In 1989, Cher scored a #1 hit on the Billboard charts by singing about what she would do if she could turn back time. Nearly 30 years later, Cher is 71 years old and still out on the road performing for adoring fans. But it's not just Cher who's still rocking long after turning 50 – musical legends across every genre of music are reliving their glory days and performing in venues all over the world. These over-the-hill artists are proving that there's no need to turn back time because for them, age ain't nothing but a number.
For this list of musicians over 50 who are still touring, we turned to music industry tour tracker Pollstar as well as artists' personal websites to determine which musicians were still logging hours on the road. To qualify for the list, the artist had to be over 50 years old as of May 11, 2018. Read on to see which hitmakers are using their golden years to perform their greatest hits.
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Date of birth: May 9, 1949
The Piano Man has been going strong since signing his first solo recording contract in 1972. More recently, Joel has been playing one show a month at Madison Square Garden since January 2014 as part of his residency there. He’ll be touring major stadiums including Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Boston’s Fenway Park all year long, and this December will mark his 105th performance at MSG.
Date of birth: May 20, 1946
She’s got you, babe, and Cher (born Cherilyn Sarkisian) has had you since the days of her musical partnership with Sonny Bono in the 1960s. Now she has limited engagements for weeks at a time at venues including the Park Theater at the Monte Carlo in Las Vegas and The Theater at MGM National Harbor outside of Washington, D.C.
Date of birth: June 29, 1948
The only original member of Deep Purple still with the band is drummer Ian Paice, who’s been on the skins since Deep Purple first found fame in the late ‘60s. The roster may have changed over the years, but Deep Purple was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 and is back on the road playing everywhere from Moscow to Minnesota on this year’s tour.
Date of birth: May 5, 1959
Liverpool may be best known as the birthplace of The Beatles, but the city also claims Echo & the Bunnymen as their own. Singer and guitarist Ian McCulloch left the band after its most popular stretch in the '80s, but returned in the '90s, and the enigmatic band has been touring ever since. They’re playing a run in the U.K. later this spring and then head to the U.S. over the summer.
Date of birth: June 24, 1947
This year Fleetwood Mac fans were shocked to discover that lead guitarist Lindsey Buckingham would no longer be performing with the band. The legendary rockers have stood the test of time for over 50 years since their inception in 1967 and just announced a plan to embark on a North American tour of more than 50 cities that lasts well into 2019.
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Date of birth: Aug. 26, 1966
Garbage scored a string of big-time alternative rock hits in the mid-'90s with lead singer Shirley Manson providing the sultry vocals and album sales topping 17 million records. Manson is the youngest in the band at 51 while the other band members’ ages range from 59 to 67. Garbage heads out this fall to Europe and America for a two-month tour in support of their new 20th anniversary remix edition of their hit album “Version 2.0.”
Date of birth: March 31, 1935
Jazzman Herb Alpert is not just an iconic trumpeter from his days performing with The Tijuana Brass. He’s also the “A” in world-renowned record label A&M Records. With nine Grammys to his credit, the 83-year-old is still blowing his horn at smaller shows across the United States.
Date of birth: May 16, 1966
Janet Jackson transformed pop music as a singing, acting, and dancing sex symbol in the '80s and '90s, ultimately selling more than 100 million recordings. Her escapades show no signs of stopping as she serves as the headliner for the Essence Festival in New Orleans this July and embarks on her “State of the World” tour.
Date of birth: Aug. 25, 1951
The British heavy metal rockers of Judas Priest have been destroying eardrums since 1969, but they didn’t explode into international stardom until 1980’s “British Steel,” an album that Rolling Stone calls the #3 Greatest Metal Album of All Time. They’re currently traversing the globe with stops in Mexico, Poland, and Greece, among others.
Date of birth: July 29, 1966
Country music songstress Martina McBride got her start in the early '90s with major pop-country crossover hits like "The Time Has Come" and "A Broken Wing." In addition to touring, McBride heads up Team Music is Love, a philanthropic organization that does everything from diaper donations in Nashville to disaster relief for hurricane victims.
