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Classic Rock "dead"?

RoadRanger

RoadRanger

Supporting Member
Feb 18, 2004
8,664
8,883
NE CT
cacophony.aspinock.com
#1
I was talking to a guitarist earlier who's classic rock band recently broke up. Apparently they were packing bars in 2010 and 2011 - but this year seeing like 5 people at gigs. The singer quit to devote time to his family as the fun had gone out of it :( . Anybody else seeing this happening, especially around the Hartford CT area?

I didn't think yet another classic rock band would be particularly viable anyways and was just putting one together to jam them old songs in the basement - my main project is trying to do contemporary pop which there seems to be little competition around here for...
 
#6
Not dead here. There's a sizable minority of teenagers who are really into it.

When I was a kid I would never have listened to my parents music.

Very different today, IME.

We still get decent crowds who love the old stuff played by old people.
 
#13
Depends, every time I hear some cover band claim that rock is dying. usually its some krap band that managed to get gigs.
finally the truth becomes reality...they suck.

sounds mean ....but you know, heard it before.

90's rock/pop songs apparently are popular for casino bands.
and apparently 90's songs are considered classic rock now.
I guess. young kids will like it if it does not suck.
went to a car show lately, bands all played the same old classics.
but they sucked, it was bad. either free bands or last minute booking. really it was bad, and i'm sure those bands say the same thing...man rock is dead nobody likes this stuff....no nobody likes you...sorry.
 
#17
I remember that classic rock was very popular in my area about 10 years ago, and there were many classic rock cover bands. They aren't as prevalent anymore; although some are still around and doing alright. We don't have a lot of classic rock radio here anymore.

If you want to look at it purely from a business standpoint, 90s rock would be an excellent genre to cover. The people who grew up on that music are hitting their 30s now and how the disposable income to go out on the weekends.
 
#18
Classic rock (especially Aussie classics) is still popular here...but... the venues are few and far between..somehow live music is regulated by the liquor licencing folk, so pubs and clubs are scared of violating noise restrictions, as they could lose their licence to sell alcohol!
 
#19
I hang out on Harmony Central as well (never really look into the bass threads their as they don't have much). One guy posted a letter from his booking agency that said if you want to get the younger crowd start playing new music or they will look elsewhere.

The younger generation will listen to clasic rock but you should mix it in with newer music.
 
#20
I think the issue in the OP's example of only 5 or 6 people turning out to see a band has nothing to do with its being classic rock, I think it's just the economy. Times are hard and people go out less. I think it will prove to be cyclical.

Having said that, we also need to remember the age of the audience, and of the music. When I was a teenager in the 80s, a lot of 70s music was already being called "classic rock." Now that it's 2012, for a young bar-going singles crowd, "classic" is going to mean 80s and even 90s stuff. The 60s and 70s music that my generation called "classic" is really moving into the "oldies" category. It's still great music and still has appeal, but a band needs to decide what it should play to stay relevant.
 

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