i m sure longevity and being relevant would be their common answer...and it would be partially true, bj the last decade even if they released mediocre material manage to upstage their status from rock stars to rock legends. it may sound an exaggeration but i believe its true.
even u2 are trying hard to be relevant and have a true radio hit...for these bands they really have to outdo themselves in order to make a hit, think about it, their stature gurantees an exposure but on the other hand they are like dinosaurs in the music business, nothing new and exciting..
i want to believe that bj still have some great songs in them. also another parameter is the comeback factor...bj last big hit was its my life, after a hiatus where the crowd had missed their sound, imo the same goes with u2, beautiful day was a monster hit, vertigo and elevation were also hits but not as big. springsteen is another example, the rising album was a real comeback, the following releases didnt receive the same praise apart from the first few weeks of their release. when you are in the business for so many years the crowd has to miss you