... Only regular gig is on Sunday morning so I'm not doing 3 or 4 hour gigs. I do practice a good bit and always standing up... I Keep the Twin amp at home and play thru a PODX3live at Church and my little Blues Jr for the occasional fill in.

Hey Tony Nice to see you back.

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I'm not slow... and I'm not fast... just sort of halffast...

How's my health?

A victory of modern pharmaceuticals and state-of-the-art medical devices over mother nature and common sense!

Almost 57 and arthritis is doing a big number on me,plus I found out that I have a thyroid problem,I'm not over weight and blood pressure is great so through meds I might get some relief....I just want some energy.
I'm not in a band now...this is a dry area for blues,but I still want to play out some,finding the right group of guys is hard here in country music land suburbia...seems like it's most everything except lots of blues players.
At least I don't meet many.

57 and run my two twenty-somethings in my cabinetshop ragged. I've been really fortunate so far. A day can change everything though. Personally, I plan on living forever and so far so good............ Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

I'm only 33, I can only hope I am as healthy as some of you, when I get to 50.
I think attitude has alot to do with it too.
I know guys and gals 60'something and are still kicking the amps around.
-N

I'm 44.

I can honestly say there are days I feel like a teenager and days I feel like I'm 84.

I'm 13, and extremly unhealthy.
I have a high blood pressure, along with all the junk food that goes into me, and also no excersize whatsoever.

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riley

Well, let's see. Have had 3 major back operations, unemployed, depressed, but just finished listening to one of my favorite CD's, played along on my Clapton strat........Like those T-shirts say, Life Is Good!

I'm 56 diabetic,high cholesterol,high blood pressure,have degenerative disc disease and am arthritic,especially in my hands.I'm taking up 180 mgs. of morphine a day plus methadone and Tramacet-all for pain.I'm also taking meds for my blood pressure.Disite the arthritis I try to play as long as I can daily until the pain and cramping makes it impossible.I'm getting weekly injections of methotrexate to combat the arthritis but to no avail so the next option is Embril or one of the other biologic meds,I'll know in May but they cost up to $20,000 a year but if it works and keeps me playing I'd give up eating to pay for it.Next to my family guitar and music is the most important and cherished thing in my life.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I'll be 55 soon and like my father used to say, "I'm pretty good for the shape I'm in." I will say this though, I feel it and although it took me many years to finally realize it, my mind has finally caught up with my body. Meaning, I can't do MANY things I used to do back when I was in my 30s or of course, even earlier. Yes, I have many 'mystery' aches and pains and am sporadically going to the doctor due to some middle age malady. They say the sign of a true bore is when someone asks you how you are feeling and you expound on the truth so I'll quit here.

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You dig?