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
I get Gene’s point, I feel the same way that he does. I really appreciate the way you flesh out his point with a lot of facts.
I am very much looking forward to seeing the Pretty Reckless this month. They are a new band and very much on the way up. Good songwriting. They are one of the very few new bands in America that I listen to. Back in the 70s they would be filling an arena or a stadium rather than the House of Blues. Of all of their generation of bands, I think they have the best shot of making it into the Rock and Roll hall of fame ( but then again with that place . . .).
Rock is very alive in Mexico and Egypt. In Mexico, Mana, Caifanes, Jaguares, Alejandra Guzman, and Gloria Trevi all became big in the 1990s, and they had very significant success in the U.S. market. They may not be on Gene’s Radar, because they sing in Spanish.
Egypt’s music scene is very underground and vital. They live with the very real threat of violence against them for being westernized musicians and the metal-heads are accused of being devil-worshippers. In the past, the government cracked down on the metal scene, threw many metal-heads in jail, where many were abused. Being a metal-head means something there, and the music reflects it. I can think of several bands there that have out grown Egypt, but they are not going any where: Origin, Massive Scar Era, Karma, Enraged, and Redeemers.
America does not have to be the place where music comes from, but what happens elsewhere does not necessarily get to America. I have never heard of the Melbourne scene that Dave mentions above.
I hope that you can get another show where you could give exposure to bands around the world. We aren’t going to stop listening to music when the older generation of musicians retire, and somebody needs to take their place.
I enjoyed reading your take on this, Eddie. I agree with you that rock is not dead. What is interesting to me is the number of young people who actually like rock-n-roll once they are exposed to it. If there were no young people interested in rock then I would believe that we are just in a period of nostalgia right now, sort of a last minute surge at the end of the race. I take my daughters and many of their friends to shows all the time. I go to places like Rocklahoma and look at the crowd. It is amazing to me to see how many in the crowd are under 30. My kids wear Jackyl, LA Guns, Motley Crue, and many other tee shirts everywhere they go…their choice not mine. As I sit here tonight my oldest (20) is wearing my Eddie Trunk Rocks tee shirt. We are going to have words about that! The point is, yes, the music industry is in bad shape and rock is hurting in part because of that. And, there is still a strong interest, even from the younger crowd. Thanks, Eddie, for helping keep the music alive. Hopefully we will see a strong surge in the interest level of the younger crowd.
Ed as many have stated here you are so right. I will not let it die either. I will say one thing missed is the true critic. We are too quick to say something is amazing when it reallly is crap. No originality No self development. Two bands come to mind. One old and one new. Metallica and black veil brides. Today, both absolutly suck. There is nothing in either of these two bands that will pick up a flag for rock/ metal. But this is what we get. Its hard out there because so many believe this is as good as it gets. We are shoved it that those who did love it leave it. Its frustrating. As you said no outlets. Please keep doing what you are doing,but if some music sucks by either and old or new band dont be pc. Tell them they suck. It may not make friends but will make them remember why they are making music in the first place and either quit or try harder. Thanks ed
As a helpless purveyor of useless information I know these things:
1. Gene Simmons has turned into an old guy who is out for the brand that is _ _ _ _. I refuse to type the name as to avoid some legal crap, but I refer to something that he can do to my and I’m sure many fans posteriors.
2. New bands excite me.
3. Old bands that still “Do it” excite me.
4. I am a part time musician and it still makes me feel good to introduce a younger person to Metal and Hard Rock.
5 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a LOAD OF CRAP. I mean who said that Wenner guy was an expert on anything except maybe publishing a fish wrap full of commentary on a lot of crap and some music.
6. And on that note if you were a member of a band and recorded music and got a credit on the record jacket, you should be inducted as well.
7. I’m still waiting for Eddie Trunk’s Midnight Special Rock Concert Flour Hour TV show. Maybe with someone not too hip as the host. I mean, The Midnight Special had Helen Reddy as a host for a while. But also had acts like AC/DC, Ted Nugent, Ace & Peter’s famous band, Alice Cooper on the show along with the pop fair of the day. Jack Black would be a good host or maybe Chris Jericho.
8. I’m 53 years old, heart attack survivor, former partier. Guess What? I still ROCK!
9. If there are any questions see Keith Richards, I pretty sure he is still rocking.
10. I am most proud of my twin daughters… who are 14… and bought on their own Iron Maiden and AC/DC shirts to wear. Another generation of rockers has emerged! Look out world!
Eddie and readers,
I have brought this subject up here many times (and personally for the last 15 YEARS) and I respectfully disagree. I DO subscribe with the ROCK IS DEAD theory, but I believe it is more fitting to phrase it as “on the music endangered species list” , where it entered in the early 90s, thanks to self loathing grunge (even some of it was good) – but much more accelerated since 2000 thanks to…read below…
I will cut to the chase and give the SOLE reason as to why this is.
