Should people from a given era play that era's music? To an extent, isn't music age-appropriate, even to the musicians playing it?
It might explain interests, but other than that, I disagree.
If one gets a formal education studying classical music, that person isn't any less adept than, well, you're just not going to find a 200 year old violinist who remembers Beethoven the way it was back in the day. If you go to Berklee and study early jazz, sorry Zutty Singleton isn't here to play it more authentically.
I was (still am) obsessed with The Who from an early age. Never mind Keith Moon was dead before I really knew who he was. When I saw them not long ago, the arena was packed with kids a fraction of my age who knew every song as well as I did. Beatles are still a top selling band almost 40 years since their last album, and Led Zeppelin is still popular with kids.
On the flip side, I may be too old for their demographic, but I saw Linkin Park in concert, and enjoyed every minute of it.
And if I'm playing 2 & 4 to Mustang Sally, well, it doesn't much matter that the song came out before I was born. My buddy plays in a cover band playing all of today's radio hits, including Green Day, and he's older than me.
Music transcends time.
But aside from that, as I said, I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel on being up to date.
Using the internet, myspace and youtube, I'm always up for listen to new bands who are doing something different. I like what's coming out of Europe, because they're not afraid to mix past trends with last Tuesday's innovation with whatever else they feel like, and not just follow whatever the newest, hottest trend.
I'm much more interested in what Katatonia, Before the Dawn, and Ghost Brigade are doing then
just reliving the 1980's (even if I still listen to Aldo Nova and Triumph on CD)
Unless someone just wants to offer me a spot in a Journey tribute band, then I'll make an exception!