Here ya go...click the pic
Posted on 02/19/2006 9:24:23 PM PST by Mr. Blonde
Like countless parents before him, Steven Tyler is shocked at the music that's been blaring out of his fifteen-year-old son's bedroom lately. But the Aerosmith frontman can hardly disapprove. "I walk by at night and my son is listening to Zeppelin stuff, like 'Black Dog,'" Tyler says. "He's turned all his friends on to Cream, and they're all into [Aerosmith's] Toys in the Attic. I told him, 'I can't believe you're listening to this.'" Though classic rock is in no danger of edging out emo and hip-hop on most teenagers' playlists, a growing number of kids are also making room for Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles. At the same time, electric-guitar sales are soaring, with the cheapest models nearly doubling in sales from 2003 to 2004. "Kids go through hard rock, hip-hop and pop very quickly, and then they're hungry for something else," says E Street Band guitarist and garage-rock DJ Steven Van Zandt -- who gets hundreds of e-mails from teens thanking him for introducing them to bands like the Kinks. "They always end up coming to [classic] rock & roll."
Nine percent of kids ages twelve to seventeen listened to classic-rock radio in any given week in 2005 -- marking a small but significant increase during the past three years -- with a total of 2.3 million teens tuning in each week, according to the radio-ratings company Arbitron. And some markets have seen more dramatic growth: Teen listenership at New York's Q104.3, the nation's largest classic-rock station, has jumped twenty percent since fall 2002. "It really started in the past five years," says Q104.3 DJ Maria Milito. "You get these boys calling to request Hendrix whose voices haven't changed yet." Van Zandt's Underground Garage, heard on 140 radio stations across the country on Sunday nights, draws a third of its audience from listeners under twenty-five.
For teens, not all classic rock is created equal. According to the market-research firm NPD, kids ages thirteen to seventeen bought twenty percent of all Floyd and Zeppelin albums sold from 2002 to 2005, and seventeen percent of Hendrix and Queen discs but accounted for just three percent of Creedence Clearwater Revival sales, six percent of Rolling Stones sales and a paltry one percent of Cat Stevens sales. "There's such a force and power to a band like Zeppelin," says Rhino Records marketing vice president Mike Engstrom, adding that young buyers drove sales for the label's 2003 DVD collection of live Zep.
Young fans' enthusiasm helps evergreen discs such as Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and AC/DC's Back in Black sell thousands of copies a week. "Week after week, a whole new group of people are discovering these albums," says Jeff Jones, executive vice president of Sony BMG's reissue label Legacy Recordings.
Veteran artists are also seeing a surprising number of young faces at their concerts; at one Tom Petty show at New York's Jones Beach last June, kids as young as fourteen showed up in packs and sang along fervently. "I don't know how to explain it," Petty says.
"We're now seeing an audience that goes from sixteen to sixty," says Allman Brothers manager Bert Holman. "Kids feel they're seeing something legendary and special." Classic-rock mainstay George Thorogood, meanwhile, has had to change his set lists to accommodate the growing number of kids at his shows. "I've had to clean it up a little bit," he says. "It's like, 'Cocaine Blues'? Maybe not."
Why would kids born in the Nineties turn to timeworn guitar anthems? For all of the vibrant rock recorded in the past ten years -- from pop punk to neogarage to dance rock -- no new, dominant sound has emerged since grunge in the early Nineties. "I can't think of a record recently that blew people's minds," says Jeff Peretz, a Manhattan producer and guitar teacher. "And there aren't really any guitar heroes around anymore. Kids don't come in and say, 'I want to play like John Mayer.'"
"There is such a drought that kids are going back and rediscovering the Who and Sabbath," says Paul Green, who runs the Paul Green School of Rock Music, which has expanded from a single Philadelphia branch in 1998 to schools in twelve other cities.
At the same time, the Internet has made forty-year-old hits as accessible as current chart-toppers. "I started to see this as a real trend when Napster started around 1999," says Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, who has two teenage sons. Last year, teens even started believin' again in Journey's power ballads: They pushed the band's 1981 song "Don't Stop Believin' " into iTunes' Top Ten after it popped up during a romantic moment on MTV's wildly popular reality show, Laguna Beach. It has since sold more than 200,000 digital singles. "It makes me so happy that a new generation would embrace something we believed in," says former Journey singer Steve Perry. "Back when we were first successful, we were dissed -- but time has told a different story."
Old rock has become fashionable, too. The years-old couture and thrift-shop vogue for vintage rock T-shirts recently trickled down to mall retailers catering to teens, with Doors and Rolling Stones shirts selling fast at stores such as Hot Topic.
"It's almost a cyclical thing -- as music ages, it can become cool again," says Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis, who covers the Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care" on her new solo album, Rabbit Fur Coat. But Lewis also sees a simpler reason for the trend: "It's called classic rock for a reason -- it's classic. It's just really great music."
