Rock of ages: Bowie and co hit pension age in 2012

Rock of ages: Bowie and co hit pension age in 2012

If The Who's claim that they spoke for a whole generation when they sang "Hope I die before I get old" is to be believed, there will be a lot of disappointed rockers this year — for 2012 is the year a clutch of our most famous pop stars turn into old age pensioners (OAPs).

On January 8, David Bowie (middle) leads the pack of hellraisers by reaching 65 with a series of parties around the world, while Elton John — who once asked "Who wants to be a 45-year-old entertainer in Las Vegas?" — will become a very rich OAP on March 25. Then on April 21, wrinkly rocker Iggy Pop (left) will be celebrating his 65th, with Meatloaf joining the party of crooners eligible to collect a bus pass on September 27.

Perhaps most surprising of all — by his own admission — is Ronnie Wood (right). As the Rolling Stones rocker, whose girlfriend is 25, said: "What totally blows my mind, after all the stuff I've consumed and done over the years, is that I'm still alive."