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Child Item

80s bands now the only way to fill venues

guylikeme

Metallica
Guns and roses
Bon jovi
U2
Rolling stones
RHCP

And so forth..

Is it the publics lack of taste in good new bands or the promotors and venue managers not taking a chance any more.

Fast forward 20 years. Who of today's era could headline Slane. It's frightening.

OTOH with a bit of luck the planet will be mince meat by then

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DavidLyons_

silverharp wrote: »

back in the 80's a concert ticket was a little more than the price of a LP. croke park all day with something like U2 or Simple Minds was about £12...good times

Bought a ticket in the early 90s to see Nirvana in McGonagles for £7 or so. Sadly that gig got postponed and they ended up playing in the point a number of months later.

Ticket was just exchanged though so £7 to see Nirvana (with The Breeders & Teenage Fanclub as support) wasn’t too bad value for money.

engiweirdo

Even in 2005 a weekend ticket for Oxegen was €150. Not over the odds considering the line up. Probably the last incarnation of a rock festival in Ireland. Feckin wrecked it after with letting the likes of Eminem play there and various scuzzy dance acts. Dragged all the dregs of Ireland toward it. Twas always a goner when they went down that road.

riclad

Big rock bands hardly exist anymore,bands like the rolling stones, u2 have millions of fans, so they can sell out stadiums.
Who is the next u2 or coldplay.
Theres stars like beyonce or kanye west ,beiber ,taylor swift ,lady gaga
Theres no new rock band that can sell millions of albums .
Now the charts are based on streaming ,youtube views ,as well as cd sales ,
and digital downloads.
Older people have more money, they will buy expensive tickets to see
madonna or the rolling stones.
The era of the rock band seems to be over,
but people will buy tickets to see oasis or u2 as long as they wish to tour.
Theres plenty of solo stars who could headline slane, ed sheeran etc
it would be more accurate to say big acts from the 80.s
sell alot of tickets .

Bonzo Delaney

I 've been pondering this for a while too that the day of the big stadium band will be no more when the current crop of 50+yr olds pack it in be they 60s 70s 80s or 90s bands from the stones to pearl jam ozzy to gnr Aerosmith to u2 even the killers and stereophonics were out 20+yrs
There's hasn't been an influential rock band in 20yrs

Say Your Number

I prefer the small club gigs, because you can show up half an hour before the main act and be in a decent spot, for those big stadium gigs for you have to be there for hours to get a decent spot and if you're not all you can see are a few small specks on the stage and all the gobsh1tes around you are having a nice chat and they only decide to shut up when the band play their big hits, also club gigs are usually louder so there isn't much chat going on.

riclad

I think rock music is dying, young people listen to streaming music,
pop music and hip hop is more popular .
Someone can become a pop star simply by making a viral music video.
singers like katy perry or bieber don,t write their own songs.
Its like in gaming ,certain games genres do,nt exist any more like rts game,s.eg real time stategy games and games like guitar hero do not sell
anymore.

sameoldname

I think there's a whole number of things that have come together at about the same time.

Firstly is money. There's less money in the music industry and it's now far more going towards the larger artists then it ever was before. That means that where a band in the past could have made enough money from an alright selling first album to essentially stay in the business long enough to hone their craft, nowadays will generally just give up, find a job that pays and maybe just keep music as a hobby.

Compounding that is, even if you do manage to create a well received album, there's no money in selling music. You have to tour and sell merchandise. If you can't attract a crowd to a gig, your music is essentially worthless in this era. People like Enya and Kate Bush or anyone else who rarely toured won't be seen again I'm afraid. So that means if you're the type of person who can't write new songs on the road, you better hope you've made enough money from the touring because you're not going to have any income while you're writing and recording. And the record labels pay peanuts nowadays compared to what they used to if you're lucky enough to have a record deal.

I would also say the other thing that's killing music is that there's no new "sound". From the middle of the last centaury we went through so many new innovations in sound that it was comparatively easy to come up with something new and interesting. Electric guitar, distortion, synths, sampling, pure digital. All these things created era-defining sound to the point where it's very easy to tell music from the 50's, 60's, 70s, 80s, and 90's apart. In my opinion that slowed down in the late 90's, early 2000's and stopped completely by the end of the last decade. We're essentially listening to music that hasn't changed in a decade or more. (And I don't count dubstep …and neither should you!)