LOL, why do I get the feeling that Matt McConaughey really didn't have to stretch too much to act in Dazed and Confused?
teens aren't saving classic rock. given the cRap they have to choose from today, they're simply seizing the nearest alternative
FREEBIRD...PLAY ME SOME FREEBIRD
Probably not. That movie is outstanding. I don't have any idea if growing up in Austin was like that in the 70's but I hope it was.
Don, have you ever thought about why we play football? How many times have you gotten laid strictly because you're a football player
I remember my playing days back in HS and all i can say is ALOT
I'm sure that plays a part. It's sad to think that Journey is the next best alternative.
Followed up by "Curtis Lowe"!
I don't think times have changed much. The Football team here, sucks and there are still a ton of jersey chasers.
Speaking of Aerosmith, a buddy of mine had an Aerosmith road crew member stop in his store last week and scored three comp front row tickets to the Thursday show in Tacoma. Couldn't get myself out off work unfortunately...oh well. And here I was giving him a hard time about opening a tanning biz
Brian May, 'Brighton Rock.'
"She don’t lie, she don’t lie, she don’t lie; COCAINE!!!!"
Good music survives the ravages of time. Music of genius is immortal, be it from the pen of Beethoven or Morrison.
LOL!
Well, truth be told, most of the classic rockers couldn't read music, either. But that didn't stop them from making some excellent music.
Here ya go...click the pic
This is classic rock? When I hear the term "classic rock" I think of Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, even The Beach Boys, etc. 1950s rock n roll.
I can sorta relate to that. My 9 year old thinks my AC/DC and Kiss tunes that I keep in the truck are better than todays pop tunes
Yup. Talent. Something sorely lacking in today's crop of...er, performers. (Can't really call them "artists" or "musicians.")
On the other hand, the geriatric Stones debacle during half time at the Super Bowl was quite possibly the final nail in the coffin of boomer rock.
IMO,classic rock covers stuff made from the late 50's to the mid to late 60's.Buddy Holly is "classic"...so is Elvis...as are the Who,Hendrix,the early stuff by the Stones,Creedence,etc.
To me,the music "died" in the early 70's...not with a bang but with a wimper.
To me,rock is meant to be played by guys (and gals) in their teens,twenties and,maybe,early thirties.You couldn't pay me enough today to go see the Stones,the Temptations or any other group from the 50's of 60's.
Ping to my FRiends who love the good stuff!
Both of my daughters and their friends enjoyed listening to my Wife and I's music from our childhoods. Today, they have their own collections of classic rock and country.
Santana's "Abraxas",
Moody Blues "Days Of Future Passed"
, Led Zeppelin IV (aka ZOSO),
Paranoid by Black Sabbath ,
Led Zeppelin II ,
Are You Experienced? ,
Abbey Road by Beatles ,
Sticky Fingers ,
Crime Of The Century or Breakfast In America by Supertramp,
The Stranger by Billy Joel ,
High Voltage by AC/DC ,
Frampton Comes Alive by Peter Frampton ,
Rumours by Fleetwood Mac ,
Their Greatest Hits: 1971-1975 by The Eagles ,
ZZ Top The Best Of ZZ Top ,
Moondance by Van Morrison,
Tea For The Tillerman by Cat Stevens,
Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
Cream Wheels Of Fire
The Kinks : Ultimate Collection
Buffalo Springfield Retrospective
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young : Deja Vu
Creedence Clearwater Revival Essential Album: Chronicle
Steppenwolf : All Time Greatest Hits
Doobie Brothers : Best Of The Doobies
Chicago Essential Album: Only The Beginning
Grand Funk Railroad : We're An American Band
Blonde On Blonde Bob Dylan
makes me close my eyes on this cold rainy morning and just smile......young and bullet proof....hahahhahahaa
thanks for the pink, day10. This is great news.
I remember my older daughter saying, when she was about 16, that Lenny Kravitz was NOw the NEW Jimmy Hendrix. I laughed.
Some 7 years later, she realizes the mistake...Long live Jimmy~!
I find that my teenage son and I now have similar tastes in music. When I bought Avenged Seven Fold's last CD, he was transfering songs to his iPod before I even had a chance to listen to it.
Nope, those are oldies. While that might seem like splitting hairs, you'll instantly discover the difference when you tune your radio to a classic rock station. You won't hear any 50's rock, but a whole lot of 70's and 80's guitar rock. Even Motley Crue is considered classic rock these days.
It's not a matter of opinion. Classic rock is a recognized genre. It's guitar centric rock and roll from the late 60's through the 80's. It's important to understand this when you stroll down the classic rock isle or tune to the classic rock station.
If you want to hear Elvis or Buddy Holly, you'll have to tune to the oldies station.
So the word "classic" to which you refer (and,perhaps,subscribe) is more of a trademark whereas my use of the word is more in line with the standard definition found in the Oxford Unabridged.
And rent "Dazed and Confused."
