Where are the superbands?
Where are the superbands?
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Frimley111R

Original Poster:

17,164 posts

249 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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I was watching a video of INXS live at Wembley singing New Sensation. The crowd went mental! What happened to bands like this? Queen could do it, Oasis could do it and no doubt many others could but Oasis are the last ‘superband’ I remember and that was a long long time ago. What went wrong?

Right now its hard to even name a leading band or even a current leading female megastar. Beyonce has gone, Rhianna has gone, Lady Gaga has gone. The biggest artist, by far, seems to be Ed Sheeran. After him there just seems to be a few 'been around for a while' artists.

INXS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KygvdzH0gj4&li...

snowy slopes

40,530 posts

202 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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That all depends on what genre you like.
Take rap - or one of it's many forms - as an example, Stormzy headlined Galstonbury and the crowd went nuts for his performance

Take metal - Metallica are still a really big draw as are Iron Maiden

The likes of INXS and that particular genre of music is not as popular as it once was or at least it seems that way. Look at Jess Glynne, not all that long ago she was all over the radio, tv and festivals like a chuffin rash, yet now you hardly ever hear of her.
There is a lot more music that has come from the MOBO style that is all the rage right now so consequently, that will be the predominant music you'll hear and superbands of the style you mentioned have all been surpassed by a different musical style.

Gary C

13,845 posts

194 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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Tiktok and streaming in general

reduced individual revenue streams, harder to promote big bands

anonymous-user

69 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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The Killers pretty much sold out their last two UK stadium tours, I’d definitely class them as a current “superband”. There are others across many genres but rock is traditionally centred around big arenas and open air stadiums, so the opportunity for massive crowds is far greater.

spiritof76

1,365 posts

239 months

Friday 20th January 2023
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There will be something waiting in the wings Ross, maybe here……

https://www.thewaterratsvenue.london/facebook-even...

According to their website The Water Rats was the venue for Oasis’s first London show and Bob Dylan’s first UK show. I’m going on Saturday to see this brace of new bands……..who knows, one of them might capture the worlds imagination ! I can vouch for Darlings being exceptional as they are from my home town and I’ve seen them a few times…..check out their debut EP on Spotify !

PurpleTurtle

8,235 posts

159 months

Friday 20th January 2023
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The Foo Fighters are arguably the current biggest global rock act who can sell out stadia across the world easily, although they’ve been on a short hiatus given the sad passing of Taylor Hawkins. However they are soon to be on the road again.

Frimley111R

Original Poster:

17,164 posts

249 months

Friday 20th January 2023
quotequote all
spiritof76 said:
There will be something waiting in the wings Ross, maybe here……

https://www.thewaterratsvenue.london/facebook-even...

According to their website The Water Rats was the venue for Oasis’s first London show and Bob Dylan’s first UK show. I’m going on Saturday to see this brace of new bands……..who knows, one of them might capture the worlds imagination ! I can vouch for Darlings being exceptional as they are from my home town and I’ve seen them a few times…..check out their debut EP on Spotify !
Hi Julian, ok, but aren't you worried about the security of your Cossie while you're there? I can always pop over and look after it for you. wink

realjv

1,159 posts

181 months

Friday 20th January 2023
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Tastes have changed and consequently the artists who have risen to stadium filling status over the last 20 years are not rock acts.

Frimley111R said:
Right now its hard to even name a leading band or even a current leading female megastar. Beyonce has gone, Rhianna has gone, Lady Gaga has gone.
I wouldn't dismiss any of those, they are just not currently in the 'touring' part of the write/record/tour cycle at the moment,. If any of them were to announce stadium shows they'd absolutely sell out instantly. Taylor Swift is the obvious missing candidate from your list of female mega stars, just look at the complete catastrophe that was the release of tickets in the US to her most recent tour. 2.5m tickets sold, probably could have been easily double and it will be no different in europe or anywhere else she chooses to play.


Edited by realjv on Friday 20th January 13:31

spiritof76

1,365 posts

239 months

Friday 20th January 2023
quotequote all
Frimley111R said:
spiritof76 said:
There will be something waiting in the wings Ross, maybe here……

https://www.thewaterratsvenue.london/facebook-even...

