I don't necessarily agree that Rock is dying. Are there any stats to prove Rock is on its last legs?

98% of Nickelback sucks.

Edit: 100% of Nickelback Sucks.

This.

As a force that shapes & influences mainstream culture, yes -- rock & roll has peaked and is receding. It should be obvious to anyone who watches MTV or listens to the radio, but here's some hard facts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best-selling_albums_by_year_in_the_United_States#2000s

Look at each decade's best-selling albums and their genres:

1960s: All are showtunes, until the late 60s when we see three Rock records in a row. This is Rock's emergence as a powerful influence.

1970s: seven out of 10 are Rock albums (admittedly the softer side of Rock, but still Rock). This is Rock's peak as a mainstream, ubiquitous cultural force.

1980s: five Rock albums, plus two R&B and two Pop. Rock is still solid, but other genres start to gain traction and the landscape diversifies.

1990s: two Country albums, three Pop albums, and two Rock albums. Rock starts to recede, while Country rises and Pop dominates.

2000s: one Pop, one Country/Pop, two R&B, three Hip-Hop, and only one Rock album (very early in the decade). Rock's influence as a mainstream force has disappeared almost completely from the charts.

To clarify, I'm not saying "rock is dead", because there's some brilliant rock music being made right this very minute. 2011 was a great year for unique, interesting, compelling rock-n-roll. But it exists way outside the mainstream consciousness, in niche-ified pockets, and doesn't influence the national culture like it did in previous decades. 

The stock market and ocean levels also recede from time to time. This may create doom and gloom sentiments but rarely do they portend eventual death.

You're talking nonsense, dude. Those comparisons are absolute bunk. Look, Rock & Roll was a cultural creation born from a unique point in American history. It had a huge influence on subsequent generations, but as those generations have gotten older, its influence has waned and other influences have risen up to take its place in the hearts & minds of younger generations. That's how the waves of culture move. You wouldn't expect Classical or Jazz to suddenly rise up and become major cultural forces again. They had their heyday, then something new supplanted them, and they receded. Same thing happened to Rock, and it will happen to Hip Hop in a few decades. 

Rock is not DEAD, but it's no longer IMPORTANT. If you can't acknowledge that fact, you're in denial. 

http://musicandcopyright.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/genre-12.jpg

With all due respect, the situation is not that bad as you claim it to be. Check the link above. In 2009, Pop represented 29% of global music sales and was the biggest selling genre. Rock, which came in second place, represented 25.5%, R&B(6.3%), Rap(5.1%). Using top selling album per year is mostly a useless stat. I understand what you are saying, that Rock music is not as important as it once was, but the reality is, it is not far behind Pop music in importance. All these genres are part of contemporary music and will share in the pie until new contemporary music is born.

Jason Spitz is saying the basic things I would have said, except he's phrasing them better and providing documentation.

Rock 'n' roll is now almost 60 years old; the "rock" form that it morphed into in the 1960s is almost 50 years old.   The music was the popular art form of the baby-boom, post world-war II generation and it should be no surprise that its cultural influence fades with them.   Swing and big band jazz was tremendously important to my parents' generation (World War II and Korean War eras) but now it's just the tiniest niche and pretty much mummified.

I miss rock too, and I spend way too much time and money looking for new rock music which tickles my ears; but since the early 1990s, except for revivalists like The Black Keys and The White Stripes, it's been pretty much a futile quest.

 

I think it is safe to say that Rock music has evolved with the generations over the years. At this point in time, to say Rock music is irrelevant because of generational change is not an accurate thing to say. I agree, youth today are more inclined to listen to newer Rock (music), while someone of your age is more likely to listen to older style Rock.

There's nothing douchy about the truth

They've got a point.

Rock n Roll and disco longer impacts popular culture. I would compare it to comic books.

It has nothing to with Nickelback. It just came down to the changing demographic in America and the lack of innovative bands.

To blame Nickelback is just ignorant. If anything, blame Rap (which I wouldn't)

I know you're not blaming rap, but if you did would you blame it for being successful? Therefore diminishing the per capita rock fan, and/or band?

Or do we blame the label and radio system that championed mediocre, middle of the road, milquetoast rock...

