Are artists most productive in their 20's to mid 30s and "dry up" afterwards? I noticed the quality of many of my favorite "60-70's classic rock artist" began dropping as they got deeper into their 30's. (Even the individual Beatles never reached the same heights as their collective younger works.) I think Page fits here. His first 5 Zep records rank among the rock canon of classics while the latter Zep albums were forgetable as he entered his 30's. With a few exceptions of this era, many artists simply ran out of "hook lines, memorable riffs, and revelancy" comparable to their 20's output. This leads me to encourage teens and 20-somethings to use this window of life to take chances - be daring, push the boundries, and follow their own muse, just as Page, Dylan, Beatles, Elvis, Simon & Garfunkel, Allman Brothers, Santana, The Who, Stones, and others did. For most artists the most fertile period is a window of a short decade or two. After that, you pray the royalty checks will carry you through to hopefully your next career. Audiogoners, what do you say?