According to their website The Water Rats was the venue for Oasis’s first London show and Bob Dylan’s first UK show. I’m going on Saturday to see this brace of new bands……..who knows, one of them might capture the worlds imagination ! I can vouch for Darlings being exceptional as they are from my home town and I’ve seen them a few times…..check out their debut EP on Spotify !
Hi Julian, ok, but aren't you worried about the security of your Cossie while you're there? I can always pop over and look after it for you. wink
You mean the dust gathering machine ? I expect it will be fine……got a tracking system anyway, if it goes missing I just follow the oil spot’s until I find it again wink

FourWheelDrift

91,010 posts

299 months

Friday 20th January 2023
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Look beyond pop and R&B music.

Jarcy

1,559 posts

290 months

Friday 20th January 2023
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Supergroups that I saw last year:

Muse
Red Hot Chili Peppers

Both still recording, pumping out albums and touring the world filling stadiums.

Fusion777

2,470 posts

63 months

Friday 20th January 2023
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All the examples of bands given have been around yonks. Who's broken through in the last 15 years and been huge?

snowy slopes

40,530 posts

202 months

Friday 20th January 2023
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Fusion777 said:
All the examples of bands given have been around yonks. Who's broken through in the last 15 years and been huge?
Slightly over 15 years as they started in 2004 but i would say if you are talking strictly rock or guitars based bands, then Alter Bridge are about the most well kown.

Panamax

6,392 posts

49 months

Friday 20th January 2023
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Frimley111R said:
I was watching a video of INXS live at Wembley singing New Sensation.
Yup, that video captures one of the most staggering live shows in history. Pure musicianship and showmanship with little, if any, digital support.

Mind you, Madonna's just sold out her O2 dates in about 15 seconds. Good luck with that one! She's probably got enough sense to turn up with a huge professional show and an army of young singers so she can just prance about at the front.

JuniorD

9,013 posts

238 months

Friday 20th January 2023
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Ok boomer hehe In addition to the ones mentioned, love them or loath them, there's U2, Coldplay, The Rolling Stones, etc. Even Garth Brooks still fills stadiums.


Pebbles167

4,133 posts

167 months

Friday 20th January 2023
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Bring me the Horizon.

They diversified their sound to include metal and pop, including elements of electronica, and featured guest vocalists. Coupled with a tattoo covered poster boy, they sell out everything.

Absolutely no one in the crowd will be over the age of 40.

Slipknot still seem to do incredibly well too.

Panamax

6,392 posts

49 months

Friday 20th January 2023
quotequote all
Fusion777 said:
All the examples of bands given have been around yonks. Who's broken through in the last 15 years and been huge?
Fair point. There are plenty of new bands who can sell out the usual venues but few who could tackle an arena.

The "scene" appears to be more around R&B and the likes of the dreaded Adele (when she isn't busy shooting herself in the foot by pulling out of a Las Vegas season).

Rod200SX

8,124 posts

191 months

Friday 20th January 2023
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Don't know much about current pop/rap as I tend to stick to what I know but in regards to rock/metal I'd say Ghost are truly on their way to becoming huge for a 'new' band (yes I know they've been on the go a few years and have a good couple albums).

I aboslutely can't stand Kiss but there's a lot of similarities with them and they've headlined some pretty huge shows.

Mr Tidy

27,028 posts

142 months

Monday 23rd January 2023
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Fusion777 said:
All the examples of bands given have been around yonks. Who's broken through in the last 15 years and been huge?
Nobody! Just twonks like George Ezra, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith (made good beer though).........!

Jarcy

1,559 posts

290 months

Tuesday 24th January 2023
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Mr Tidy said:
Fusion777 said:
All the examples of bands given have been around yonks. Who's broken through in the last 15 years and been huge?
Nobody! Just twonks like George Ezra, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith (made good beer though).........!
I think that Sam Fender is well on the way to being huge. (And for a young'en, I think he's really great).