Met a 17 year old who didnt know who Clapton or Jimi Hendrix were are kids really unaware of old rock stars?

Question

Are kids totally unaware of old rock musicians? I dont expect them to know any songs but surely they would know who they were? Lol he knew Ozzy Osbourne only becoz of the Osbornes show and not through Black Sabbath

Hey people just to let you guys know I am only 21 and I pretty much like modern rock but I prefer classic rock. So yea I think my music spans from Pretty much early Yardbirds,Kinks, The Who, Beatles to current rock acts such as Razorlight, Arctic Monkeys, RHCP etc

I was just amazed that someone could have gone 17 yrs of their life and never even heard of Hendrix, Slash , Clapton etc

Answer 1

Dude, i'm 16, yes only 16 and in love with the music of yesteryears. My favourite rock bands range from Red Hot Chili Peppers to Lynyrd Skynyrd. I believe that the best songwriters will always be the Bee Gees. When it comes to UK music, I love the song Levon by the Rocket Man, Elton John. The Beatles were great but I'm not a huge fan. When it comes to black artists, i not only listen to modern rap, I'm also a big fan of Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. The song Try A Little Tenderness is like a love bible in my ears. When it comes to country music, I once again listen to the old and new with the new being Rascal Flatts and the old being Creedence Clearwater Revival - my favourite CCR song is Have You Ever Seen The Rain. I can tell you this, when it comes to old rock stars, nobody gets close to Queen. Freddie Mercury is the greatest of them all. Elvis is only the King of Rock and ROLL, a beautiful music genre which sadly died with him. Jimi Hendrix is one good rocker on the electric guitar but Eric Clapton is out of the genre. I am confident that I may know more old music than many of you guys above the age of 40.

Answer 2

If you think about it, most people don't really become aware of rock music until they hit 14 or 15. Thus, the average 17 year old probably knows a few of the old school rockers, but not all of them. Give him a few more years and he'll probably improve his average.

Incidentally, although there were many classic bands whose music still holds up today that should be recognized for their musicianship and innovation (e.g. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Hendrix, etc...), there was as much crap back then as there is today. I mean think about it: Air Supply, Olivia Newton John, Tony Orlando & Dawn, David Cassidy, Neil Diamond, The Commodores, Paul Anka, The Culture Club, Andy Gibb, A-Ha, The Carpenters, Bananarama, Debby Boone, John Denver, Michael Murphy, Pablo Cruise, Helen Reddy, Cher, Hall & Oates, Dan Hill, Loverboy, Michael Jackson, The Captain and Tennille, Billy Ocean, Leo Sayer, Neil Sedaka, Bonny Tyler, Chris DeBurgh, Billy Squier...need I go on?

If all you're listening to is the radio, all you're going to hear is crap. It's possibly even more true today than it was in the 70's and 80's. Most college students these days get their music online or from friends. They wouldn't be caught dead listening to the radio; only 12 year olds and Old Fogies listen to the radio. If anything, I find that most college students these days have more eclectic tastes than we did when I was a kid. They might listen to something by NOFX or Pennywise, followed by some Beck or Air, then by the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black," followed by some Fugazi, Radiohead, and Social D, then Edith Piaf's "Rien de Rien," and finally Stevie Ray Vaughan's version of "Little Wing." Most of the people I knew in college back in the early 80's either listened to Hair Metal or New Wave or Country or Classic or Pop, and that's it.

Answer 3

There is no such thing as a fair punishment. What he has done to his daughter is horrible. Age is no excuse - I did a lot of babysitting when I was 12 years old. (left alone with kids over night or practically being the only one taking care of them days in a row) I got frustrated and felt helpless, but I NEVER shook or harmed them in any way. If a 12 year old can have the sense to step on the back porch and take a few breaths before coming back in to face screaming twins that want their Mommy - an 18 year old should be able to handle one little baby. ((Please, no comments about babysitting being different. I also have a 6 year old daughter, but the babysitting twins at 12 was more stressful than taking care of my own kid at 20.)) Anyhow, I hope good things come to this little girl. So sad that her dad messed up her life like that just because he can't control his temper. And like I said - there is no fair punishment for this. The closest thing I can think of to fair would be for him to see what she is going through and let his conscience eat at him for the rest of his life. But he can't do that from behind bars and it wouldn't be right to let him free either.

Answer 4

It is sad that most of today's youth are too concerned over what celebrity is making the most money and has the most status symbols, to even care about what good music is all about.It doesn't matter to them that when thier favorite singer or group makes a video, they can only hear bits and pieces of it, because most of the words are bleeped out.I grew up next door to three of my cousins, (I am 37, they are all in their 20's) and I know they heard alot of old rock n roll, but they were so caught up in the way their friends acted and what music they listened to, the music or words never sunk into thier heads.It cracked me up when Meatloaf released "Bat Out of Hell 2", because all of the kids of the 90's were running around talking about the "new" group.I had to sort through my collection of albums to proove to all of the neighborhood kids that Meatloaf came out before they did.I guess it never occurred to them that if something is called "part 2", there is a good chance that there was a "part 1".It amazes me when I pull into a parking lot with some classic rock playing and some youngster recognizes the song, then asks why some one else is singing it.When I explain to them that the song came out 35 years ago, and some new group just redone it, they cringe and say something like "Like OMG, they didn't have music like that back then".The best one though, is when I am playing some Heavy Metal, and some backstreet boy wannabe says he won't listen to that kind of music, because they had mullets".There is just no hope for kids like this.

Answer 5

I'm 19 and I DO know of Clapton and Hendrix. It's all in the nurture, adults need to let the kids experience the classics.

Answer 6

Yes and I'm sure everyone that's in your generation knows who Franz Jackson, Marian McPartland, Billy Taylor, Ben Pollack, The Original Memphis Five, The Red Heads, Buddy Clark, Betty Hutton, Sammy Kaye, Betty Hutton, Ella Mae Morse.

No ?


I wonder what your parents / grandparents though ...

*Rolls Eyes*

Answer 7

I was singing Jim Croce's Hard Time Losing Man and a 16 year old girl knew it, but someone who is 60 didn't...weird huh?
My black guy friend is 20 and doesn't know Jam Master Jay of RUN DMC... but thinks Gwen Stefani is a rapper! Go figure!

Answer 8

When they have fag bands like Good Charolette and Kelly Clarkson running around making millions talking about how happy they are the sun is shining on their face 24/7, or how they are sad because their window is leaking water and it reminds them of the time they cried because their cat died, YES, they are misled into thinking this crap is normal, and that it is healthy. It is unhealthy music, all of it. Hendrix and Clapton both used and/or use feeling in their music. You can't be that damned happy all of the time, and music is a representation of a person's feelings, not of their bank account.

Answer 9

It is sad but true in too many cases. To Steve S "american kids are ignorant of life in general" keep saying that because the do know who system of a down is and those retards get kids pumped to wreck something. As the old saying goes "Anger is a gift".

Answer 10

It depends on what the kids are exposed to through thei parents. My little boys (12, 9, and 7) know who Clapton, Hendrix, ACDC, Led Zepplin, Allman Brothers and the list goes on and on for almost all styles of music all through the history of music because I listen to nearly everything but especially classic rockers form the 70's and 60's. They know the old school rap and new country primarily from their dad.
It just depends..........................................