Musicians Are Continuing To Tour Into Their Old Age

After almost 1,000 concerts with The Beatles, more than 140 shows with Wings and 870 solo concerts, Paul McCartney’s 17th solo tour is ending just days before his 80th birthday on June 18.

McCartney’s “Got Back” tour took the music veteran on a marathon across the U.S. — performing for fans who have followed him since the '60s.

Variety notes that a typical show is two hours and 40 minutes with 36 songs, and that’s often after a pre-show soundcheck of as many as 13 songs for VIP ticket holders.

Despite his age, critics lauded McCartney’s performances as lively, high-energy and showing little signs of slowing down.

“You want to, as you say, navigate through the marathon that this is, and it’s inspiring to see guys like McCartney turn 80," said Peter Shapiro, concert promoter and author. "The [Rolling] Stones are still out there, and Phil Lesh of The Grateful Dead is 82. And, we’re doing nine shows with him in October, but, you know, you have to love it."

Shapiro is a veteran concert promoter who’s worked with legendary artists like Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and The Grateful Dead.

His book “The Music Never Stops,” which comes out in August, details his career so far and the work that’s gone into putting on 10,000 shows since the '90s.

“I've been doing it 27 years pretty much, and I've done lots of shows — 10,000 shows I’ve put on," Shapiro said. "But to do a show well, it's still the details that still matter. The music never stops. You got to keep going. It's 24/7."

Shapiro says the craft of putting on concerts requires constant practice and a love for live music that doesn’t slow down with age.

The same can be said for touring musicians like McCartney as well as The Rolling Stones, who have performed more than 1,300 concerts over six decades, Metallica with more than 2,000 shows over 41 years and The Grateful Dead with more than 2,300 concerts over 58 years. At 82, Mavis Staples is wrapping up a European tour this week, only to restart a North American swing in a July.

All of them are still performing today. 

McCartney has credited his vegetarian diet and a daily exercise regimen that includes stretching and yoga with friends.

After turning 80 and ending his most recent tour, McCartney is slated to headline the Glastonbury Festival later this month.