KISS’ Gene Simmons was once famously quoted as stating “Rock is dead,” and then amended the statement by adding, “young fans” are the reason why.
After Simmons made his initial declaration many responded including, our very own Eddie Trunk, Dee Snider, AC/DC’s Brian Johnson and Angus Young and Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott.
Now Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has shared his take with Greg Prato at Consequence of Sound.
Iommi stated, “I don’t think rock is going to die. That’s been said for years. I mean, how many times I’ve heard that statement over the past 50-odd years? It’s quite a lot, really.”
He continued, “I think good music is not going to go. There’s always going to be a market for it. There are going to be an amount of bands that fall by the wayside — as there always is, there always will be. But there are certain bands that are going to stick out and going to be there. You’ve got Metallica up there — they’re not going to go away. They’ve got a lot of fans and they’ve got a great fanbase. There are a lot of bands out there. No, the music is not going to go away.”
In recent Sabbath news, the band recently released deluxe versions of the Dio era albums, Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules, read more details here.
29 Responses
Remember back in the day when it was an event when top bands released new albums? There was this great anticipation of the forthcoming albums, there were listening parties, radio stations proudly promoted album releases, fanzines advertised forthcoming album releases, artists did free “meet and greet” events at record stores, etc….
And with those top bands announced a show in your town, fans would line up early at the arena/ticket outlets to buy tickets. The band’s music would play loudly on car stereos in the parking lot, energizing the fans who waited in these lines to get the best seats possible.
On concert days, those attending the shows would arrive early to arena parking lots and “tailgate” hours before the concert to start getting “primed” for the show. The hint of marijuana smoke in the air, car stereo speakers shaking from the loud play of the band’s music, women wearing high heels and short black leather skirts, guys in denim and leather jackets with patches sewn on them, fans instantly becoming friends with one another through the commonality of music, fans screaming the band’s name while flashing the “metal horns”, etc….
What ever happened to those days? Rock music will always be around, but those great times of yesteryear that celebrated music will probably never occur again…..
I can still remember “That Smell” like it was just yesterday! 😉 Even if those great days never return, we’ll always have the music, and the memories!
My 1st “real” concert ~ September 1, 1979, Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, NY, KISS/Judas Priest! My brother and I were sitting on the left side of the stage about halfway up, I remember Ace threw something in our direction, it was either a t-shirt or a towel, but unfortunately our arms weren’t long enough to reach it! If only we were 1 or 2 rows closer! Still was an unbelievable experience, damn I wish that concert was on DVD!
And actually, 1 of the best concerts I ever seen wasn’t even a Rock concert, well, that depends on your definition of Rock, because they rocked! – Kool & The Gang! Six Flags Great Adventure, NJ, now that was a “Celebration!” 😉
RATTLE, The Ides of March was first on a Samson record…right? lol…so many treasures to uncover…I love that era of hard rock/metal (and I have to mention how this new reggae type music started to pop up everywhere then…I will first mention Krokus…)..Krokus, Metal Redezvous, an ’80 release, confident and unsure of itself at the same time…what a great mindset for hard rock…confident, because they had enough chops …unsure, because they didn’t know exactly how to write hits yet…so you get these longish passages …i.e., they just went for broke on that record…very enjoyable to hear that now…I don’t have time to mull over the state of the world now.
I remember now.. I remember my first concert as i spent an entire day pumping my fist to a list of awesome bands like Metallica, Scorpions, Dokken and Van Halan at Giants stadium in New Jersey.
At that same stadium I also saw Deep purple, GnR and, Aerosmith. Seeing Anthrax and Ozzy at the Byrne (Izod) Arena with a good friend/ Tailgating at an Ozzy/Rob Zombie concert, singing songs with a bunch of semi drunk friends, and waving back to a guy who looked like a young Ozzy in round rimmed sunglasses, there is always these memories.
People like Gene. and KISS, have just given up because there is no money in new music. So, they cater to the mindless zombie, who will pay their ticket prices that is why they don’t make music anymore.
But, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Cheap Trick do not believe rock is dead, because they put out new music.
As long as they continue, fans will bring their children to see their favorite bands and inspire others to play one day, so there will be a breakthrough artist as long as people haven’t given up.