There are other issues of course but those to me are some of the main reasons in my opinion. And I'm not saying there aren't great bands nowadays but how many times has a band from the last 15 years made you say "Wow!" when listening to their stuff. Very few for me...

Of course, it could be because I'm in my 30's now...

rossie1977

riclad wrote: »

I think rock music is dying, young people listen to streaming music,
pop music and hip hop is more popular .
Someone can become a pop star simply by making a viral music video.
singers like katy perry or bieber don,t write their own songs.
Its like in gaming ,certain games genres do,nt exist any more like rts game,s.eg real time stategy games and games like guitar hero do not sell
anymore.

At this point its pretty much dead as far as stadium rock goes outside nostalgia acts from 60-90s.

To be fair Perry writes or co-writes all her own songs, quite a few pop songs that charted well for other acts she also wrote. Bieber I couldn't tell you but he could easily have been a fad but he has sustained popularity for a decade.

SEPT 23 1989

No parents have record collections lying around on a shelf waiting to be discovered

The last kids listening back were the 90's bands

Invisible music on phones now

It's like the North Atlantic drift

Once the circle is broken it's the ice age

Grandeeod

Interesting thread that's gonna be filled with all kinds of opinions and I'd be the last to judge. However I see a lot of bands from the 80s and I mean bands, playing gigs and selling out venues. Some are still stadium fillers in different parts of the world, while others sell out big to medium indoor venues in other parts of the world. I have a particular memory from the Electric Picnic in 2017. The closing act was Duran Duran and there was fooking warfare online when it was announced. So much anger and disgust and criticism. Anyway, they arrived, played and ultimately entertained the place to great reviews because they are a great live act with a back catalog that most will recognize. Like so many bands, they keep on playing live all across the world at festivals and their own tours.

Just look at the appetite for Feile Classic this year. Okay, more early 90s with bands that really started in the late 80s and never got the mainstream success they deserved. Music has gone to ****. I'm not surprised older bands are the big headliners at various events.

Discodog

I remember an interview with Eavis. He said that there was a serious lack of headliners. It's a major problem for big festivals.

Anesthetize

I wouldn't change anything about the current musical climate. Alternative music exists for the very reasons where people are disillusioned with mainstream music and complain about it.

If you want something pure or substantial from music you're rarely going to find it in a field or stadium with 50,000 people. You've a better chance of finding it in Whelan's.

Rothko

Bonzo Delaney wrote: »

I 've been pondering this for a while too that the day of the big stadium band will be no more when the current crop of 50+yr olds pack it in be they 60s 70s 80s or 90s bands from the stones to pearl jam ozzy to gnr Aerosmith to u2 even the killers and stereophonics were out 20+yrs
There's hasn't been an influential rock band in 20yrs

White Stripes and The Strokes have been very influential. Libertines too.

Ulysses Gaze

Rothko wrote: »

White Stripes and The Strokes have been very influential. Libertines too.

White Stripes were influential.

The Strokes were a retro one album wonder. The Libertines were pretty much the same.

Grandeeod

Anesthetize wrote: »

I wouldn't change anything about the current musical climate. Alternative music exists for the very reasons where people are disillusioned with mainstream music and complain about it.

If you want something pure or substantial from music you're rarely going to find it in a field or stadium with 50,000 people. You've a better chance of finding it in Whelan's.

With all due respect that is an opinion that has been held for donkeys years and is usually the opinion held by the more "edgy" types trying to be cooler than everyone,

1000s of people found music that was pure and substantial in a field or stadium many years ago, but not these days.

SEPT 23 1989

Rothko wrote: »

White Stripes and The Strokes have been very influential. Libertines too.

The were the the last sting of a dying wasp

Not great but better than nothing

But up against the big boys they were Freight Rover Cup

hadepsx

What about the Foo fighters??

engiweirdo

hadepsx wrote: »

What about the Foo fighters??

See my post about Oxigen '05. That was when they along with co-headliners Green Day were **** hot. Unfortunately both are still knocking out dross now when there is likely a better market for them in greatest hits tours.

