ufoHe’s back! And this week we can’t help but feel that Self Made Man‘s feeling his age.

Read our classic rock columnist and find out which of your favourite bands will be goners this time next year – according to the big man.

Self Made Man writes exclusively for RUSHONROCK every week! 

 

 

It’s looking like 2013 could be the year of the long goodbye.

For I’m pretty convinced that in the next 12 months, I’ll be heading to gigs to see some of my favourite artists performing live for the very last time.

This isn’t meant to be a depressing piece. After all, back in June, 1981, my mates and I headed to St James’ Park to see the Rolling Stones in concert because we thought they were getting so old, it might be our last chance!

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and company looks as if they’re intent on touring well into their seventies but the harsh truth is that age is catching up with us all.

No wonder tickets for The Who’s gig at Newcastle Arena sold out within minutes of going on sale this week because it would be little surprise if Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend called it a day on completion of the tour.

Neil Young is also heading for Tyneside in the early summer and I expect it to be the last time I see him in the flesh.

Having said that, the same thought flashed through my mind in 2009 when I saw him perform in Dublin.

And talking of being proved wrong, when Fleetwood Mac came to the North East a decade ago, that was another must-see gig for the same reason.

I never thought they’d tour the UK again yet here we are in 2013 and not only are they on the verge of announcing a major tour on these shores but it looks as if they will be reunited with Christine McVie.

Like those attending The Who gig, I would imagine most of the audience lucky enough to have tickets for the Mac will head to the concert believing it will be for the final time.

I expect Deep Purple to be promoting their forthcoming new album later this year though I don’t expect this to be their swanswong tour.

I’ve also got tickets to see Rush in Glasgow and Michael Schenker in Newcastle and again, I have a feeling both will be touring for several years to come.

Whitesnake too, though the way David Coverdale’s voice is going, perhaps it is time he called time on the band.

None of us, of course, can ever predict with absolute certainty when the end is nigh.

Those who saw Led Zeppelin at Knepworth in 1979 could never have imagined they would never again see the original line-up performing live in this country.

Strangely, those I know who saw Zeppelin at the 02 in 2007 with Jason Bonham on drums, left that momentous gig believing the one-night reunion had been such an overwhelming success, they were set to reform on a more permanent basis.

It was the same with the mate of mine who saw Roger Waters performing with his former Pink Floyd colleagues at Live 9 in Hyde Park two years earlier.

Though it was the first time he’d played with David Gilmour, Rick Wright (who has since passed away) and Nick Mason, since the early-80s, they eclipsed all other performers at the event and there was a feeling that that 35 minute set would lead to greater things.

Like with Zeppelin,  there was to be no more Floyd. We’ve just got the music, the DVDs and the memories.

And the moral of this little tale? If one of your favourite bands is heading to town, go and see them. There may not be a next time.

Ian Murtagh