I'd like to say that age doesn't matter but I think that's a bit of a romantic notion.  On one hand, you could be the best thing for the band, adding some maturity/perspective, dare I say "history" , keeping things a bit level.  If the band mates don't have a problem with your age and you click musically it could be great, after all they aren't 19 year olds.  And I assume you are not the front man so for a the fans that are focused on the guys out front, you shouldn't be aaaaaa, hmmmm, distraction .  I get a bit perturbed when I see a posting for a drummer and the requirement is "under 30" - but on the other hand, a lot of kids paying to see a band probably don't want to be looking at musicians their parents age - BUT I don't think your in that situation.  So, maybe the main thing to be concerned with is 1) do you click musically, 2) will you be comfortable being the elder and having to go along with all that entails?  Good luck with it, whatever you decide. 

Hey George my man, are you an asset to the band?. Youve come up listening to the greatest rock drummers the world has ever seen or ever WILL. Take that experience with you. Hey, get some hair color for men, hit the gym each week, eat good, get testerone replacement therepy from your doctor and rock your butt off until Jesus gets back. Im serious.

Yep, I don't think old....But it's hard to teach those young dogs in the end. After all is said and done, those guys may be sitting around and saying, "That old dog sure could play." But I have my doubts making it just because they may be looking at my age difference for the "image" of the band. I may be wrong, but only I can talk with them, play with them, and prove myself as a better pick. I have another saying that's comes from experience, "It's hard to teach young dogs old tricks if they don't listen".  But it's their choice not mine. The best I can do is show them ME. I'm ready, the question is: Are they ready for ME? Time will tell....By the way, I'm 60. 

I'm 30, my bass player is 20.

He parties way harder than I do, but when I was 20 I was pretty much the same.  I'm hoping I'm a good influence on him, instead of acting 20 myself!

Yes, completely true.
What I really wonder is how you can get along with four other people who, only because they're 14-18 years younger than you, have a totally different image or idea of the world. OK, music and the presumably well-going band keeps you all together, but how can you be friends and what will you talk about apart from music?
(I think the members of a serious and honest band with ambition and good chances for a long-term project should be friends and care for each other, and always feel very good together - not only on stage or in the rehearsal room, but also when they're doing just anything...)

Although this is what we all would likely want, I don't think it means you have to be good friends to have a successful working relationship.  A lot depends on the professionalism of each member.  I'm sure we could all think of great bands that had great musical chemistry but didn't hang out off stage if they could avoid it.  After all, for many, it's a job. Is this a possible stepping stone to better things.  Does this look like the best opportunity for you at this point in your career? Do you have a lot of other options?  Do you really want to do it?  Are you in the kind of physical shape need for touring?  Lots of things to consider but I wouldn't be afraid to do it simply because the others come from a different background.  Good luck and keep us posted.

I'm 17.....my bass player is 44 and my guitar player 30.   I consider myself lucky to have their experience and maturity. 

Hannah

Just don't get all high and mighty on someone that is younger than yourself:

1.) they could have played as long or as longer than you *time spent on instrument*

2.) they might have come from a much richer musical background

3.) they might just have, plain and simple, more talent- and that trumps experience alot of the time.

So basically, age is not a factor in my book.  You can give and take to and from all ages.

I'll second that....I may now walk with a cane, and now have a beard. But once set up I'll stick with them on any style of music. That is, except rap! Can't stand singers who can't sing.   

I resently booked a Jazz band for pur Lions Club Xmas party. I know a number of the guys from bands I worked with in the past. What I didn't know was that the guitarist was aman from my past. We worked together when I was coming up in the ranks as a teen thru my mid thirties, When out members saw this eighty-four year old man, they had quit alot of crude remarks concerning his him. All I said was, what and see what he can do. Well, he put on a show that made our guys feel ashamed of what they had said. This man didn't miss a beat. IMHO he was as good today as he was thirty years ago. This was the main reason he was playin with this band. Expeirence won out in this situation. He not only had the respect of his band members, but the the gretest respect from our club members and friends. Age, grey hair, wrinckles and all signs of older age dieappeared in a heart beat. Then just for a kick, since they were taking requests, I had  our president request Tiger Rag. It brought down the house. Several days later I had out president over to my house to listen to a tape of the same tune, by the same man witrh another band back in 1961. Hecouldn't believe it was the same person.I can't make this long story short, but it's not the phyical age of the musician, however, the mental age instead. Also the condition he has kept himself in over the years. Daily work outs , and keeping up with the music of today as well as the music of yesterday/yesteryear. Respect the person for what he/she knows and can teach you, not for how old he/she looks. You may be pleasently surprised. Sorry for the length of this post, but I had to get this off my cheast. Another twenty years and hopefully I'll be that same age and I can only hope my condition will be close to his . He is fantastic. Pround to have played with this man and others like him.

absolutely agree!!

My wife is almost 10 years older than me, and it's still funny to us to see some people's shock when they initially discover our age difference.  Many find it impossible to comprehend... I have no idea why.

I'm significantly older than anyone in my band, and there are no issues.  We don't hang out apart from gigs and practices.  That's preferable to me, since I'm just not interested in the same scene that they are. 

There was a young lady who said basically the same thing to me a couple years ago and I told her "Yeah, it surprises me how many young girls have a skewed perspective of age and how it relates to music music!"  We have been good friends since.  On a side note, I was running sound for a Church today.  After services I was playing "Blessed Assurance" by Michael English.  It is a really Bluesy version of an old old song.  As I was shutting down the system one of the guitar players started playing and i figured why not.  For the first time in 14 months I played a little drums.  I didn't get carried away but it felt good to be behind the kit again.  We had a great time for about 15 minutes then I thought I better quit and see how the shoulder does tonight and tomorrow.  Who knows, I may shorten up on the wait to heal more. 

As long as everybody is cool with the arrangement, it works out just fine.  It is proactive of you to think about it, and hopefully the age difference won't be an issue where it really matters, which of course is on the bandstand. 

There have been instances where I was interested in joining bands, but my age was a barrier.