Rock stars used to be lucky if they made it to 40. Now they’re racing to nonagenarian status, and it’s time we rethought our view of these erstwhile bad boys. Yesterday’s superstars are today’s superagers. They must be up at dawn doing calisthenics. Their groupies must be bringing them kale smoothies. When they finally do join that great gig in the sky, their earthly bodies shouldn’t be interred. They should be turned over to medical science for research.

Classic Rock of the 70s and Older

‘Hope I die before I get old,’ wrote Pete Townshend. He didn’t even come close.

By 

Kyle Smith

Aug. 20, 2025 5:01 pm ET