Who Could Be The Next Big Stadium Band? Meltdown
It was 30 years ago today that I saw Guns N’ Roses and Metallica on their stadium tour. To this day, it might be the best concert I’ve ever seen. If memory serves, Metallica played from 7:30 – 9:15ish. GNR went on at 11 p.m. and played till 1 a.m. What. A. Show! I mean, GNR were just five years into their career, with Metallica only ten or 11. Crazy to think!
Here we are, 30 years later, and both of those bands are still bonafide stadium acts. My question to you is, who are the next stadium bands?
Yes, we have AC/DC, The Eagles, The Stadium tour with Motley, Def Leppard and Poison. The Chili Peppers are giving it a go this summer, too. But what about any bands that are under 20 years old or so? Who could be the next BIG bands. I think you need a mix of great songs, large personalities, luck, a push from the press, and more.
Here’s some of my predictions….
Shinedown. This band started in 2003 and have had their ups and downs, but they’ve road-dogged it to playing arenas. They’ve put out some solid albums and potentially could be playing stadiums, maybe with the help of a decent opening band, in the next few years.
Five Finger Death Punch. Say what you want, but I remember doing an appearance with them at a locally-owned record store in Utica about 15 years ago. Not many people showed up. They also played and played, to the point where they’re headlining sheds and arenas now. Singer Ivan Moody and guitarist Zoltan Bathory are the last original members, and both have big personalities, especially Ivan.
Slipknot. This one is a tough one. I remember watching them at Pine Knob thinking, “These guys are the next Metallica” I feel their last couple albums weren’t as good, or as accessible, as the first several. IDK, maybe if they can find that balance of staying heavy, but reaching new fans, they could headline stadiums.
Here’s what some of my coworkers said….
Anne Erickson gave me three bands…
First was Greta Van Fleet. I thought about this band, too. They came out of the gate on fire. I think they’ve cooled a little bit, but there’s always a chance the kids from mid-Michigan could blow up even more.
She also said the band Bad Omens. This is thinking a little out of the box, and I like it!
Her final bad is Ice Nine Kills. This is a cool, horror-themed band that could pop big.
Aimee Brooks sent me over the band Goodbye June. They’re a band that plays smaller theaters right now. Who knows how high they can go.
What do you think?
-Meltdown-
