Why does the US suck for Heavy Metal?

[sadaist]

The United States exploded in the 80's with Heavy Metal. It was a fans dream. Any given summer, I could catch countless shows at the San Diego Sports Arena with 2 great bands (sometimes 3). But no more. However, in Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, etc.... they have Metal festivals all of the time, most with all the great bands we love. Example...Jun 6, 2006 Gods of Metal concert. GnR, Def Leppard, Motorhead, Korn, Whitesnake, Alice in Chains, Venom, Helloween, and more. They have these all the time over seas. WHAT THE FUCK!!! I DON'T WANT TO SEE 50 CENT ON TOUR THIS SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!

[FORD]

Just the thought of Venom on the same bill as Covercheezeball is proof enough that even the term "heavy metal" is meaningless anymore.

[Terry]

People just aren't turning out for those shows in the numbers they used to over here.

Unless it's something queer, really non-metal and girl-friendly like Bon Jerkoff or Posin', you can't fill the big halls with the other groups, unless you get a LOT of bands together, like some Dokken/Warrant/Slaughter/Winger package tour, and even then you're talking MAYBE a 10,000 seat hall...

But there's really no underground metal scene over here anymore, where you can just go to a local club and see local hard rock/metal acts do their thing. Those were all over the place during the 1980s/1990s.

I dunno. Maybe younger bands just aren't playing that kinda music anymore...who the fuck knows?

[sadaist]

The problem I've seen with the very few 4 or 5 band metal shows they do here once in a while, is there is no single top act. You mentioned Winger, Slaughter, Warrant, Dokken, etc... Imagine the same all day show but with this lineup

Ratt
Motley Crue
Megadeth
Def Leppard
Ozzy

All top from their time, but can't really draw big anymore. I think a grouping like that could do a few stadium shows?

Now, just for fun, let's say Van Halen reunion is headlining.

[binnie]

A lot of it comes down to $

With fuel prices up, bands just don't tour as much.

We must also remember that a lot of the newer bands are pussies, and simply aren't prepared to put in the effort to tour the US

How many times do you read an article where some shitty bands complains about touring "We didn't realaize how big america was"

Well fuck off then.

But the UK has got much better for live shows over the past five years I think.

[Master_Thespian]

"American Metal"! How delightful! Eat Fresh!

[bastardog]

The pigs at radio stations just don't promote Metal.....just the image music (I mean rap and pop) and there is barely no new metal fans

[binnie]

That's a good point, how are kids supposed to hear it if not the radio?

Just us old fuckers 'eh!

[bastardog]

How you can explain a 12 year old kid that
you:"this Metal music rocks"
kid: "If it rocks why it isn't even played on radio?. Everything cool has air time...and not on oldies stations"
you: "holly shit kid you should know that there is a lot of heavy metal bands in Europe that are newer than fidy cent"
kid: "yea they should suck because they don't promote here"

[binnie]

True my friend, although I got into metal at 9, and it wasn't played on the radio!

But yeah, most kids are sheep, they'll like what other kids like

[Matt White]

NO music made before 1985 should be on FM radio......with the exception of CLASSIC DAVID LEE ROTH & VAN HALEN.....


The 90'S Bands should be "Classic Rock".........................

[binnie]

Why only the '90's stuff?

[bastardog]

Here we have a station that play mostly anything (on hard rock and metal) some time during the day.
I also know that in Atlanta there is a radio station that play metal mixed with any kind of rock during day time too

[binnie]

Metal bands have always won fans by touring their asses off!

You've got to play the toliets all over the place to gain a following, 'cos chances are you aren't gonna get the air play.

If bands aren't prepared to put the effort in, they won't last.

[mako_kimura]

Of course, that's why you'll NEVER see a metal band on regular MTV or hear em on the radio. All the new bands gain followings with tours and record sales ALONE.