Simon Rushworth
Credit crunch? You must be off your rocker.
If the rest of the world is suffering from financial meltdown it seems those of us who like our music heavy and loud still have cash to splash.
AC/DC’s UK shows are expected to sell out in minutes when they go on sale tomorrow morning – just as they have done all over the globe.
Most of this summer’s rock tours and festivals broke all box office records.
And even album sales are resurgent with record labels issuing more formats than ever in a bid to match download sales with physical purchases.
Merchandise – both retro and current – is holding strong against a backdrop of retail disasters.
And with falling fuel costs providing light at the end of a depressing tunnel bands are heading out on the road more regularly than ever.
Right here in Newcastle it seems the rock scene is shrugging off the credit crunch without a care.
The last two metal shows at the Carling Academy have seen queues snaking around the block.
And once inside the Dragonforce and Scorpions gigs it was impossible to move through capacity crowds sporting brand new tour shirts and downing lager like it was going out of fashion (Self Made Man, of course, was drinking John Smith’s).
So why is the music business bucking the trend?
Well first off it seems it may not last. rushonrock’s spies report that a raft of December shows across the city are struggling to sell out.
Certain bands that would normally shift their tix in days are facing up to a slightly subdued run-up to Chrimbo.
And booking agents are holding back on the traditionally quiet New Year period – leaving some of our more established venues with gaping holes in the January/February schedules.
Then again Slipknot are doing a roaring trade ahead of their December gig at the Arena.
And I doubt there’ll be much space when Airbourne and Extreme go head to head in the Toon next month.
Right now it seems rock is providing an escape from the economic doom and gloom. A chance to let your hair down and forget the real world.
Bands like Turisas can transport you to a planet far away from that dogged by folding banks and crashing stock markets.
And best of all you get value for money from your average rock gig at a time when every penny counts.
Us rockers have always lived for the here and now. Buying our gig tickets and our albums today and worrying about the prospect of spiralling debt tomorrow.
There’s never been any sense in spending 20 quid on a shoddy T-Shirt or £30 on a night of ear-busting live music. But rock and metal isn’t about being sensible.
It’s about having a bloody good time even when the rest of the world is sinking into a pit of terminal depression – sending Smiths record sales soaring.
Simon Rushworth