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Date of birth: July 9, 1959
This Scottish band may be best known for their “Breakfast Club” hit “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” but their impact on Scottish music is much bigger than just a single soundtrack song. Originally formed in 1977, the band has scored six #1 albums in the U.K., and they’re heading all over the world this summer in support of their newest album, “Walk Between Worlds.”
Date of birth: April 3, 1944
The family-friendly crooner has been working steadily since his teenage Brill Building days in the early '60s. His hit song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree,” a tribute to military personnel returning home after their service, was a #1 Billboard hit. Today, 74-year-old Orlando is still performing regularly on the casino arena circuit.
Date of birth: Jan. 21, 1941
The Spanish-born opera star become an international sensation as one of the Three Tenors and has performed in close to 4,000 shows with his soaring voice nonstop since the '60s. His current tour features him conducting and singing in operas around the world deep into the summer of 2019.
Date of birth: June 14, 1961
This British band stood out as karma chameleons of the '80s pop scene, thanks to their catchy songs and the flamboyant cross-dressing of lead singer Boy George. While George left for a successful solo career, he rejoined the group on and off over the years, and permanently came back in 2016. Culture Club hits North America this summer with fellow '80s hitmakers The B-52s and the Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey.
Date of birth: Jan. 13, 1961
Indie rock darlings The Flaming Lips may have been the pride of Oklahoma City's music scene in the '80s, but they didn't start winning critical acclaim until 1993 with the release of "She Don't Use Jelly." In 1999, the music world went crazy for the album "The Soft Bulletin," and the success continued with six Grammy nominations and three wins. Singer Wayne Coyne has led the group since the beginning, and they've been touring extensively for decades.
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Date of birth: Jan. 17, 1955
As one of the most well-respected singer-songwriters in folk and country music today, Steve Earle has written songs for everyone from Travis Tritt to Johnny Cash. The bearded troubadour is currently playing smaller U.S. shows with his band The Dukes until June, when he will head to Europe for the next leg of the journey.
Date of birth: Sept. 12, 1966
Singer-songwriter-photographer Ben Folds started his musical career in North Carolina in the mid-90s, and after his eponymous band Ben Folds Five broke up, he became equally successful as a solo artist. Folds is playing national and international dates all summer long, including a show backed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Date of birth: Feb. 4, 1948
Metal superstar Alice Cooper, born Vincent Furnier, first made waves in the music scene as part of his self-named band back in the late '60s and early '70s. Cooper really made his mark as a solo artist, almost always seen with his trademark dark eye makeup. He’ll be back on the road this August playing dates around the U.S.
Date of birth: Dec. 5, 1965
The '90s wouldn’t be the same without the Goo Goo Dolls, who formed in 1986 in Buffalo, N.Y. Their hit song “Iris” was recently certified as 4x Platinum, meaning it’s sold over 4 million copies. This summer, the Goo Goo Dolls are playing club and festival shows all over the planet.
Date of birth: April 12, 1957
Gill earned his spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame with a career that stretches back to the late 70s in the band Pure Prairie League. His solo career has garnered him 44 Grammy nominations and 21 wins with the Country Music Academy bestowing even more awards upon him, including five consecutive Male Vocalist of the Year awards. Gill's back on the road right now and will finish the year with a month of shows at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
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Date of birth: June 20, 1942
Brian Wilson is best known as the mastermind behind the Beach Boys, but he’s found great success over the past 30 years as a solo artist, as well. Wilson had a full spring/summer tour planned for this year, but back surgery has sidelined him for the moment.
Date of birth: Aug. 1, 1964
Counting Crows lead singer Adam Duritz still sports his signature dreadlocks at 53 years old, and fans are still flocking to Crows shows to hear hits like “Mr. Jones” and “Hanginaround.” The band even nabbed an Academy Award nomination for their "Shrek 2" tune “Accidentally in Love.” Counting Crows plays a full American summer tour starting in late June.
Date of birth: March 7, 1967
The name of the band comes from Monty Python, and they’ve been rocking the alternative scene since the mid-'80s with hits like “Walk On the Ocean” and “All I Want,” which hit #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1992. Toad the Wet Sprocket broke up in 1998, but reformed officially in 2009, and they’ve been touring ever since.
