In some ways I agree with both of you but when you look at the music industry the majority of the population are influenced by the media. more so now days with MTV, Scuzz and a multitude of other music channels on Sky and Cable, and looking around at sites to advertise gigs on it is surprising how many of the 'old bands' are still out there performing, but at the end of the day, It's your rebellious teenager who goes out and spends the most on mp3's for there Ipod's now days. and it just ain't cool to listen to the same stuff as what your old man listens to.

And here's an interesting little site to prove the point

http://www.rocksite.info/r-home.htm

Match kind of proves my point there. A Band like ZZ Top - to continue using them purely as an example - wouldn't be able to break into todays market if they were new (ie, they didn't have their old material) no matter how good they are. It's not because of their age, it's because of their material, it's not what record labels would want to get behind, because it's not what the people who spend the most (teens - late 20's) on music buy.

They simply aren't marketable as a new commodity.

Quote:They simply aren't marketable as a new commodity

as I said I agree with both of you but if ZZ top Hadn't been and done it already. would they be able to do it now. as there success was basicaly due to the US and there is a few million more people over there to sell to than in the UK ? And if you can get 1% of the US population to buy your record then your in the money !

I'm not discounting anything the great rock bands have acheived in the past. I'm saying if they started now (ie, clean slate), they'd get next to nowhere.

I think it's difficult to win in this conversation.
Being a 20 yr old guitarist I have to admit that I own ZZ Top and ACDC albums. But I agree that they would find it difficult to gain 'chart success'.. but lets face it, what do the charts mean nowadays anyway? Real rock music doesnt exist in the mainstream. The internet is the place for media promotion. ACDC came out way before my time but true music lovers will seek out the good stuff.
I have to admit I like the stuff my dad listens to.. from Floyd to Sabbath.. maybe I'm just uncool though!

As far as U2 goes I've never really listened to them a great deal.. Although their sound on Joshua Tree appeals much more to me than the stuff they have released in recent times.

I do agree with you Dark Jedi to a certain extent, but one small thought...

If these "old" bands would not 'cut it' if they were coming out in todays market, why are so many of todays hits simply covers of their songs? There is not a lot of 'new' stuff out there nowadays and what there is, is mainly rock which is really aimed at album sales not chart success.

I pride myself at having a very wide taste in music, I have rock, soul, reggae, blues, classical and more in my collection but 95% of todays chart music is not even worth a place in my dustbin

Today is not about how good you are or your music is, you just have to be in the right place at the right time.