I’ve often spoken about the over touring so many bands are doing these days. Playing so much their draw starts to decrease because people get tired of seeing them. It’s a by product of the fact that bands are not making money from selling music sadly. But we now have the over saturation of artists being in way too many bands. Again, same problem behind it. Artists are just casting their line out as many places as possible to see where they get a bite. All looking for something that has some traction and can be a viable source of financial and creative success. But I see it as really becoming a bit of an issue because it is flooding the market with product that has almost no chance to break through. I have been sent music featuring an artist from one label and had another label send me another release the same week featuring the same artist. How much can you do? How many interviews can you have with one person in one week? How can fans invest anything into some of these projects when you know it might already be over before it’s released or they may never do a live show? Very confusing. You have labels that will release almost anything from some bands but not ever really work it past a week. Hired gun promoters are everywhere pushing things one week to the next until the retainer they are paid runs out and then have moved on. Again I understand why it’s all happening but I also believe a less is more plan could work just as well. I miss the days an artist had one band and it was special to see them live or release and album every year or two. I know all things change and evolve but some of the multi tasking going on in today’s music world is hard to figure. It’s already hard when everyone is so over stimulated and with such short attention spans to sell music and get real traction, but when artists are hitting you with 3-4 projects or more a year you can’t blame the fan for being confused and not knowing where that person hangs their hat. Not blaming the musicians. The business has become the wild west and I don’t blame anyone for doing what they must to survive. But I have to think that it might be a better way if a band tried to just make a full commitment to one group and see what happens. Actually work and grow it and make all the focus on it. Tour, keep the priority in one spot. I have to laugh how a couple years ago my good friend Mike Portnoy was roasted for having several bands. Well guess what? Now almost everyone is doing it and it doesn’t seem so crazy.
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What announcement is red dragon cartel going to issue?
Will be in news any second, a few more dates, Greg from Badlands on bass
Gotta agree Ed But it is the new reality. To think Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, did all their work from basically 1967-71. Or Rod Stewart doing 4 albums in 18 months with the Faces and solo. All classic stuff that still gets played today. The way people access music is totally different now. You can cherry pick off I Tunes or just watch or listen off youtube. Pink Floyd played all of Dark Side, Wish you Were Here, and Animals live before they were released because they were a real band not a “Project”
Good points Eddie…the bands that were around in the day when you could make money from albums and concerts are not making the money anymore, but they have been around so long that the money they made early in their careers makes up for the lack of making it now. Then as a few have already said, you have what I would call the “mid-level” artists that have made money, but not beyond a certain time…Dokken, Ratt, and DreamTheater are examples of bands that had their time, but didn’t have the longevity during the money making times in the industry whereas a band like the Scorpions have been around for so long and are still relevant, that they may not be RRHOF worthy (although I think they are) but they have had a hell of a career, made their money and if they put out an album that doesn’t sell, it is not such a financial concern as it would be with a band still working because they NEED the money…Dave Grohl did this a few years back, and he is certainly a superstar…he did Probot, drummed for Queens of the Stoneage, played with the Foo Fighters, did the allstar album for his movie, etc… I also think some side projects may be the artist feeling their way to another outlet for their music…seems like creatively, very few bands remain intact. I don’t mind side projects, but kind of agree with you that I don’t want it to affect their main gig…As far as a band that seems to do it right…ACDC…they have never been a band that overstays their welcome, and I predict a sold out arena tour when they tour later this year…Plus a great album
Eddie ( And everyone else as well) , what do you think was the last really successful supergroup? Audioslave perhaps ?
I think part of the problem is that a lot of the stuff Super bands are putting out is Very Average at best. There are few bands who put out quality CD’s, but most put out very forgettable stuff. Like Alice Cooper said yeah I get your angry but where is the song? Exceptions to this are Winery Dogs and Chicken Foot IMO. I hear these guys or those guys are putting a band together and listen to the early release and I think I’m not buying that. I did buy Chicken Foot CD’s though.