# Aging Rock Stars and their hair, GIVE IT UP! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2001, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-rock-stars-and-their-hair-give-it-up/69471 "2001-06-20T14:45:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davesink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@davesink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davesink)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-rock-stars-and-their-hair-give-it-up/69471/1 "2001-06-20T14:45:09Z")
Here I’m thinking specifically of Paul McCartney, who I saw on the Charlie Rose Show the other night. He’s wearing what is obviously a rug and, covering it up with my thumb, I was struck by how much he resembled the old bald character actor John Mcgiver (from Manchurian Candidate and Midnight Cowboy among many other films.) Of course he’s not alone. Elton John and the late Roy Orbison come immediately to mind and I’m sure there are many others who seem to be having trouble letting themselves age gracefully. Music aside, it’s refreshing to see a Phil Collins or James Taylor who seem to be more comfortable with their thinning, graying hair. ---
**Author:** ![moggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@moggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moggy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-rock-stars-and-their-hair-give-it-up/69471/2 "2001-06-21T01:19:38Z")
Aging rock stars who still act the part, GIVE IT UP! Mick Jagger, prancing around onstage like he’s still Mr. Young Sex God- ridiculous! And Keith Richards? The man has looked like the Wrath of God for the past 15 years! He’s a poster child for “What lots of Drugs and Alcohol Can Do For You”. Yes, it’s amazing that you can still rock and roll, but sheesh! Have a little dignity! I find THAT more indicative of being unable to age gracefully than wearing a rug. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-rock-stars-and-their-hair-give-it-up/69471/3 "2001-06-21T01:46:29Z")
\ Moggy how can you SAY such things? Blashphemy, damnit, blashphemy!!! ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-rock-stars-and-their-hair-give-it-up/69471/4 "2001-06-21T01:57:57Z")
I thought you meant the 80s hair band ex-band members we see on VH1 Behind the Music that still try to have 80’s hair-band hair even though they’re near 50 now. –Tim ---
**Author:** ![jaimest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@jaimest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaimest)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-rock-stars-and-their-hair-give-it-up/69471/5 "2001-06-21T02:23:17Z")
There are exceptions. David Bowie, to me anyway, actually looks more cool now than 20 years ago. Now, I thought Macca just had a bad dye-job. OMG A BALD BEATLE!!That cannot happen in a just world. With Elton John its damn obvious, because he was freakin’ bald in 1977. Yet miraculously has a full head of hair today. But, I’d lay off the Stones. I believe Keith Richards was born looking like a leather suitcase with eyes. And old Mick Jagger still manages to squirt off some of his cromosomes in an exotic model/Latin American soap opera starlet with remarkable frequency (isn’t he due for another this month?) And you must envy Ron Wood, who at the age of 54, still gets to be the “young guy” in the band. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-rock-stars-and-their-hair-give-it-up/69471/6 "2001-06-21T02:41:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jaimest \* > \*\* > With Elton John its damn obvious, because he was freakin’ bald in 1977. Yet miraculously has a full head of hair today. \*\* Sir Elton is sporting about $25-30,000 worth of implants. He has discussed this a few times, IIRC. I, too, believe that Sir Paul has gotten into the Clairol For Men a bit too much. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-rock-stars-and-their-hair-give-it-up/69471/7 "2001-06-21T03:22:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jaimest \* > \*\* > There are exceptions. David Bowie, to me anyway, actually looks more cool now than 20 years ago. > \*\* Is Bowie still sporting that hideous, stringy, black-dyed mop? I saw a photo of him, Mick Jagger, and Pete Townshend in _Rolling Stone_ a year or two ago, and he looked awful. So did Jagger. Townshend seems to have accepted his age and managed to look dignified, not a grotesque parody of his former self like Bowie and Jagger. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-rock-stars-and-their-hair-give-it-up/69471/8 "2001-06-21T03:48:57Z")
Gene Simmons. His hairpiece looks like a turban. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-rock-stars-and-their-hair-give-it-up/69471/9 "2001-06-21T05:45:42Z")
FWIW, I always thought Paul McCartney just had thick rug-looking hair, not an actual toupee. What’s the sraight dope on his hairline? My picks: Ronny James Dio used to look ridiculous with his thinning crown and shaggy sides. Kevin ?? from the 80s bubblegum metal group Quiet Riot has definitely had an implant or wears a hairpiece. But, for the record, I sorta dislike the clean-cut Mellencamp and miss the days when you couldn’t tell if he had a right eye. Sr Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-rock-stars-and-their-hair-give-it-up/69471/10 "2001-06-21T06:54:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by moggy \* > \*\*And Keith Richards? The man has looked like the Wrath of God for the past 15 years! He’s a poster child for “What lots of Drugs and Alcohol Can Do For You”. Yes, it’s amazing that you can still rock and roll, but sheesh! Have a little dignity! I find THAT more indicative of being unable to age gracefully than wearing a rug. \*\* 1. Hard drugs make you beautiful. Anyone who has seen Robert Downey jnr knows this. 2. Toupees are difficult to deal with. Very difficult. But, speaking as a woman, I’d go with toupees just about every time. There is just so much difference. Try colouring in James Taylor’s head. See what I mean? 3. Rock music is no longer primarily associated with youth and all things young. In the same way old blues singers keep going through old age, rock musicians are free to do the same. Robert Plant has started doing interesting things lately. He’s a good example. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-rock-stars-and-their-hair-give-it-up/69471/11 "2001-06-21T10:37:10Z")
[David Bowie through the years](http://www.geocities.com/piia_i/bowiealbums.htm) IMHO, he’s always looked cool. ---
**Author:** ![Mystery\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@Mystery\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mystery_Dog)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-rock-stars-and-their-hair-give-it-up/69471/12 "2001-06-21T12:26:42Z")
Paul Simon seems to have given up the hideous hairpiece he wore in recent years. On the other hand, he’s picked up a tendency to cover up with hats. If you look at [http://www.paulsimon.com](http://www.paulsimon.com), there are no pictures where you can see his bald pate; just old pics with the hairpiece and new pics with hats. ---
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-rock-stars-and-their-hair-give-it-up/69471/13 "2001-06-22T01:03:24Z")
Have you ever considered that the numbers of “aging” male rock and movie stars who retain full heads of hair may be way out of proportion to the rest of the population? Sometimes it seems to me that just choosing to become a rock star means a guy will have hair at 50. Of course there are exceptions and Elton John and Pete Townsend are obvious examples. However, Steven Tyler, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart and Alice Cooper have the same hair they started their careers with. I can’t be bothered giving more examples because they are just too numerous.