The demise of Rock

[Walk]

Could the "politically correct" revolution have anything to do with it? It seems the music industry tries to be as "diverse" as possible now. They don't try to appeal to rock loving white people anymore, just wiggers.  

[axls_locomotive]

Could it be the 'decline' of rock' is more to do with the ''death'' of the major rock acts out there rather than anything MTV did

Look at the late 80's early 90's the dominant rock/metal groups either fell to bits or produced shite music

Queen and Guns N Roses broke up, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden changed lead singers, Van Halen and Motley Crue are generally regarded to have churned out substandard music, Metallica took 6 years to release another album -  i could go on with an endless list i think we could all name major bands that vanished in the late 80's early 90's

The new rock acts that emerged weren't sufficiently good to replace them (Pearl Jam and Nirvana are rare exceptions) and so the genre slowly faded into obsurity while other genres gew in strength

Its just a point of view,

thats so true...

theres also no larger than life personalities in recent rock history...its almost like they are afraid to be popular

and even though in the past the phrase sex drugs and rock and roll was associated with rock music, when you listen to rock music now, the sex part is almost invisible...its more associated with hiphop now that rnr...isnt that sad

[Izzy]

For all this talk of rock being unpopular - i see the opposite, intrest in rock is as big as ever - just no one is there to satisfy the proverbial thirst

Look at the press The Darkness, Muse and Jet get

They are pretty damn average but people are just desperate for anything and are happy to get what they can

The chance is there for the taking -  a group with genuine ability would take the world by storm, its not MTV is screwing rock fans over (look at the way they show the Darkness and Linkin Park) its that nothing is out there - its all so average, rap on the other hand has managed to put out some intrigueing characters and there is some great songs too

There's no consiracy against rock

If GNR returned with some genuinely good music - well its scary how big they would be again....

[Chris Misfit]

The chance is there for the taking -  a group with genuine ability would take the world by storm, its not MTV is screwing rock fans over (look at the way they show the Darkness and Linkin Park)

But look at how long GnR had to tour to become a hit. They were dangerous. You can't sell dangerous easily. And no record comapny will take the steps to promote a band without guarantee.


But they're both bands selling something that is used, not anything new. Linkin Park came out 6 years after Nu-Metal first struck, and The Darkness, well?

There's no consiracy against rock

Are independent dance distros counted for the charts? Yes. Are rock? No.

I think Izzy is right, there is plenty of interest in rock. But it's piss rock. Stuff that girls and my granny listen to. Real balls to the wall rock n' roll is being shunned for medicore groups like Muse. Bollocks it is. No more charatcers in rock? Yes there fucking is, of course there is, you'll just never see it on TV.

[Miz]

Big corporations are part of the problem.  Think about it, if a rock n roll band, with real values, and a love of music, not money, toured their asses off, released independantly, and devloped a fan base they still probably wouldn't get signed, because no CEO is going to want to have to deal with someone with an opinion.  Thing is, the record companies won't have anything to do with you unless you do what they want.
Why sign someone who would offend people when you can have Busted who sell more singles and will make you more money anyway.

And anyone with an opinion wouldn't want to deal with a clearchannel executive who controls 99% of the music venues in Europe and the States.  Because if you sign to them, and piss them off, then you basically get barred from every large venue across the world.

I'm sure Electric Frankenstein could've secured a major label deal if they'd wanted to but I'm guessing they didn't want to be told what to do by people who only care about money?

[Doc Emmett Brown]

Big corporations are part of the problem.  Think about it, if a rock n roll band, with real values, and a love of music, not money, toured their asses off, released independantly, and devloped a fan base they still probably wouldn't get signed, because no CEO is going to want to have to deal with someone with an opinion.  Thing is, the record companies won't have anything to do with you unless you do what they want.

What about RATM?  I know many of you despise rap-rock, but Zack de le Roche's lyrics were anything but fluffy, unopinionated songs about breaking up with bimbos.

Militantly left-wing ideology should make any record label guy gulp for air and pull at his tie nervously, but they were signed to a major label.  Is it because Americans are really left-wing & liberal?     No, of course not.  But Rage did well because, like GNR, they had all the elements: good lyrics, frontman and guitarist.  And an image to boot.  Too bad they broke up.

[Chris Misfit]

I'm sure Electric Frankenstein could've secured a major label deal if they'd wanted to but I'm guessing they didn't want to be told what to do by people who only care about money?

Yeah, they were offered one after their Monster Magnet tour in 98/99. Fact is, they've always done it for themselves, by themselves. They've released Cds/ albums/singles on thousands of record labels from Subpop, to Nitro to Victory (the only deal they ever signed, and got screwed, 1999 they signed that one. 2 albums.) They are offering various companys THEY like, sponsorship on their new Cd so they can put it out, without a major label, or any label. The sponsorship will pay for the CD, EF get the profits. An idea that if more bands follow, could elimanate major labels for good.

