9/24: AC/DC NEWS AND THE TOURING BUSINESS.
AC/DC have officially announced their new album Rock Or Bust out 12/2 with a single titled “Play Ball” hitting as soon as this weekend. The song will debut in clips during the MLB playoffs. It is also now confirmed that Stevie Young has replaced Malcolm in the band. Nothing about a tour has been announced but my sources tell me that will be next year. Sucks that Malcolm is that ill and not a part of it, but good to know there is new music and at least one more run left in this iconic band.
Ace Frehley has announced the first run of dates for his Space Invader tour. Hearing from many upset about how few dates there are and how limited the initial run is. I’m sure if things go well Ace will add dates. However what many don’t realize is that very few bands at Ace’s age and current draw level actually tour in the traditional sense. This is due mainly to the cost of touring. I’m not talking about AC/DC or Aerosmith who can afford to fly private and have every amenity. Talking about the acts at a different draw level. The days of getting a bus and big crew to do clubs or theaters and knock out 200 shows are pretty much over. Especially for artists in their 50’s and 60’s. Most do weekend fly dates. Leave on a Thursday, do a couple weekend shows, home on a Sunday. Rented gear, low overhead. TONS of bands “tour” like this now. And like any live shows they are mainly based on two things; money and how much the artist wants to do. A promoter in the area must be willing to make an offer that the artist feels makes sense for them to come there. It’s as simple as that really. It isn’t some bias against a certain part of the country or world. It is simply a case of money talks and are there promoters willing to meet the price any artist is asking to play. It has to make financial sense for artist and promoter to happen. Lastly when artists get older they also aren’t as ambitious in how extensive they want to commit to touring. Some have spent 40 years on the road and unless they feel up for a large amount of dates or are assured a certain level of comforts they stay home. So many times I hear from people on my radio shows “why doesn’t ____ tour?”. It all has to make sense for all parties and that word Music BUSINESS looms large as always.
From the interview a few posts back: Eddie I was interested in hearing you say that you will “play Ozzy, but I won’t play “Crazy Train.” You were talking about how classic rock radio slogs the same well-worn mateiral again and again. (That means you would play the fabulous track “Diary of a Madman,” one of Ozzy’s best IMO).
You’re a broadcast professional; when radio execs sit down and plan a format or playlist, what calculation are they using to make replaying the same songs over and over the smart marketing play? In Portland we have The Brew, which is heavy rotation of songs–good songs, mind you–but the songs you described in the interview, speaking for most of us, that you never need to hear again. (I’ll probably always listen through “Hell’s Bells” my theme song, but “Sandman?” can’t do it.)
Is that what most people want?
I miss the old days when bands where touring constantly, MTV were showing great NEW videos and radio continued to show support. But those days are gone and what is going to help change all that? The main reason I rarely go to a concert is getting prime seats costs too much. A night for two costs nearly $800, not including buying a shirt and program. I remember the days of paying $15 for a ticket. I’m sure economics brought about this inflation, but I think it will eventually kill the industry altogether. Aside with the cost, older bands are beyond their prime and newer bands are disinteresting as I feel the creative side (along with talent) has evaporated. What made the supergroups immediate successes (Bon Jovi, KISS, Van Halen, G’NR, Aerosmith, etc) wasn’t based solely on talent, but how fresh and vibrant they were. There’s been no band in the last ten years that has brought that much excitement. Until that happens, the rock music industry is dying a slow death. Again, its about money. And once it runs out? Maybe we’ll still have the festivals or cruise ship shows, but what we’ve known as rock, its certainly on life support.
It’s unfortunate that people just don’t have a clue how the music business (particularly the live performance part) works in the modern age. Venues and promoters decide whether they want artists at their establishments. If you want an act in your town, get in touch with them! Organize your friends and have them all demand that local radio plays the music, the local press/magazines do stories, and local venues book the shows. Passively posting on Eddie Trunk’s Blog does nothing. Promoters will respond if they think enough people will show up.