Speaking of rocks...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7F3O6WYfHQ

So long as Jack White & Josh Homme are alive, rock & roll will not be dead.

If you think people aren't listening, if you think rock & roll is dead, the truth is that you're just out of touch. Rock & roll's existence was never predicated upon mtv paying attention to it. Rock & roll was dead when Bon Jovi was the biggest band in the world, Nickelback is just more of the same. The fact that it's existing outside of the corporate BS that's masqueraded as rock & roll for so long means that it's probably more alive than it has been in a long time.

That's my take on it, at least.

where does he blame nickelback?  he says rock & roll is dying because people became OK with a shitty band.  

My dad agrees... and hes 83. When we were watching football around Thanksgiving and NB were playing he said 'I hate this crap" it cracked me up.

www.thehorseyourodeinon.com

Amen to that!

#bestquoteof2012

Carney says it how it is. Nickleback is ruining good music.

When I went to school, I was taught there is a big difference between "liking" certain music and "appreciating" that music.  For example, I do not like rap music, but I appreciate the genre and the artistry of those who create it.  Also, I personally would not sit down and listen to a lot of Ravi Shankar sitar music, but I appreciate his musical genius.  

When it comes to NB, I am not a fan, but I acknowledge that they are extremely good at their particular genre of music.  It would be very pompous of me to say that their genre and all their music is "crap."  That would be to insult the millions who have paid real cash to hear NB.

My Dad, a classically trained musician, says that, starting with Elvis, all rock music is "crap."  To him its  3, 4, maybe 5 guitar cords and a lot of banal lyrics about sex.  To him rock is the worst thing that ever happened to music.

I am a fan of rock.  But its a sad day when a rock band starts denegrating their own genre becuase they dislike a particulare representation of it.

My hunch is the BK outburst with hurt BK and help NB.  NB will gain respect for selling records and bringing money into an industry that needs it.

 

Anyone who claims that a single band is ruining or has the potential to ruin rock n roll has is a complete exaggerator.  I am extremely surprised to hear the Black Keys say this.  Up until reading this I had a lot of respect (musically) for the Black Keys, having cultivated an awesomely unique and catchy sound.  But, to hear them make an ignorant comment about a band like Nickelback really makes me think twice about ever listening to them again. 

Bands work hard, really hard... especially touring bands like Nickelback.  Now, I am not saying that Nickelback is great music, but I am not saying they aren't either.  Each listener has their own opinion and has the right to their opinion. If people like "How you Remind Me" better than "Tighten Up" then there is a reason - a feeling that makes them play these songs on repeat and memorize them and then get so inspired that they go see a concert.  This is the main ideology of music... the "experience" of music.  Black Keys saying someone's experience of music is "ruining" Rock N Roll, makes me feel as if someone in that band has a little ego issue and needs to redirect their anger towards the real problems like "Clear Channel" and "Radio One."  Maybe the country wouldnt love Nickelback so much if the radio didnt shove it down our throats, but as musicians, Black Keys should respect the hussle of bands like Nickelback.  Just shut up and play your music.  Noone cares for your opinions.  Youll just be another band that noone cares about either anymore in 6 years as listeners get older and their tastes change.  Then, maybe the radio will play your songs incessantly and we wil all say "Black Keys is Ruining Music."

How would that feel if all you were doing was following your passion of playing and writing music. BTW, due to that statement I will not be buying any more Black Keys tracks ever again... but who buys music nowadays anyways :)

Oh, btw Black Keys, if I hear that "Tighten Up" song in another TV promo spot or commercial, Ill have to claim "Black Keys is Ruining Music on TV."  Then I'd sound as ignorant as you right?

Can I be hip now?

 

Well said.

Re: The Black Keys Blame Nickelback for "F--king Ruining" Rock n' Roll...