Hope you won’t mind me getting on a soapbox here…
Rock was BORN out of the natural state of youth rebellion in the 1950’s. In its many forms- pop,hard and metal from that period throughout the 90’s – it still maintained its status as the adopted “religion” of the angry youth of The United States.
THE CURRENT GENERATION NO LONGER REBELS. IT HAS CONFORMED FOR YEARS NOW. In fact, contemporary youth culture has CONSUMED every aspect of OUR lives – consumerism, technology, television, movies, MUSIC, and who would have thought – POLITICS!!! so much so, that THEY HAVE FORFEITED THEIR NATURAL SENSE OF REBELLION AND FURTHERMORE, NO REASON TO LIVE BY A CODE OF REBELLION….so with NO REASON for rock music, HIP HOP has become their adopted “theme music” – a safe, sterile, manufactured culture. Eddie, THIS is the reason why YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR “NEXT” APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION.
I am a high school english teacher and I TELL YOU NO LIES.
YES, the BIG, AWESOME, CLASSIC acts STILL do great – but what you say is true – THEY WILL NOT GO ON FOREVER.
IN FACT, how many years do they have left in them?
And even if these “new” bands are “good enough” (I personally will NOT rush to that for any band I have heard in the last 15 years) how can you reverse the SHORT ATTENTION SPAN CULTURE that has permeated the millenials? Downloads just help the simplicity reflected in their music – CERTAINLY NOT THE ANTICIPATION OF ALBUMS, RADIO SINGLES, MTV VIDEOS….how about just the RITUAL of OWNING an artwork infused album? Yes, time has changed but these traditions of celebrating music was a rite of passage for the avid rock fan – NOT what we have now.
Even if we say “SO?!…SCREW THE ROCK STATUS IN THE MAINSTREAM”, thats fine…but hate it as we all should, the mainstream is a reflection of EVERYTHING that is going on in our world. “Art” imitates life and that is the only way our much needed ROCK can survive….but the current trends against us DO NOT seem to be retreating any time soon or EVER.
Finally (and thanks for stayin with me) if these kids were aware enough
(HOW CAN THEY BE WITH EVERYTHING TAILORED TO THEM? as stated above)
they would realize that this WORLD IS ACTUALLY WORSE than it was 20, 30 years ago
(take a look at the news!!!) and there really IS a reason for the SOCIAL NECESSITY OF ROCK AND METAL – RIGHT NOW!!!
…but the biggest hit in the country last year was a song called “HAPPY”!!!!!!!!
I can go on and on, but I’m afraid all this just SPELLS out that our beloved rock and metal is on its way to sharing the same fate as the Big Band Music of the 20s, 30s, 40s (dying in the 50s!)
This is the reason why I listen to you twice a week, still blast CDs
(WHILE STILL BUYING NEW ALBUMS FROM CLASSIC ARTISTS ON THEIR RELEASE DATES) and of course, still going to these shows.
Save your ticket stubs, friends – and continue to celebrate (NOT MOCK!) our classic artists while we still got em’! .
Thanks for reading!
All true, well-said – one more aspect: the sense or danger or thrill of rebellion has successfully been absorbed into and by contemporary pop culture, look at e.g. Lady Gaga or Miley using what is left of it like an oufit, like a suit, that can be changed any day according to catering and tailoring to new audiences. making the attention span shorter and shorter and thus putting themselves under enormous pressure of creating a new trend every week or so to be able to keep selling product. Rebellion has long become mainstream, it has been taken over and thereby rendered harmless in so many incarnations and forms of art and culture, like in Cpt Jack Sparrow or almost-nude performances of pop artists, you name it. It is an old trick, actually: incorporate the things that oppose you, rob them of their weapons and use them against them (it works in politics as well as in art/pop culture) … and win. But you also have to keep in kind that this new generation is different from us, which is every new generation’s privilege as well as ‘doom’, they grow up in a different world, regarding economy, technology, politics, media, crises, all of which do shape the character of people and the way they perceive the world around them. We were shaped differently. Some day their kids will look at THEM saying, what, you actually had to download things and use a cellphone that you could not control with your thoughts???
Perhaps there is some program through which you could take your students to Egypt for a summer. They could see Tahrir square, where the protests happened. They could learn how the young people in Egypt overthrew their government – twice! They could also meet metal-heads who were imprisoned for being devil-worshippers, and women who were the victims of organized rape gangs. Perhaps they could also go to a hospital and witness a female circumcision. Then go to a rock concert in Cairo . . . it will be the real deal. The spirit of rebellion is alive and well in Cairo. It costs a little bit to be into Western music there, it costs a bit more to be into rock; but to be a metal-head, is a commitment there.
When the protests against Mubarak were beginning, a group of UC Berkeley alumni were on a tour of Tahrir square. A protest broke out, and the police used tear gas on the protesters. Their tour guide tried to get them to leave but they would not. They said something like “No way! We have front row seats to the revolution. No way we are going to miss out on this because of some tear gas, we have been gassed before and it reminds us of the good old days.”
The passion of the young people there really comes out in the music!