Rock stars keep going into their 80s – so why not Joe Biden?

As the debate over Joe Biden’s age and fitness for another term becomes increasingly heated, it is strange that the US president has not employed one particularly strong argument in defence of octogenarians – rock stars of a similar vintage or older are still going strong, and showing more energy, determination, charisma and – in some cases – athleticism than people half their age. I think they have stagecraft, they have an ability with an audience.” Of course, Sir Paul – who was dancing in the audience at Taylor Swift’s recent Wembley Stadium show – would acknowledge that she also packs them in, but his general point about a much older generation holds. He too said the Rolling Stones were determined to carry on, though he did make one concession to age by adding the words: “Health permitting.” That conversation took place before Charlie Watts’s death, a potent reminder that “health issues” will now determine the future of the stars and baby boomer fans. At those gigs, the abiding image was of the stage going dark and then, in a blaze of light, a boiler-suited Pete Townshend would leap high in the air to a crashing guitar chord in “Won’t Get Fooled Again”.