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