No question, that due to a host of factors many of the "superstars of the original rock period" are still around and still revered.  And some can still pack stadiums.  But those are the exceptions to the rule.  And those that can have either learned how to continue reinventing themselves (David Bowie comes to mind) or have simply adhered to their original schticks albiet continually becoming more and more "tasteful"  for an ever aging and nostalgic following (Insert Eric Clapton here).  While there are some purists who strive to keep the "original flame" alive like Dave Grohl and keep the names and music of their forbears and mentors alive and well, there are hundreds of others who wouldn't know Jeff Beck, Albert Lee, Robin Trower, Todd Rundgren...insert your favorite aging cult artist here...if they tripped over them.  I suspect that most of the truly exceptional players of yore (Jimi, Danny Gatton, Lenny Breau, etc.) would still be doing what they always did...continually pushing the boundaries of the guitar and guitar playing.  Whether or not most folks (i.e. young people) would find it interesting is quite another story.  I also think that most of the names Dani mentioned have long since crossed the rubicon of popular music and become touchstones, legends and icons of popular culture.  I think that much of their popularity today comes less from the music they are making and more from the music they used to make.  Even an exception to this rule such as Robert Plant could only "pack a stadium" if it was with a LZ reunion tour.  His current "Band of Joy" (a marvelous outfit BTW) regularly and mostly plays smaller more intimate venues.  In short, what would most of yesterdays deceased stars be doing if they were alive today?  Trying to make a buck like the rest of us.  And hoping they didn't have to dig a ditch in the process;-)

I love to work with beethoven mozart and chopin!  

If Hendrix was still around, he'd be old and selling his music rights off to ad agencies for soundtracks to commercials for baby boomer products.

Rain


I remember when Ronnie James Dio, Iommi and the rest of them put out that Heaven and Hell album in 2009. Probably the most interesting and valid heavy metal album I've heard in ages. Leave it to a bunch of dinosaurs to teach the kids a lesson. I'm not too inclined to nostalgia, but I really didn't feel like that album was about nostalgia. They definitely had a good heavy metal album in them.

Amen to that Rain.
 
Have you got the live DVD they released - Heaven & Hell - Live From Radio City Music Hall - absolutely wonderful. Neon Nights is one of my favourite songs of all time, and the version on here is a scorcher!
 
And have you listened to the superb Tony Iommi & Glenn Hughes' CD Fused?
 
 
 
 

'Packing a stadium' is one thing, paying the shipping on it is quite another.

And John Tesh is still alive...

SteveStrummerUK

Rain


I remember when Ronnie James Dio, Iommi and the rest of them put out that Heaven and Hell album in 2009. Probably the most interesting and valid heavy metal album I've heard in ages. Leave it to a bunch of dinosaurs to teach the kids a lesson. I'm not too inclined to nostalgia, but I really didn't feel like that album was about nostalgia. They definitely had a good heavy metal album in them.

Amen to that Rain.
 
Have you got the live DVD they released - Heaven & Hell - Live From Radio City Music Hall - absolutely wonderful. Neon Nights is one of my favourite songs of all time, and the version on here is a scorcher!
 
And have you listened to the superb Tony Iommi & Glenn Hughes' CD Fused?
 
 
 
 

Hadn't see it yet. I'll check these out! Thanks a bunch, man!

jhughsThe irony will be that once Ringo goes, Paul will be the sole surviving Beatle; the one who supposedly blew his mind out in a car turns out to be last one alive.

 
I always thought this was such bs ... so what? ... he got upset in the car on the way to McDonald's or Linda's house ... who gives a poop? But noooooo ... we have to think that a fun line about some dippydeedooh, is more important than it really was ...
 
We ALL have blown our minds ... more than once ... so what's the big deal? The whole thing about taking this literally, sometimes is just so bizarre and off the wall, it's insane ... makes me want to say ... go study the good book ... there are better stories there!

yorolpalNo question, that due to a host of factors many of the "superstars of the original rock period" are still around and still revered. And some can still pack stadiums. But those are the exceptions to the rule

 
More than that ... there are bands that are selling far more today than they did in the 70's, and the whole Krautrock and the rest of the European scene is a perfect example. The London/US factory would not sell more now because they did then, so to speak ... but there are a lot of people that are just getting it on with some of these things, and the lesser known things have more to gain, than the well known ones ...
 
Can, Amon Duul 2, Faust, Popol Vuh, Guru Guru, PFM, Banco, Ange and many other bands ... because the work they did was phenomenal and did not get a wider listen in those days like it can today ... but in the end, the "wider" listen to many of these well known names ... is left to a song showing up in a movie.  Ohhh ... sorry ... one of us here mentioning it!
 
Speaking of what they would be doing now ...
 
Guitarist Michael Karoli, would be writing symphonies for electric guitar ... and I think this would scare the living wits out of the Coffee House, because ... ohh wow ... serious music? And I bet the Red Hot Chili Peppers would do a rendition of "Mother Sky" one more time for him!

Vivian Stanshall. Got to love a guy who turns up for the first band meeting wearing check trousers, a Victorian frock coat, violet pince-nez glasses, and carrying a euphonium. He also wore large pink rubber ears.

He also took a  record company advance and spent it making rabbit hutches.







Whenever you're ready Mosh, fire away.