SHOULD THEY TAKE

As Eagles' guitarist Don Felder, 77, suffers a 'medical emergency' on stage and concert goers complain of shoddy singing by their heroes, music industry experts warn it might be time for some ageing artists to rock 'n' roll their way into retirement

- Peter Sheridan

WILL IT be long before we see Mick Jagger hobbling onstage with a Zimmer frame? Paul McCartney rolled into the spotlight in a wheelchair? Or Bruce Springsteen gasping out Born in the USA between gulps from an oxygen cylinder?

There are more ageing rock stars than ever strutting their stuff- or more precisely, dragging their aching arthritic bones up to the microphone and cashing in on nostalgia for their halcyon days long past.

Almost 60 years since Roger Daltrey sang "Hope I Die Before I get old" in The Who's 1965 hit My Generation, Daltrey is now aged 80, and his generation is dwindling. It's no coincidence that the Rolling Stones reportedly have a defibrillator and medic on standby at concerts.

But are fans getting their money's worth when veteran rockers past their prime are selling tickets at prices that can dwarf a monthly mortgage payment?

Many asked that very question last Thursday when former Eagles guitarist Don Felder, aged 77, suffered a "medical emergency" while performing aboard the annual Rock Legends Cruise. He almost collapsed as he began playing the band's classic hit Tequila Sunrise, and had to be helped off the stage.

His senior moment was attributed to that old rock 'n' roll euphemism "dehydration", and the cruise continued with performances by ageing rockers including Alice Cooper, 77, Robin Trower, 79, and Styx, celebrating their 53rd year together.

The Rock Legends Cruise seems designed to drum up business for undertakers. Sib Hashian, former drummer for rock band Boston, died after collapsing on stage during the 2017 cruise.

With so many vintage stars performing worldwide, it's only a matter of time before we see another rock legend die on stage.