Much made of Gene Simmons recent assessment that in his view “rock is dead”. Not the first time we’ve heard this and likely not the last. But is it true? My take on what Gene was trying to say is it’s dead for new music and new artists. Not entirely true, but again, I get where he is coming from. The truth is rock, hard rock, and metal are far from dead, but also far from the mainstream in many cases. There are some real good signs for rock out there as far as a live entity. Festivals are bigger than ever and there are more of them of all sizes than ever (maybe too many). U2, Foo Fighters, Metallica, Bon Jovi AC/DC. etc will always fill arenas and stadiums around the world. The mega bands will always draw. Motley is currently doing great business on their final tour. The road has also become a bit over crowded with too many bands touring too often. Competition is fierce out there at all levels for the concert dollar because money is not being made on album sales like the good ole days. The next tier from the pure out and out headliners are the co-headline shed bands. Think Kiss/Def Leppard. Bands teaming up and splitting set times equally to assure a good crowd. Of course this also means shorter set times and expensive tickets many times. There are very few bands not bringing name support or co-headlining these days. Most need the help selling tickets. And this is a huge problem for breaking new rock. There are so few opportunities now for a new young band to get in front of big audiences because the headliners need a name to help sell. Sure some of these packages have a new young band third billed but lets be honest, nobody is in the building that early to see them and in some cases they are buy ons, paying the headliner to play. This all ties in to the issue of the growth of rock.
Another huge problem is lack of development from what is left of record labels. It’s all about the first week now. And then albums are quickly forgotten. Sometimes not even a live show. Too many people in too many bands. Very little focus. Make a splash week one, off the charts by week four. Artist development and consistently working an album for a few singles is almost done now. Many labels hire outside “indies” to do promotion. They work hard for the weeks they are paid but when the label pulls the retainer fee they are on to the next. Tons of hired guns out there. Good people don’t get me wrong, but the real interest in the project is far from long term. Label cuts are so severe few pick up the ball after the outside help ends. Radio is also an issue. Way too many stations don’t truly support new music, or play it first week when the artist is there and never touch it again. The simple truth is mainstream radio will always do what the MOST people want. And the majority would rather hear Free Bird again than a new artist or song. Sad but true.
Delivery of music is also a problem. Everyone knows I am no fan of downloads. But to me it also kills the business. With labels less and less likely to send physical product along with some packaging and information it makes it easier to ignore. If a CD is on my desk I’m likely to have a listen at some point. If i get one of a million emails with a song attached that needs to be downloaded and transferred in any number of formats and services it is so easy to just click delete and not take the time unless it’s really something you want. I also have very little interest in the streaming services. Granted I get my music for free, but I’ve heard none of it that excites me and I think it grows the singles mentality instead of people truly getting into a band and an album. Call me old fashion but I hate when I go see a band an the entire crowd is only there for one song and is lost the rest of the time. Pure sales are so sparse now it’s hard to think who the next artist will be to score a gold record (500K). Used to be a little airplay and video play and you could make that happen. I think the RIAA is going to have to rethink sales awards.
