Rock and Roll Confronts the Unavoidable
One day in my youth, I vividly remember blasting Neil Young’s music in my room when my mother abruptly barged in to complain about the noise level. This was a recurrent issue between us – she believed that loud music would harm my hearing, while I argued that to play Neil Young at a reduced volume would be disrespectful to his artistry. An interesting exchange that I couldn’t help but recall when delving into Jim Windolf’s book, Where the Music Had to Go: How Bob Dylan and the Beatles Changed Each Other-And the World. This engaging read sheds light on how rock and roll transitioned from a mere form of amusement to a profound art form through the notable influence of these musical icons. Equally significant in this evolution was time, as revealed by Paul McCartney’s confession in 2009 that they initially believed the Beatles would only last a couple of years. Joyfully, 64 years later, both Dylan and the Beatles are still actively creating music, showcasing their unwavering devotion to their craft even in their eighties. This enduring commitment to artistry encapsulates a reinterpretation of Theodor Adorno’s concept of “late style.”
As someone who is almost as old as the initial releases from the Beatles and Dylan, I find myself seeking inspiration on graceful aging. Following John Lennon’s example in 1975 of prioritizing family over stardom, I now look up to artists like Dylan, who continues to perform tirelessly on the road, and McCartney, whom I recently saw in concert at the kickoff of his Got Back Tour in 2025. Despite not being a die-hard McCartney fan, his concert left a lasting impact on me as it challenged my preconceived notions. The performance was a blend of nostalgic Beatles classics and fresh interpretations that exuded an air of elegiac reverence. McCartney’s poignant renditions infused with history and loss left an indelible mark, prompting reflection on the passage of time.
In contrast to artists like David Lee Roth, who seem out of touch with reality in their attempts to cling to youth, McCartney, akin to authors like Thomas Pynchon and Paul Simon, reimagines and reinvigorates his body of work through a lens that acknowledges the relationship between the past and present. This evolution towards a late style in rock and roll was inconceivable during the rebellious era of the 1960s and ’70s when rock and roll was synonymous with youth, rebellion, and a disregard for adult authority. However, as highlighted in Windolf’s book, the evolution of rock and roll strived for sophistication and artistic depth over time, symbolized by pivotal moments such as Dylan’s shift to electric music and George Martin’s orchestral arrangement in McCartney’s “Yesterday.” The book elegantly conveys how rock and roll continually evolves, expanding its boundaries and complexity as it matures.
The notion of a late style in rock and roll epitomizes the profound transformation of the genre from mere entertainment to high artistry. This journey, with Dylan and McCartney at its core, encapsulates a blend of nostalgia, loss, and respect for the past while paving the way for innovative reinterpretations of their body of work. As the musical icons continue to push boundaries and reinvent their music, they offer valuable insights on embracing the inevitable process of aging with grace and resilience.