20 Years of Rock?

Thinking about all the glam bands that were just on the Motley Cruise and still performing regularly, I can't help but wonder if today's bands will be just as successful.

There is something about glam that gives an artist longevity. While the great music is one reason for the incredible staying power, another reason has to be the deep connection between fan and artist. Surpassing that connection is a sense of youth and fondness.

You already know I'm a big fan of Avenged Sevenfold. In fact, they are just about the only modern band I really enjoy. Their songs are technically difficult and impressive...but I wouldn't necessarily call the music fun.  Will the band still be playing 20 years from now? Doubtful.

I can't imagine that guitarist Synyster Gates will have the same dexterity needed to adequately perform the songs. While Eddie Van Halen can still wail a guitar, Gates needs a different form of dexterity to make his music sing.

I also don't think modern rock bands...be it Avenged Sevenfold, or Fall Out Boy, or whomever...has the right staying power necessary to keep fans interested for more than two decades. I don't think it's necessarily the music; rather it is the entire lack of a scene that allows fan building.

While MTV was hugely instrumental in cultivating bands and solidifying fans, modern acts no longer have this avenue because the channel refuses to play music videos.  

While modern bands still earn play on rock radio, a million different stations thanks to satellite channels make competition even more difficult.

So, do you think modern rock bands will still be playing for fans in the year 2028?

Discuss.

Comments

[sleazyrocker]

Avenged sevenfold sucks!

[sleazyrocker]

...they are posers.

they try to adopt the hip hop mentality,fu@k that!

[Allyson]

I love it when people from Metal Sludge come here and completely miss the point of the daily article. Classic.

- Allyson

[Rob Rockitt, Hard Rock Hideout]

In 2028, we will probably hear of news about the up and coming Nickelback reunion. (Assuming they break up before then) I don't think I will care about that very much though.

[sleazyrocker]

dont worry Allison, I wont come back to your crappy website..ever.

[Metal Mark]

I think it depends as much on the fans as it does on the band. A large part of why these hair bands are still touring is because there is still a fan base of some sort. So if there is a fan base for today's bands 20 years from now then those bands might be able to motivate themselves to go out and play for fans trying to relive their youth.

[Allyson]

Sleazyrocker -

It's ALLYSON - no "i"

[Joe]

I agree Allyson..80s bands were fun..and their image was fun..Todays bands are too angry..I mean geez the 80s had their problems, but the bands back then didnt whine about it..In fact those bands kept me sane back then haha!..Great article..Take care and talk to you soon =)

[Valentine]

Good point. But since music, like fashion, is constantly revolving and reinventing itself before coming back to once was... wow, made myself dizzy... anyway, since it's doing that I wouldn't be surprised to see less anger and more "fun" coming soon... ala all the great hair/glam bands of the 80s... I mean, come on, you can only take so much "oh poor me my life sucks and I'm gonna growl" in new music, right..

Point is, no, I don't think there will be many of the bands left in 20 years unless they evolve and reform... Change is good.

Sleazyrocker: Maybe you and Cisca could start your own site. Call it "stirringupshitfornogoodreason.com" or something...

[dirty angel]

hmmm my opinion is....no

i mean its not really their faults these kids have the same dreams and hopes as the guys before them but with the current music buissness it aint happening. to quote dave mustaine its not the music buissness any more its the buissness music.

the companys are going to shove new stuff down kids throats constantly and unfourtenetly their isnt that bond kids feel to bands anymore.

[Chey]

I don't think that any bands now a days will be playing 20 years from now. atleast not the ones mentioned on MTV. like you said, there is just so 'scene' to support it.

you don't really like Justin Timberlake do you? please tell me thats a joke.

[Railene]

Good god no! The current bands won't be playing 20 years from now! Simply because there is nothing truly special about today's rock. It hasn't captured the spirit of a generation; the bands don't campture your imagination, and nothing about the music just reaches out and pokes you in the eye and says "look at me".

I'd love something to come along and truly kick my ass!

Until then, I'll stay in the 80's.

[Chessie >^..^<]

With the advent of the internet, digital transmission, and who knows what else down the road, we ~may~ see some of the 'new' bands still playing. Somewhere--with or without 'label' support. But I think the days of bands sticking it through for 20+ years--and still be popular--are slowly fading away. Some bands - like the Rolling Stones,Queensryche, Bon Jovi - are still hanging in there, while others have to take long breaks--Genesis, Winger, Eagles, et.al.

You know things in the music business are going downhill when the AP already has Britney Spears's obit ready & waiting. Are today's 'artists' (term used loosely) overexposed? Brit hasn't done a new album in what, a year? Her stunts would have killed the career of an artist 'back in the day'. Yet she's still in the forefront. Hannah Montana seems to be the hotest ticket out there (thank the maker she doesn't seem to be riding on daddy's coattails!), but is she going to burn out before her 18th birthday?

It will be interesting to see how the next 10 years pans out.

[Christian Graus]

I think that every generation will have it's Motley's, it's Ratts and it's erm... Shotgun MEssiahs. In other words, some bands will be really successful, some will be a little, and some quickly forgotten by most. I suspect that A7X are here for the long term, four albums in, they are still getting more popular, the music is still really good, and they basically exhude rockstarness. All of those things combined means I think they have a shot at it. But, it is a different world to 1980, and that is going to change things, one side effect of people using the web to find new bands is, new bands are not hard to find. Keeping an audience in the face of that mounting competition will be harder than it was in the 80s.

I hope they make it, I think they are awesome.

[Joe]

hahaha Valentine..you rock!!!

[EddieLongHair]

Another thing that I think is missing is the sense of showmanship. When I go to a concert I want to be entertained by the "whole package". When "rockers" started to stand around on-stage in dull brown cardigans and olive green cords,not moving from their spot on the stage, things started to get boring! I want lights and pyro and hair and rock & roll and excitement! Show me some rock-star! And as far as the teeny-bopper stuff of today, forget it! It will be a new flavor next year.

[Joe]

I agree with you Eddie..I want to see a show.

[Rhodeislandrock, Heavy Metal Addiction]

I work with a lot of young people and I don't sense that they care about Music as much as I did in my youth. So I don't think that many current bands will have serious longevity. There will be reunions of some of the big names but the impact will be minimal. There are so many other forms of entertainmaent out there that Music has become background noise to many.

Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction
http://hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com/

[Sean]

Two points: I've no idea how popular Avenged Sevenfold is anywhere outside of the U.S. They could still be preforming somewhere if there is an audience, not necessarily in the U.S. While they may not be able to fill arenas when they're twenty years older like jurassic rock stars The Rolling Stones or (shutter) The Eagles, if their health doesn't fail who knows? Also, while I'm sure Synyster Gates does indeed need a different form of dexterity than Eddie, it's a style he clearly works very hard to achieve just like Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine needs a completely different form of dexterity than Eddie or Synyster Gates.

I'm optimistic I can't see a reason why they would quit if they can stay reasonably healthy. Somewhere they could fine an appreciative audience.

[Drumbashing]

Only a few will remains in 2028,like Linkin Park or Train, because their songwriting is top notch. other acts just simply tried to be "poppish" to cross over the charts, and also people nowadays will only buy 1-2 song instead of an album (a sad reality..), how can modern rock band survive ?

no doubt there will also be reissues which will expose younger generation to bands (which by then become classic) like Bon Jovi, Leppard or Firehouse.

so yeah, it's looking a bit grim.