It's a debate on the tip of the tongue of music journalists and guitar-loving musos alike. Is rock music dead? Let's explore what happened to rock music. (Readersdigest)
3 Reasons rock is dead and 3 Reasons rock is alive
In the past, music recording was primitive. A recording engineer placed microphones in front of instruments. The producer pressed record and beckoned the band to play. There was a human touch to recordings.
The end goal? To capture a moment of magic.
The analogue way of recording gave rock music its raw edge. But here we are today; sophisticated audio software sits in every recording studio.
A loose take is moveable, making it sound in time, while auto-tune masks characterful vocal nuances. The pristine sheen on modern recordings isn't conducive to a rock record.
Every rock band needs a stage, and we're not talking massive arenas, just small grassroots venues to learn their trade. Yet, such venues continue to close.
COVID was the final nail in the coffin for some grassroots music venues. As the UK re-opened, there was a glimmer of hope for the survivors, but few could predict what was around the corner.
Reasons rock is alive: 1)New rock bands, 2)The vinyl revival, 3)Music trends come and go.
The vinyl revival
According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), in 2021 vinyl record sales reached five million. Not only is that an eight per cent rise from the previous year, but it's also the 14th consecutive year of growth.
Here's the kicker. Of all those vinyl record sales, 60 per cent were in the rock genre. The year's top vinyl sales included Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Nirvana and Pink Floyd.
"Rock ’n’ roll, it just won’t go away. It might hibernate from time to time and sink back into the swamp." (Alex Turner of Arctic Monkey)
Wolf Alice toured their album Blue Weekend in February, 2022, and every show on the 18-date tour sold out. Now they're rousing Glastonbury and selling out shows in the US—even America can't get enough of the alt-rockers.
So, although trends come and go, there's always a demand for rock music. Nothing compares to the power at a rock show, and that'll always inspire. Whether it’s the pounding of the drums, rumbling of bass, cutting guitar solos, the lyrics or the lead singer's charisma. There’s a connection to the audience.
To read the full Reader's Digest article click here
Maybe Neil Young was right after all when he sang, “Hey hey, my my. Rock and roll can never die."
