Is “Fresh Blood” needed?

Since there seems to be a bit of a lull as far as U2 is concerned at the moment, we decided to drag up an old article and maybe add a little more discussion.

The article, which originally appeared in the New York Times, speaks of the organisers of Ozfest and their quest for fresh blood. More interestingly, it goes to explain how all the big audience pullers these days (U2, Madonna and Metallica to name a few) are all the same bands that were big audience pullers 10 years ago. While there are newer bands such as Coldplay or the Killers emerging, these bands simply don’t seem to have the same crowd pulling abilities as a band like U2.

“It feels to me like a lot of people have their heads in the sand. More people are focused on the fact that they’re having a hard time selling tickets this summer than are focused on the fact that they may not have anything to sell tickets to in 10 years.”

And that specifically is an interesting view that may have some truth in it. It’s undeniable that bands like U2 or Madonna easily sell out complete stadiums, but who’s there to take their place. Much as we’d like to see U2 go on forever, realistically, there will be a time when they call it quits. And then what? Is there a future for stadium concerts, or concerts at all and will any band ever be able to live up to U2?

40 thoughts on “Is “Fresh Blood” needed?

  1. I thought about this for a while after I read it, which more or less coincided with the Stones playing my hometown.

    The country seems to be going wild for the big, older acts and bands from the 60s, 70s and 80s seem to all have reunion tours and do moderately well out of them, whereas very few of the new bands pull the same crowd.

    U2, Rolling Stones, Madonna… they are all scheduled to play the big football stadiums, often on multiples dates, but I don’t think I have seen any of the newer bands play any kind of stadium. Well, maybe Coldplay for as long as they get away with it.

    But there still seems to be a huge gap between the “older” bands and the newer bands. None seem to have that same drawing power, and I’m starting to believe the younger generation (oh god, this sounds really bad), is no longer interested in going to concerts. Festivals, maybe. Camp, booze, get stoned, laid and party with your friends… but those are really no longer about music. Dance parties seem to be where it’s at for them, not rock concerts. It’ll be kind of interesting to see how this will develop in the coming 10 years or so.

    As a sidenote, from having seen Muse at Werchter Festival, I think they could have the power to fill up stadiums, much more than Coldplay, but that’s maybe more a personal preference. I’m not even sure if that’s their ambition.

  2. I thought about this for a while after I read it, which more or less coincided with the Stones playing my hometown.

    The country seems to be going wild for the big, older acts and bands from the 60s, 70s and 80s seem to all have reunion tours and do moderately well out of them, whereas very few of the new bands pull the same crowd.

    U2, Rolling Stones, Madonna… they are all scheduled to play the big football stadiums, often on multiples dates, but I don’t think I have seen any of the newer bands play any kind of stadium. Well, maybe Coldplay for as long as they get away with it.

    But there still seems to be a huge gap between the “older” bands and the newer bands. None seem to have that same drawing power, and I’m starting to believe the younger generation (oh god, this sounds really bad), is no longer interested in going to concerts. Festivals, maybe. Camp, booze, get stoned, laid and party with your friends… but those are really no longer about music. Dance parties seem to be where it’s at for them, not rock concerts. It’ll be kind of interesting to see how this will develop in the coming 10 years or so.

    As a sidenote, from having seen Muse at Werchter Festival, I think they could have the power to fill up stadiums, much more than Coldplay, but that’s maybe more a personal preference. I’m not even sure if that’s their ambition.

  3. I don’t think it’s anything to do with new bands vs old bands…it’s more to do with the style of music. Bands like the Killers and Coldplay (which to me are amazing bands) don’t play anthem music like U2, The Stones or Madonna do…it’s more to do with style. I think stadium bands are gone forever…or at least for a while. Still, let’s enjoy the great music put by the current “new” bands and pump up the radio, rather than worrying who’s the next U2, cause there won’t be one.

  4. I don’t think it’s anything to do with new bands vs old bands…it’s more to do with the style of music. Bands like the Killers and Coldplay (which to me are amazing bands) don’t play anthem music like U2, The Stones or Madonna do…it’s more to do with style. I think stadium bands are gone forever…or at least for a while. Still, let’s enjoy the great music put by the current “new” bands and pump up the radio, rather than worrying who’s the next U2, cause there won’t be one.

  5. Very good point re the music style. I didn’t really think about the -why- the “newer” bands aren’t drawing the crowds like the “older” bands, but I think that’s a very good explanation.

    I do love the great music by the current “new” bands, though I do think they sound a little alike at times.