Jofspring

In Ireland newer artists selling out big venues may be gone or very limited but around Europe, USA and South America there are plenty of bands/artists selling out big arenas, stadiums etc... Outside of the usual heads.

Rock may be dying in Ireland but definitely not around the world. There are countries that their charts are riddled with new rock bands from metal to punk and more alternative stuff. We don't even have a nationwide radio station dedicated to rock music in this country. It's not generally played on the airwaves here and lots of people aren't exposed to it on a regular basis.

Ireland is and will always be a very narrow minded country when it comes to music. There are bands selling out arenas in the UK and Europe regularly that struggle to fill small venues here. Yet a band can come into the charts like "Picture This" and off the back of one hit and maybe another known song sell out the 3 Arena. You see it happen here time and time again. Volbeat for example have been headlining top festivals around Europe for years now, have had chart hits in many countries and have had huge outdoor gigs themselves but in Ireland most people wouldn't have a bulls notion who they are.

In saying all that I'm delighted to get to see some of my favourite bands in the smaller venues. I love a good festival but seeing a band up close and personal and not from the back of the three arena or in a field somewhere is something to enjoy here.

grindle

sameoldname wrote: »

...how many times has a band from the last 15 years made you say "Wow!" when listening to their stuff. Very few for me...

Of course, it could be because I'm in my 30's now...

This is particularly depressing - the past 15 years have been phenomenal for music. Many many acts have made me go "Wow!" since 2003.

Wrongway1985

Ulysses Gaze wrote: »

White Stripes were influential.

Influential in posing as something they are not also (off to bang the sister :pac: )

Wrongway1985

Jofspring wrote: »

In Ireland newer artists selling out big venues may be gone or very limited but around Europe, USA and South America there are plenty of bands/artists selling out big arenas, stadiums etc... Outside of the usual heads.

Rock may be dying in Ireland but definitely not around the world. There are countries that their charts are riddled with new rock bands from metal to punk and more alternative stuff. We don't even have a nationwide radio station dedicated to rock music in this country. It's not generally played on the airwaves here and lots of people aren't exposed to it on a regular basis.

Ireland is and will always be a very narrow minded country when it comes to music. There are bands selling out arenas in the UK and Europe regularly that struggle to fill small venues here. Yet a band can come into the charts like "Picture This" and off the back of one hit and maybe another known song sell out the 3 Arena. You see it happen here time and time again. Volbeat for example have been headlining top festivals around Europe for years now, have had chart hits in many countries and have had huge outdoor gigs themselves but in Ireland most people wouldn't have a bulls notion who they are.

In saying all that I'm delighted to get to see some of my favourite bands in the smaller venues. I love a good festival but seeing a band up close and personal and not from the back of the three arena or in a field somewhere is something to enjoy here.

Thank you for posting, this pretty much covers what I would have said

Rock music is still alive and well, but the audience for it in Ireland has well and truly disintegrated.

The Golden Miller

rossie1977 wrote: »

Rock music hasn't really produced a crossover band(s) with longevity in 20 years. Stones are a 60s/70s band btw as they had most success during those decades although still successful in 80s.

If you look at the biggest touring acts in the states this summer it's the modern country music stars such as Swift, Kenny Chesney then more easy listening stuff such as Ed Sheeran and Jay-Z/Beyoncé who are currently touring together.
http://www.venuesnow.com/news/detail/hot-tickets-oct-4
http://www.venuesnow.com/news/detail/hot-tickets-sept-6-2018
http://www.venuesnow.com/news/detail/hot-tickets-aug-30

If you look at the biggest acts there is a distinct lack of acts that young men say 15-35 age group would follow or attend in big numbers. Which is interesting because throughout the 60-90s stadium shows were filled with that particular demo.

Well this is the problem right here, the 18-35 guy demograph just downloaded music for over a decade, so real music wasn't selling, therefore it ain't getting radio-play or exposure, therefore no money for new bands so they pack it in etc. etc. Only thing that sells now is what 15 year old girls buy, manufactured nonsense as they don't download for free in such huge numbers, so that's all that's on the radio etc etc. We ruined music for good cause we wanted it for free, and now we'll be made suffer. Karma

People talk about changing styles, ways to listen to music and all the rest being the reason but it's nonsense, the above is what it comes down to. If the 18-35 bracket started buying music in bulk again, another new wave of real bands would come along, getting airplay and exposure, writing original music and selling out big gigs. People still love that music, but are we going to support it and buy it when we can get it for free? Are we fcuk! We'll always be short-sighted. So there ye go, real music to any great extent (in the mainstream anyway), is deader than the dodo.

