I'm wondering what the consensus is on the longest anyone has stayed relevent and productive in music. obviously its highly subjective, but i have a few suggestions...

My first thought was David Bowie, but if you take the period between his first "classic" album (and yes, its all VERY subjective) and the almost universally slated Tin Machine (no, i havent heard much of it), you're left with 1971-89, a surprisingly slight 18 years. very productive at his peak though.

i then though tof two artists who i dont care particularly for (no, i dont DISlike them either), Nick Cave and Tom Waits, who, as far as i've heard/read, havent put a foot drastically wrong in their careers, giving Cave 25 years and counting, and Waits a very healthy 32.

What i guess surprised me, on thinking about it, although it probably should have, is the ridiculous longevity and consistency of Ian Mackaye. if you just take from the first minor threat 7" in (im fairly sure) 1980, discounting his fun but hardly lifechanging older punk bands and run through threat, Embrace, Fugazi and The Evens (not that fugazi have split) you've got a ridiculously strong 25 years, with absolutely no sign of letting up. and he's only 43 years old (waits is around 56 and cave 48). and straightedge. so he'll probably live for another 50 years or so, and i cant imagine him ever making a bad record.

so who have i missed?
and was this very boring for everyone? i found thinking about it quite interesting.

and yes, theyre all in rock, and im sure theres jazz and "world" musicians that wipe the floor with them.