It's a well worn trope that singers often sound worse, even terrible (if they don't have the self awareness to avoid doing it) when they get older.

However this doesn't always seem to be the case.

Who have you discovered fits into this category?


My submission - Robert Plant. I've never been that into Zep. I quite like a couple of tunes and that's as far as it goes. Probably my favourite of theirs is Kashmir, here he is performing it in 2007, 32 years after it was released, and possibly better than the original recording.

Not nearly as acrobatic as Plant but I think both Alan Sparhawk and Jeff Tweedy have both done a nice job of retaining their identity while their aging is a nice subtle texture the years have brought.

I know there’s been a lot of gushing over the new album by The Cure but Robert Smith sounds fucking great at his age.

He's pretty decrepit now, but I think Ozzy sounded the same for a long ass time.

Darryl Hall.
Tom Waits.
PJ Harvey.
Gordon Sumner.
Cab Calloway.
Adrian Belew.
Pretty sure Geddy can still sing...
...yeah Robert Smith is still up in it.

Robin Zander!

PJ Harvey - hands down. Also - this clip of Mickey Thomas (Jefferson Airplane) on Howard Stern singing Sara that was impressive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnnc9sgnZnM

While "Singer..." and "Good Voice..." might be up for debate?

It still wind up scratching my head, and wondering how Pollard still has a voice at all.

Never mind that it has held up as well as it has.

As for one that is gonna be hard for most folks to grasp?

I have loved Hank Williams Jr. since I was blowing less than ten birthday candles.

Dude's voice is still aces.

losthighway wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:00 pm Not nearly as acrobatic as Plant but I think both Alan Sparhawk and Jeff Tweedy have both done a nice job of retaining their identity while their aging is a nice subtle texture the years have brought.

Man, I don't know about Jeff Tweedy.

It seems like his voice changed a lot once he quit smoking.

Not "Bad...", mind you.

Just not so sure about "Maintain..." when there was a distinct shift.