Where will tommorow's summer headliner's come from?

With Summer blockbuster tours now in full swing, it is hard not to take note of the aging headliner. There is no question that the biggest names in rock are old. Wasn't it Mick Jagger that said "I'd rather be dead than sing "Satisfaction" at 45"? He's now 66.

Hard rock and metal band's that demand the largest money from tours came out of the 70's and 80's. This was true in the 80's, 90's, 00's and will trend that way for the next decade unless there is a major artist to break.

Heavy metal isn't the same as jazz or blues where the rock icon can sit in a chair as he belts out tunes. Ozzy Osbourne, 61, is among the oldest in the group and has been eying retirement from touring for several years now. Most fans would also agree that his best live days are now behind him. His voice has begun wavering and getting raspy. Vince Neil, 49, recently stated to Billboard.com that "I'm kind of hearing that after this Ozzy's going to step aside and there'll just be Crüe Fest from now on, which is kind of cool. That would be a great honor from Ozzy if it happens."

Lars Ulrich, 47, told Vanity Fair "I don't know if it's possible for me to play those songs when I'm 65. I don't know. And the second level of that is, let's say it is possible to play 'em-just about, like, get through them-if it's not possible to play 'em with the same kind of energy and weight and brutality and kind of physical giving it all that we do nowadays-I don't know if it's right to play 'em."


Robert Plant's explanation earlier this year for dismissing Led Zeppelin tour rumors was in part for fear of fans' "disappointment" and "the comparisons to something that was basically fired by youth and a different kind of exuberance. It's very hard to go back and meet that head on and do it justice."

The last twenty years have failed to produce mega metal bands that can fill a stadium or arena. The 90's killed the illusion of the over decadent super star. As metal made a comeback the following decade, few bands were able to rise to the occasion. Bands like Slipknot, Korn, and Marilyn Manson sold a lot of albums and concert tickets, but remain large club acts and would fail to fill arena seats on their own without major support.

If you take this Summer's top hard rock and metal headliner's: Iron Maiden, KISS, Big Four of Thrash, American Carnage, Ozzfest, Poison, and Mayhem Fest, the average age is 51. In ten years, unless someone steps up, the average age will be 61 which is the same age as Ozzy Osbourne now. This has to be a concern with tour promoters like AEG, Goldenvoice and Live Nation as these shows make them millions in revenue. Will your favorite headliner have the energy to put on a good show?


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Tags:  old, ozzy osbourne, festivals, summer tours 

Jason Fisher    June 18, 2010