Date of birth: April 29, 1933
One of the most recognizable faces in country music, 85-year-old Willie Nelson is synonymous with touring. In fact, his tour bus is almost as much of a legend as him. Nelson’s on the road with Alison Krauss and some of the biggest names in country all summer long as part of the Outlaw Music Fest.
Date of birth: June 17, 1943
Known for beloved songs like "Mandy" and "Copacabana," Manilow has sold more than 80 million records worldwide since his career began in the early 1970s. He mainly plays the Westgate International Theater at the Westgate Las Vegas these days, but fans can catch Manilow all over this summer, from Mexico City to Canada to England.
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Date of birth: Nov. 23, 1954
Bruce Hornsby is a rock piano legend, and that’s just the way it is. He’s played with his own band, The Range, as well as the Grateful Dead for a stint in the early '90s. His tour this year starts in late May with his latest band, The Noisemakers.
Date of birth: July 7, 1940
It’s not every day that a person can say they saw a Beatle perform live, but luckily Ringo and his All-Starr Band are traversing the globe from June through September of this year. Starr started his career as the drummer for The Beatles, and he’s been playing solo since his 1970 album “Sentimental Journey.”
Date of birth: Jan. 10, 1948
Together, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker became Steely Dan in 1972. They split up in the '80s, but reunited in 1993 and went back on the road. Becker passed away in 2017, but Fagen has continued to tour as Steely Dan with dates all summer long, accompanied by the Doobie Brothers.
Date of birth: April 8, 1947
Despite no official founding members remaining, Yes still exists as one of the most well-known progressive rock bands in history. Steve Howe has played guitar for Yes since 1970 (with a few breaks in between) and now leads the group on their current 50th Anniversary tour.
Date of birth: June 11, 1950
Heroes of Australian soft rock, Air Supply has been jamming as a duo since 1975. Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock found love to be their greatest inspiration with hits like "All Out of Love" and "Making Love Out of Nothing at All." Fans of amorous ballads can find Air Supply still rocking this summer across America.
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Date of birth: July 1, 1951
Whether you like to roam the world, spend time with rock lobsters, or visit love shacks, the new-wave rock sound of the B-52s is undeniable. The 40-year-old Athens, Ga., band is touring all summer long throughout the U.S.
Date of birth: Sept. 23, 1949
The Boss truly earned his nickname by becoming one of the biggest names in rock in the 70s and 80s, with massive hits ranging from “Born to Run” to “Born in the U.S.A.,” along with popular tunes with titles that don’t include the word “born.” Springsteen isn’t hitting the road this year, but he’s still performing regularly in his sold-out Broadway show, "Springsteen on Broadway."
Dates of birth: Dec. 9, 1957 and Oct. 13, 1959
She’s a little country and he’s a little bit rock & roll, but this sibling singing act has been picking up fans since the '70s. They’re touring the casino circuit on a limited basis this summer, but they can be found the rest of the year at the Flamingo Las Vegas.
Date of birth: May 26, 1945
It’s slightly ironic that a Canadian rock band would score their biggest hit with “American Woman.” After starting out in the late '50s and early '60s, The Guess Who transformed quite a bit in terms of music and band composition. Today, Garry Peterson is the only remaining member from the original incarnation of the band, which is out on limited tour this summer.
Date of birth: Sept. 7, 1951
Chrissie Hynde has been at the microphone for The Pretenders since their debut in 1978. Their biggest hits — "I'll Stand By You" and "Back on the Chain Gang" — are instantly recognizable and led to the group being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. This summer, The Pretenders embark on tour across the U.S. and U.K.
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Date of birth: Sept. 16, 1963
In 1987, Marx made his debut with a self-titled album that sold over 3 million copies in the United States alone. Thirty years later, Marx is still touring with shows around the U.S. this summer and even a few in Argentina and Chile.
Date of birth: March 26, 1948
Most people know Steven Tyler as the lead singer of Aerosmith or as a judge on "American Idol," but Tyler also indulges a solo career once in a while. This summer, he’s hitting the road and heading to Europe, Canada, and the U.S., backed by Nashville’s Loving Mary Band.
