Rockitt Rant – Where are the 2013 Rock Tours?!
I have complained many times that ticket prices have gotten way out of hand, and in 2013, I think I would consider paying higher prices, simply due to the lack of quality rock shows. Yes, there are many music festivals, and some very good ones in 2013, but I am talking about the multi-city rock tours that usually take place every summer.
When I look at the schedule for our local venue Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, there are a few rock shows. Rush, Bad Company with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Black Stone Cherry, and Kid Rock, ZZ Top and Uncle Cracker, Heart with Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience. That is it.
There are no metal acts on the summer schedule, and not enough hard rock for my tastes. I guess have been spoiled by the KISS/Motley tour, Iron Maiden & Alice Cooper, Def Leppard and Poison etc. from years past. 2013 is definitely missing a major multi-band rock show. Is it time for a promoter to start-up another Rock Never Stops or Monsters of Rock tour? I think so!
There is a great void on the summer tour schedule this year. No KISS, No Aerosmith, No Def Leppard, No AC/DC on the summer bills. Nickelback is nowhere to be seen, and Metallica is missing in action too. It seems like all of the major rock acts are taking the year off (at least in the U.S. anyways).
I am grateful for festivals like M3 where I can get two fantastic days of rock, but I don’t want this to be my last live rock experience of 2012 either. Bring on the rock shows!!!
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Unfortunately for you, these established bands have figured out that it is easier and cheaper to set up shop at a casino in Vegas rather than hit the road. Motley Crue and Def Leppard have both done a month or two of shows at the Hard Rock. Can you really blame them? I’d much rather be in a comfy hotel rather than stuck in a bus somewhere in Montana
The US has steadily proven that we can’t be bothered with hard rock/metal shows. Fans in other contries (for whatever reason) not only sell out soccer stadiums, but are actively engaged in the show the entire time. Meanwhile, Ozzy can’t sell out Dallas (half of the top deck was curtailed off for the Let Me Hear You Scream Tour) and of those who attended, too many decided to sit for the show.
I’ve seen artists on Twitter practically beg cities to show up, ‘Chicago was awesome, you’d better step up Detroit’ et al.
I get that it’s not 1987 anymore, but I can see why touring overseas could be more rewarding both financially and artisticly.
I just bought tickets for The Battle of San Bernardino: Iron Maiden, Anthrax, Megadeth, Testament, Overkill, and Sabaton. Driving 6 hours to get there but it’ll be worth it! And the tickets were only $60 each!
If I lived within six hours of that show, I would hit that one too Bill. That is a pretty killer lineup!