Is it just me, or does it feel like good old fashion Rock and Roll has died out somewhat? It may be just a generational thing, now that I’ve reached AARP status, but watching the movie (based on the play) Rock of Ages recently, I started to wonder: Where have all the rock bands gone? It’s not that I don’t like and appreciate today’s contemporary music (Justin Timberlake, Pitbull, Kelly Clarkson, Jay Z, Beyonce and Lady Gaga), because I do, but it seems like the days of stadium playing rock bands have gone the way of albums, 8-Track and cassette tapes.
In the early 1970s, my older teenage sisters were listening to bands like the Beatles, Rolling Stones and The Who, whose music could be heard blaring from their rooms night and day. They bought 45s and albums at Tower Records and carried around a portable record player or used the family stereo. I loved ease dropping on their music (and personal conversations). By the time I started middle school, in the mid 1970’s, acts like Elton John, Peter Frampton, Wings and Chicago were getting heavy rotation on KFRC. Popular DJ, Doctor Don Rose, may not have been a medical doctor, but he had the right prescription for teenage “Rock fever.”
During my high school years (1976-1980), Disco had crept into our culture. During that period, the Bee Gees and Donna Summer were everywhere, but we all knew disco wouldn’t last. Not while bands such as the Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, Bad Company, Supertramp, Fleetwood Mac, Judas Priest, YES, Jethro Tull, The Pretenders, and Santana were still getting air play on Bay Area FM radio stations KOME, KSFO and KFOG. Up and comers like Pat Travers, Montrose, UFO and Triumph were lesser known, but still did a great job as an opening acts.
My first concert was in the winter of 1977 at the Cow Palace in Daly City. For $8.00, my buddies and I got to watch Foghat, Eddie Money and No Dice (who was no good) shake the rafters of what was essentially a glorified 4H and rodeo venue. My next concert was Kiss and April Wine a few months later. — Chris F., Age 52.
I attended both of those concerts with Chris. We would sit in the seats during the opening acts and then work our way through the crowd on the floor to get as close to the stage as we could for the headliners. It was easier if you didn’t mind a girl sitting on your shoulders. And we didn’t mind at all. — Tom C. Age 51.
The Cow Palace drew all the big name acts before there were amphitheaters, pavilions and arenas with corporate naming rights. Other big venues at the time were the Oakland/Alameda County Coliseum, The San Jose Civic auditorium, and occasionally, Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara. San Francisco clubs such as Winterland, The Filmore, The Stone and the Kabuki Theater, along with The Keystone in Berkeley and Palo Alto, were energetic places to see up and coming local bands such as Y&T, 415 (featuring Eric Martin), Shooting Star, The Tubes (featuring Fee Waybill), HUSH (featuring Robert Berry), Pablo Cruise and The Greg Kihn Band, as they built up their fan base and fine tuned their stage shows.
Playing the Keystone in Palo Alto and some of the other clubs was a great ride. There’s nothing like live music for the energy. The connection for the audience and the band is a great experience. Eddie Toro – former member of Nightflight and RPM.
As we broke into the decade of the 80s, the “Hair” bands, including Journey, Foreigner, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Van Halen, Boston, Queen, Kansas, The Babys, Scorpions, Cheap Trick , Electric Light Orchrestra (ELO), 38 Special and AC/DC joined established acts such as Genesis, Thin Lizzy, Rush, the Doobie Brothers, ZZ Top, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Lynyrd Skynyrd, on the concert scene. It was not uncommon for all of these bands to sell over one million albums when a new album was released and their concerts sold out within minutes.
When I entered college, MTV was just taking off. This made bands like Def Leppard, Jefferson Starship (Formerly Jefferson Airplane), Whitesnake, Motley Crew, Loverboy, The Cars, Bon Jovi , Night Ranger, Damn Yankees, Asia, Europe, Aldo Nova and The J. Giles Band become bon-a-fide “Rock Stars,” thanks to their music videos. Guys like me longed to be a bad ass rocker like Sammy Hagar, Ted Nugent or Billy Squire.
The predominately Los Angeles-based “Glam” bands that became popular toward the mid-1980s, just didn’t do it for me. Groups like Ratt, Warrant, Quiet Riot, Dokken, Poison, Cinderella or Twisted Sister certainly were big at the time, but they relied more on Glamour than substance. The one exception was Guns and Roses. Their original line-up didn’t stay together long, but in their prime they were exceptional. I also was never into the “Speed or Thrash metal” bands like Megadeath, Tool, Slayer, Anthrax or Exodus. Again, the exception being Metallica because they were a Bay Area band and I’ve met James Hatfield.
Although a fan of Pat Benatar and Heart, which was led by Ann and Nancy Wilson, I never got into the all-girl bands such as The Go-Go’s, The Bangles, the Runaways or Joan Jett and the Blackhawks. It’s nothing sexist, but girl bands just lacked a sense of vicarious groupie-envy that the guys possessed. Finally, rock’s “grunge” bands never drew me in either. During the late 1980s/early 90s, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and Nirvana were huge, but their lyrics and melodies were too dark and moody for my tastes. I want my music to have some passion; some energy; some “balls.”
Recently, my daughters have seen acts including Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and Kenny Chesney. My wife and I actually took them to see Pink. These are seasoned performers who put on good shows. (They should when tickets cost anywhere from $75.00 to $100.00 and they gouge their fans for $40.00 t-shirts.)
Back in the day, the hottest ticket in town was to a Bill Graham Presents Day on the Green. Tickets were usually $15.00 to $20.00 each, and t-Shirts or tank tops could be bought for ten bucks.
My first concert was a Day on the Green in 1979. The line-up was Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, AC/DC and Mahogany Rush. There parking lot was full by 8:00 am even though they didn’t open the gates for festival seating until twelve. I was 15 years old and it was an epic experience. — Mark D., age 49.
Oh sure, you can say point to U2, Bruce Springsteen, Nickelback, Green Day, Metallica as “rock music,” but they’re all getting up there in age. It’s not like we have a lot of up-and-coming bands to carry on the rock legacy. I personally don’t think a line-up that includes Fall Out Boy, Good Charlotte, 30 Seconds to Mars and Scarlet Machine will ever be on the bill of a revamped Monsters of Rock tour.
Like everything, music has its cycles. This generation’s musical tastes are too eclectic with the emergence of big name DJs, house music and electronic dance music. Personally, I miss the days of the arena rock bands battling it out for rock supremacy. Rock on!
Don’t miss a chance to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. My wife and I had a chance to go and it’s a pilgrimage to Mecca for any true rock fan. Over 150,000 sq. ft. of exhibits, memorabilia and concert footage spread over six floors. It is truly awesome.
Leave a Reply