I was talking to someone yesterday when the subject of music came up. For some reason music ALWAYS seems to come up in my conversations. The conversation went to why Rock music takes a back seat to other styles. Someone said that Rock wasn’t a money maker anymore. Yet everywhere you turn it’s “Rockstar” this or “Rockstar” that. If “Rockstar” is the baseline then to me that says something. Why isn’t there the “American Rock Awards”? The Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame? uhhh no. Where is my ROCK video music channel? HMMM??? Nobody cares a bout rock music? I don’t think so. That got me thinking about the presence of Rock and how sets in record sales and tour attendance. I ‘m gonna take look and share some info with ya.
40 million copies or more:
There are 11 albums that have achieved this status. Out of those 11, 5 yes 5 fall in to the Rock category
AC/DC – BACK IN BLACK : 50 MILLION SOLD, YES 50 MILLION
PINK FLOYD – DARK SIDE OF THE MOON: 50 MILLION AS WELL!
MEATLOAF – BAT OUT OF HELL: 43 MILLION
EAGLES – THEIR GREATEST HITS (1971 – 1975): 42 MILLION
FLEETWOOD MAC – RUMOURS: 40 MILLION
30–39 million copies
Out of the 17 albums that fall in this category 10 are Rock
LED ZEPPELIN – IV: 37 MILLION
ALANIS MORISETTE – JAGGED LITTLE PILL: 33 MILLION
THE BEATLES – SGT. PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND: 32 MILLION
THE BEATLES – 1: 31 MILLION
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – BORN IN THE U.S.A.: 30 MILLION
DIRE STRAITS – BROTHERS IN ARMS: 30 MILLION
IRON BUTTERFLY- IN-A-GADDA-DA-VIDA: 30 MILLION
PINK FLOYD – THE WALL: 30 MILLION
METALLICA – METALLICA: 30 MILLION
NIRVANA – NEVERMIND: 30 MILLION
WOW! it seems like Rock dominates record sales. Now let’s look at the top grossing music tours:
Out of the top 20 grossing tours 16 are Rock N’ Roll tours:
U2 – $736,421,586 : 360º Tour
The Rolling Stones – $558,255,524: A Bigger Bang Tour
AC/DC- $441,121,000 : Black Ice World Tour
U2- $389,047,636: Vertigo Tour
THE POLICE –$358,825,665 : The Police Reunion Tour
ROGER WATERS- $349,240,698 : The Wall
THE ROLLING STONES –$336,017,048 : Bridges To Babylon Tour / No Security Tour
THE ROLLING STONES- $316,365,576 : Voodoo Lounge Tour
THE ROLLING STONES –$299,520,230 : Licks Tour
THE EAGLES –$251,112,882 : Long Road Out Of Eden Tour
PINK FLOYD- $250,000,000 : The Division Bell Tour
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – $235,000,000 : Magic Tour
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – $221,500,000 : The Rising Tour
METALLICA – $217,245,629 : World Magnetic Tour
BON JOVI – $210,650,974 : Lost Highway Tour
BON JOVI – $201,000,000 : The Circle Tour
Seems like Rock N’ Roll music is alive and well to me. There is nothing wrong with other genres of music, any thing that fire up the soul is ok in my book. Just don’t count Rock N’ Roll out. Love your music? SHOUT IT OUT TO THE WORLD! ANY QUESTIONS? I’m gonna leave you with my new theme song!!!:
the Hellion
Rock n roll will never die! Not as long as i am kicking!
Indeed Brother Hellion. Rock n roll are here to stay. Only a fool would say rock doesn’t amount to much anymore. SDMF