When should rock bands stop touring is a question often thrown around at parties, with some people arguing that some bands just are relevant anymore and others going so far as to say some should be in old folks’ homes. With opinions being so diverse, however, the only thing limiting whether a band should tour or not seems to be purely financial. If they can book a tour and fill venues, they can tour. It’s as simple as that.
A common situation is that bands who were popular in certain decades see a resurgence of interest in them and their music as a generation of fans matures not only physically but financially, having more disposable income yet still longing for the bands they grew up on. Recently many 80′s and 90′s bands have begun touring together to capitalize on this trend.
Similarly, once these fans start having children and playing their favorite music to their children, it’s unlikely that their kids will be immune to their parents tastes. Bands that became successful in the 60′s are still touring today because of both their timeless music but also this generational sharing. While some might argue rock ‘dinosaurs’ should stay extinct, while there’s still an audience for them, they’ll be happy to resurrect their careers for many years to come.