# A weak pit: Singers/Groups touring 30-40 years later **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 27, 2014, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366 "2014-02-27T00:38:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/61 "2014-03-03T00:35:31Z")
Thanks ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/62 "2014-03-03T00:40:05Z")
[This lineup seems to be the same except there was no sax player or female keyboard player.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE-vDnZWbpY) I thought the guitar player was particularly good, btw. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/63 "2014-03-03T00:54:02Z")
One of the ways our club makes money for charity is to do security at concerts. We do happy dances when we get hired for an experienced group. Crowd control is pretty easy, the band is professional and we see some amazing acts and some really funny things. At the last one we worked, we had to break up an argument because some pot smokers were upset because the people next to them were smoking tobacco. Pat Benatar just fucking rocks. Her shows are incredible. Alice Cooper is such a class act. He has a restaurant in Scottsdale and when asked if we could use it for a motorcycle club stop on a charity run…he not only said that we could, he would feed us for 2.50 a plate (burger, fries and coleslaw), he set up the entertainment and apologized that he couldn’t be there because he was going to be on tour. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/64 "2014-03-03T00:59:44Z")
49 years after their first performance, [The Seekers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89Uu2rYEbqQ) still sound damned good. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/65 "2014-03-03T01:05:31Z")
Another vote for Alice Cooper. We just saw him a month or so ago–front row seats. And he was _amazing._ I’m not as energetic _now_ as he is in his mid-60s! ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/66 "2014-03-03T01:19:34Z")
This thread seems to be going in the opposite direction of the OP. ---
**Author:** ![CatherineZeta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@CatherineZeta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatherineZeta)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/67 "2014-03-03T01:50:26Z")
I’ve also had the pleasure of seeing Pat Benatar. She did a free show on Coney Island with Blondie and The Donnas in 2009. All of them were absolutely amazing. Debbie Harry still has a ton of energy. I saw Patti Smith in December and she still has the same voice (I wasn’t around to hear her in the early days, but I have the album _Horses_\*\*) and was dancing around the stage, chatting with the audience- it was definitely one of the best shows I’ve been too. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/68 "2014-03-03T02:02:16Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > This thread seems to be going in the opposite direction of the OP. It’s getting older. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/69 "2014-03-03T02:25:50Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > It’s getting older. Still has lots of energy, tho. Add in Tony Thompson of Power Station on drums and we’re good to go. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/70 "2014-03-03T19:53:50Z")
All the Alice loves makes my heart happy. Go Coop! ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/71 "2014-03-03T20:19:02Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > This thread seems to be going in the opposite direction of the OP. The only pit thread I can remember that turned into a love-fest. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/72 "2014-03-03T20:28:52Z")
Although only Paul and Gene remain from the original KISS lineup, you’d never know it. Face paint and costumes have a way of concealing your identity, strangely enough. Anyway, they put on a hell of a show still. I just saw them, with my son, last July. Blood. Fire. Explosions! Yeah. I rocked and rolled all night. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/73 "2014-03-03T21:51:34Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > I totally disagree with this one. After seeing Pete flail at the Superbowl years ago and then seeing Daltrey touring solo I came to a different conclusion. Daltrey had Pete’s brother Roger on lead and a couple of 20 somethings on Bass and Drums. Pete Townshend’s younger brother, who’s also performed with The Who in recent years, is named [Simon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Townshend). He also records and tours as a solo artist, although I’m not really familiar with his solo work. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/74 "2014-03-04T00:00:37Z")
I have to disagree with this pit as well. Though not quite as old as many of the examples mentioned, Alice in Chains’ return was really welcome to me. I saw them in concert last August in a club venue and it was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. My wife and I saw Leonard Cohen a couple of years ago and it was outstanding as well. In 2007 I didn’t see Heaven and Hell, which I could’ve done very easily and inexpensively, and after getting their “Live at Radio City Music Hall” DVD I constantly regret that decision as it would have been a great show. I am, however, seeing Black Sabbath in April and I am really looking forward to it. I know that Ozzy’s voice can be a bit dodgy at times but it’s Tony Iommi who I’m really looking forward to seeing. If these performers can keep going and keep rocking hard, more power to them. