I can't really add anything to this, I think Caryl pretty much said it all. Meat still has quite a few years left in him both in the music and with acting, so I think its a bit premature to start planning a retirement party. When he does retire, we will always have all the albums and the live material, hell we may even get additional old live material released. Plus I have many great memories from concerts that I'll never forget.

And if he decides to open that sports bar he has been talking, then I will probably go try it out.

:twisted: Apparently Jesus has booked tickets for opening night :p

That's your opinion, and you are entitled to it, but many on the forum would disagree.
He may sing them different to how he used to, but there's a big difference between "singing different" and "not doing justice" :shrug:



He's 60 odd and singing the toughest songs on the block.
Not many people would find that easy, but from the performance I saw on the last tour it wasn't more than Meat could handle.
Did you get to see him on the last tour Steve?
There was no lack of power :lol:


But to be fair the thread (for those who are inclined to discuss the idea :shrug: ) is about what will Meat will do when he hangs up his mic, not wether Meat has still got it or not.

That path leads to the dark side :bleh: and is not going to keep the thread open very long, so back on topic please :up:

I find this topic interesting, but I'm also going to also question whether it's necessary, and I'll explain it as follows.

People have to remember Meat is in the entertainment business. He's not playing in the NFL or NHL, where retirement is inevitable once you get into your mid 30s (well that's hows it is for rugby players, soccer players, and GAA players :D unless you get a serious injury during your career) But as a musician and actor, he could be 100 and still doing what he loves, and be busy. Meat doesn't have to be doing live concerts in huge arenas to continue entertaining people musically. If you wanted him to take on a lighter work load, then couldn't he always go on tour and do something like Storytellers, or act in musicals again? Wouldn't be as physically draining, but could still be just as popular and entertaining all the same.

There seems to be an "inevitable doom", for Meat in this thread, and I deem a little bit too premature, especially when you look at the bigger picture.

I'll only say this Meat is 64 years young and he can still entertain audiences, like no one else ! When he performs or makes an album every song, only he can bring it as a story, he puts his emotion and effort in it, it shows! Even if he would be 90 years old he could still do that !!! And another thing, Meat is irreplaceable !!!!!!

I assume your life expectancy must exceed mine.

If that is "semi-retirement" I'd hate to see full retirement - must resemble rigor mortis.

I'll say this though, I really hope Meat doesn't do a Steinman, and go into isolation for years and do nothing, and create nothing new. Meat should always keep one foot in the door, and not neglect his profession compeletely, even if he only does minor projects.

Exactly :-)

Caryl

In terms of bums on seats at shows I guess you're right, but in terms of media interest and public profile then Meat wins hands down.

But he was by far the best, and sang more, for longer, than anyone else.

Seriously? Have you any idea what it's like being cast in a decent musical? Arguably more work, harder, more consistent than touring in a fully fledged rock band. I've seen people destroyed by theatre. Vocally and mentally. It's a tough gig. Unless you're 25. Even then, it's a tough gig.

Well he has always told us to never, ever stop rockin', so one would assume he will not stop either.

I agree with you. In musicals, don't they do about 8 shows a week (and 2 shows a day on certain days)? That would be exhausting.

i hope he does whatever makes him happy

Hear Hear! Personally, I cannot wait until retirement age so I can throw away the alarm clock. Only snag is that I am approximately just half way through my shift!
Meat owes us absolutely zilch. Except maybe just one more tour?
And then we can all live happily ever after.

And Meat LOVES his creative work, so may think very differently. When has he even mentioned retiring? He is working on his newest album, talking about the next ones. And he is about more than going on tour.

It's not about him "owing" anybody anything or not. What creative work he does, what he may move out of and into, is something that's down to him, his motivations, his incredible drive, and what he loves to do.

He has said he'll like Take Me Out To The Ball Park played at his funeral .. and God willing that's many, many years away. What he does between now and then is entirely up to him, and imo he'll do what he loves, what moves him, what grows him, what makes him the vital young-at-heart man he is .. and speculating about his "retirement" or giving him "permission" to make his own choices and decisions seems to me to be totally bizarre, just as is discussing who might fill his shoes which to me seems to smack of putting him out to grass when he shows no evidence of being anything but still energetic, creative, enthusiastic, and doing what he's loves to do.

Caryl

completely unrelated to anything in this thread apart from that one line, lol, ironically enough it was a 1995 interview for the then new album, and meat said he fought with the record company, and he wasn't going to put a hell in the title unless it was him and jim, they wanted to call it escape from hell , and meat said he'd retire if they did... i'm paraphrasing of course

but alot of time has passed since then, and we should be grateful for any treasures we have received :-)