Heavy Metal: Heads Still Banging After All These Years

July 11, 2008

John Mackie of the Vancouver Sun reports: Musical styles come, musical styles go. Except for hard rock and heavy metal, which seem to be as big as ever.

IRON MAIDEN sold out the Pacific Coliseum June 3. JUDAS PRIEST will probably do 12,000 at GM Place July 24. Motley Crue will probably sell out GM Place August 11.

In many cases, these bands are selling more tickets today than in their heyday, and at a much higher ticket price (the top ticket for JUDAS PRIEST is $343). And they're doing it even though their album sales are a fraction of what they were in the 70s, '80s and '90s.

What gives?

They've gone "multi-generational." Their original fans still show up to punch the air and bang their heads, even though they might now be in their 40s or 50s. Plus, they've been joined by a whole new generation of teenage headbangers weaned on classic metal who want to see the leather-clad legends strut their stuff.

Read the entire article from the Vancouver Sun.

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