Why do people pay outrageous prices for musicians that are well beyond their prime?

bodyforlife · Jan 17, 2019

I just had this conversation with a friend a month or two ago and we had a good chuckle.

I paid $17.50 for a McCartney concert in 1976. Fast forward 40+ years and people are willing to pay $500 for a voice that couldn't hit a high note if his life depended on it and a very subpar concert compared to what I saw for 3 1/2% of the cost.

Yeah, I know it's this nostalgia thing, but it still amazes me. Musicians are not like fine wine. They do not get better with time. His picture makes it seem like he'll need a walker to get on stage. Whatever. Knock yourself out if you want to pay it. It's your money.

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HacheMan · Jan 17, 2019

Some fans are die hard

bodyforlife · Jan 17, 2019

Hache Man said:
Some fans are die hard

Yeah, I know. But some of these stars are just a shell of themselves now and their voices are toast.

Coldweather · Jan 17, 2019

It's their history and charisma. cheersgif

Knightrofins · Jan 17, 2019

I have friends who saw him a few years ago and said he was incredible.

Concert prices are crazy these days

I am on the fence on seeing the Rolling Stones in April. Not a huge fan but they are legends. Not sure if i want to spend the $$

bodyforlife · Jan 17, 2019

Knightrofins said:
I have friends who saw him a few years ago and said he was incredible.

Concert prices are crazy these days

I am on the fence on seeing the Rolling Stones in April. Not a huge fan but they are legends. Not sure if i want to spend the $$

I can't imagine but again, maybe they were just caught up in the nostalgia. The concert I saw in 1976 was probably the best concert I ever saw. I last time I saw him in 2011 ranks with one of the worst. I told myself I was done with the senior citizen tours.

Doug · Jan 17, 2019

Knightrofins said:
I have friends who saw him a few years ago and said he was incredible.

Concert prices are crazy these days

I am on the fence on seeing the Rolling Stones in April. Not a huge fan but they are legends. Not sure if i want to spend the $$

The stones , I guess you could say my favorite band, seen them twice in their twilight years, but the last time was like 15 years ago, now they are well past 70, and maybe closer to 80 ? I think I would say you missed the boat on this one and not worth spending $500 or whatever to see Mick Jaggar and Keith ( how the fuck is still even alive ? ) Richards, and the rest. Nothing like the 60's or 70's version of the band . I at least caught them before they this old
I'd pass unless comped tix, and that's from a huge fan ! At some point they will embarrassed themselves, few athletes play beyond age 40
About 65, maybe 70 and rockers should retire too

Knightrofins · Jan 17, 2019

bodyforlife said:
I can't imagine but again, maybe they were just caught up in the nostalgia. The concert I saw in 1976 was probably the best concert I ever saw. I last time I saw him in 2011 ranks with one of the worst. I told myself I was done with the senior citizen tours.

It was probably the 2011 tour in which my friend (who was in his mid 30's at the time) saw him and LOVED it. Guy is a big music fan and goes to a lot of concerts. I guess you had higher expectations for that concert? (nothing wrong with that as i have higher expectations for certain concerts).

My wife saw Petty a few months before he passed. She's a big fan and said that she thought it was an awesome concert

Knightrofins · Jan 17, 2019

Doug said:
The stones , I guess you could say my favorite band, seen them twice in their twilight years, but the last time was like 15 years ago, now they are well past 70, and maybe closer to 80 ? I think I would say you missed the boat on this one and not worth spending $500 or whatever to see Mick Jaggar and Keith ( how the fuck is still even alive ? ) Richards, and the rest. Nothing like the 60's or 70's version of the band . I at least caught them before they this old
I'd pass unless comped tix, and that's from a huge fan ! At some point they will embarrassed themselves, few athletes play beyond age 40
About 65, maybe 70 and rockers should retire too

I was going to get the $100 "cheap seats" for that concert. My wife and bunch of friends wanted to go. I'd rather see Garth in Gainesville that night if u ask me.

