So, I took the wife to see Bon Jovi at the sold out stadium in Philadelphia (Wachovia Center - 20,000+). This was the first of two sold out nights. I admit to liking some of Bon Jovi's older music - I was a fan way back when in the 80's, but I certainly wouldn't choose to listen to the new stuff on my own. Still, it was okay. The band put on a good performance, as these things go. As I sat there listening, I had two main thoughts:
1) Here is an 80's metal band (argue amongst yourselves on the metal label as applied to this band - hair, bubble gum, etc). They are not doing a nostalgia tour a la their compatriots such as Poison. They are playing new songs from new hit records. They sell out two nights in a stadium when other metal bands (in the US) are happy to sell out 3,000 seat venues. How many other metal bands from the 80's could match that? I could think of only one - Metallica. I would count Aerosmith as more rock and roll than metal, and I still believe Motley Crue thrives more on nostalgia than new music. Are there any other bands out there? (BTW, BJ had an amazing light show, including a huge TV that allowed me to see perfectly from my lousy seats.
2) Jon Bon Jovi sounded very good, vocally. Actually better than I've heard him before in other performances. Still, in his 40's, he either can not, or declined to try, hitting the hard notes on Runaway (one of the few older songs they played). I got to thinking about how many of the older vocalists could still sing with the same power and high notes that they did back in their heyday. I haven't seen Dio for a while, but I've heard that he still sounds the same. They again, he never had went the power screamer route. So, I discounted him. I was able to come up with 3 40+ vocalists that still had their power of the 80s:
Rob Halford
Bruce Dickinson
Eric Adams (Manowar)
I have seen all of them live in the past few years, and heard them hold the same notes with the same power as they did in younger days. Can anyone add to this list?
(Don't include Geoff Tate. Although still an amazing voice, during this year's Op Mindcrime tour, he couldn't do the power scream from Revolution Calling. He still sounded great, and I'm not knocking him, but he has lost a little).
I'm wondering about singers such as Tony Harnell (TNT, Starbreaker) or Kiske (Helloween) can still sing the way they did?
One last thought - the population had to have been at least 3 to 1 girls to guys. Yes, for one night, the 80's were back.
Steve in Philly
1) Here is an 80's metal band (argue amongst yourselves on the metal label as applied to this band - hair, bubble gum, etc). They are not doing a nostalgia tour a la their compatriots such as Poison. They are playing new songs from new hit records. They sell out two nights in a stadium when other metal bands (in the US) are happy to sell out 3,000 seat venues. How many other metal bands from the 80's could match that? I could think of only one - Metallica. I would count Aerosmith as more rock and roll than metal, and I still believe Motley Crue thrives more on nostalgia than new music. Are there any other bands out there? (BTW, BJ had an amazing light show, including a huge TV that allowed me to see perfectly from my lousy seats.
2) Jon Bon Jovi sounded very good, vocally. Actually better than I've heard him before in other performances. Still, in his 40's, he either can not, or declined to try, hitting the hard notes on Runaway (one of the few older songs they played). I got to thinking about how many of the older vocalists could still sing with the same power and high notes that they did back in their heyday. I haven't seen Dio for a while, but I've heard that he still sounds the same. They again, he never had went the power screamer route. So, I discounted him. I was able to come up with 3 40+ vocalists that still had their power of the 80s:
Rob Halford
Bruce Dickinson
Eric Adams (Manowar)
I have seen all of them live in the past few years, and heard them hold the same notes with the same power as they did in younger days. Can anyone add to this list?
(Don't include Geoff Tate. Although still an amazing voice, during this year's Op Mindcrime tour, he couldn't do the power scream from Revolution Calling. He still sounded great, and I'm not knocking him, but he has lost a little).
I'm wondering about singers such as Tony Harnell (TNT, Starbreaker) or Kiske (Helloween) can still sing the way they did?
One last thought - the population had to have been at least 3 to 1 girls to guys. Yes, for one night, the 80's were back.
Steve in Philly
