This post won’t be about the courts or crime—so please keep reading.  Something struck me the other day I wanted to share.  I saw the new film Danny Collins with Al Pacino and Annette Benning.  It’s a great film and both of the actors do a great job.  I was especially impressed by how Pacino has aged but still can act.  So, what does it have to do with the Rolling Stones?

Here are some thoughts:

—Danny Collins is loosely based on a real story.  In the film, Danny Collins (Pacino) is an aging rock star who endlessly tours in order to make money to support his extravagant life style.  He hates it and keeps singing the same songs over and over.  His manager gives him a letter, originally sent by John Lennon to Collins when Collins was first hitting it big.  Lennon reminds Collins to be “true to the music and to yourself”—something that Collins has strayed far from.

—The Rolling Stones are one of my (everyone’s) favorite bands and each song carries with it so many memories for me.  They are touring the US this summer. http://www.rollingstones.com/  On the one hand, I respect the fact that, now in their 70s, they still get up and strut their stuff.  But . . .

—Not only are they performing the same kind of music, they are also performing the very same songs!  Here’s my question: besides the money, don’t they get bored?  How many times can you growl when you sing Satisfaction as if it’s something new?  How can they do it?

—I think they should take a lesson from John Lennon and Danny Collins.  At the end of the film, Collins vows to write new songs and “be true to himself” instead of pandering to the crowds just for money.  He believes he can still make money with the new material.

—As musicians, why wouldn’t the Rolling Stones want to create new music?  Try new things?  The Beatles evolved month by month while they were still together.

Does anyone else think this way?  Or should I forget it and just pay the $300+ to sea/hear the Rolling Stones do the same, old songs??  Instead of calling the tour the “Zip Code Tour,” maybe they should take the words of Joe Walsh who talked about an Eagles tour years ago:  “Maybe we should call this the Assisted Care Tour.”