Sites like the one you just sent are created by a people of ignorance, self righteousness, and stupidity with nothing better to do than take bong rips and seek joy out of "dissing" others on the net - (they are most likely monetizing this traffick too and laughing at all of us - they should be thanking Nickelback!!).  Besides, denying any information that is available to you is like deciding to hate a religion even though you never studied it.  You wouldnt download a plugin called BlackBlock which blocks all articles written about Black folks.  The world needs mutual respect not "haters" who want to take success, press, and eventually revenue away from an artist who simply plays music.  If the same people that took the time to install this plugin into their browser spent that same time contributing to something positive then we all would be better off.  There is no room for negativity so send around links that are worth while instead of spreading something negative and worthless.  Again, I am just as much a BK fan as a NB fan - they have both produced songs that make me hum along (corny or not) - I (we) Love Music and that is what is most important . 

BTW - look at this link below..

http://www.chartattack.com/news/77578/nickelback-donate-500000-to-charity-announce-more-show

Looks like Nickelback gave 500k to a charity.  Perhaps if you removed your Nickelblock you would recieve articles like this one, and then maybe even decide to support the charity.  Or, God Forbid, you might gain some respect for Nickelback and buy their cd so they can continue to give to charites.  When is the last time you gave to a charity or even mustered up the energy to create an event that benefited a charity with 500k in extra funds?

Music is Music, so listen to it.  But, don't start spreading hate because of you personal opinions about the band's production, lyrical content, major label backing, or surprising success. 

Black Keys' music is everywhere. I can't get away from their new single, so to me... Black Keys are the new Nickelback...who were the new  (name popular band)... who were the new (name next poipular band) with a different sound of course. 

Here is a worthwhile link to start spreading...

http://www.redcross.org

too right

#NickelbackRuinedRock

Black Keys are great!! They inspire others to be great too. This kid does a better job on Tighten Up in my opinion.

http://soundcloud.com/franklyspeaking/tighten-up-black-keys-acoustic

 I was a fan of Black keys.. now im not.. You ve had one good song dude.. now your dissing ppl.. eat balls!! 

"Don't hate the player hate the game" - remember that quote that everyone has said probably at least once in their lives? Anyway, I love the Black Keys, have been a fan since Rubber Factory, and I think that they're even on the verge of ruining their own, gritty, dirty, raw brand of rock n roll. It's still good music, but it's no Thickfreakness. So, this comment is kind of ironic...

Anyway, back to my point - Carney shouldn't hate Nickelback for having mediocre songs that the public eats up. He, as a member of the musical community, should know that this country rewards mediocrity more than anything else. People shouldn't be upset at the artists for having success. Instead, be mad at the channels of distribution. Clear channel radio has about an 8 song rotation... that limits what people hear on the commute to work. Contrary to most people here on this site, the layperson doesn't dig into music that much, they listen to the radio for free and hear the same old stuff. They might not even know that there are more than 20 artists over the past decade!

What needs to happen is that MTV, VH1, and FM radio need to diversify themselves. MTV doesn't even play music anymore to my knowledge... (last time I saw a video was somewhere between 2-4 am in my college days). VH1 has a countdown that reminds me more and more of the last days of TRL, and clear channel.. well... they just plain stink.

Point is, there are many forces at play here outside of the musician's control and the public's control (they don't know how few choices they truly have, or are too lazy to look into alternatives)

The business side is suppressing the creative side, but it doesn't help to complain about it. You just need to find out a new way of doing things.

Ha ha, love this.

Hey asshole, learn how to play the drums first before you base on other bands that are successful. I'm not a fan of NB either but let's face it, Black Keyes are in kindergarten in the school of rock.

You don't know shit and aren't qualified to comment anything.

PS - saw you on SNL a few months back and I have to say, you make drumming look hard. Tell your guitarist, whatever the fuck his name is, to read up on "tone"

R

 

Leave it to an Ohio musician to call out Nickelback for being complete shit. You speak the truth Patrick Carney!

Ha ha.   Okay Patrick Carney you speak nothing but the truth.

sit down you fucking hipster. 

nickleback doesn't try at anything. and neither should you. whether you are a rock star/goth god/slum slut/hipster duffus. don't try. because your steaming heaps of feces will discharge into masses as they deem fit. shit i love the black keys and in the immortal voice of lewis black, i say go fuck yourself.

It's not just Nickleback.  When you have a hard rock band singing about love, you know they're selling out to make money.  What killed rock n roll is "the big machine".  Record companies only promote bands that make money, so to make money, you swallow your pride, bend over and cash in while you can.