But most metal/punk/rock n' roll bands are better on indies, majors wouldn't have a clue how to promote their music anyway. With majors if the band don't sell, the band pays, or owes. With Labels, because you only get paid after you make the money, if the band fail, so does the label. There's a lot of hard work involved in promoting an album released on an indie.

And anyone with an opinion wouldn't want to deal with a clearchannel executive who controls 99% of the music venues in Europe and the States.  Because if you sign to them, and piss them off, then you basically get barred from every large venue across the world.

Dog Toffee had a deal with Sony in '97. Two album deal I think. Sony wanted them to get a frontman. Dog Toffee had 2 great singers for fuck sake! They spent two years fighting to get off Sony, and got a good payout from the contract, but it was nothing compared to losing 2 years, where they couldn't release anything.
You'd think that would be the end of it? No. When Dog Toffee's single Radio was getting airplay on err, Radio 1, a few years back, Sony made a point of telling Radio 1 to take it off their play list (Remember, Sony are big bucks for any radio station, don't fuck with them.).

You gotta keep fightin' for rock n' roll. As Dog Toffee say "The Future Of Rock N' Roll, Is In Your Hands"


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another point about rock. Since day one, it's been loud, and mostly good fun. And always parents despised it. Now half the rock songs on the radio can be liked by elders. That is not fucking right. And you know that everyone here, has a Granny that thinks Muse are "Lovely young men". There's no balls. We need it fast, loose, hard, heavy, yet beautiful. To be honest I do find enough bands to satisfy my craving, but I'd like more people to like what I do, then I could act all elitist and say "I liked them when they were nothing, you're not a tr00 fan like me, fuck you batman, fuck you."

[journey]

Rock isn't dead, it's just changing. Things always change. It's a fact of life. Some people in their 60s will say that Elvis was rock n' roll and everything after him was dirt. People in their 50s will say that Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd were rock n' roll and everything after that was crap. People in their 40s will say that Aerosmith was rock n' roll and everything after was poop. People in their 30s will say that GN'R was rock n' roll and everything after sucked! People in their 20s will say that Nirvana was rock n' roll and everything after has blown. ETC.....

[Oddy]

Rock isn't dead, it's just changing. Things always change. It's a fact of life. Some people in their 60s will say that Elvis was rock n' roll and everything after him was dirt. People in their 50s will say that Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd were rock n' roll and everything after that was crap. People in their 40s will say that Aerosmith was rock n' roll and everything after was poop. People in their 30s will say that GN'R was rock n' roll and everything after sucked! People in their 20s will say that Nirvana was rock n' roll and everything after has blown. ETC.....

i don't think that is necessarily true. when i'm in my 30's or 40's (im 18 now) i won't be saying "Nickelback and Linkin Park were the greatest.......everything after that sucked". There's no great rock n roll band in mainstream music for my generation. My generation is the rap & rnb generation. So fans of rock n roll have to go back in time to find music they like. Its a lot easier than finding new bands especially when a lot of the underground ones are really terrible.

In regards to my music i'm basically living in the 60's and 70's. When i grow old i will probably say "the best rock n roll bands were in the 70's........everything after that sucked". Ofcourse there's one or two exceptions, like GNR but even now that was a long time ago.

The problem is that so many bands are created because they're inspired by other bands. Ok its a good thing to be inspired, but there's a difference being influenced by a band.......and bloody wanting to "play like that band" ah i'm not really making sense. The whole nu metal thing erupted because teens got inspired to make a band like that and now we had the flood of them. There's not much inspiration in the current scene for a young budding guitarist to make a rock n roll band.

The reason i started learning guitar is because the music scene of today didn't satisfy my listening needs so instead of whining complaining and bitching about it i'm playing guitar like no tomorrow to make my own fucking rock n roll. In the 70's a kid probably wanted to learn guitar to be just like Jimi Hendrix, or Jimmy Page. Now who the hell do kids have to look up to. Chad Kroeger? Nu metal shite was created.......and its inspired a whole generation of bands.....which will spout more and more.

Ah well all i'm gonna do is keep playing guitar and join a band and fucking rock out infront of two drunks at a shady pub.   And if the pub circuit is as far as my band gets i'll be happy.  

[journey]

I totally agree with you Oddy. I to, love rock music from all generations.  And, I think there are great rock n' roll bands out there just waiting to be discovered.

[Chris Misfit]

There's not much inspiration in the current scene for a young budding guitarist to make a rock n roll band.