The Golden Miller

grindle wrote: »

This is particularly depressing - the past 15 years have been phenomenal for music. Many many acts have made me go "Wow!" since 2003.

The last era of original music from bands and acts making it to the mainstream in big numbers was up until the mid/late 00's. From say circa 2010, what acts have made you go "wow" specifically?

sabat

grindle wrote: »

the past 15 years have been phenomenal for music. Many many acts have made me go "Wow!" since 2003.

Read this in Alan Partridge's voice...

Dravokivich

riclad wrote: »

I think rock music is dying, young people listen to streaming music,
pop music and hip hop is more popular .
Someone can become a pop star simply by making a viral music video.
singers like katy perry or bieber don,t write their own songs.
Its like in gaming ,certain games genres do,nt exist any more like rts game,s.eg real time stategy games and games like guitar hero do not sell
anymore.

I don't care if they don't write their own songs. Most actors don't write their own lines and it doesn't take away from their ability to perform.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Coldplay.
The Killers.
Kodaline

No.

Just No!

Never reference a band whose name comes back as coleslaw with spellcheck.

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

No parents have record collections lying around on a shelf waiting to be discovered

The last kids listening back were the 90's bands

Invisible music on phones now

It's like the North Atlantic drift

Once the circle is broken it's the ice age

My eldest(15) and his friends have a great interest in rock music and they have a huge collection of 80s and 90s rock music, some of it taken from tapes of mine from back then. Even they complain about the lack of rock music these days and the total absence of it from mainstream radio.

Just witness the texts that pour into radio stations when a classic rock track is played these days, a deluge of text thanking the presenter, so there is a demand and an opening out there for a rock station, I think.

DavidLyons_

Dravokivich wrote: »

I don't care if they don't write their own songs. Most actors don't write their own lines and it doesn't take away from their ability to perform.

Fair enough, as far as music goes it should be each to their own.

That said, there really is something to be said for musicians who can write and perform their own material.

In my opinion, there is something horribly manipulative about pop music selected for a performer (they are not artists to me) by a record company mogul such as Cowell or the odious Louis Walsh and peddled to the public for mass consumption. Just so these musically talentless business men can control the charts and make themselves impossibly rich. Often the young person is cast aside when they outgrow their usefulness.

As pointed out earlier on the thread, most of that drivel is aimed and marketed towards 15 year old girls and under.

The fact that these people now control the music business has stifled (but definitely not killed) creativity.

Thankfully, there is still loads of people who like music being performed by its creators. It just isn't really getting the same mainstream exposure that it used to. Sometimes it does, but is very rare now whereas it was the norm in the past.

With a bit of luck, it'll be swings and roundabouts. These things usually are.

rossie1977

Jofspring, how many rock bands today are sustaining success though past first album, single etc. Remember AC/DC's biggest success was Back in Black nearly a decade after they formed and after Bon Scott's death. Metallicas albums were becoming bigger and bigger as they released them so Puppets was bigger than Ride the Lightning and Black album was their biggest seller exactly 10 years after they formed.

We are probably never again going to see something like what we saw emerge in Seattle in the early 1990s with four or five groups gaining commercial success at the same time.

Re: Katy Perry. Her backstory is actually quite interesting. Most think she was picked off the street and manufactured into pop princess. She has been touring since 15-16 in reality. First as a gospel singer, then indie rock until her breakthrough in 2008. As I mentioned she writes or co-writes all her songs

This one Kelly Clarkson recorded

6 minute mark she addresses why she moved from indie rock to bubblegum pop. It's actually quite depressing that artists feel there is little long term future in that genre these days.

JohnnyFlash

There’s a real whiff of denim jacket around here at the moment. Middle-aged Hot Press readers giving out about modern bands not rocking hard enough. How they saw Fatima Mansions play in McGonagles, and Phil Lynott turned up afterwards sort of stuff. The ‘everything was better in my day’ brigade, tutting away in their Avensis as Coldplay comes on the radio.