Go out in flames or fade away? Rightwing Twitter rant rekindles dilemma for ageing rockers

Former Napalm Death drummer Mick Harris has sparked debate among musicians about how to tackle senior years

The world of rock is a dangerous place to stay, with veteran musicians either damaged by the lifestyle or growing more out of touch with every passing year. This is the view of some of Britain’s well-known performers, responding to a rightwing Twitter rant from a one-time rock radical.

The drummer Mick Harris, an original member of Napalm Death, launched an angry attack last week on “dole scroungers” and “benefit cheats” in a short video, full of crude language. This led to a lively online debate among 90s rockers about the best way for ageing musicians to tackle their senior years.