Date of birth: Oct. 23, 1956
This country music superstar has seven platinum albums, three golds, and 14 Billboard Top 10 hits. Yoakam’s debut album came out in 1986 and brought honky tonk back to the country scene. Today, the country crooner tours around the country with a heavy lineup of concerts.
Date of birth: April 17, 1967
Twenty-five years ago, Liz Phair debuted “Exile in Guyville,” and the world went crazy for her straightforward stance on sex. Now the indie rock chanteuse is embarking on a mostly sold-out tour of small club shows in the U.S. With a seven LP set just released and new songs with Ryan Adams on the way, it appears the best is yet to come for Phair.
Date of birth: Oct. 13, 1941
Paul Simon has been a mainstay of the American folk scene since his days performing in Simon & Garfunkel. With awards from Grammys to Kennedy Center Honors, Simon has become a household name and helped bring traditional African music into American consciousness. This year Simon announced his "Homeward Bound" farewell tour, which will conclude in New York in September 2018.
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Date of birth: May 29, 1961
Melissa Etheridge released her self-titled debut album in 1988 and found success immediately. Since then, she’s become one of the most well-known female singer-songwriters of the past 30 years. Her current tour has her crossing the country and playing iconic venues like the Kennedy Center in D.C. and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
Date of birth: Feb. 26, 1953
Bolton is best known for his pop ballads, seducing the world with songs like his cover of “When a Man Loves a Woman,” a #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit. With a career spanning from the '70s to today, Bolton has become a Renaissance man of sorts as a singer, actor and film producer. His new documentary “American Dream: Detroit” premieres on May 15, but fans can see Bolton perform in the Northeast later in the summer.
Date of birth: Nov. 30, 1955
Billy Idol made his reputation as an incorrigible British punk rocker with songs that get still regular radio airplay, like “Rebel Yell” and “White Wedding.” Now he’s in his 60s and still releasing new albums and touring.
Date of birth: Oct. 9, 1948
With 11 albums that have gone either gold or platinum — “Running on Empty” is certified platinum seven times over — the easy rocker has created quite the legacy for himself since his career began in the late 1960s. He’ll be performing across the U.S. this summer with his last show scheduled for the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2018.
Date of birth: Jan. 9, 1941
Folk music wouldn't be the same without Joan Baez. She gave her first concert at the Newport Folk Festival in 1959 and never looked back. She's currently on her "Fare Thee Well" tour, which is scheduled all the way into 2019.
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Date of birth: Aug. 3, 1963
Metallica is one of the undisputed champions of heavy metal with eight Grammy wins spanning from 1989 all the way to 2017. Just as impressively, the kings of metal also have six different #1 albums on the Billboard 200 charts. James, Lars, and the rest of the band are constantly on tour, and they’ve already sold out shows as far off as March 2019.
Date of birth: May 28, 1945
John Fogerty began his career as one of the founders of Creedence Clearwater Revival, but his solo career that started in 1972 is just as impressive. Rolling Stone magazine even named him #72 on their list of the 100 greatest singers of all time. He’ll be performing with ZZ Top all summer long as part of the "Blues and Bayous" tour.
Date of birth: Sept. 22, 1958
There’s no question about it: Joan Jett loves rock and roll. The leather-clad rocker was originally a member of The Runaways but formed her own group called Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and scored three top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Nowadays Joan and her crew are touring across America with fellow '80s acts Styx and Tesla.
Date of birth: July 26, 1943
There’s a good chance The Rolling Stones won’t stop touring until every member of the band is dead. They play sold-out shows every summer, and nobody disputes their status as one of the world’s most legendary rock bands. This summer, Mick, Keith, Charlie, and Ronnie are sticking around Europe for their “No Filter” tour.
Date of birth: Sept. 10, 1942
Three Dog Night brought joy to the world in 1967 when they first formed and they cranked out Americana classics all through the '70s. Only singer Danny Hutton has been around for the band's entire tenure, but the band is still touring on a regular basis all over the United States.
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