  6. Very good point re the music style. I didn’t really think about the -why- the “newer” bands aren’t drawing the crowds like the “older” bands, but I think that’s a very good explanation.

    I do love the great music by the current “new” bands, though I do think they sound a little alike at times.

  7. I don’t even want to THINK about U2 ever ever “calling it quits”, e! Maybe thats unrealistic of me, but so be it! Just the thought of it makes me sad.

    Stadium fillers could be: Radiohead, Muse, and uuuuuuuuuhhmm…let me think… No, you’re right, there aren’t that many bands who could pull it off.

    But, are stadium concerts what we need? Wouldn’t you much rather hear U2 or any other band in a smaller venue? I know I would!

  8. I don’t even want to THINK about U2 ever ever “calling it quits”, e! Maybe thats unrealistic of me, but so be it! Just the thought of it makes me sad.

    Stadium fillers could be: Radiohead, Muse, and uuuuuuuuuhhmm…let me think… No, you’re right, there aren’t that many bands who could pull it off.

    But, are stadium concerts what we need? Wouldn’t you much rather hear U2 or any other band in a smaller venue? I know I would!

  9. Frankly, I hate any venue bigger than the Paradiso, but that’s personal. I saw Kaiser Chiefs there a while ago, and their concert after that was in the Heineken Music Hall. So I didn’t go.

    Okay, so if you don’t want to think about U2 quiting, think about the Stones, and then add 10 years. They can’t possibly be on stage in another 10 years. That’d be sick (though I suppose if they still go around falling out of trees…)

    Problem with big bands playing small venues if that it’s impossible to get tickets. Even now it’s hard to get U2 tickets… Imagine them playing the Paradiso. So you either can’t get them, or you pay EUR1000/ticket.

  10. Frankly, I hate any venue bigger than the Paradiso, but that’s personal. I saw Kaiser Chiefs there a while ago, and their concert after that was in the Heineken Music Hall. So I didn’t go.

    Okay, so if you don’t want to think about U2 quiting, think about the Stones, and then add 10 years. They can’t possibly be on stage in another 10 years. That’d be sick (though I suppose if they still go around falling out of trees…)

    Problem with big bands playing small venues if that it’s impossible to get tickets. Even now it’s hard to get U2 tickets… Imagine them playing the Paradiso. So you either can’t get them, or you pay EUR1000/ticket.

  11. I think any band can fill a stadium, regardless of the music style, as long as they have a front man or woman whose personality is big enough to fill it.

    People like that don’t get born every day, and some don’t seem to have the stamina to keep it up for longer than a decade (Prince? Stipe?).

  12. I think any band can fill a stadium, regardless of the music style, as long as they have a front man or woman whose personality is big enough to fill it.

    People like that don’t get born every day, and some don’t seem to have the stamina to keep it up for longer than a decade (Prince? Stipe?).

  13. I think it has more to do with ambition than anything else. A band like Oasis could have filled up stadiums today (they still can in the UK) everywhere if they had kept up the quality of their first 2 albums, and evolved more in that direction. Radiohed could to, but again, doesnt seem to have the ambition to do those big shows. Most bands are simply happy being “indie” and “alternative”. Noel Gallagher once said that Oasis and U2 where the alternative bands, because they were the ones who wasnt afraid of having succes, and being big.
    The futures stadium fillers will most likely be pop acts like Robbie, Destinys Child and the like.

  14. I think it has more to do with ambition than anything else. A band like Oasis could have filled up stadiums today (they still can in the UK) everywhere if they had kept up the quality of their first 2 albums, and evolved more in that direction. Radiohed could to, but again, doesnt seem to have the ambition to do those big shows. Most bands are simply happy being “indie” and “alternative”. Noel Gallagher once said that Oasis and U2 where the alternative bands, because they were the ones who wasnt afraid of having succes, and being big.
    The futures stadium fillers will most likely be pop acts like Robbie, Destinys Child and the like.

