I might point out that AC/DC rode a one trick pony for over 25 years.
I would personally prefer that the "rising tide" remain relatively low, as I'd rather watch concerts in the intimate settings these types of bands currently play in. That is to say it is a good thing see 10 bands, 4 of which are at the top of their respective genres at Earthlink/Center Stage. Much better than 1 major band with 1 opener from the nosebleed sections of some sports arena. Yes a few more quality acts doing a few more tours would be nice, but that's all the growth I care to see.
That said, I find it ironic that people who pine for the return to the glory days of metal so quickly criticise the first Metal band to achieve even an iota of success in 10 years. It's amazing how fast people pick up the rhetoric like this new Video Game Metal bullshit. I'm a gamer. I multiplayer game online and have for years since the old days of Diablo I (for those of you who may know what that is), and I know what video game background music sounds like. Basing DragonForce's success on some idiotic relation to kids' facination with video game soundtrack music is ridiculous.
There were a lot of younger faces at the Atlanta show, true, but there was a large number of people with receding salt and pepper hair, old beer guts, and saggy boobs too. DragonForce may have gotten the attention of Hot Topics kids, but that certainly isn't the only demographic they're drawing from. And what the Hell is wrong with kids jumpping on the fan wagon anyway? For those who wish for the resurgence of Metal I pose the question: Who do you think are going to be the fans that make it happen? It isn't going to be a bunch of 40 somethings who currently listen to Sister Hazel who suddenly revive their Twisted Sister passion form years past. Hot Topics kids are the future. If they're going to keep Metal going, they may as well start now.
Shortly after PP VI, as always happens, there were the inevidable PP VII suggestion threads. It's interesting to compare what was said then to what's being said now. Glenn said in his PP VII roster selection thread that Thunderstone was "on everybody's list." That certainly raised my eyebrows when I read it, as it wasn't the way I remembered it. Funny where the band that so many now think sucks ended up on that
list.