Here’s the upside. There are a TON of artists new and classic making great new music! The bad? So little of it has a chance to break through for the reasons above and many more. But I have never been more excited than I am now for new/newer bands. Alter Bridge is growing and doing great and an arena act in Europe. Kyng, Mastodon, Scorpion Child, Rival Sons, Monster Truck, Farmikos and many more are among my favorite new things and I play them on a regular basis. So I think from that end things are healthy. But what is truly concerning is how few people I find truly care about this stuff now. And how few have no idea Iron Maiden are still around! (dead serious, listen to calls in my satellite show). Everyone is too distracted now. We are over saturated and over stimulated with too many other things. That huge release day moment doesn’t seem to exist for rock anymore. And that sucks. I don’t mean YOU. If you are reading my site and connected to my outlets you are clearly a fan who wants to be in the loop and still very much tied in. But so many who used to be have lost that passion. As a lifer for me that’s hard to understand. I know peoples lives change, but if you love rock how can you not always? Is it dead in this respect for good? No, I don’t think so. Again the mega bands will always do well. Watch what happens when a new Foo Fighters track comes out. But they have become the token mainstream rock act for every show that needs one. We need some new blood for sure getting a shot. The mega 70’s guys only have so much left and some already have stayed too long at the party. We need that one great band with great SONGS above all to come and charge the whole scene. Let’s hope they are out there in a garage somewhere right now. We’ve had those moments where everything was given a kick in the ass; the birth of thrash, the Nu Metal movement (like it or not), the release of Appetite and the impact GnR had, the grunge movement and all the good and not so good from that. We need that band and moment again and it will come. Rock is far from dead. I don’t believe it will ever die. It’s a bit underground and in some cases over saturated but is going nowhere. I have lived it my entire life. I am out there all over the world experiencing the passion so many still have for it. And after 31 years I will continue to fight to get more platforms to help grow it and expose it. It is not easy. People would be stunned to know how hard it is for me to keep all the things I have going even after more than three decades and the success I have been able to carve out with a loyal following. But it has always been for me from day one about keeping it alive. Every day I meet someone that says to me the same thing; “Eddie thanks for keeping this alive”. John 5 just said it to me yesterday on the radio. I appreciate that like you can’t believe because it has always been the primary reason I do what I do. I know rock is not dead because I see and feel the support from all of YOU in all that I do. So thanks for that! We just need a few more to join the party and that one great new band to make it cool again in the mainstream. It will happen, just a matter of time. Keep rocking my friends and keep the faith!
ET
178 Responses
People 30 and younger for the most part do not buy albums because they were not a part of the enormous movement throughout technology of 8 tracks, cassettes, LP’s, cd’s and finally digital files…bands of the 90’s and back still were in an environment where they had record stores around to sell and market their tours and albums, plus all bands were album driven in thought of how they wrote and recorded. Making a record was expensive and labels still mattered…times are way different and although I yearn for the way things were in music as an industry for all music, not just rock/metal, it is too far gone and newer generations of fans are growing up in very different times…the music and the music industry reflects that…you are right on Eddie…rock isn’t dead, but the industry is and the model of “making it” seems to be short-cut for Pop because of the exposure to the masses, but for other genres like metal there are not many vehicles left to get your music out…
Remember when we built component stereo systems? I saved some cool gear for my son and he didn’t want any of it! Your right 30 yr olds not only were not part of the movement, but they followed rap. And there was not much of a touring situation with those artists. So these kids did not grow up with the number of LIVE acts/bands/artists that we did.
It’s a shame, but true…the live show for the newer generations is more a show and less a concert with all the lip synching going on with a lot of the pop acts…there are a few bands that can bring it live, but that is only a few…
I also would not say the music industry is dead, the industry like it used be certainly is, and actually has been for quite some time. In the 70s bands were given more than just one album as a chance to find anaudience and develop, musically as wqell as economically. That changed a long time ago. Music is no longer perceived as a comilaton of tracks in an album format. Music is perceived in track-by-track way of consumption. I was interested in all the bits and peices of info on the cover, in the liner notes, ect. I do not any youngester today that has the same interest. It is just that times are changing and you cannot stop it. We are complaining because what we grew up with and what shaped our way of listening to, collecting, enjoying music is on the weay out, it still tthere becaue there are still people like us willing and being able to pay for it. So, to come back to my initial argument, the industry is still there, but it is focussed on pop artist, i.e. on artists that will appeal to a majority of people/consumers, taking no risks, giving the bands no more time to slowly develop. many say the music business is the touhgest business of all, I think this more true today than it has ever been. either you got an instant hit or you go back to the hole you came from. the music genre has become a part of everyday life and mass consumption just like anything else, television, film, food, clothes, you name it. the power is with the big companies.
Sorry for the spelling, must be the sadness …
Well said ED, There are some bands Like Queen that sold out all of there shows but they are a MEGA band who may not tour again EVER. Rival Sons is a New band that really gets a lot of attention and deserve it too. My thought is there need to be new pioneers in media like the early MTV days and it is easier than ever to promote IF you can get a decent video out with YouTube and all the other Media resources. It is going to take Pioneer in the industry to take a chance. I still think there is untapped resources in DirecTv and Netflix for a Music show Ala Midnight Special or Don Kirchners.
