What went wrong with so many artists/bands from the 60s and 70s throughout the 1980s?
 

What went wrong with so many artists/bands that had huge success commercially and critically throughout the 60s and 70s once the music world entered into the 1980s? Commercially or critically they fell off badly in the 80s.

I'll name a few... Stevie Wonder, Donna Summer, Joni Mitchell, Earth Wind and Fire, Elton John, David Bowie, Queen, Aerosmith, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Barry White, AC/DC, Bob Dylan and many more?

Was it because of MTV? The technology of the 80s? Trend chasing? Creative juice was out?

What do you all think?

idk i was not born during that time but i know once the 80's hit everything change not only in music but monsyl everything else

it was prob a mixture of alot of stuff plus the upper tier of bands that started in the 60's just got older and IMO its hard to have a 30+ year career in music at least back then

The 80's sucked in general, but I'm a little curious how you got these artists? AC/DC got a new singer, but had some of their biggest albums in the 1980s. I think Back in Black was 80.

Elton John had major hits in the 80s, I'm Still Standing, I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues, and I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That.

Queen iirc did well also? I mean I think they were getting back together in the 80s ahead of Live Aid so I'm sure that contributed.

Dylan absolutely sucked, as did Springsteen, but in general the 80s took all the overbaked jazz-inspired noodling and made it corporate. People traded in their acid for cocaine and they bought power suits and synths.

Actually, Let's dance was Bowie's biggest success. So was Born in the U.S.A. if I'm not mistaken.

But anyway, apart from a few exceptions, I think it's very rare to see any musical artist still producing great work more than 10-15 years into their careers. Unlike many other forms of art, musicians don't normally get better with age.

What artist does?

Writers, painters, sculptors, film directors, actors etc...

The greatest pieces of most art disciplines were not created by people in their 20s, unlike most great contemporary music.

I think there's quite a few that have gone on too long...
But some have gone on 30+ years..Cliff Richard's later CD's are much better than a lot of his earlier ones..Some of that is because of the quality of the lyrics..

I realise he is more UK popular of course.

The Rolling Stones still rock...

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I think The Who have done good, even though they lost half of them along the way...
Many had early deaths as well....
Not being really ageism..after all I am 72 myself....but look about 18 years old now...haha

Yer what??? I thought you were in your 50s! You're older than my mother and she can barely use whatsup, let alone chat on an internet forum and link images! Dang, lady! :clap:

I think that pretty much sums it up for the most part. Cocaine & synths are a dreadful combination.

You missed one band that is probably the best example of a great 60's band gone south in the 80's- Jefferson Airplane/Starship. (ugh!)