Eddie also makes plenty of great points about the realities of Touring. It’s expensive. Tour buses alone chew up thousands of $ per day in rentals, fuel, maintenance, driver, etc. then there’s crew like sound/stage/lighting techs and so on. Even a skeleton crew costs a lot, trust me. Plus, most artists need hotels and so on. And nowadays, record labels (such as they are) don’t pay out “tour support”, so it’s up to the artist to generate enough coin to at least break even, and then maybe sell enough merch to hopefully make a profit. Even using a van/RV and trailer for artists who don’t need as much comfort is pricey. I’ve had to put together budgets to tour, and the costs are daunting. So, a lot of bands, particularly the well-known acts from our heydays, simply do as Eddie says: they fly in to do a short string of shows, from 2-5 days, then go home, and repeat as much as they can. Another point is that older artists simply can’t do the grind of 100 city tours anymore. So, when we consider how all these factors play in to the current market, we’re lucky to get as many shows as we do.
I’ve regularly called the “classic rock” station in my area 94.1 WHJY to play Ace’s new stuff both with the release of Anomoly and now with Space Invader, and got zero response. Rock radio SUCKS. They play what they’re told to play, which I don’t understand for the life of me. Is there somebody in the studio from say Clear Channel holding a gun to the dj’s head telling them to play the same shit over and over day after day, week after week, year after year?
There is much I can tell you about that and how it works but too involved to get into here. Fortunately I get to do my own thing in radio but very few do. But I pay the price by having limited/late hours and less pay often. My show is a 3 hour weekly escape from that for the stations that run it. can you pick up AAF? If so listen to them tonight 11P and hear my show. thanks
Thanks for responding to my posts Eddie! Maybe someday you could tell me about it. I do get AAF, didn’t have the chance to listen last night, but will in the future! Take requests?
Hey Yankee, we’re in the same area – HJY is my local rock station too. I don’t listen as much as I used to, like you said it’s largely the same stuff… year after year. If the classic bands come out with something new you might hear it a couple of times for the first week, then it’s right back to the old stuff. I’m sick of just hearing about “I Heart Radio” apps and ads and festivals, and how great “I Heart Radio” is. Do they even to the “Metal Zone” on Saturday nights anymore (Rest in peace, “Dr. Metal”)? It’s been a while since I’ve checked. Unfortunately I’m not as good staying up all night as I used to be!
You know that’s a good question. I haven’t listened to the Metal Zone since Dr. Metal lost his life at the Station fire, so I’m not sure if it’s still on either! I’ll have to try to check this Saturday. I can’t stay up all night either anymore, working too many damn hours!
I have seen AC/DC every tour in Chicago since the Highway To Hell tour at the Aragon Ball Room and I look forward to seeing them in 2015. Seeing them without Malcolm will be strange but that was also the case for the Blow Up Your Video tour and who filled in, none other than Steve Young! He did a great job then and I am sure it will be the same this time as well.
As for Ace and Kiss, I saw Kiss 1 month ago and saw them many times in my 50 years including for their Destroyer tour in Chicago. The cool thing this time was I took my two teenage daughters to the show which was their first rock concert. They were so mesmerized by the stage show and all the action that they did not sit down the entire show. Yes I agree, it is not the original 4 but Kiss still puts on a hell of a show and is a great value for our hard earned Rock n Roll dollar!
So for everyone that says they will not see Kiss because Ace and Peter are not with the band and ask how could Gene and Paul continue this masquerade, are you not going to see AC/DC because their original founding member, Malcolm is not in the band?? Did you also refuse to see Sabbath with Dio, Van Halen with Sammy or UFO without Schenker? If you said yes to any of these, your fools because they rocked! If you did see any of the countless bands that have changed members and still say crap about Gene and Paul and Kiss you are Hippocrates!
Funny, AC/DC can sell out arenas around the world. And yet some focus on KISS, who has to tour with another band to fill 1500 seat venues, and Ace Druggie, who couldn’t sell out a Dennys even if they invited the seniors in for a reduced priced breakfast.
1500 seats ? Sold out show in NJ was 20,000. Moron.
Kiss has to tour with another band to sell out 1500 seats. Loud of crap. The venues they play typically hold 7,000-15,000. Do your research and think a little before you post. You have commented a few times on this page, just to hate on Kiss and it’s members. Get a life.