While there has been quite a lot of talent in the music scene recently that’s come from young people, the old classics have stood the test of time and more still perform than what you would think. Here are some of the oldest bands still performing today.
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is one of the most well known rock bands on the entire planet and even though they started in 1970, have been active for a total of 50 years, and their oldest member is 71 years old, they still remain immensely popular.
The band originated in Boston, Massachusetts in 1970 with the members Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer, and Ray Tabano. Tabano was replaced in 1971 by Brad Whitford and even though Perry and Whitford left the band in 1979 and 1981, they reunited with the band in 1984 after the band’s album Rock in a Hard Place didn’t do as well as the band’s previous work.
They maintain the record as the best selling American hard rock band of all time with a total of 150 million records sold worldwide and 70 million in the US. They are currently tied with AC/DC for the most multi-platnium certifications by the RIAA.
Their most recent performance was at the 2020 Grammy Awards.
AC/DC
Only a few years younger than Aerosmith, AC/DC has been operating a total of 47 years. They were formed in Sydney, Australia in 1973 with original members Malcolm and Angus Young, Bon Scott, Phil Rud, and Mark Evans.
The original lead singer of the band, Bon Scott, died of alcohol poisoning in 1980 and founding member Malcolm Young was forced into retirement in 2014 due to dementia. Multiple lineup changes have occurred over the years, with as many as 12 different members having been in the band at one point or another.
The band is the 10th highest selling artist in the United States and the 14th highest internationally. Its album Back in Black holds the record for the highest selling album by any band.
Their most recent tour was their Rock or Bust World Tour.
Bad Company
Bad Company is an English hard rock band that was formed the same year as AC/DC, 1973. Original members included Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke, and bassist Boz Burrell. They’ve had a total of 16 different members in the band over those 47 years.
Even though they’re not as popular as Aerosmith or AC/DC, Bad Company has still sold an impressive 15.5 million albums in the United States. Their most famous song had the title of their name, “Bad Company” and was released in 1974.
Their most recent performance was in The Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour.
Blue Öyster Cult
This band was formed in 1967 and is only a few years older than Aerosmith. The were formed by guitarist Buck Charma, drummer Albert Bouchard, keyboardist Allen Lanier, singers Jeff Kagel, and Les Braunstein, and bassist Andrew Winters. Today, Blue Öyster Cult consists of Buck Dharma, Eric Bloom, Danny Miranda, Richie Castellano, and Jules Radino.
Their most popular song of all time is “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”, released in 1976. They’ve stated recently that they will be releasing a new album in 2020.
Blondie
Blondie, best known for the song “Heart of Glass”, got their start in 1974 with founding singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. Even though the group disbanded in 1982, they reunited in 1997 and achieved a number one single with “Maria” in the United Kingdom in 1999.
Over the band’s career, it has released a total of 11 studio albums with the most recent one, Pollinator, having been released in May of 2017. Blondie’s most popular song “Heart of Glass” has won multiple awards and was ranked on the UK’s list of best selling singles of all time at position 66.
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi was formed in 1983 by Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan, Tico Torres, Phil X, and Hugh McDonald. The original group still remains together today, even though two other members had played with them at one point, Alec John Such and Richie Sambora, were dismissed and left respectively.
They are one of the best selling American rock bands of all time and have sold over 100 million records internationally. Their most popular song is “Livin’ on a Prayer”, which was released in 1986 on the album Slippery When Wet.
The group performed on April 29th in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the BMO Harris Bradley Center before they were officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their most recent album will be released in 2020.
Poison
Poison formed 37 years ago in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and is still performing as a glam metal, hard rock band. Original band members included Bret Michaels, Matt Smith, Bobby Dall, and Rikki Rockett.
Over the course of their career, they have released 28 radio singles, seven studio albums, four live albums, and five compilation albums. They were ranked by VH1 as the #1 band in their 2012 list of the top hair bands of the ’80s.
Even though they haven’t released a new album since 2002, they’ve toured as recently as 2018 and are scheduled to be in The Stadium Tour with Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.