Why Is Rock Still Dead?

And if you sound the same and change then ppl will be like "man I wish they'd sound like their old stuff"

 

Yes, they sure do. Ive heard that stated many times .

 

I would primarily see that as a compliment on the old stuff.

 

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

As far as rock goes, I see Irminsul's comment as more frequent of a grievance, that is what I noticed in the aforementioned case of MGMT.

What I'll call "The Law of AC DC" suggests that some bands can retain the same sound for a long time and remain relevant. It does seem when there are new movements in rock though, that a band playing the same style into a new era where new movements are happening may get cast aside and overlooked. Also, I think some bands that have like a hit with a certain style and try to replicate that sound, run the risk of sounding contrived or basically aiming for the hit again, rather than creating something which sounds like an organic process.

 

Don't blame the public.No one is obliged to buy anything put out by any new or old artists.It's a saturated market anyway.

 

Not "blaming" the public really, but they do make it tough. Saturated yes, but there is a bright side in that one is not limited to what you listen to. You can find any type of music you want to hear.

 

If (or better said when) certain musicians get too competitive over their art or business it is of course they who are to blame for that. Not the listener/audience.

 

Meh. I think its a faulty analogy to call the public, or even the part that makes up your fanbase, your boss. I mean that sounds like artists should actually give in to demanding nobodies or even conform their music to whatever the public wants. And lets keep in mind that the public, the listeners, the audience is not that uniform in the first place when it comes to rock.

 

Only if they don't want to have to work 40+ hours a week at another job to pay their bills. Cash is king.

 

Granted the music business is very difficult. That doesn't mean it makes a ruthless competitor out of all good musicians. Personally I think the rockingest attitude a musician can have towards its audience and promoters is "Who gives a fuck?" I don't think it's very rockin' for musicians to act like the world is at stake with every musical move they make.

 

We have to agree to disagree on that one. Maybe that mindset works for a session musician/hired help or if one aims to score in the hit parade (or mainly cares about making a living and not in the first place about the artistic value).
I know several musicians who have a very ordinary job besides their music career. If the most important aspect of their own music was to make a living out of it (even partially) they would write and play different stuff. But it's not, they aim for a specific sound and if they make it big with that it would suit them naturally. If not, at least they created their own sound with passion and had fun doing it. Which is essential to the thread topic. People that are primarily in it to get the bread on the table... not so much.

 

You want to make some accusation about musicians wanting to get paid as somehow undermining art? Oh, we shouldn't care about money because it's all so much fun?
Neither of you have a clue what it means to be a working musician. Try holding a full time job and gigging 3-4 days a week playing from 10 pm till 2 am, then pack up your gear and go home to sleep for an hour before you have to get up and got to your normal job for 8-10 hours. Then there's rehearsals on the nights off. What, do you think well played music just happens through sheer artistic motivation? I got news for ya, music, art, etc is generally about 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjCtHgNEcV0

 

No, I'm not accusing every musician who lives of their art or who wants to get paid.
Yes, I do have a clue. And i stand by what i said.

 

You want to make some accusation about musicians wanting to get paid as somehow undermining art? Oh, we shouldn't care about money because it's all so much fun?

Neither of you have a clue what it means to be a working musician. Try holding a full time job and gigging 3-4 days a week playing from 10 pm till 2 am, then pack up your gear and go home to sleep for an hour before you have to get up and got to your normal job for 8-10 hours. Then there's rehearsals on the nights off. What, do you think well played music just happens through sheer artistic motivation? I got news for ya, music, art, etc is generally about 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration."

Thats one of the biggest bitches that comes from musicians..self included. That people somehow equate getting paid for playing with not caring about the music. Actually, its the opposite for the most part because we lofe doing it so much, ee want to make money so we can do it all the time.

 

Are you a professional musician Asmo?

 

No, but I have several friends that have professional work in the industry (from fulltime venue programmer to festival organizers to guys that are booked to play on international tours) and since i'm a big music lover with a lot of interest in all the aspects I take notice of a lot.

 

Maybe bands that just want to present their 'art; should just pay people to listen...I can see it now

Tonight at the Roxy; "The baddest-ass rock band you've never seen"

Free beer while the band plays!

 

I agree that would obviously be a ridicilous generalisation. I rarely hear it though.

 

Not even classical symphonies are immune to unfavorable market forces. They're having to play more cheesy pops arrangements and less pure classical because the paying public demands it.

The laws of supply and demand in music are absolutely absurd right now. Last month, the local symphony had an opening for a flute player. 350 people signed up to audition. This is an unpaid job, and you have to pay for your own sheet music and travel expenses. They decided to change the description to require a minimum of four years of flute instruction and performance at the college level, but that still left more than 100 applicants.

I just wish the performers who are good enough to thoroughly entertain their audiences could all make at least as much per hour as you can get for sweeping the floor and emptying trash cans at McDonald's.