Is Rock really dead?

“Rock is Dead”

is not only the title of one of Marilyn Manson ’s songs, but a common saying that has spread in the last decades because of Rock music’s apparent backsliding since the grunge era of the 1990s. However; Can we really say that Rock music is dead?

On this day ( July 13 ) in 1985 , the Live Aid concert was inaugurated in London and Philadelphia at the same time to support countries in East Africa . The first band to jump on the scene in London was Status Quo , followed by Elvis Costello , Phill Collins, Sting, U2, Queen, David Gilmour, David Bowie, Elthon John, The Who, and Paul McCartney . At the same time, Jack Nicholson was presenting the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia , featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Madonna, and Led Zeppelin , who gave one of their best performances of their career.

In the mid 90s , people in Brazil started celebrating World Rock Day on July 13 of every year, and although it is not a formally established celebration worldwide, it has grown in importance through the years.

On this important date, EL UNIVERSAL consulted Spotify on the most streamed Rock songs worldwide, as well as in Mexico City . Coldplay is currently leading the list, with 25.6 million monthly listeners and 750,000 in the Mexican capital .

Chris Martin

’s band was followed by Queen and the Red Hot Chili Peppers . The Beatles came in fourth place, with 13.4 million listeners worldwide and 398,000 in Mexico City .

Although the number of Rock band listeners doesn’t even come close to some of the latest reggaeton artists’s greatest hits, Rock music is very far from being dead.

In an interview, Mario Lafontaine , a music specialist and radio commentator stated: “Rock is not dead, it’s more present and alive than ever, specially if you look at the indie scene. It was created as a cry for liberty and so it remains to this day. As long as there are rebellious souls left in the world, rock music will live on ."

The Live Aid concert changed the history of music forever. It was one of the largest and most popular events ever made, and it will always be remembered. Happy World Rock Day!

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