Growing older would be so interesting if it wasn't actually happening!

For musicians aging along with us and the lack of appeal of their music to us, I think it's a combination of several things.

For one thing, I think a lot of us kind of lose interest in an artist when we realize their new album is not going to resonate like their past one for a variety of relative reasons. For illustration - JM's American Fool sounds so much different than his latest album because too many factors are different. American Fool came out when I was in Jr High - my interests were different, just as his were. Then, with all things, things change.

On top of that, how many tricks can an artist pull out of a bag over generations? Franky, though I love Springsteen and my admiration for him as a person grows each year, Mellencamp has the stones the size of bowling balls when it comes to Springsteen. You have never had to guess where Mellencamp stands on anything and he has been a constant promoter of art, free speech and his opinions (whether you like them or not).

And I also think over a career, his music has shown a great deal of depth, change and growth. Contrast his early stuff through that of LonesomeJubilee/Bid Daddy to what he's doing now.

Lastly, I think we expect too much from our aging performers. That we expect each new album to be the new Darkness on the Edge of Town. It's impossible to expect these talented people to reignite that flame he carried when we were 18 and when we thought we never were going to die and how nothing could touch us and how all of the world was there before our feet.

But I'll give these guys this: at least these fifty years plus men - like the guy right here - aren't singing the same songs about teen lust and teen heartbreak like other aging rockers still continue to do so. Not to knock Steven Tyler, but isn't it kind of creepy about a withered man in spandex singing about teenagers still? You know, kind of like the image of seeing Gary Oldman from Dracula licking that bloody razor?!?!?