Good playlist! Turn it up
I understood your use of classic, but was just pointing out that classic rock is an established musical genre, and it behooves us to understand what someone is listening to when they say they're listening to classic rock. It's not Buddy Holly or Elvis, as those aren't sold under the classic rock banner or played on the classic rock stations. You can of course feel free to use your own defintion, but you'll find that it will make communication more difficult.
I wonder when 90's music will start creeping into classic rock playlists. And which bands will make it. I'm going to guess that for the most part it will only be the Big 4 of Grunge. Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains. Teh song selection will be interesting too. I would be willing to bet that Soundgarden gets the most play as they sound more like classic rock bands than the others to me. Of course I'm biased, Soundgarden is one of my favorite bands.
Little Steven's show does not center its playlist on Hendrix, Cream, or Zepplin. RS HAS to know that Iggy & The Stooges or 60s acts like Zachary Thaks and the 13th Floor Elevators carry more weight there.
"Adults" were busy pushing Harry Belefonte and other acts while the Beatles were withheld from an American audience.
The suits are clueless.
The lack of exposure to good/new/young music does not mean it doesn't exist.
Does that include James Brown?
There is most definitely some good music out there that doesn't get mainstream exposure. Radio is too highly formatted for some music to get a chance because it doesn't fit with in narrowly defined groups, and MTV rarely shows videos anymore and when it does it's even harder to find a rock band. The Drive By Truckers are a prime example of not fitting into a format, but being deserving of wide exposure and not getting it.
I prefer "In the Lap of the Gods" on the same album.
Are You Experienced?....ditto,Hendrix,plus he was Army Airborne
Abbey Road by Beatles....pretty good,Rubber Soul and Revolver were better
Sticky Fingers...their last great work
Rumours by Fleetwood Mac...Bare Trees and Heroes are Hard To Find were better (Christine McVie!!!)
Tea For The Tillerman by Cat Stevens...One great,great song on this (Sad Lisa)
Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles...memories!
Cream Wheels Of Fire...The British Invasion at its best.
The Kinks : Ultimate Collection....ditto,the Kinks
Buffalo Springfield Retrospective....appallingly under-rated group.
Creedence Clearwater Revival Essential Album: Chronicle..one of the great American groups of the 60's
Blonde On Blonde Bob Dylan...Dylan's one of the great writers of the folk/rock era,his first few albums were classics.
For those who want to hear what Little Steven's show is all about (schedule/stations list as well as archives)
http://www.littlestevensundergroundgarage.com/
You are as likely to hear the High Dials, Sugar Shack, Detroit Cobras, or Dirtbombs as you are to hear "classic rock" on this show though (and his 60s playlist includes the Creation and the Pretty Things, unlike traditional "Classic Rock"). Actually I find that to be a good thing.
The classic rock station in my area (WCBS FM 101.1 ) USED to play alot of 1950s rock tunes (along with 60s and 70s rock), But then all of the sudden decided that they weren't going to play 1950s tunes anymore (I cant recall the reason). Then they dumped the oldies format:
as they said in Spinal Tap
I'll turn it ahhhlll the way up.all the way up , all the way up..
I've got an amp that goes to 11....it's for when you go all the way up to 10 and you just need that little extra push... yep, that's what the 11 is for...hahahahahaha
I first heard "Nights in White Satin" at 2 or 3 in the morning on KONO in San Antonio...
I think it was 860 on the AM dial.... it freaked me out cause the part that woke me up was the guy talking about
"Breathe deep the gathering gloom,
Watch lights fade from every room.
Bedsitter people look back and lament
Another day's useless energy is spent.
Impassioned lovers wrestle as one;
Lonely man cries for love and has none;
New mother picks up and suckles her son;
Senior citizens wish they were young.
Cold-hearted orb that rules the night
Removes the colours from our sight,
Red is grey is yellow white
But we decide which is right
And which is an illusion
...then creepy violin music...
freaked me OUT!! Cause I thought some guy had crept into my room or something...hahahaha
that's very strange... if you rent Fandango, you'll here two of the most beautiful Pat Metheny songs of ALL time... on the "As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls"
.... look at the movie and you'll instantly notice them..."It's For You" and September Fifteenth - (dedicated to Bill Evans) ... two very GREAT SONGS...wow another Pat Metheny fan.... it's a great day in the Lone Star State!!
What goes around, comes around. Guitars were big when I was a teenager (late 80's, early 90's). Then, they went out of style. Now, I guess they're coming back. We've got a 15-year-old kid in our worship band at church who can play Zeppelin licks almost as well as I can. My boss's 16-year-old son borrows my Floyd & Queen collections. Heck, my 9-year-old son loves the Beatles, Queen, Floyd, Cream, and Creedence. His current favorite albums are McCartney's "Ram" and Brian Wilson's "Gettin' In Over My Head."
There is a lot of disposable pop out there, but the old stuff is what still endures. There's a reason the Beatles were the top selling artists of 1996 and 2001...
Drat, I couldn't figure out a way to plug Glenn Tilbrook and Squeeze in that rant. Wait, I just did!
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