There are some strong rock influences in a number of pop acts over the last 3 months. Jist listen to "locked out of heaven" by Bruno Mars, or pink's latest single, or that of Tulisa. Rock is either present in the distorted guitars, song structures or anthemic melodies. While none of those songs are out and out rock, they each have a strong rock influence in there.
That is all to the good. Rock has been reinvented many times over since it's beggining, absorbing influenves from many other genres along the way. Sometimes that reinvention has been spurred by mainstream influences, other times indie or underground scenes, and at other time it has been technology that has lead the way.
The point is that music is successful when it is creative, attention grabbing, and memorable. While tastemakers and music managers could take some of the blame, much lies with many rock bands churning out safe music, with so little difference between bands, so little ground breaking being done... rock lost much of that edge. It will rise up, I am sure, but it is going to mean break some serious ground to really do so. A lively pop-rock scene might be just enough to kick rock's backside into some limelight long enough for rock bands to wake up and smell the coffee.
One thing that does make it harder than is used to be is the DJ / artist / producers turning up at a venue with a laptop to plug into a resident PA system to perform. That is a tastey proposition for club owners. No crew. No amp or other gear. Minimal band members. High likelihood of a good quality sound and more. Sure rock often goes to different venues but it has to go some when kids compare locsl live bands and the quality of set a decent DJ can deliver. A small factor maybe but there are many.
To be popular again, rock has be cool / rad / hip whatever it needs to be. So much depends on image, and that is down to how rock bands present themselves and a whole lotta hype.
Rock bands are the only ones that can pull their nuts out the fire. They have just seemed almost static in comparison with a multitude of pop acts.
They had better be on their A game, or they will never catch, nevermind create, the next big wave.
It has to be said that there are plenty of other languishing genres. They too are pretty static when it comes to new ideas and technologies. It really is about time that bands wised up,, stopped playing so safe and started leading the way.
As ever there are always exceptions, but sadly that is exacty what they are. Foo Fighters, Muse.... it is a short list of older bands.
There are also far, far fewer teenagers seriously spendiing time learning how to shred. Kids live in an instant result minimal effort society and they expect things at the push of a few buttons. Why spend hours on your own practicing, practicing... when they can download decent virtual gear, effects and editors that make it easy to create a pretty decent finished track based on loops, sequences and samples and with no music training.
Does rock have the balls to reinvent itself? Maybe but it had better do it soon.
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Hi Tobias, welcome to Songstuff
