Gen X Has Its First Midlife Crisis: Billy Corgan, Jessica Simpson, and You!
Posted on February 10, 2010 | By Robert LaFrance | 2 Comments
Prototypical Generation X'er, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkin fame
At the risk of getting all gossipy here, blogger Lisa M posts this article about Billy Corgan and Jessica Simpson. An interesting read on its own but it also provokes some very grave thoughts.
Considering Corgan fronted one of Generation X’s seminal bands (and probably my all-time favorite), The Smashing Pumpkins, it’s with great amusement that we are now linking our icons with midlife crises. Are we really middle age already? Is that possible?
Let’s see… according to the all-knowing wikipedia, the average life expectancy in the US in 78.2 years. Uh oh. My quick, back-of-the-napkin math reveals that half of that figure is roughly 39. And I am 39 now. Suddenly, this has taken an ugly turn from amusement to bewilderment. I always thought the stereotypical ”mid-life” male was fat, balding, and incorrigibly boring. Wait, I think I match a couple of those descriptions (I’ll let you decide which ones).
So, while it’s possible that I may now qualify as middle-age, in typical Generation X fashion, I will rebel against any social norm! Which, in this case, means going to the gym, hairclub for men, then partying all night in NYC! Are you with me?
Tags: Billy Corgan > Gen X > generation x > middle age > slacker > slacking > smashing pumpkins
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2 Responses to “Gen X Has Its First Midlife Crisis: Billy Corgan, Jessica Simpson, and You!”
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February 20th, 2010 @ 10:21 am
I seems to me that Gen X is getting a taste of of what the rebels of the early 80′s (or “1979″) went through 10 years ago, and the hippies 10 years before that. Being a Joe Strummer disciple, I still refuse to work for the “Clampdown”.
At 48, I can’t party all night in NYC anymore. But, once and awhile, we head out to New Haven, mini van packed with 4 couples, and party old school. Or, I head off to Toad’s alone and jam to reggae greats.
So, this late 30′s bewilderment will ultimately take one of two paths, either you will become incorrigibly boring, or you find a niche with other like minded throw backs and continue to mash it up.
February 20th, 2010 @ 12:58 pm
Let’s hope for the latter! Thanks for the comment, Tony!