It’s no secret that heavy music has a larger market in Europe. There’s countless heavy metal festivals all over the continent. Sure, there’s some in The States. But it’s not nearly as consistent. In Europe there’s like, one a week. Somewhere in one of the many countries that make up the landscape. And individual tours of 80’s and 90’s metal band’s usually play bigger venues and have more support. Look at Frontiers records for example. They’re an Italian based label based in Naples that’s signed countless 80’s hard rock and metal bands: Winger, L.A. Guns, Y&T, Whitesnake, Enuff Z’Nuff, Mr. Big, Kingdom Come, Warrant, Richie Kotzen, Stryper, Tesla, Lynch Mob. The list goes on and on. They’ve kept the flag flying for many of those bands. And most of the bands signed put out really good work. The last Winger album was stellar. And the new L.A. Guns material destroys. Frontiers has been critical in the Guns’ comeback in the past two and half years. The live release ‘Live in Milan’ is an expectedly great live album.
Speaking of that record, I think it serves as a good example of how hard rock and metal performs better in Europe. The venue they played and recorded at is considerably bigger than the clubs they play in the States. I just wish they miked the audience better. It’s a smart move for bands to do live albums in Europe because the audiences are larger and invested. I prefer that and the echo of a medium to larger venue. As opposed to the compression of a club. Even if it’s a packed club like the Whisky. Which L.A. Guns would absolutely sell out. But a large lot or theater in the States? I just don’t think the market is big enough to support a venue like that for an 80’s hard rock band.
I think the main reason is because there’s a stigma for 80’s and 90’s hard rock and metal. Much more so with the 80’s. And that negative stigma exists in the United States. The record industry here sort of picks at whatever the previous fad was to pave way for the new fad. In the United States there’s also specific radio stations. So there’s a specific top 40, rock, metal, rap/hip-hop station in most markets. And here in the states the top 40 and rap/hip-hop stations dominate. I just heard Eddie Trunk talking about how there’s only one rock station in New York city now and it’s a classic rock station. And we all know how those stations basically skip over the entire 80’s decade of hard rock. And out here in L.A. there is a hard rock station. It’s a pretty good station actually. But the scene is a mere shadow of what it was from the 60’s through early 90’s. Now, in Europe there’s not really specific radio stations. I’m sure there’s some, but most just kind of throw a menage of popular genres together and have specific hours for certain genres at times. Kind of how MTV ran in the 80’s. You had a host and every hour they played a plethora of different music videos from numerous genres. So everyone got exposed to everything and then determined what they liked the most. So that’s going to draw more people to hard rock and metal because they’re more exposed to it. And the anti 80’s hard rock being silly and unworthy or the prog metal being nerdy and uncool factors don’t exist. It’s not just 80’s hard rock that performs better in Europe. Progressive and theatrical forms of metal do way way better in Europe. Particularly in Scandinavia.
And as long as we have the negative what’s cool and what’s not stigma against Progressive, Glam, Symphonic and pretty much all other forms of rock and metal, it’ll never really take off again in the United States. There are some bands that do really well, but they’re exceptions. But there’s hope on the horizon. Bands like Greta Van Fleet and Rival Sons are taking off. Rival Sons recently played a venue in Brooklyn on Easter. In a market where they get no radio play. And about 1,500 people showed up. That’s pretty good for an up and coming rock band. Plus their new album is one of the best of the year so far. So hopefully there is a wave on the horizon. It just needs to hurry up and get here. And then we’ll see what the industry reaction is. Will they start to include more hard rock and metal in pop culture? Or will it stay in the underbelly?