  15. absolutely agree with caroline here. one act to fill stadiums for a longer time coming is robbie williams. he suits most the points mentioned above. with one major shortcoming though: if he the whole hype doesn’t break him. how is he doing in the us by now? he’s quite a smart guy, even if I’m not too fond of him to be honest.

    coldplay will fill stadiums, they can do it. I wish the killers would (what a great band..). dave matthews does. not in europe arghh. anyway. these are either big or will be bigger thn they already are imo…

  16. absolutely agree with caroline here. one act to fill stadiums for a longer time coming is robbie williams. he suits most the points mentioned above. with one major shortcoming though: if he the whole hype doesn’t break him. how is he doing in the us by now? he’s quite a smart guy, even if I’m not too fond of him to be honest.

    coldplay will fill stadiums, they can do it. I wish the killers would (what a great band..). dave matthews does. not in europe arghh. anyway. these are either big or will be bigger thn they already are imo…

  17. One of the problems with a lot of these bands today (newer bands), is that they have one hit song, or one hit record and their second (or next) release comes out and no one buys it. Who would pay good money to see a band play one song? I wouldn’t and I know a lot of people wouldn’t.

    With someone like U2, Madonna, the Stones, Metallica, they have an established core group of fans who go and buy their albums none the less and go to their concerts. When they schedule tours, they know exactly how well they are going to do on a tour and that is why they can schedule 7-10 shows in New York, because they know that they could schedule 20 in New York and still sell out.

    Take, for example someone like The White Stripes, who were really popular a few years ago. They were everywhere, on MTV, radio, etc. But, what have they done recently? The problem is that today’s golden boy is tomorrow’s forgotten child. The problem is that fans are fickle, waiting to hear the next thing, but bands cannot be relied on to create great music every time out.

    Rock music currently has no staying power with the people and bands consistantly have to churn out great music to stay in public consciousness.

    For example, Radiohead. Great band, great music, cool videos, powerful live shows, but where has the radio play been for the band since they released Kid A? In North America, it has been almost non-existant. OK Computer got a lot of play, as did Just and Creep, but most people cannot remember the last time they heard Radiohead on the radio. If they did, what song was it, and what album was it from. Then, when I was reading about their concerts this year, they played setlists of entirely new material that no-one knew or barely knew. You have to connect with fans and I think Radiohead doesn’t do that with the average person. They did in the beginning, but now, they play entirely for their hardcore fans, I think. Not to say that they have lost anything, but it makes them less accessible.

    You look at a band like Pearl Jam, who now rely on their ability to sell out concert dates every year to make up for the fact that their album sales have been dismal for about ten years. Their core group of fans go to a number of shows, buy their live bootlegs and DVD’s, but then, they sell only 500 000 copies of their latest album. But, they will play a 75 show concert schedule to support that album, sell out every night. They are a band that relies on their live show (which is incredible and different every night) to bring fans in and to bring them coming back.

    Bands that have two or three albums don’t have enough recognizable songs to “drag in” non-fans to shows. U2 can do that. People know songs that they play, whether it is I Will Follow, Beautiful Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Vertigo the first five tracks of the Joshua Tree, or about half of Achtung Baby. People who don’t know U2 can still go to a show and recognize most of what it is that they are playing.

    The problem is that most bands, even bands like Audioslave (who play both Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden material, as well as their own) can’t break through and do large scale tours because the audience simply isn’t there, because they don’t have the type of radio exposure that U2, Madonna, the Stones have.

    Then you look at someone like Ben Harper, who, for almost his entire career has flown under the radar, but his shows are wonderful, he plays theatres and smaller venues, but stays in the public eye just enough to be successful. And his tours do well and fans are there.

    In the end, it ends up being a question of who are you going to spend your money on in the long run. Are you going to go and spend $50 on seeing a band that has one hit record and that is going to play for maybe 90 minutes, and play a handful of songs that you know, or are you going to go for two hours plus to see U2, Madonna, the Stones, Pearl Jam, Ben Harper, etc., when you know that you’re going to know every song, that you’re going to have a good time. These bands, their careers were made on the stage, playing live and simply kicking ass. Many bands simply can’t do that the way that they can. I’d rather pay $75 to see U2 or Pearl Jam, $150 to see the Stones or The Who than paying $35 to see Band STUVWXYZ play for an hour and end their set with the only song that I know.

    If they could, then we’d see an emergence of newer bands on the larger scale. That doesn’t mean that someone like Coldplay won’t do better and become a big-time stadium filler, because with another album or two, they might have enough recognizable songs to get the average person (and someone who really isn’t a fan) to go to their shows, but when they get everyone to go to their shows, then they’ve made it.

  18. One of the problems with a lot of these bands today (newer bands), is that they have one hit song, or one hit record and their second (or next) release comes out and no one buys it. Who would pay good money to see a band play one song? I wouldn’t and I know a lot of people wouldn’t.