From what I understand rock is huge in other country’s. In the USA it’s underground almost. In Kansas City we have a local act that has worked his ass off named Tech-9. He’s known all over the country. Tech has never signed with a big record company. I remember seeing nice newer vans around KC with his name and face all over them way back in the early 90’s. This dude has worked his ass off in the heartland and made a strong local presence. By doing that he is nationwide now. Is he mainstream radio? No. But he sells lots if records and his shows sell out all the time. Bands can make it and be around 20 plus years on a local level and make a great living. Very very few are lucky enuff to get signed and promoted on a national basis. My advice to young bands and artist. Write write write and write more. Record as much as u can afford and get ur music out there and play shows. Be a salesman. If you don’t sell yourself then how do you think anybody else would? Playing shows in say a 2 to 4 state area where you live and putting great music out there and self promoting you might get lucky and have the big boys take you on. But as Tech-9 has shown you can make a shit load if money and still be somewhat famous doing it on a local level. Billboards are cheap now. There are affordable ways to pay to get your songs on the radio (all the major artist do the same thing) also. You can budget a radio campaign with a great video for YouTube, great website, Facebook, get some local stores to stick your CD. Here’s an idea know body does. In my bizz we have marketing booths at small town USA fairs. It has struck me many times and I’ve shook my head asking. Why the heck wouldn’t an artist or a band have a booth to market themselves and their music? I mean the very people that they need to get as fans are right there in front of them. Meet and greet and share the music. A lot of the problem I see is these bands don’t work hard enuff to make it. These fairs are a affordable and easy outlet to market ur music. And I’ve never seen one so this. Thousands and I’m talking thousands of people come to these fairs. Shit I might just finish my album and do it. Lol. Check out soundcloud Bryan Thompson. I’m the BT playing guitar. Track 5 is my fav. Strange Times is radio ready.
I do not know about the club scene in the US, over here it is sad to say that most club owners wozld rather book a band covering ,aterial. of other bands or even putting on an exclusive cover show of one famous band than booking a band that does original material. You have a chance in the big cities but in rural areas it has become really hard. Pepople seem to prefer to hear the same somgs over and over again instead of giving a new band a chance. So it is not just the industry’s fault, maybe also the people, all of of us, have to change?
Rock may not be dead, but it’s on life support…just waiting for that “20 inch cymbal to cut the lamps.” Funny how Live shows are the money maker now. Yet I hate going to concerts these days…most people are there for a social hour. I mean tixs are not cheap and I would like to hear the music, not how little Johnny did at soccer camp this week!!! Fewer and fewer live venues for local & bands on the move are around. OK this is Toledo,Ohio not LA or NYC. But when the rock drummer has to use a jazz sized kit to fit into the band area, come on. Even 10 years ago we had several decent sized stages. Yes I am that drummer. Bands are going away & acoustic acts are taking over…cuz they fit the stage! While I agree CDs sound better, I have to say that I have downloaded (paid for) files of bands just to try them out. I have quite a collection and some new favorite bands I would never have listened too if I had to buy the full CD.
And I agree we are over stimulated… but you Eddie are also a contributor…TV,radio and now podcast. But your one I don’t mind giving me ADD. I love your podcasts!!!! I can take that show and listen when I can, vs. sitting in front of another computer/tv screen for TMS or a radio stream. I can only say we must be the same age as I agree with you alot.
Rock is not dead in Richmond, Va.
Check out the latest assault on your ears from Red Reign. Carrying the heavy metal torch, this is being hailed as one of the year’s best.
Listen to Not That Way and Chains. You’ll be hooked.
http://www.redreignrva.com/album/
Hey Jeff, I never heard of this band, they sound solid with some great songs!
You don’t think Motley having a successful farewell tour has anything to do with Alice Cooper touring with them.
Oh yes it does….Alice Cooper still puts on a great show, with a great band that will blow Motley Crüe off the stage…seen Alice 5-6 times by himself and twice within the last 3 years and his show is unbelievable…I love the Crüe, but nowadays they sound terrible live and I won’t pay to see them again…