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Why Don’t Rock Bands Play the Super Bowl Halftime Show Anymore?
UltimateClassicRock ^ | February 7, 2024 | Nick DeRiso

Posted on 02/09/2024 5:09:10 PM PST by nickcarraway

Usher's performance during this week's Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas extends the NFL's streak of halftime shows without a headlining rock act to 14.

Chiefs starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes was still a freshman in high school when the Who concluded their set with "Won't Get Fooled Again" in 2010 at Super Bowl XLIV in Miami. He's now attempting to claim his third Super Bowl crown, and there hasn't been a top-billed rock act since.

Ironically, rock basically ruled halftime celebrations as the 21st century dawned. Aerosmith kicked things off in 2001 in Tampa for Super Bowl XXXV. U2 took the stage a year later in New Orleans for Super Bowl XXXVI. Sting was a special guest at 2003's XXXVII halftime in San Diego.

Paul McCartney then kicked off six straight rock-focused halftime performances in 2005 at Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville. The Rolling Stones took over in 2006 at XL in Detroit, followed by Prince (2007's XLI in Miami), Tom Petty (2008's XLII in Miami), Bruce Springsteen (2009's XLIII in Tampa) and the Who.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers served as non-headlining guests at Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014 at East Rutherford, New Jersey, but then found themselves embroiled in controversy over whether they actually played their instruments. By then, Mahomes was finally set to leave high school for the NFL Draft. Super Bowl organizers have since turned to R&B, pop and hip-hop performers.

Could rock make a triumphant return? No rock star has ever repeated as a Super Bowl halftime performer, but plenty of worthy candidates remain. Among those who've never played are Guns N' Roses, Billy Joel, Foo Fighters, Elton John, Eagles, Pearl Jam, Bon Jovi and Metallica.

Still, there are precious few stragglers who are big enough to command worldwide attention – and that's very much an issue for the NFL. These acts also have to spark internationally. As much as Americans love football, the Super Bowl is very big business elsewhere too. Nielsen reports hundreds of millions of viewers for these games, with more than 50 million coming from outside the U.S.


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; Sports
KEYWORDS: nationalfaggotleague; nationalfelonsleague; nflfans4blm; nofansleft; stuporbowl; traitorswatchnfl; whocares; yawn
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To: verum ago

Lies, damned lies and Statista, eh?

I’ll pass on the manipulated data, with all due respect.


21 posted on 02/09/2024 5:25:11 PM PST by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: Dr. Sivana

“We turn the TV off during half-time.”

I DVR and delay the replay. Also helps when referees take 10 minutes to make a call or the defensive lineman flops as the other team is making a potential winning drive.


22 posted on 02/09/2024 5:25:53 PM PST by TexasGator
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To: Navy Patriot

Are there still rock bands? I thought SteppenWolf broke up?


23 posted on 02/09/2024 5:26:27 PM PST by Equine1952
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To: nickcarraway

Rock music is Boomer and Gen X music. Their heyday is over.


24 posted on 02/09/2024 5:27:32 PM PST by Wallace T. ( )
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To: Lurker

Yeah, Prince was great too.


25 posted on 02/09/2024 5:27:57 PM PST by wjcsux (On 3/14/1883 Karl Marx gave humanity his best gift, he died. )
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To: Navy Patriot
So they don't have to humiliate themselves and lip sync
26 posted on 02/09/2024 5:28:02 PM PST by jpp113
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To: Dr. Sivana

I wants me some Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction. I missed the first go-round.


27 posted on 02/09/2024 5:28:22 PM PST by crusty old prospector
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To: nickcarraway
The programners of the NFL are trying to attract viewers at halftime!

Who are the most popoular artists on the charts?

Classic rock bands are mostly dead. Except for the Rolling Stones, who already played there. Played there. (And only 3/5ths are so alive.

What contemporary rock bands are nearly as popukar as Drake, J.Lo, Shakira, Eminem. Dr. Dre, etc?

Even the great alertnative bands of the 1990s are all past their prime, many are defunct.

U2 might be the only exception I can think of that is still entact and perfotming. But they haven't had a charting record in a decade.

Boomers love football. X'ers like it too. The NFL is trying to get Milleniums and Zoomers to watch.

28 posted on 02/09/2024 5:28:44 PM PST by Vlad0
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To: nickcarraway

What Super Bowl? No thanks, I’ll take a KNEE!!!!!


29 posted on 02/09/2024 5:29:32 PM PST by Dapper 26
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To: Steve_Seattle

Janet Jackson.


30 posted on 02/09/2024 5:30:37 PM PST by sasquatch (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit! c/o piytar)
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To: sasquatch

A star is born...


31 posted on 02/09/2024 5:32:05 PM PST by sasquatch (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit! c/o piytar)
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To: jpp113

Good point!


32 posted on 02/09/2024 5:32:26 PM PST by Navy Patriot (Celebrate Decivilization)
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To: Vlad0

Well, it ain’t working. All generations are being nauseated.


33 posted on 02/09/2024 5:33:34 PM PST by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: nickcarraway

Taylor Swift to headline next year


34 posted on 02/09/2024 5:34:26 PM PST by South Dakota (Patriotism is the new terrorism .)
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To: nickcarraway
Why Don’t Rock Marching Bands Play the Super Bowl Halftime Show Anymore?

Halftime shows should be performed by marching bands--as was the case with Super Bowl I.

35 posted on 02/09/2024 5:38:15 PM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: nickcarraway
Don’t watch the game, but I’d certainly tune in for this: When Legends Rise

It’s already a football theme…

36 posted on 02/09/2024 5:38:19 PM PST by voicereason (When a bartender can join Congress and become a millionaire...there’s a problem.)
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To: devane617

“Imagine someone suggesting having the Eagles or America as a half time show.”

I might turn ON the game just for halftime if the Eagles were the show.


37 posted on 02/09/2024 5:38:36 PM PST by MayflowerMadam (Fraud vitiates everything." - SCOTUS)
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To: Steve_Seattle

That’s true.


38 posted on 02/09/2024 5:42:32 PM PST by No name given (Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: nickcarraway

Marching bands should play.


39 posted on 02/09/2024 5:43:24 PM PST by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: devane617; MayflowerMadam

Last year the Eagles played at the Super Bowl.


40 posted on 02/09/2024 5:45:32 PM PST by nickcarraway
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