Will we ever have music as good as the 60's and 70's again?

Question

Lets face facts here, the music industry today is as good as, if not better than it's been for many years (in the U.K at least i don't know about the U.S) Indie rock is thriving and is branching out into many exciting new styles (namely electro indie). Plus some of the old guard are kicking out some brilliant songs (Oasis and Manic Street Preachers being the Britsh ones and Foo fighters and RHCP for America)

Of the new bands Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, Arcade Fire, Klaxons and Maximo Park are the big standouts for me.

But if we are honest, no bands today can compare to the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream or the Eagles.

My question is can just one band come around and bring us back to the good old days of Rock n' Roll, because if someone doesn't do it fast then i will be forced to shoulder the burden myself and form a revolutionary band to change the face of music.

Oh i'm going to do it, it's just a question of someone getting there before me.

The main problem is i know countless guitarists (i'm a bassist and a guitarist myself) but not a single drummer i'd want to be in a band with.

Rock is not dead, the only form of rock that is dead is punk, that is because there can be no believable punk artists anymore because there are not that many people in western society that have to endure hardship anymore.

Rock is still very much alive my friend.

I agree with some people that it seems to be a lack of artistic talent or real flair. Which songwriters today can claim to be as good as Page/Plant, Townsend/Entwhistle or Barret/Waters?

I'm not knocking the new bands, as it's my generation (i'm 16) and i love the bands around now.

But i can't pretend that any of them are as good as Led Zeppelin.

One peak since then has been The Smiths, they were uncharacteristically good for most 80's music. Morissey is one of the greatest songwriters of all time.

Woah woah whoa there, when have i dissed any music here, i've clearly stated that i love todays music it's the music i'm still growing up with. I quite happily listen to Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire and Maximo Park.

However any person who claims these artists are as talented as the artists of the 60's and 70's is either delusional or just plain stupid.

I would never dream of saying todays music is bad, read the article carefully before posting stupid remarks next time.

And in response to the comment about todays artists being on drugs, i think you will find there were more drugs in the 60's and 70's than today.

Jimi Hendrix took Acid (it's what killed him in the end)

All of Led Zeppelin did Cocaine and Cannabis.

The Who did whatever they could get there hands on (the anti-depressants killed Keith Moon in thened)

Pink Floyd where on various halucenogenic drugs.

The Beatles were on Cannabis and LSD.

Answer 1

You are dead right. Nothing has captured the world since. Don't mind the variations, I must say. But it's about time we had a repeat of that artistic skill. Bones tell me it's about overdue. Hope so.

Answer 2

So you're suggesting that music in the 60's and 70's didn't just use the same simple chord progressions over and over again? Don't be silly. Bands today are still using the same progressions that bands used 40 years ago, which weren't that different from the progressions used in early jazz music. It's pop. It's all the same when you get down to the basics. I suggest you go back and examine the billboard charts from those decades.

Answer 3

There was an arc of refined creative energy that occurred in the 70's that was unique to that time, and part of that energy was the relative newness of rock. Another part of it was the individual musicians involved. That is long gone.

You can dwell on the "good old days" if you want, but I don't think there's any need to feel sad about it. If that's the music that touches you the most deeply, then create your own band that expresses that. It could be a source of joy and fire, don't let nostalgia get its claws in you instead.

It's hard to explain the difference between drawing power from the past and letting the past drain power from you, it's something you have to figure out for yourself and it's a journey.

Answer 4

Some time in the future the era from 1963 on will be repeated, but when?
There are huge barriers - the formulaic influences which produced Boyzone and Westlife, the spotlight-chasing Pop Idol and all its clones, but sometime some geniuses will bring on something different and wonderful; others will challenge them ,and the cycle will go on.
As a 60 year old, the only person I see with true star quality today, and how, is Amy Winehouse. What a voice!

Answer 5

wow. i agree with you totally! i have not listened to any of the music from these days in the longest time. all i listen to is the awesome songs from the artists you mentioned. i don't know if any music can ever be as good as theirs, but we can all try. i to am a guitarist (or am trying to be) and i play the piano. and i am 17 BTW, and i can not find a band either, but hopefully one day we can both get some musicians that can play some kick butt rock 'n' roll. but i doubt anyone could ever be as good and Led Zeppelin...

Answer 6

Music will never be as good as it was in the 60s and 70s until the music companies stop trying to make all bands sound like the top money-makers. They force bands to be what they are not, just because they want to immitate the sound of the band that makes the most money. Until that stops, music will suck.

Answer 7

I think that more bands that sound classic rock are starting to come around, the music industry might have some sort of revolution and good rock might start to be played again. But until the record companies start to give contracts to new-old style bands, we will have to just wait. Good luck on your revolution band.

Answer 8

all music that stemmed from rock music, everything from punk to new wave, to country, to death metal, all of it, is DEAD. all rock music died with GG Allin in the late 80's. he took it further than anyone has dared to go and untill someone figures out how to beat that, rock is dead.
{Peace, Love and Unity}

Answer 9

Only if Cilla records again, we will hear something good like she did in the 60's

Answer 10

its just like todays music i like some 60's & 70's & 80's plus some of todays music is ok