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/75 "2014-03-04T00:56:01Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Pete Townshend’s younger brother, who’s also performed with The Who in recent years, is named [Simon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Townshend). He also records and tours as a solo artist, although I’m not really familiar with his solo work. Simon might be accused of riding his brother’s coattails, but he’s a fine musician and a really nice guy. His tour manager is a member of a message board where I hang out and I got to meet both of them in San Francisco last year. I told Simon I had seen him years ago, and he made a funny comment about the audience that proved he remembered the gig. After a minute I said goodbye and started making my way out…he shouted in my direction, waved an arm and said “Thanks for coming to see me again!” His video for “[Forever and a Day](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mambstsOPG4)” was filmed at Number 6’s old hangout Portmeirion. I think my favorite song of his would be “[I’m The Answer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-5mGZ56j-I)”. He also does a mean version of “Goin’ Mobile”. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/76 "2014-03-04T04:20:01Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > That the artists make money in these concert tours, there’s no doubt. Die hard fans past 50 will pay anything to watch them. Even young -uns watch them and come out impressed. Me, I’m too depressed at the deterioration in the quality of singing to even consider buying a ticket. But they will always be my idols, and pray that videos during their heyday will forever be available on the net --free. As I understand it, a lot of the touring is because they can’t make money of selling recorded music any more. Which makes your post somewhat ironic. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/77 "2014-03-04T15:02:17Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Although only Paul and Gene remain from the original KISS lineup, you’d never know it. Face paint and costumes have a way of concealing your identity, strangely enough. > > Anyway, they put on a hell of a show still. I just saw them, with my son, last July. > > Blood. > Fire. > Explosions! > > Yeah. I rocked and rolled all night. That’s probably the tour we saw too, at the Molson Ampitheatre in Toronto. They were fantastic. All I know is that I am eternally grateful that my favourite band, Duran Duran, reunited for their 25th Anniversary back in 2003 because I was too young to see them back in the day. Being in the 3rd row looking up at the 5 guys whose posters used to cover my bedroom walls was the greatest moment of my life. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/78 "2014-03-04T17:37:08Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Yeah. I rocked and rolled all night. But do you party every day? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/79 "2014-03-04T21:55:35Z")
So I saw The Eagles last night. They were fantastic. I’d pay another $150 to see them again next week. The last time I saw them was a decade ago, and I’m happy to report that Henley’s voice has held up really well. He could still hit every note, including the falsettos. Frey, of course, had the foresight to write all his lead vocal songs in one octave, so those songs sounded pretty much the same as they’ve always sounded. Joe Walsh can still plunk a guitar, and he brought the energy up considerably. He’s got great charisma, even if his singing voice makes me want to hide under a chair. Physically, Walsh has held up the best of all of them. He was never a handsome guy, but he still has all his hair, and he hasn’t put on a ton of weight. Neither has Timothy B. Schmitt, though genetics has turned his boyishly thin face to a boyishly skeletal face, especially in unforgiving lighting. Even though he’s long in the tooth now, every time I see him, I can totally picture him on a surfboard. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Bernie Leadon had rejoined the band. I had no idea until he walked out. In the concert, Frey announced that Randy Meisner wasn’t doing so well, so they dedicated “Take it to the Limit” to him. It was played, and harmonized, beautifully. I liked it even better than the original. And I didn’t miss the high “please” notes Meisner used to hit in the end, because I filled them in myself, to the _delight_ of the crowd around me. It completely cracked me up that in the beginning of the show, they asked the crowd to please not block the view of the person behind them. (Cue geriatric jokes.) Later, when they plugged in, Henley announced that if we all wanted to stand and dance now, that’d be swell. I appreciated the clarity. Seriously. I’ve been to too many concerts where people can’t agree who’s “right”: the people standing and dancing (and blocking the view of people behind them) at a live concert, or the people sitting down and demanding that the people in front of them park their asses in the chair. I’m going to go do a bit of searching to see if Elton John is touring again. I’m going to miss Springsteen because I was in a meeting when the tickets went on sale. DAMMIT. What was the OP about again? ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366/80 "2014-03-06T02:19:46Z")
😃 Well, it WAS a weak pit. Just to chime in with you kids, I was surprised when I watched Sinatra in Manila in the 1990s. Yeah, he was in his 80s, and he forgets the lyrics even with prompters 360 degrees around him. But he was still Sinatra. His opening song was incredible: “What a world… what a life… I’M IN LOVE!” But going back, there’s no denying people don’t sing as well as they used to. So stop telling us this or that is “still awesome”, or that he/she “still does one hell of a show.” That’s beside my point. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-weak-pit-singers-groups-touring-30-40-years-later/682366.md?page=5)