    With someone like U2, Madonna, the Stones, Metallica, they have an established core group of fans who go and buy their albums none the less and go to their concerts. When they schedule tours, they know exactly how well they are going to do on a tour and that is why they can schedule 7-10 shows in New York, because they know that they could schedule 20 in New York and still sell out.

    Take, for example someone like The White Stripes, who were really popular a few years ago. They were everywhere, on MTV, radio, etc. But, what have they done recently? The problem is that today’s golden boy is tomorrow’s forgotten child. The problem is that fans are fickle, waiting to hear the next thing, but bands cannot be relied on to create great music every time out.

    Rock music currently has no staying power with the people and bands consistantly have to churn out great music to stay in public consciousness.

    For example, Radiohead. Great band, great music, cool videos, powerful live shows, but where has the radio play been for the band since they released Kid A? In North America, it has been almost non-existant. OK Computer got a lot of play, as did Just and Creep, but most people cannot remember the last time they heard Radiohead on the radio. If they did, what song was it, and what album was it from. Then, when I was reading about their concerts this year, they played setlists of entirely new material that no-one knew or barely knew. You have to connect with fans and I think Radiohead doesn’t do that with the average person. They did in the beginning, but now, they play entirely for their hardcore fans, I think. Not to say that they have lost anything, but it makes them less accessible.

    You look at a band like Pearl Jam, who now rely on their ability to sell out concert dates every year to make up for the fact that their album sales have been dismal for about ten years. Their core group of fans go to a number of shows, buy their live bootlegs and DVD’s, but then, they sell only 500 000 copies of their latest album. But, they will play a 75 show concert schedule to support that album, sell out every night. They are a band that relies on their live show (which is incredible and different every night) to bring fans in and to bring them coming back.

    Bands that have two or three albums don’t have enough recognizable songs to “drag in” non-fans to shows. U2 can do that. People know songs that they play, whether it is I Will Follow, Beautiful Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Vertigo the first five tracks of the Joshua Tree, or about half of Achtung Baby. People who don’t know U2 can still go to a show and recognize most of what it is that they are playing.

    The problem is that most bands, even bands like Audioslave (who play both Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden material, as well as their own) can’t break through and do large scale tours because the audience simply isn’t there, because they don’t have the type of radio exposure that U2, Madonna, the Stones have.

    Then you look at someone like Ben Harper, who, for almost his entire career has flown under the radar, but his shows are wonderful, he plays theatres and smaller venues, but stays in the public eye just enough to be successful. And his tours do well and fans are there.

    In the end, it ends up being a question of who are you going to spend your money on in the long run. Are you going to go and spend $50 on seeing a band that has one hit record and that is going to play for maybe 90 minutes, and play a handful of songs that you know, or are you going to go for two hours plus to see U2, Madonna, the Stones, Pearl Jam, Ben Harper, etc., when you know that you’re going to know every song, that you’re going to have a good time. These bands, their careers were made on the stage, playing live and simply kicking ass. Many bands simply can’t do that the way that they can. I’d rather pay $75 to see U2 or Pearl Jam, $150 to see the Stones or The Who than paying $35 to see Band STUVWXYZ play for an hour and end their set with the only song that I know.

    If they could, then we’d see an emergence of newer bands on the larger scale. That doesn’t mean that someone like Coldplay won’t do better and become a big-time stadium filler, because with another album or two, they might have enough recognizable songs to get the average person (and someone who really isn’t a fan) to go to their shows, but when they get everyone to go to their shows, then they’ve made it.

  19. As long as corporations like Clear Channel own the radio stations, concert halls, ticket systems and even billboard companies; new music acts will have a tough time reaching the stardom of a U2 or Springstien.

    There is a corporate music “spin cycle” that grabs most new bands/acts, throws them into the lime light for a year or two and totall drops support tosses them aside. This includes giving them crap music (assuming they sing it) and stupid gimmicks which have no staying power like we see in quality albums like Joshua tree or ATYCLB.

    I have long feared that if a young Bruce Springstein or an upstart like a U2 were to come up out of the club scene, they cant get any air time, concert gigs or industry support without kissing the A$$ of the large corporations controlling new music.

    Murph’ – St. Louis

  20. As long as corporations like Clear Channel own the radio stations, concert halls, ticket systems and even billboard companies; new music acts will have a tough time reaching the stardom of a U2 or Springstien.

    There is a corporate music “spin cycle” that grabs most new bands/acts, throws them into the lime light for a year or two and totall drops support tosses them aside. This includes giving them crap music (assuming they sing it) and stupid gimmicks which have no staying power like we see in quality albums like Joshua tree or ATYCLB.

