3 Older Music Icons That Perform Like They’re Still in Their 20s

Music is far more than just a vocation for the majority of musicians. Hence, so many musicians play music up until they’re about to kick the bucket. It’s simply not something you walk away from, and when one tries, it pulls you back in even deeper. This is particularly true when talking about some of the greatest older musicians packing stadiums today.

Videos by American Songwriter

Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, Neil Young, and Elton John are just a few 20th-century acts still performing in the 21st century. Even though this feat is remarkable and their performances are something to cherish, when one sees them perform it is very apparent that they are seemingly at the end of their rope. However, these three musicians don’t look a day over 25 when they play in front of the masses.

Paul McCartney

Maybe it’s the vegan diet or the extensive yoga, nonetheless, when Paul McCartney gets up on stage it seems as if he’s still in his prime. Currently on his Got Back tour, McCartney has been on the tour for two years now and the man, the myth, the legend, is 82-years-old. That being so, in recent years, most McCartney shows typically go on for over three hours.

Needless to say, this is incredible for a person in their ’20s. However, to be doing this at 82-years-old is nearly superhuman. In this three-hour runtime, McCartney prances, dances, and covers the whole stage and proves that he is still teeming with energy. Frankly, it’s unfathomable how he does it, and surely many 80-year-olds would like in on his secret.

The Rolling Stones

Much like McCartney, The Rolling Stones still have quite the pep in their step. Particularly, Mick Jagger, as that man still moves with the fluency and rhythm of a 20-year-old. Regarding the band in general, most Rolling Stones shows go on for over two hours. Recently, the band closed out their Hackney Diamonds tour, which spanned across 16 cities in both the US and Canada.

While on the tour, the band performed a two-and-a-half-hour show comprised of a 20-song setlist in Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium. Also, there is never an intermission at any of their shows. So, it’s two pure hours or so of Mick Jagger running around like a madman, Keith Richards pulling out every lick in the bag, and Ronnie Wood keeping the rhythm the entire time.

Bruce Springsteen

“The Boss” is 75-years-old, however, he still performs with the same vigor and youthful conviction as he did upon the release of “Born To Run.” In addition to being a pop culture poet, Springsteen is a superb entertainer. Currently, Springsteen is on his 2024 world tour which consists of 52 concerts in 17 different countries.

The mean runtime of a Bruce Springsteen show is 3 hours and consists of approximately 27 songs. The set list number is contingent on his encore, which, we all know he’s going to be called back on stage every single time. Besides his tour, in 2024, Springsteen and the E Street Band also performed alongside Zach Bryan and The Lumineers on two separate occasions. In short, they made those youngsters look slower than molasses.

Photo by Medios y Media/Getty Images