One of Canadian rock’s most recognizable vocalists is poised to officially become a senior citizen.
That would be Burton Cummings, playing the Royal Theatre with his band Sunday. As of New Year’s Eve, he turns 65, thus qualifying him for old-age security benefits.
Cummings — renowned almost as much for his voluminous black mustache as his hits — says a recent decision to live the clean life will set him up for another decade or two of singing. Once a hard-partying rock ’n’ roller, the singer-pianist cut back on alcohol last May after his mother died. And, three years ago this month, he stopped smoking cigarettes, extinguishing a 50-year habit.
“I’m not exactly moving to Tibet yet,” said Cummings, interviewed this week from his winter home in Sherman Oaks, California.
“[But] I’m feelin’ pretty good. My health is pretty good. I’m gonna be 65 in a couple of weeks. These days, I do have an attitude of gratitude you know. Things are good for me.”
As befitting an elder statesman of rock, his showbiz idols are now … well, old guys. He looks up to seniors who still tour regularly such as Steve Miller, who’s 69, Paul McCartney, who’s 70, and Tony Bennett, who continues to sing at the ripe old age of 86.
“I have a new set of heroes,” Cummings said. “It’s guys like that that have kept performing. And it’s not lame.
“I told myself years ago, if it gets lame and I can’t really hit the notes. … I’m certainly not going to go out and do an old-age cash grab.”
In Victoria, Cummings — supported by his Toronto band The Carpet Frogs — will serve up a mix of Guess Who hits and familiar tunes from his solo career. Expect to hear American Woman, My Own Way to Rock, Laughing and other vintage Canadiana.
These days Cummings appears to be especially relishing his time on stage. Last week in Winnipeg, he joined The Carpet Frogs for an unscheduled club appearance after having played the Burton Cummings Theatre the night before. At the Pony Corral, the singer knocked out a string of 1960s classics such as Buffalo Springfield’s For What It’s Worth and Baby Come Back by The Equals.
“That’s always fun for me. It’s a throwback to when I was in [my first band], The Deverons,” he said.
Cummings is a Winnipeg native, but in October, his 4,700-square-foot mansion there was listed for $1.35⊇million.
He is a part-time Vancouver Islander; Cummings owns a house in Central Saanich, near Elk Lake. He likes to divide his time between Vancouver Island and wintering at another home in Los Angeles (when Cummings phoned, he was standing in his sun-soaked backyard without socks or shoes).
“I love … going hiking out in East Sooke. And going to Beaver Lake with the dog. I love the Island — it’s like Canada’s Hawaii,” he said.
Last month, he released Burton Cummings Massey Hall, featuring rollicking live versions of all the favourites.
So what will Mr. Cummings do to celebrate his birthday? Usually, he takes the night off.
But when an offer landed to play a casino near Seattle, Cummings snapped it up.
He has fond memories of the city, where the Guess Who recorded Live at the Paramount back in 1972, when the singer was a 24-year-old whipper-snapper.
“This year, 65, is a milestone. I’ll be an old-age pensioner officially. The offer came to do it and I said, ‘What the hell!’ ”
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