Tuesday, April 24, 2012

A and E

Awed and Exhausted, that is. How the hell does Greg Lake do it? I went to one show and I'm still shot. No amount of coffee or hours of sleep seem to be helping. And I'm years younger than him. He's doing 2 or 3 nights in a row and one day off, week after week. And traveling every day. Meeting and greeting people every night in the VIP deal. How the hell does he stand it? Where does he get the stamina?

Sure, he's not meeting his idol, and after being a rock star for 40+ years you must know exactly what people are like at these things. The nuts, the stupified, the ones with motives, all of it. Can't be anything new. We're a parade that goes by every night.

But how does he do it, at this age and not in the best of health? He's going on 65. He partied pretty damn hard through his youth ("To live reflected in a spoon" anyone?). He's a big guy, and has arthritis, apparently. I don't care how many staff are with him and doing things, he's still the one who has to get up there and perform every night.

He's got to be superhuman. Regular people can't do these things.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

He's just used to it and probably after all these years has developed little tricks to take the pressure off himself. You give him a month off and then see how well he does coming back to it.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

I played catch-up and read all your posts about the concert. Awesome! I am SOOOOOO glad it lived up to your expectations. So, you gonna post some of those pictures on your blog when you get 'em? Maybe a pic of your arm after you get the tattoo? But I do have one itty bitty bone to pick with you. (ahem) Going on 65 isn't old!

Twisted Scottish Bastard said...

I'm exhausted too, after having read parts 1, 2 & 3.

Glad you enjoyed the experience.
I don't know how he does it at his age either. I'm knackered after just 5 hours of teaching.

CarrieBoo said...

It's mind boggling, it really is. He must be a very determined fellow.

Austan said...

Lawless- He's off from June- November and then doing a UK tour. I just don't know how he can do it at all anymore!

Austan said...

Susan- It really was fabulous. I just posted one pic; after the tat's healed I'll get one up of that, too.
But I didn't say it was old! I just don't know how he can do it at this age. I couldn't do it even ten years ago! But then, he didn't spend his whole working life on his feet for 40-60 hours a week and carrying heavy boxes, stock pots and hotel pans, either. And he most likely had health insurance, something I've only had for 14 years of my entire adult life. Those things make a difference.

Austan said...

TSB- 5 hours of anything is enough to knock us out these days!

Austan said...

Carrie- I guess he wouldn't have gotten where he is without a huge force of will. But it still amazes me that he can do it and is doing it!

Elephant's Child said...

Delores may be right and it is just practice, but these days I admire anyone who can do anything for four or five hours straight night after night. Which I suppose is s reflection of my age and debility. Sigh.

paulg said...

Don't know if this is the appropriate place to say this, but your rhetorical (I think you meant it rhetorically) question about how Greg Lake does what he's doing at his age reminds me of the documentary about Joan Rivers that came out last year.
My clearest memory (aside from the general impression that she looked like a cadaver with make up) was that of her signing a huge stack of checks. A lot of them were for services rendered, of course, but many were for family members and friends who depended upon her for support. The implication of that check signing scene to me was that Rivers at age 78, felt she couldn't retire because she had all these people to support.
It wouldn't surprise me to find that Greg is doing something similar.

Or he could have outrageous debt. As a Who fan reading about Keith Moon you'll find out quickly how a nice income can be overspent if you have outrageous habits. Many rockers did when they were younger. I hope that's not why he's still pushing on like that, but it happens.