# Who are the oldest acts still performing live music? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 15, 2019, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569 "2019-04-15T06:01:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/1 "2019-04-15T06:01:10Z")
Just got done watching The Rolling Stones on AXS playing a show in Cuba and their ages currently range from Ron Wood at 71 all the way up to drummer Charlie Watts at 77. Surely there are still 80+ old dudes still out there performing besides Willie Nelson? Maybe even 90 year old timers? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/2 "2019-04-15T06:03:47Z")
Buddy Guy is 82 and still touring. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/3 "2019-04-15T06:05:54Z")
Tony Bennett is scheduled to do a show in my city this summer. 90 has come and gone for him. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/4 "2019-04-15T06:07:18Z")
Paddy Maloney is 80. An original member of the Chieftains and still touring. And Del McCourey just turned 80. ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/5 "2019-04-15T06:14:20Z")
I believe Les Paul performed into his 90’s…but he’s gone now. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/6 "2019-04-15T06:47:09Z")
Beach Boys are from the same era as the Stones. Should be roughly the same age. They are touring in 2019. I see Mike Love has his own tour. He’s 78. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/7 "2019-04-15T09:19:15Z")
The Scorpions were formed in 1965 and are still touring. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/8 "2019-04-15T09:26:54Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Beach Boys are from the same era as the Stones. > > Should be roughly the same age. > > They are touring in 2019. > > I see Mike Love has his own tour. He’s 78. The only original Beach Boys touring are Mike Love and Bruce Johnston. The last time all the surviving original members toured was in 2012, when Love, Johnston, Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, and David Marks made up the band. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/9 "2019-04-15T10:14:55Z")
Willie Nelson is 85. He lives these lyrics. On the Road Again I just can’t wait to get on the road again The life I love is makin’ music with my friends And I can’t wait to get on the road again ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/10 "2019-04-15T10:31:03Z")
Dylan turns 78 next month, and he still tours. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/11 "2019-04-15T11:45:51Z")
The [Vienna Philharmonic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Philharmonic) was founded in 1842, and they’re still gigging. Pretty sure there’s no original members still playing with them, though. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/12 "2019-04-15T11:49:46Z")
I was also going to suggest some orchestra might have the record. But maybe this thread is about the oldest individual performer? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/13 "2019-04-15T11:49:57Z")
Hot Tuna is still touring and performing regularly. Jorma is 78 and Jack just had his 75th birthday celebration. [http://hottuna.com/](http://hottuna.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/14 "2019-04-15T12:21:50Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > The only original Beach Boys touring are Mike Love and Bruce Johnston. Well, they’re the only ones still touring _as “the Beach Boys”_ (and Bruce isn’t an “original member” if you mean someone who was there from the beginning), but aren’t some of the others still performing—just separately? ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/15 "2019-04-15T13:26:10Z")
Gordon Lightfoot is turning 81 this year and he shows up everywhere. Still sounds pretty good, too. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/16 "2019-04-15T13:35:24Z")
Tom Paxton is “only” 81, but has been active in the music scene since 1960. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/17 "2019-04-15T13:53:33Z")
Brian Wilson and Al Jardine tour with some other people including Al’s son Matt who does some lead vocals. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/18 "2019-04-15T14:09:36Z")
Frankie Valli is 85 and still taking the stage. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/19 "2019-04-15T14:21:14Z")
Mavis Staples is 80 this year and still performing live. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569/20 "2019-04-15T14:22:47Z")
Walter Trout is 68 and is performing, which is amazing considering he was in liver failure and not expected to survive 6 or so years ago. He received a transplant (paid for in large part by fan donations) and continues to play. [Walter healthy.](https://images.app.goo.gl/9NB9jKsS6GNcajK67) [Walter a few years later.](https://images.app.goo.gl/HTMHwj6s6iA8ryHr9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-oldest-acts-still-performing-live-music/832569.md?page=2)