The Oppenheimer Report 1/25/16

They’re dropping like flies in the world of Rock 'n’ Roll! Over the past several weeks, three prominent rock stars have kicked the bucket. First up (or down) was Lemmy Kilmister, bassist from the heavy metal band Motorhead, then we lost David Bowie, who passed on at the age of 69, and most recently, Eagles front man Glenn Frey died last week, unexpectedly of complications from rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis. Bowie’s death was certainly a huge shock to fans because he so successfully managed to keep his imminent demise a secret. Glenn Frey was also a surprise and not someone I thought would die before other rock stars who had so publically abused themselves. Ozzy Osbourne may be on injured reserve, and talks as if he is a few spices short of a goulash, but he is still, technically, standing. Keith Richards, well Keith Richards is simply a freak of nature. That guy has ingested enough hard drugs to render the entire country of Liechtenstein comatose, and he’s still playing music. Take that John Denver. Indeed, there is no explaining the fickle finger of fate. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seems poised to legalize marijuana in Canada, there is no better poster boy for the medicinal benefits of weed than the legendary Willie Nelson. The guy has written hundreds of hit songs, made millions, he’s still performing at 82, and he’s smoked so much weed in his long life that you could probably get high from his fingernail clippings.
 

The other day, someone posted a list on Facebook of all the rock stars that are either approaching or are over seventy years of age. The not-so-subtle implication, probably prompted by all the recent high profile deaths, is that time is of the essence if fans want to see these fossil rockers perform one last time before they croak. The other night, I saw a television ad out of Boston for a Billy Joel concert, and it made me chuckle. Joel is now starting to look a little worse for wear, and it is no secret that he was, and maybe still is, a notorious partier. I saw him perform in Buffalo back in the late eighties, and he was a wild man. He put on a great show. In the ad though, I got the distinct feeling that Joel may be a little past his prime. This might be his “Catch Me While You Can Tour.” That, of course, got me to thinking that this could be a whole new way of marketing rock stars, young and old alike. Be the first on your block to share bragging rights with fellow concert goers: “I watched Axel Rose stumble off stage and impale himself on his mic stand. I even bought the video - it was great!” Get ‘em before they flame out.

 

I’ve been reading a book about the “art” of dying, wherein the author, a nurse, addresses the issue of quality vs. quantity of life. She argues (and I agree with her) that while science and technology can prolong a person’s life indefinitely, the ethics of doing so are questionable. Does this benefit the sufferer? She suggests that often it does not, and that we need to become better at letting go and demystifying the inevitable reality of death. Are a patient’s last days best spent undergoing invasive and painful procedures, or taking advantage of that time to properly say farewell to loved ones. DO go gentle into that good night seems to be her message, and it makes a lot of sense to me. Accepting the imminence of death, saying goodbye, and dying peacefully can be a better end than buying a few more months or weeks. I don’t think Lemmy would have been happier if he’d eaten more fruit and vegetables.    

Final note. We in the Great White (Near) North have dodged another bullet as a big winter storm walloped the East Coast late last week. The storm virtually shut down NYC and Washington D.C. for a day, and hundreds of drivers were stranded on the Pennsylvania Turnpike as the winter storm rendered the roads there impassable. Up here, it’s been cold, but we’re laughing. Heck, I was boating on Christmas Day! And yes, I realize it’s not over yet.

 

-Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2016 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-