THE ROCKERS WHO REFUSE TO AGE

THE SECRET OF AGING ROCK STARS

What the hell is in the music?

I saw AC/DC last night.

And I walked out thinking, what the hell? How are these guys still doing this?

Brian Johnson is 78. Angus Young is 71.

And Angus was running around that stage, duck-walking, throwing himself into those guitar riffs and then playing this long, absolutely blistering guitar solo like he was 30 years younger.

The energy was insane.

And meanwhile, there are days when I can't even get off the couch.

That got me thinking about the rock and metal legends who just refuse to slow down.

AC/DC. Iron Maiden. Judas Priest, and many more.

Decades into their careers, they're still getting on planes, getting on stages and performing with an intensity that would be impressive at any age.

So what the heck is going on?

Maybe there really is something about the music.

Music is a serious workout for the brain. Performing requires memory, concentration, timing, coordination and auditory processing all at the same time. Research suggests that lifelong musical engagement may help support cognitive function and something called cognitive reserve, which may help the brain handle some of the changes that come with aging.

And then there's the physical part.

These musicians aren't sitting around listening to their own music.

They're performing it.

They're rehearsing. They're moving. They're singing. They're playing. They're traveling. They're showing up.

And maybe the biggest thing is purpose.

Think about it.

You're 78.

Thousands of people are waiting for you tonight.

You have somewhere to be.

Something you're damn good at.

Something you still love.

That's powerful.

Now, obviously, we can't ignore the other side of the story.

A lot of these musicians came from a generation known for drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, sleepless nights and some seriously excessive rock-and-roll lifestyles.

But there's a thing called survivorship bias.

We're looking at the ones who made it.

A lot of people didn't.

So I'm definitely not saying that rock-and-roll excess is some secret recipe for living longer.

I'm wondering if maybe the answer is something a lot simpler.

Stay engaged. Stay moving. Stay connected. Have something that makes you want to get your ass out of bed in the morning.

Maybe that's what music has given these guys all these years.

And watching AC/DC last night, I realized something. (Yes, the power of listening to heavy metal keeps us young too)

I wasn't looking at a bunch of old rock stars.

I was looking at people who still had fire.

And maybe that's the part we should all hold onto.

Because watching Angus Young tear through that guitar solo, I had one thought:

Maybe I'm not done yet, either.