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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: Lurker

Prince and Tom Petty playing While My Guitar Gently Weeps is a performance for the ages.

More than chills…..


81 posted on 02/09/2024 7:55:13 PM PST by drSteve78 (Je suis Deplorable. Even more so)
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To: Equine1952

John Kay is still active, supposedly. The band seems to have stopped in 2018


82 posted on 02/09/2024 8:01:28 PM PST by Tymesup
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To: Fuzz
Up With People?



Getting Gay With Kids


83 posted on 02/09/2024 8:05:49 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Fuzz

Actually Trey and Matt would do a great halftime show, especially “Gay Fish”.


84 posted on 02/09/2024 8:06:56 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: nickcarraway

I’m trying to think of a current rock band with members under 65 years old that could command a Superbowl audience. I can’t think of one with original members. So... Oldsters it is.

A guitar hero halftime! Starring Eric Clapton, Angus Young, Joe Walsh, Jimmie Paige, Keith Richards and Billy Gibbons. Get a first rate backup band and you are up and running.


85 posted on 02/09/2024 8:07:57 PM PST by Poser (Cogito ergo Spam - I think, therefore I ham)
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To: dfwgator

I like fish sticks.


86 posted on 02/09/2024 8:08:08 PM PST by Fuzz
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To: Poser

Weird Al Yankovic would be great. One of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.


87 posted on 02/09/2024 8:10:52 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: SamAdams76
Speaking of marching bands on football fields, "Tusk" by Fleetwood Mac is very underrated.

I could watch Stevie twirl that baton all day.

88 posted on 02/09/2024 8:12:18 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Vlad0

I was hanging out with a relative and his college friends, he told me everybody at his college listens mostly to 80s Alternative music, he was playing the Violent Femmes first album. We had a good time singing along to it in the car.


89 posted on 02/09/2024 8:14:45 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: nickcarraway

Saw a Breitbart article about some (c)rapper with a cadence lyric poem invoking sh*t and farts. There’s your high class act for next year’s game.

No sale here.


90 posted on 02/09/2024 8:22:23 PM PST by Some Fat Guy in L.A. (Still bitterly clinging to rational thought despite its unfashionability)
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To: nickcarraway

Maroon 5 = Empty Calories.


91 posted on 02/09/2024 8:30:36 PM PST by lee martell
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To: Chickensoup

“Are blacks the largest superbowl audience?”

More importantly. What is the targeted demographic for Super Bowl advertisers? Who are laying millions for 30 or 60 seconds advert time? White men are, with white women coming in second. Due to white women making many of the decisions on household purchases.

The usual TV onslaught of (brainwashing) advertisements featuring black man with a white woman? These will not be seen during the Superbowl.


92 posted on 02/09/2024 9:09:19 PM PST by dennisw (Be positive. Every day is a new day!)
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To: Responsibility2nd

The half time show will be showing Taylor dancing in the stands.


93 posted on 02/09/2024 9:22:55 PM PST by Texas resident (Biden=Obama=Jarrett=Soros)
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To: dfwgator
Weird Al would be awesome!

I'm still waiting for them to bring back Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Super Bowl XXXIII Halftime Show 1999

94 posted on 02/09/2024 9:39:28 PM PST by CtBigPat (There are people in this world who would kill you for a dollar, and the worst wear business suites. )
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To: CtBigPat

Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts?


95 posted on 02/09/2024 10:07:49 PM PST by Poser (Cogito ergo Spam - I think, therefore I ham)
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To: nickcarraway

I don’t like hip hop music, but I don’t wish to denigrate those who do. For those people who like hip hop music, “denigrate” means put down.


96 posted on 02/09/2024 10:24:19 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: SamAdams76

Heh, I was not a big Stevie Nicks fan after the drugs started really taking their toll, but, there IS something about the way she twirls that baton...


97 posted on 02/09/2024 10:30:00 PM PST by Paul R. (Bin Laden wanted Obama killed so the incompetent VP, Biden, would become President!)
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To: Chickensoup

Basically true. They already watch the Super Bowl. Minorities and women are lower numbers. NFL trying to raise the numbers.


98 posted on 02/09/2024 10:36:52 PM PST by napscoordinator (DeSantis is a beast! Florida is the freest state in the country! )
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To: nickcarraway

Because there are no more rock bands anymore.

Not any under 70 years old anyway.


99 posted on 02/09/2024 10:51:34 PM PST by x
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To: nickcarraway

Hank Williams jr, Monday Night Football
https://youtu.be/llC6zEj6tKo?t=90


100 posted on 02/10/2024 1:30:44 AM PST by minnesota_bound (Need more money to buy everything now)
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