Famous rock bands that don't have the ability to play their music live

Another Old Metal Head wrote:

back woods wrote:

Your comment doesn't contradict mine at all. There's a market for old bands that used to make music that people liked. Metallica is filling stadiums with 40 year olds reliving their youth, and a handful of kids. People go see the Stones and Bruce Springsteen too. Contemporary music has gone in other directions (as it always does) and playing metal now is like playing rockabilly in the 90s. There's a niche market, but it's no longer part of what is driving the mainstream pop culture (that's not a criticism).

Let's stick to the Big-4; the four bands that had the most influence on the history of heavy/thrash metal. There's is a lot of middle-agers at Metallica concerts, but far more than a "handful of kids" (I've been to a few concerts recently and there's a growing appeal to the younger demographics, many who weren't even born when Metallica first started out). Metallica is leaps & bounds over the other three. Hetfield's voice is still pretty decent given his age. Lars is awesome on the drums. Kirk still moves pretty good on the stage.

The don't look all trashed out like some of the other bands trying to play with members in their 50s & 60s. The key is the lead singer's voice of these metal/hard rock bands when they're getting up there in age (Go listen to Axel's voice with G&R's recent road tour and tell me if he's anything near his trademark raspy voice of his prime?). Metallica's even had performances on Jimmy Fallon, and a few years back on the old Craig Ferguson show.

Take Megadeth & Slayer - they've been touring over the last couple of years (I've hadn't heard anything on Anthrax?). Megadeth & Slayer plays in much smaller venues (small joints many times holding less 8000 seating capacity). Mustaine's voice is trashed, and other than Ellefson, how many times has the band changed drummers & lead? Slayer's still got Kerry King, who plays very well, but they've changed out a lot of drummers and Hanneman passed away several years ago. And Slayer & Megadeth no way has the same appeal on the younger demographics that Metallica has.

Metallica simply is the shining star in this group of comeback Metal bands...nothing new there. The "Metallica family" is a world wide phenomenon.

Middle-Aged Metal Head wrote:

notveganboi wrote:

As a drummer, Lars Ulrich is awful.

He can't play live, his tempo is all over the place, and Metallica hasn't made interesting or original music in ages.

Where are the good new metal bands you ask??

Alcest, Thy Catafalque, Gojira, Agalloch, they're all over the place.

They're not popular sure, but when has popularity ever been a sign of good music??

Stupid post...who in the F would care about Lar's drumming ability...it's METALLICA . Their popularity & prestige is unprecedented...have you been living in a cave or something? And why would they need to make any new music when their old stuff is selling out huge venues world wide? IMO, their old stuff sounds better now than when I first listened to their gigs as a young metal head 30+ yrs ago! What they've done with their iconic song "One" is amazing with the laser lights, pyrotechnics & echo technology, etc.

You're in left field on this one youngster. This is thee most popular metal band from the 80s that are still playing in their 50s that aren't all trashed out and have lost members to drug/alcohol abuse. Hetfield's had some issues with alcohol & rehab in the past, but damn he's looking pretty good, and though his voice has changed with age, it's not all trashed out like some of the other leads in other metal/hard rock bands (think David Lee Roth...Lol). Wake up & smell the coffee!....these cats are killing it world wide. Their performance at Glastonbury a few yrs ago (yes....freaking Glastonbury!!!) was heavy man. 100,000+ fans, hot chicks drooling over them, balloons all over the place, young teens & soccer moms on stage...totally unbelievable for a bunch of old thrash metal guys now in their 50s!

https://youtu.be/Gb6JRborcOU

Ted Underhill wrote:

Otis Wilbury [is still alive] wrote:

I agree it is crazy- and thus my stating to going out on a limb and referencing only the operatic section of Bohemian Rhapsody in answering the original question "Famous rock bands that don't have the ability to play their music live". And while there are many vids that accurately show the musicianship of the band and the showmanship of Freddie onstage the best example is the Live Aid show-stealing performance.

As far as an inability, I think this is slightly wrong. I believe early in the song's history, they did play that section live, but opted for the effect of coming back from break during the hard part. Brian always changed outfits during this point and it kind of kicked off the last section of their concerts with a bit of an energy boost. Any number of recent bands that have covered the song admirably (Panic at the Disco and Zac Brown Band come to mind) have shown that it is possible to do live. A conscious choice to not play it live is different than not really being able to. I really think Queen's songs come off much better live. I think the production in the studio often undermined Brian and Freddie and a lot of the studio versions fall flat.

Tron wrote:

Middle-Aged Metal Head wrote:

Stupid post...who in the F would care about Lar's drumming ability...it's METALLICA . Their popularity & prestige is unprecedented...have you been living in a cave or something? And why would they need to make any new music when their old stuff is selling out huge venues world wide? IMO, their old stuff sounds better now than when I first listened to their gigs as a young metal head 30+ yrs ago! What they've done with their iconic song "One" is amazing with the laser lights, pyrotechnics & echo technology, etc.

You're in left field on this one youngster. This is thee most popular metal band from the 80s that are still playing in their 50s that aren't all trashed out and have lost members to drug/alcohol abuse. Hetfield's had some issues with alcohol & rehab in the past, but damn he's looking pretty good, and though his voice has changed with age, it's not all trashed out like some of the other leads in other metal/hard rock bands (think David Lee Roth...Lol). Wake up & smell the coffee!....these cats are killing it world wide. Their performance at Glastonbury a few yrs ago (yes....freaking Glastonbury!!!) was heavy man. 100,000+ fans, hot chicks drooling over them, balloons all over the place, young teens & soccer moms on stage...totally unbelievable for a bunch of old thrash metal guys now in their 50s!

https://youtu.be/Gb6JRborcOU

popularity doesn't equate to ability of the band which is the whole subject matter of this thread. Lars simplifying songs live is an example of not being able to play music live (i.e, not even trying the double bass sections of Dyers eve).

I do think they are still fun to see live and they have all the money, pyro, etc...but Lars is definitely a weak point in live setting