gingersoul posted about Richard Wright's death a couple of days ago. Richard Wright, keyboard player for Pink Floyd, died at 65. Only two weeks ago I looked at a magazine that did a feature on rock stars who are now in their 60s. There were photos of many bands or individuals as they appeared back in 1964 or so and how they look now. Most interesting was a very young looking band photo of The Who.

I am impressed with these rocks stars, many of who pioneered guitar-driven rock, which later led to hard rock or heavy metal, and many of who are still playing and performing. I wanted to do a post about some names from the 60s and what they are doing now. I mentioned it to ginger and she immediately said "Bob Dylan." Strangely enough, I hadn't thought of him at all, basically because I have never been into him. I realized my choices were all British bands so I suggested that ginger do a post for American artists and I will do one for British artists. I hope she includes Grace Slick. I am going to leave the Beatles out of this as they are an obvious starting point. I'll just pick one, two or three members from each band.

Mick Jagger (65)
In the 60s: lead singer for the Rolling Stones.
In his sixties: Still touring with the Stones. New album in the works.

Keith Richards (65 in December)
In the 60s: Guitarist for the Rolling Stones.
In his sixties: Toured with the Stones in 2007. Played Captain Teague in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

Charlie Watts (67)
In the 60s: Drummer for the Rolling Stones.
In his sixties: Drummer for the Rolling Stones, his own band the Charlie Watts Tentet, and a commercial artist.

Ray Davies (64)
In the 60s: Guitars, vocals and songwriter for the Kinks.
In his sixties:  Released a solo album in 2006 and another in 2007.

Roger Daltrey (64)
In the 60s: Lead singer for the Who.
In his sixties: Lead singer for the Who, who released a new album in 2006 and are still on tour. From Wikipedia, "In 2006, Roger Daltrey starred as the voice of "Dragon Bus Driver" in the children's home DVD called The Wheels on the Bus: Mango and Papaya's Animal Adventure."

Pete Townsend (63)
In the 60s: Guitarist, songwriter and sometimes lead vocals for the Who.
In his sixties: Guitarist, songwriter and sometimes lead vocals for the Who, author.

Eric Clapton (63)
In the 60s: guitarist for the Yardbirds, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Cream (vocals as well) and Blind Faith.
In his sixties: Still touring as a solo artist as well as with other artists, regrouped with Cream in 2005 for reunion tour.

Jack Bruce (65)
In the 60s: Played bass briefly with John Mayall's Blues Breakers and Manfred Mann, bass and vocals for Cream.
In his sixties: Playing with various artists and recording rock and big band music. 6CD box set of his career released this year.

Jeff Beck (64)
In the 60s: Session work, lead guitarist with the Yardbirds, solo recordings
In his sixties: Still touring. A Japanese tour has been announced for next year.

Jimmy Page (64)
In the 60s: Session work, lead guitarist for the Yardbirds, founder of Led Zeppelin
In his sixties: Recently performed at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, regrouped with the surviving members of Led Zeppelin in 2007 for a charity concert, played with other artists such as The Foo Fighters and Jack White on different ocassions.

Robert Plant (60)
In the 60s: Vocals for the Band of Joy, vocals for Led Zeppelin
In his sixties: He only just turned sixty but last year he performed with Led Zeppelin's surviving members and he has been recording with gluegrass singer Alison Krauss.

Ritchie Blackmore (63)
In the 60s: Session work, guitarist for the Outlaws, Screaming Lord Sutch, founding member of Deep Purple.
In his sixties: With his partner, Candice Night,  who is almost half his age, he is recording and touring in their renaissance band Blackmore's Night. A new album was released this year.

Jon Lord (67)
In the 60s: Keyboards for the Artwoods, a founding member of Deep Purple.
In his sixties: Writing classical pieces and piano concertos, recorded a live blues album and a studio album with The Hootchie Coochie Men.

Ian Gillan (63)
In the 60s: Vocals for Episode Six and later Deep Purple
In his sixties: Vocals for Deep Purple, solo album released in 2006, guest appearance on Jon Lord and the Hootchie Coochie Men.

David Gilmour (62)
In the 60s: Guitarist and vocals for Pink Floyd
In his sixties: Released a solo album in 2006 and a live album in 2008.

Roger Waters (65)
In the 60s: Bass, vocals for Pink Floyd
In his sixties: Finished writing an opera, touring playing Pink Floyd hits, solo album in the works.

Rod Stewart (63)
In the 60s: Vocals for the Jeff Beck Group and The Faces.
In his sixties: Solo recordings and performances with other artists.

Tony Iommi (60)
In the 60s: Guitarist for Earth who then became Black Sabbath.
In his sixties: Turned sixty in February, touring with Heaven and Hell, a band made up of three members of Black Sabbath during the Ronnie Dio years and a different drummer. New album expected soon.