Joe Strummer?

Seasick Steve's done pretty well recently.

well i dont think people give up as such, maybe getting a full time job but also carrying on, gigging, writing, releasing... I have a freind (cherry ghost) who kept going and going (living with his parents) and finally got discovered in his 30's and is now doing more than well.

Also bands like elbow didnt really get discovered til they were in their 30's.... i guess also it depends on the style of music... if you're doing stuff like the kooks, pigeon detectives etc then i guess being younger helps (for some reason).

Putting an age limit on it does seem a little silly... if you're still full of ideas and are good enough i dont think there is any real reason to give up

x

...just this morning from a friend who is yet to have that elusive first hit. He talked about a couple of new songs that he's written, his plans to re-record another, and about getting some mates together to record some top-quality demos because, "I want to sell them in America". He's, 62, I think.

One of The Stranglers was more old fart than hip young gunslinger back in '77, wasn't he?

Keep the dream alive, but a day job would do no harm in the meantime. With a much wider market, of admittedly individually lower sales, there is room for many more to break their little way in to the system. With odd markets like the Radio 2 listener "breaking" the likes of KT Tunstall at nigh on 30, amongst others. As said, Seasick Steve "broke" in his late middle age, much as Ted Hawkins did 20 years ago.
What is perhaps a bigger shame is the unknown and uncelebrated world famous in their backyard artists, of which we must all know many, plugging away for years, without success ever coming a'knocking, with their loyal and tiny band of avid supporters scratching their heads as to why, especially when the redundant drossmerchants still can make a mint.
I would like to use this space to celebrate Prussian Blue, in a backroom of a bar near you, if you live in the West Midlands. Best band offstage at Cropredy in many a year. You can evemn listen to content on their website, before buying, should you so which.
(No, Frazer, I am not a member, just a mate)

As a result of protracted legal assertion and challenge they are, at least in the UK, registered as and trademarked as Prussian Blue (sorry, my type face cannot do the R in a little circle.)
www.prussianblue.com

...was in his 40s wasn't he? I know someone well into his 50s who is recording demos with the intention of getting a deal on the basis that "if the quality's there you can do what you want". Needless to say something tells me he's on a hiding to nothing. I myself still write, record, do little gigs etc but purely for the fun of it and the satisfaction of making music - like someone might tend roses or play cricket. I think a lot of amateur musos really do have to do it - it's not something you can just give up. Well I can't anyway. But nor do I expect anyone else to be remotely interested. Which is probably just as well...

I think one of the most significant breakthroughs in recent years has been The Frames frontman's. He was 36 when, after years of slogging as bit-player in The Commitments and singer, writer for respected but never quite there Dublin band The Frames, he finds success and true love in the role of Guy in the movie Once. The subsequent real-life romance and offshoot project Swell Season has been a really hot ticket in the States. Question is, what becomes of The Frames?

Here's a thing.
When I was 16 and formed my first band*, it was all about attitude, seriousness and stage moves triumphing over musical ability. Our crowd loved us (well, the 100-odd folks at the school disco) and we had a whale of a time but we obviously had some learning to do.
At 22, moving up to the smoke and writing my first half-decent songs, the band had a better vibe about us, but took it all way, way too seriously. There were a few A&R men who promised to turn up at our Camden toilet shows but never did. Drummers came and went because we hadn't been signed after a couple of gigs. There were strops. Friends suddenly had demanding girlfriends or better things to do. Frankly, at this stage, you need to be a united, committed unit just at the point when many peoples' heads are being turned by real life.
Quite a few years later (I'm 36) I am playing in a rockabilly/country rock band (playing originals, mind) and the occasional open mike on my tod. We all have day jobs, some have kids and we're having the time of our lives when we get up there. Why? Because it doesn't matter whether we make it or not. Having met people who have been signed to major labels, I don't want to be signed, especially now I have a mortgage. We give out free CDs at gigs when we record anything new, and the only criteria is that people turn up to our shows, which pays for the next recording. And they turn up, so promoters like us.
Coming back from my little tangent, 'putting that nonsense aside' meant accepting our thinning hair and thickening waistlines, and just enjoying ourselves. I'd rather do that than starve for my art, especially in this climate of flux in the 'biz'.
This is what works for me, and many others, and I'm looking forward to the next ages of rock'n'roll yet to come. I'll be the lean and slippered pantaloon down the folk club when I'm 60, hopefully loving it even more.

* Singer in said band went on to be something of a rock god with number one albums and everything.

Although already a working poet, Cohen didn't release his first album until he was 33.

For many, the idea of "making it", is all out rock-stardom; more cash than you can shake a stick at, a fleet of cars, idol-worship from a legion of fans, blah blah blah etc etc...

I've played keyboards in various bands over the years, had my fair share of brushes with 'success' (none of which quite got all the planets in perfect alignment!) and right now, I'm happier than I've ever been. I still play from time to time, sometimes I get paid, sometimes I do it just for the craic. I record in a modest project studio I have, co-write with various people, get music on the telly here and there, and hold down a 'normal' self-employed job for a few days a week.

In my mind, I've 'made it' to where I want to be. I'm 36 now, and under no circumstances am I waiting for anyone to come knocking on my door, to discover me or give me a 'record deal' whatever that may be.