What is Stadium Rock?
Have you ever attended a concert in a stadium or arena where thousands of people enjoy live music? Then you have encountered stadium rock. Stadium rock, also referred to as arena rock, is a type of rock music played in large arenas or stadiums.
Where Did Stadium Rock Originate from?
It began in the 1960s with The Beatles, who played at Shea Stadium in New York. By then, only a few music venues could accommodate the Beatles fans. In 1970, they held a 37 minutes concert in Shea stadium where they could hardly hear themselves. The stadium was full of teenagers cheering their music.
The stadium rock music has grown over the years. Led Zeppelin held a tour at Tampa Stadium in Florida that had 56,800 fans in 1973. He played songs such as the Black Dog and Stairways to Heaven to his fan.
By the late 1970s, stadium rock had raised household names such as Styx, Boston, and Kansans. The stadiums could flood whenever such bands held concerts and especially if two or more bands came together.
In 1985, Bob Geldof took the arena rock music to another level. He held events at Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. They attracted 70 superstars, including Bob Dylan, Ron Wood, and Keith Richards. One hundred and sixty-two thousand fans attended the concert, while 1.5 billion viewed it on TV.
In an interview by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Clay Cook, a band member of Zac Brown Band, said that he couldn’t believe many people buy tickets for their concerts. The band has had three shows at Fenway in Boston and two at Citi Field in New York, where people turned in number.
What is happening to Stadium Rock during Covid-19?
- To the Industry at Large
It is more than a year since the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed. Significant events such as concerts were the first to shut down and probably will be the last to re-open. Venues remain closed, promoters no longer have jobs, and artists are worried about their tomorrow.
According to Pollstar, the trade publication for the concert industry, the industry recorded a loss of $9.7 billion in ticket sales only in 2020. In sponsorships and other ancillary factors, it lost $ 30 billion.
- To Some Superstars in the Industry
On 12th March 2020, AEG and Live Nation, two of the world’s largest concert promoters, canceled all the year’s arena tours. Besides, they had not announced any come back as of May 2020.
Joe Perry, Aerosmith band co-leader, was in the midst of practice with his band when everything came to a standstill. He narrates how he doesn’t think his band will ever come back to its pre-corona state. He says, “I don’t see 5,000 people in an arena or theater. I don’t think it’s possible to put on a rock ‘n’ roll show like ours or any other. I know the band wouldn’t do it.”
Alice Cooper, a stadium rock legendary, was in Germany in mid-March 2020 with his friends for a concert tour. Unfortunately, Covid-19 hit Europe during his appearance. Since the superstar was 72 years old, they had to take him home quickly because he was at a higher risk of contracting the virus. The band only performed five shows out of the 14 and had to cancel his performance up to July 2020. The Cooper’s band was hopeful of returning by September of 2020 but unfortunately had to wait until enough people get vaccinated.
According to Ulrich, a Metallica band member, they have found other ways to meet their fans during the pandemic. In August 2020, the band performed their first drive-in show, which they had to prerecord. The band performed from more than 300 capacity outdoor theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The event was a success, but Ulrich said that the burnout was too much, and such shows can’t be done often.
What is the Future of Stadium Rock Performances?
The future of the live music industry depends on several factors.
- Covid-19 Vaccine Availability
It sounds like a dream to have people in arenas at full capacity again worldwide. The fear of contracting the coronavirus is real. It may take years to have stadium rock stars performing on stage again.
According to Jake Burns, a lead singer-guitarist, concert venues will be the last thing to be re-open after Covid-19. Besides, Burns says even if the concert world opens in phases, there will be physical and psychological barriers to fans. Some are eagerly waiting for re-opening and will go back to concert-going regularly. On the other hand, some have ended up their attendance even after the post-Covid era. However, the majority lies in between.
Adam Lewis, who steers the Planetary Group, a publicity and concert promoting company in Los Angeles, claimed that the pandemic adjustment would vary depending on cities and nations. Besides, the industry needs to undergo a lot of changes.
In an interview with Rolling Stone in December 2020, Dr. Dean Winslow, an infectious disease expert at Stanford, said that he doesn’t see concert halls at full capacity until maybe early 2022. It would take 60 to 70 percent of the U.S. population to get a vaccination for the infection cases to decrease. Therefore, the place of live music season is unknown in 2021.
The live music entertainment re-opening largely depends on the vaccination of the public in the world. Unfortunately, it is not yet clear when the vaccine will be widely available.
- Economy
The inability to open venues at a full-capacity can be a big issue to both the performers and owners. Even a venue at a capacity as high as 80% is not enough for a good show. In the U.S., some venues can host 25% of their capacity; however, it is infeasible to many players in the industry.
Besides, most people have lost their jobs and business. The Burnham band says that even after people are safe from contracting Covid-19, they need time to have money to pay for shows.
- The Arrangement involved in a Stadium Concert
In an interview with CNBC in 2020, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, who is among the heavy metal band founders, said that live sporting events are more likely to come back than concerts. This is because sporting events are more orderly than shows. Mostly in concerts, people become hyper and therefore uncontrollable.
The stadium rock shows are going through a test of time due to Covid-19. Players are going through a lot during this period while the future remains unpredictable.