While only a handful of solo artists manage to continue producing good music throughout their lives (Cohen, Cash, Waits, Cave etc.) there are an even smaller number of bands who manage to stay together for more than a decade and still produce good music without becoming a grotesque parody of themselves (see the rolling stones).

Now is this because it's harder to develop and innovate when you're in a band, having, as you do, several different voices wanting to choose different paths, leading to tension and the inevitable split?

Or is it based on ageism? Is it just embarrasing to watch a band full of 60 year olds in suits playing loud rock music due to our prejudices of what a rock band should look like? Maybe it's easier to hail solo artists as genii and let them get on with making music because we can consider them glorious one-offs and put them on a plinth way above ourselves? Whereas with bands we think the grandads should just give up and become accountants or something?

DiScuss.