Musicians (mainly gutar) What do you think of this statement from Steve Lukater?

Question

...the guy from Toto. This us from Ultimate-guitar.com and the whole interivew can be found there. Btw don't judge him just on Toto-he's a great muisican

It’s a different world; it’s hard to be a musician, a working musician. There’s rock star spurts, where you can be a rock star for two or three years and then you lose all your money and lose everything; you’re twenty-two years old and what the **** are you going to do with yourself? You’re not good enough to be a sideman, you know. What are you going to do? Practice ‘til your thirty and then who is going to hire you?

Now, myself i see a lot of guitarist over 30 backing up solo singers (for example some of the bands nobodys heard of peforming on late night shows). I can understand if you are trying to me a Rock star and be all over MTV, but that statement kinda bothered me. I'm 30 and really coming into my own as a musician, am constantly learning, plus i take care of myself and look good...so don't take the wind out of my

Answer 1

He's kind of right - Very few NEW artists get their start or break after 30.  Its the "kids" that kick start your career and if you look like their parents, thats not a good start.  But, you never know.  I'm 37 and still play.  I'm not expecting a record deal and world tour, just having fun.

Answer 2

You know, I've been playing music since I was 11. I'm in my 30s now and I never stopped getting better. Like the fellow on top said, I am also not expecting a record deal or a world tour. I do it because I love it. I love the fact that I have to power to create a mood or an emotion in someone. Sometimes when everything is just right, I could feel what my audience feels. And those times are what I live for. Music isn't my source of income and I don't write as much as I did before. Life has become a bit hectic and finding inspiration is hard now that the world has become louder. Don't let someone's point of view take the wind off your sails, it's just an opinion and I agree with it to some extent. Vanity sells that's it. Still do you think I'd pass up listening to Al Dimeola over some cutesey "rich boy having a fit rock band"? h**l NO. Stick with it and do your own thing.

Answer 3

I think SL was referring to frontmen.

I'm not a pro but I certainly see your point. You find out things about yourself that only years, experience, and maturity can bring on. I found that if I wrote songs that suited my limited range as a tenor I can sing quite well. I'm not wasting my time or effort on trying to fit the latest de jure style or ruining my voice.

The same goes with playing. I'm not going to be a Satriani or Vai. Instead, I've learned to work with what I got and sort of add more notes through hammer-ons and pull-offs. I tend to concentrate on melodic styles like the blues instead of sheer speed.

As far as age, I am far better now than I was in my 20s. What really keeps me going is for far more selfish reasons. I still dig it.