Triviahead: Alexis Petridis' review of Jerry Lee Lewis' new album Last Man Standing today is not so much a lament to decayed genius as a tribute to the things that can happen when a faded talent is out of touch with reality but in close proximity to a recording studio.
It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Jerry Lee is lacking a little of the '50s model's bravura. Pop stars, after all, are not really meant to grow old, and it can be no coincidence that of the 20th century's most infamous icons, nearly all are playing the great Wembley Arena in the sky.
As Jack Black said about Stevie Wonder in High Fidelity. "Is it in fact unfair to criticise a formerly great artist for his latter day sins. Is it better to burn out or fade away?"
What do you think? How many of our favourite artists can still cut it decades after their first flush of success? Who has refused to go gently into that good night? Please post up your responses below.