Some older bands can still bring it. I saw Guns N Roses 2 summers ago (they are in mid 50's) in Marlins Stadium and i think that was one of the best concerts i have ever seen!!

bodyforlife · Jan 17, 2019

Knightrofins said:
I was going to get the $100 "cheap seats" for that concert. My wife and bunch of friends wanted to go. I'd rather see Garth in Gainesville that night if u ask me.

Some older bands can still bring it. I saw Guns N Roses 2 summers ago (they are in mid 50's) in Marlins Stadium and i think that was one of the best concerts i have ever seen!!

There's a big difference between mid 50s and 76 (McCartney) and Jagger (75)

PoundFoolish · Jan 17, 2019

I do not understand why people pay huge prices for music artists IN their prime.

Knightrofins · Jan 17, 2019

bodyforlife said:
There's a big difference between mid 50s and 76 (McCartney) and Jagger (75)

Oh no doubt. I wonder what the normal "cut off age" of when and when not to see a rock star in concert?

At what age do the drugs and the partying still kick in???

Doug · Jan 17, 2019

Well , Mick and Keith are both 75
Axle Rose at 55 or so , is a good deal younger .

I'd gladly see either again but not willing to pay big to see 75 year old Mick and the boys, especially since I've had the once in a lifetime chance to see them twice
I loved seeing them

Another favorite band I've seen a ridiculous number of times is Lynyrd Skynyrd, not the original band, but the post plane crash version. I saw them at Red Rocks in Denver circa 1988. Red Rocks is the most awesome place ever for a concert !

LS always seems to be paired up with some other band I want to see like ZZTop or somebody, so I've seen them like 6 times.

Defying · Jan 17, 2019

Doug said:
Well , Mick and Keith are both 75
Axle Rose at 55 or so , is a good deal younger .

I'd gladly see either again but not willing to pay big to see 75 year old Mick and the boys, especially since I've had the once in a lifetime chance to see them twice
I loved seeing them

Another favorite band I've seen a ridiculous number of times is Lynyrd Skynyrd, not the original band, but the post plane crash version. I saw them at Red Rocks in Denver circa 1988. Red Rocks is the most awesome place ever for a concert !

LS always seems to be paired up with some other band I want to see like ZZTop or somebody, so I've seen them like 6 times.

whoa, there's a name I never thought I see again. nice to see youre still around and that the ol lady didn't drive you crazy.

GoBlue34 · Jan 17, 2019

I saw Motley Crue 3 years ago? Growing up we were poor so I couldn't afford to see them in their prime. But I loved their music growing up so didn't want to miss the opportunity as they might not tour again or even die at their age. I saw Metallica last year for the same reason. I also refuse to sit in the upper deck as what's the point so I shelled out $200 and $250 per ticket for great seats. If I'm going I'm a ticket snob.

Were they as good as when they were in their prime? No way or at least I doubt it but still had a great time even if Vince couldn't hit all the high notes anymore and had a beer belly. But some of the songs were still awesome and well worth it.

PatsFan1283 · Jan 17, 2019

nostalgia obviously

it isn't about the quality of the performance

Doug · Jan 17, 2019

PoundFoolish said:
I do not understand why people pay huge prices for music artists IN their prime.

Valid point , it was way different back in the 60's and 70's when the pricing wasn't so insane for concerts and sporting events, when a million dollars for a baseball player was considered insane, now it goes up to 35 million.

Even tribute bands like Britfloyd are expensive to see ! You won't see me at any of these shows, perhaps the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun where shows are free . I've seen some good shows there in a small room for just the price of a couple of drinks.

Doug · Jan 17, 2019

Defying said:
whoa, there's a name I never thought I see again. nice to see youre still around and that the ol lady didn't drive you crazy.

I survived, happily divorced these days, still in close contact with her but much better as a friend than a spouse.

tatehill2000 · Jan 17, 2019

i saw styx saturday night, and they wer Awsome!
Paid 130 a seat, for 3rd row...

Loved it!!.. totally worth it..

Having said that paul mcartney os incredible. But 500?? Ugh...

Willie99 · Jan 17, 2019

because we can, although most of my concerts are comped

Why do people pay outrageous prices for musicians that are well beyond their prime?

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