    I have long feared that if a young Bruce Springstein or an upstart like a U2 were to come up out of the club scene, they cant get any air time, concert gigs or industry support without kissing the A$$ of the large corporations controlling new music.

    Murph’ – St. Louis

  21. My prediction is that the Arcade Fire could be a stadium band in a few years. They are both stunningly entertaining and they play BIG songs…songs which sound larger in large audiences and songs where you feel closer to the band the more people there are in the crowd (…which are all shared qualities of a U2 show me thinks…)

  22. My prediction is that the Arcade Fire could be a stadium band in a few years. They are both stunningly entertaining and they play BIG songs…songs which sound larger in large audiences and songs where you feel closer to the band the more people there are in the crowd (…which are all shared qualities of a U2 show me thinks…)

  23. The Arcade Fire and Radiohead are two runner ups, true.

    Murph’ has a point. U2 wouldn’t be able to break it today. Didn’t Bono scold the music industry when they were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, saying a Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, or U2 would NEVER even get a chance now?

    Compare U2’s “Boy” to Killers’ “Hot Fuss.” U2 surprisingly bounced back from the very dismal “October” sales, yet how often does that really happen? Do you really think the Killers will be around in five years if this next album tanks?

    In my mind, nowadays you need three blockbuster albums in a row to stay. Pearl Jam did it that way, so when No Code and Yield didn’t do much for them, they were still around, still respected. Coldplay has finally cleared that hill (and thank heavens they’ll be tweaking their sound on the next album… no piano?).

    You can’t say the Killers are in that category yet. While I like ’em, don’t go jumping the gun. Weren’t Hootie and The Blowfish and Counting Crows just as big as the Killers after their first big album? Second albums tanked. I was driving south through Las Vegas back in November, and saw they were playing a show close to New Year’s Eve in a hotel/resort nobody even knows exists. That could just as easily happen to Brandon Flowers and the gang, given they’re FROM Vegas.

  24. The Arcade Fire and Radiohead are two runner ups, true.

    Murph’ has a point. U2 wouldn’t be able to break it today. Didn’t Bono scold the music industry when they were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, saying a Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, or U2 would NEVER even get a chance now?

    Compare U2’s “Boy” to Killers’ “Hot Fuss.” U2 surprisingly bounced back from the very dismal “October” sales, yet how often does that really happen? Do you really think the Killers will be around in five years if this next album tanks?

    In my mind, nowadays you need three blockbuster albums in a row to stay. Pearl Jam did it that way, so when No Code and Yield didn’t do much for them, they were still around, still respected. Coldplay has finally cleared that hill (and thank heavens they’ll be tweaking their sound on the next album… no piano?).

    You can’t say the Killers are in that category yet. While I like ’em, don’t go jumping the gun. Weren’t Hootie and The Blowfish and Counting Crows just as big as the Killers after their first big album? Second albums tanked. I was driving south through Las Vegas back in November, and saw they were playing a show close to New Year’s Eve in a hotel/resort nobody even knows exists. That could just as easily happen to Brandon Flowers and the gang, given they’re FROM Vegas.

  25. The landscape has changed…

    U2 would have had a hard time making it given today’s demands. A lot of bands don’t get past the “October” stage, whether it’s self doubt, coping with initial success, the reckoning of how successful they want to be- and what it all means (ie Nirvana), to the corporate structure that demands short-term, quarterly returns.

    U2 owns its catalog, that is still rare today- artistic control is a huge factor.

    The guys like Springsteen, U2, REM- busted their asses touring, they didn’t have the immediate success via MTV like Pearl Jam. Music distribution has also changed, it distorts the predictions of who the next big band will be.

    Who wants to play stadiums, when the profit center is the lower-overhead, higher ticket price arena tour? Zoo tv broke even, not all POP shows sold out….

    Looking back- those early interviews on YouTube- it’s clear U2 wanted the stadium shows- how many bands out there are that blatantly ambitious?

    There’s a quote on the Bono and Adam int. in Canada- where Bono says something like “all sorts of people come to a U2 show- that’s what we want…”

    It’s an inclusive music-

  26. The landscape has changed…

    U2 would have had a hard time making it given today’s demands. A lot of bands don’t get past the “October” stage, whether it’s self doubt, coping with initial success, the reckoning of how successful they want to be- and what it all means (ie Nirvana), to the corporate structure that demands short-term, quarterly returns.

    U2 owns its catalog, that is still rare today- artistic control is a huge factor.

