Well right now I think you are doing some soul searching. Even though you are at an age that you know the chance of something huge happening has passed you still are booked solid it seems and are making enough to cover cost.

I think it is the time away from the family that is what is really tearing at you. You might also have to think of what your leaving does to the rest of the band. I mean if you guys have been playing quite sometime I think you better let your feelings be known, This I can guarantee is that teaching one of your kids to play is one of the best feelings I have ever had. To have my 11 year old come home just two days ago and say his friends father was amazed when he heard him play and asked if he would help his son with his playing made me real proud.

I think just about 90% of us who are over 40 are done with playing out, but I dont think any one of us loves to play any less than we did 20 years ago. The bottom line is you are going to have to do what is best for you and your family, but just make sure you are happy with doing it as the worst thing that can happen is getting stuck doing something you hate or regret. Then everyone loses. Good luck.

42 is a respectable age. I can see cause for concern, especially if you have a family. One of the biggest problems in the music business is that most of us don't have medical insurance or the retirement benefits like the suits or Teamsters. 42 is about when midlife crisis sets in too.

And for almost 2 decades it seemed as if music has been on a downward spiral with the Jam Master This and DJ That that I actually stopped caring and got a job driving buses.

I'm doing alright now though. Thanks to Guitar Hero and Rock Band, kids are saying "Dad, your music is so cool and rap sucks!"

Right now, I've got my stipend from the priesthood and a lot of time on my hand. I retired early and moved into a monetary. I've got all the time in the world to study and play music. I've managed to secure a few session gigs and am mostly into polishing up some compositions. I plan to be releasing my solo debut by the coming spring. I've had good luck brokering the digital download sales of two other artists. Since I'll be adding my own releases, I negotiated with the other artists and I'll be opening my own label with them under me. With a computer, building a recording studio is child's-play. And in this age of digital download sales, there isn't even a need to print CDs. Very low overhead means high profit margins. We've been netting about $75.00/week in digital sales with a catalog of 2 CDs.

So, I may not actively perform as much, I still make money whether I'm sleeping or awake. It's small but there is a revival of Classic Rock, the rock of my generation, and there's enough love to go around for all.

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"If I don't see you no more in this world I'll meet you on the next one and don't be late... don't be late." -Jimi Hendrix