The Allman Brothers

Jefferson Starship

Eddie Money

Lynyrd Skynyrd

DISCUSSION:

What draws you to these classic-rock acts? Go to the boards!

August 12, 1999
Web posted at: 1:26 p.m. EDT (1726 GMT)

From Jim Moret
CNN Entertainment Correspondent

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Pat Benatar and members of Journey, Foreigner and Bad Company are among the veteran musicians taking to the stage this summer. The retro-rocking means a chance for baby boomers to remember their youth and new generations to explore their own artists' predecessors.

"There's three generations," says Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd. "There's the older old folks like us -- we're old -- then there's the young people, and then there's their kids."

The rockers aren't just relying on their "oldies but goodies." Lynyrd Skynyrd has just released its album "Edge of Forever" and Jefferson Starship is playing festivals and fairs in support of its February release, "Windows of Heaven."

"We're sort of too old to die young now," says Paul Kantner of the Jefferson Airplane, "so you have to sort of carry (it) off with what you've got. And you're surprising yourself still. I think that's part of the process is the surprises."

Cheap Trick, which has been surprising audiences for more than 20 years, released a new live album in June, "Music for Hangovers." "Traveling gets to be a bit much," says the band's Rick Nielsen. "It's not quite as glamorous as it's made out to be. But, you know, the playing -- that's what counts."

Tickets for Eddie Money will get you 20 years' worth of rock 'n' roll, including songs from his May CD, "Ready Eddie." When he hits the road, it's a family affair.

"The band gets kind of tired of stepping on jelly beans and Cap'n Crunch," Money says, "and they're tired of watching Barney on the bus. But now my lead guitar player is having a baby and a couple of guys in the band bring their kids out."

The Allman Brothers are celebrating their 30th anniversary in the business with the NASCAR Rocks concert tour. "I play for the people that are there," says keyboardist and vocalist Gregg Allman. "I play for the guys on the bandstand, but I play like it's my last one -- like I'd never get to play another one. I've always done that."

The Moody Blues' new "Strange Times" is scheduled for an August 17 release. Their tour is booked to keep them on the road 2001. The band has survived four decades together.

"Like our drummer Graeme (Edge) said, 'I couldn't bear to see the others go on with out ya,'" says vocalist and guitarist Justin Hayward. "So you got to stay in there until the end, really."

"It's like, 'Wow, we're still doing it,' you know?" says Billy Powell of Lynyrd Skynyrd. "Twenty-five years later, we're still doing it. And we still got hair too, I can't believe it."