That rock 'n'roll, eh? That rock'n'roll, it just won't go away. It might hibernate from time to time, and sink back into the swamp. I think the cyclical nature of the universe in which it exists demands it adheres to some of its rules. But it's always waiting there, just around the corner. Ready to make its way back through the sludge and smash through the glass ceiling, looking better than ever. Yeah, that rock'n'roll, it seems like it's faded away sometimes, but it will never die. And there's nothing you can do about it. That’s the now infamous speech Alex Turner made at the 2014 Brit Awards after winning the award for British Album. It seems in recent years music critics and journalists have ran with the idea that Rock n Roll, guitar music, indie. Whatever you want to call it, is dead. But is it? Since the 1960s guitar music has been a prevalent part of the U.K. Music Scene. From The Beatles, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones. Through to 70s Rock with Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, ELO, The Clash, Queen, Sex Pistols, David Bowie In the 80s and 90s too Britain produced many great bands including, Dire Straits, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Joy Division, U2, New Order, The Police. Oasis, Blur, Pulp, The Verve, Elastica, Sleeper etc. Even into the early 2000s with Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines, Stereophonics, Coldplay etc.
Many people argue after the big influence of guitar bands in the early 2000s, and the so called ‘Indie Landfill’ that followed started the demise of guitar music in the U.K. Before I discuss that however I’d like to talk about ‘Indie Landfill’ many bands were unfairly given this label and called clones of the indie bands that came before them.
For example the Courteeners were called a rip off Oasis and bands such as Kaiser Chiefs and Razorlight were given unfair labels which may have affected them in the long run. I recently saw an article in the NME which discusses this subject in a lot more detail. Here’s a link if you’d like to read it: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.nme.com/features/landfill-indie-snobbery-2741199%3famp
Since the so called Indie Landfill scene in the late noughties. Music Critics, Journalists and even some musicians have described guitar music as being dead. And now I’m going to tell you why I think those people are wrong. Since the end of the noughties. You’ve had the emergence of new artists. Catfish and the Bottlemen, Blossoms, Wolf Alice, Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats, Gerry Cinnamon, Sam Fender, Circa Waves you could even argue about artists such as Florence and the Machine.
Who have reimagined guitar music, in a more poppy kind of way. These artists have amassed countless sold out tours, number one albums, and have featured high up festival line ups. Taking away from all of the stats and festival places. They all release their own brand of music, yes they’ve taken inspiration from the bands and artists from previous decades but didn’t all of the other artists do that too. Some of the music coming from these bands and artists is creative, thought provoking and anthemic. Sam Fender has taken the political approach and writes about current affairs. Blossoms talk about relationships and the trials and tribulations we’ve all faced. Catfish and the Bottlemen well they write anthems that you sing in a field with your mates whilst covered in beer and sweat. But that doesn’t take anything away from their song writing ability.
And whilst new artists have emerged the old guard hasn’t exactly gone away. The Arctic Monkeys have continued to release music, as have Kasabian. The Kaiser Chiefs also never went away and continued to release albums with varied success. Noel and Liam Gallagher have both forged successful solo careers since breaking away from Oasis. The Stone Roses had two sold out reunion tours and even in 2016 released new music. Morrissey and Marr have been busy too. Both releasing solo albums. Proving to us all that they aren’t going away anytime soon It’s not just British Bands/Artists who’ve been successful. Bands such as Kings of Leon and The Killers have translated their sounds to British audiences and released a number of albums between them.
The Killers have had 6 consecutive albums in the U.K.. The only overseas band to do that. New acts from down under DMA’s and Tame Impala have also done well for themselves. Where as DMA’s have stuck with a more traditional route of indie rock n roll with electronic elements, taking inspiration from New Order. Tame Impala is making the most experimental music in my opinion of any artist in the world right now. Taking the best from the decades previously and created a blend of guitar pop unlike anything else around now. Don’t just take my word for it though.
New bands seem to be emerging all of the time. Fontaine’s DC are a great example of this releasing three brilliant albums. Dogrel in 2019 and A Hero’s Death in 2020 and Skinty Fia this year. The Lathums seem to have burst onto the scene through the power of social media and word of mouth. Sound familiar, a certain Arctic Monkeys did something similar about 15 years ago. Even if your not a fan of new music, you only have to look at any arena on any given date in the U.K. and I’m sure a rock n roll or indie act is playing at one. Even without the publicity of music magazines and mass radio play some artists have defined the odds. In the last 3 years Courteeners have played to 50,000 people in there home town twice. Gerry Cinnamon has sold out an 80,000 seater football stadium in his home town. Catfish and the Bottlemen have headlined TRNSMT Festival, Stereophonics have sold out countless arena tours, Blossoms have played a football stadium. Liam Gallagher has made a comeback, Johnny Marr proved he doesn’t need The Smiths.
I could go on for hours. Guitar music is dead! In the words of Simple Minds it’s very much Alive and Kicking!