Let's take the Uk rock n' roll scene over the last 10 years:

The Darkness
Dog Toffee
Wildhearts
3 Colours Red
Psycho A Go Go
Manic Street Preachers (before they went indie)
Cheesemakers
Yo Yos

All these bands have released astounding albums, only the Darkness sell. Why? Because they are the only ones playing 70s style rock. Could it be that because of the media, people are not willing to accept anything new, or interesting, and only listen to bands who remind them of old school bands or something thats been already played out?

So fans of rock n roll have to go back in time to find music they like. Its a lot easier than finding new bands especially when a lot of the underground ones are really terrible.

I don't think that's correct. I'd be hard pushed to find a band that I've heard over the last 3 years that I'd call crap. Maybe Manic Hispanic, they were a let down.

But I do tend to listen to stuff that has been released by 20 Stone Blatt, Junk, Mans Ruin, I Uesd To Fuck People Like You In Prison..

if you keep your finger on the pulse, you'll feel the beat.

[jarmo]

Let's take the Uk rock n' roll scene over the last 10 years:

The Darkness
Dog Toffee
Wildhearts
3 Colours Red
Psycho A Go Go
Manic Street Preachers (before they went indie)
Cheesemakers
Yo Yos

Where's Therapy? on your list?

They were pretty succesful back in the 90s as far as I remember.


/jarmo

[Miz]

Some people in their 60s will say that Elvis was rock n' roll and everything after him was dirt. People in their 50s will say that Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd were rock n' roll and everything after that was crap. People in their 40s will say that Aerosmith was rock n' roll and everything after was poop. People in their 30s will say that GN'R was rock n' roll and everything after sucked! People in their 20s will say that Nirvana was rock n' roll and everything after has blown. ETC.....

Only the stupid ones.

[Oddy]

There's not much inspiration in the current scene for a young budding guitarist to make a rock n roll band.

Let's take the Uk rock n' roll scene over the last 10 years:

The Darkness
Dog Toffee
Wildhearts
3 Colours Red
Psycho A Go Go
Manic Street Preachers (before they went indie)
Cheesemakers
Yo Yos

All these bands have released astounding albums, only the Darkness sell. Why? Because they are the only ones playing 70s style rock. Could it be that because of the media, people are not willing to accept anything new, or interesting, and only listen to bands who remind them of old school bands or something thats been already played out?

So fans of rock n roll have to go back in time to find music they like. Its a lot easier than finding new bands especially when a lot of the underground ones are really terrible.

I don't think that's correct. I'd be hard pushed to find a band that I've heard over the last 3 years that I'd call crap. Maybe Manic Hispanic, they were a let down.

But I do tend to listen to stuff that has been released by 20 Stone Blatt, Junk, Mans Ruin, I Uesd To Fuck People Like You In Prison..

if you keep your finger on the pulse, you'll feel the beat.

sorry to flatter you but not everyone is like you chris misfit. not everyone searches for underground bands or bands that aren't shown on mtv or other music channels. i was speaking generally. a lot of people don't know the underground or local rock scene.

and did you ever think the darkness are selling because people actually like 70's rock. not because the media says so or anything, but they actually like the style the song structure the solos etc. I like the darkness for the riffs........i don't care if they're obviously stolen............the harmonized guitars and solos. I also like young heart attack. can you see a patteren here. I like 70's rock. I downloaded a monster magnet album powertrip, i love it, when i find some money i'll buy it. I learnt of them from this site. i like 70's rock not because the media tells me to, because i genuinely like it. It just so happens that thats all the media wants to show, and other bands don't get to be seen. I will accept new stuff definetly if its good. so far they have been, we'lll see what other bands i learn from this site that i like. if they play rock n roll hell i won't discriminate as to whether they're in the public eye or not. hmmmmm next on my list.......i guess i'll check out the wildhearts.

[Chris Misfit]

sorry to flatter you but not everyone is like you chris misfit. not everyone searches for underground bands or bands that aren't shown on mtv or other music channels. i was speaking generally. a lot of people don't know the underground or local rock scene.

I'm very aware of that. But as I said, you shouldn't comment about something, if you don't at least try it. If you keep your finger on the pulse, you'll feel a beat.

In reply top the Darkness cooment: Of course they like it. They like it because it reminds them of something else. We're not going forward.

[Hammy]

I like 70's rock. I downloaded a monster magnet album powertrip, i love it, when i find some money i'll buy it. I learnt of them from this site.