    The guys like Springsteen, U2, REM- busted their asses touring, they didn’t have the immediate success via MTV like Pearl Jam. Music distribution has also changed, it distorts the predictions of who the next big band will be.

    Who wants to play stadiums, when the profit center is the lower-overhead, higher ticket price arena tour? Zoo tv broke even, not all POP shows sold out….

    Looking back- those early interviews on YouTube- it’s clear U2 wanted the stadium shows- how many bands out there are that blatantly ambitious?

    There’s a quote on the Bono and Adam int. in Canada- where Bono says something like “all sorts of people come to a U2 show- that’s what we want…”

    It’s an inclusive music-

  27. Uh, anyone heard of a little band called Green Day? They sell out stadiums in Europe and the U.S. Dave Matthews Band also plays stadiums in the U.S., and I think 50 Cent and Eminem did a co-headlining stadium tour last summer.

  28. Uh, anyone heard of a little band called Green Day? They sell out stadiums in Europe and the U.S. Dave Matthews Band also plays stadiums in the U.S., and I think 50 Cent and Eminem did a co-headlining stadium tour last summer.

  29. If you are looking for a younger band Check MUSE out! As a big U2 fan I was delighted to see a younger yet established band making epic music. If anyone is interested in a younger band with big ideas and anthemic music check Muse out. They are, in my opinion, the best live act of any of the younger bands. In fact, I would definately put them up there with U2 in terms of Live performance. They are one of those rare bands that seem to understand that music, when done right, inspires us to positive action in our daily lives. I definately recommend them.

  30. If you are looking for a younger band Check MUSE out! As a big U2 fan I was delighted to see a younger yet established band making epic music. If anyone is interested in a younger band with big ideas and anthemic music check Muse out. They are, in my opinion, the best live act of any of the younger bands. In fact, I would definately put them up there with U2 in terms of Live performance. They are one of those rare bands that seem to understand that music, when done right, inspires us to positive action in our daily lives. I definately recommend them.

  31. I did mention Muse :-] Really into them at the moment. Blew me away at Werchter and will be seeing them again in Antwerp in December somewhere. Should be fun!

  32. I did mention Muse :-] Really into them at the moment. Blew me away at Werchter and will be seeing them again in Antwerp in December somewhere. Should be fun!

  33. The next U2?

    Linkin Park

    Love em or hate em they are one of the few few bands innovating like U2 did in the 80s .

  34. The next U2?

    Linkin Park

    Love em or hate em they are one of the few few bands innovating like U2 did in the 80s .

  35. the kaiser chiefs mate first record rocked and it looks like the next one will too!there was a great interview in q where ricky mentions u2 and the smell of money and that he liked it?

    Is fresh blood needed no no no no it has always been there new bands /music is always breaking out if only to your local venue.the sad fact is that the industry is stiffling it all gotta have a product and other such crap.back in 1988-91 i went to cardiff uni and tried to get the union to support local student bands only wanted stuff with a product so nothings changed really one
    new bands either need contacts and luck or no contacts and luck ten times over period!

  36. the kaiser chiefs mate first record rocked and it looks like the next one will too!there was a great interview in q where ricky mentions u2 and the smell of money and that he liked it?

    Is fresh blood needed no no no no it has always been there new bands /music is always breaking out if only to your local venue.the sad fact is that the industry is stiffling it all gotta have a product and other such crap.back in 1988-91 i went to cardiff uni and tried to get the union to support local student bands only wanted stuff with a product so nothings changed really one
    new bands either need contacts and luck or no contacts and luck ten times over period!

  37. Dunno about Linkin Park, really. They don’t seem to have any huge following in Europe.

    Kaiser Chiefs I do like, but I’m not yet convinced they have what it takes to become really, really huge. That’s just a gut feeling, really. But hey, if they ever will, I can go “I saw them back in their club days” which would make me look ubercool! 😉

  38. Dunno about Linkin Park, really. They don’t seem to have any huge following in Europe.

    Kaiser Chiefs I do like, but I’m not yet convinced they have what it takes to become really, really huge. That’s just a gut feeling, really. But hey, if they ever will, I can go “I saw them back in their club days” which would make me look ubercool! 😉

  39. Linkin Park innovating?? Please… Teenage angst in heavy music is nothing new. And combining metal with rap/hip-hop has been done much better by a band like Pantera.

  40. Linkin Park innovating?? Please… Teenage angst in heavy music is nothing new. And combining metal with rap/hip-hop has been done much better by a band like Pantera.

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