Great to know the Monster Magnet word keeps on spreading.  I realise what's being said about the music people listen to and the rock that is 'popular' sucks but like it's been mentioned by looking around for stuff you can find great music.  I believe it was Misfit who mentioned Gluecifer to me when i was going to see Monster Magnet since they were the support band i thought they were great and have got several of their albums.  Hurricane Party a band who ive mentioned are ten times the band The Darkness are and are on the verge of making it big i started a thread on them.  The point is these days there does seem to be more crap rock bands if you just watched MTV you would be hardstruck to find any good music but all you need to do is search for it as long as there is good music out there i don't care whether it's big or not id rather it was but Monster Magnet are an example of a band who had very little success until Powertrip their fourth full length album but all their music is great and i love all Gluecifer's stuff but without Misfit mentioning them i probably would not of got there early to see them.  I hope the demise of rock is temporary it's been on a downer for years and hopefully it will get a boost again if it doesn't well ill get over it cos there are plenty of bands i like who i know will never make it as big as they deserve but as long as i can listen to them and enjoy them im happy enough.  Even if great bands do make it big there will always been great ones who never get a chance who need searching out, and there will always be crap that makes it big from Culture Club to Busted, Linkin Park to Nirvana [Just my view]

[Oddy]

fine i won't comment on something i dont know enough about. cover bands have taken over my local pubs and stuff. its a lot easier for people to digest, they don't have to really listen to the song of the lyrics because they know it already. if i hear mr jones one more time i'll go nuts.

in regards to your darkness comment about not moving forward, well there's a good saying, if it aint broke don't fix it. Ofcourse the darkness remind people of something else. You can say that about any song or band "oh they remind me of this or this or this". It's pretty much impossible for a band today to be completely unique and not sound remotely like anything else. And the bands that try to just tend to scare the common fan away with their weirdness. I like the darkness because of the songs and particularly the guitars. I guess their guitars sound 70's so technically they sound 70's so technically i like them cuz they sound like the 70's so technically i like them because they remind me of something else. god i hate the word technically. reminds me of year 2 arguements he he he woops gave you a reason to disregard that point doh!

and in australia there's a show called rage on the weekends. it shows music clips. along with the pop of today they show a lot of obscure stuff. i wouldn't call it underground because obviously its on tv........but a lot of the clips are cheaply made by small time bands. they show a lot of stuff (8 hour show).....so there's tonnes of stuff on there that's not on vh1 and mtv and i love it. i sit there with a pen and a notepad writing down songs and bands. but a lot of the unknown bands IMO suck. not because they're bad, but they're just not my type of music. obviously some people like them if they've made it on tv, even though its not a primary tv channel. but yeah occasionally there's a rock n roll band on there that i aint never seen before that are good. anyone ever heard of 67 special? anyway.

oh i downloaded a wildhearts songs called caffiene bomb and news of the world. fuck they rock! good guitars, good drumming, catchy lyrics. they remind me of an old school punk band with a heavy rock n roll influence.........does that mean i like them cuz they remind me of something else..........or because i like the guitars drumming lyrics etc?

[Oddy]

I like 70's rock. I downloaded a monster magnet album powertrip, i love it, when i find some money i'll buy it. I learnt of them from this site.

Great to know the Monster Magnet word keeps on spreading.  

is their newest album monolithic baby(i think?) better than powertrip? i dont wanna seem like a bastard downloading their powertrip album and not buying it, but money is real tight.......i'm thinking of just getting monolithic baby.

[Izzy]

I like 70's rock. I downloaded a monster magnet album powertrip, i love it, when i find some money i'll buy it. I learnt of them from this site.

Great to know the Monster Magnet word keeps on spreading.  

is their newest album monolithic baby(i think?) better than powertrip? i dont wanna seem like a bastard downloading their powertrip album and not buying it, but money is real tight.......i'm thinking of just getting monolithic baby.

I got Monster Magnets GH today (to add to Monolithic baby!) - awesome band

There is quality music out there - i got the new Nightwish album today too - fanastic stuff

So far its been a good year for rock music its just so much harder to find u need to go through places like HTGTH to find out about it, this place has introduced me to hundreds of new bands

[Chris Misfit]

oh i downloaded a wildhearts songs called caffiene bomb and news of the world. fuck they rock!  good guitars, good drumming, catchy lyrics. they remind me of an old school punk band with a heavy rock n roll influence.........does that mean i like them cuz they remind me of something else..........or because i like the guitars drumming lyrics etc?

Both of those songs rule. They're just an excellent band. And you're the first person to mention how heavy the riffs are, I fucking love it, they'd put most metal bands to shame.

Try downloading Everlone, Love You Til I dont, Suckerpunch, Nita Nitro, Red Light, Green Light, I wanna Go Where The People Go, Weekend and My Baby Is a Headfuck.