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We Are The Champions - Stadium Rock 1965-1993
We Are The Champions follows the development of some the biggest names in Rock, among them Queen, Bruce Springsteen, The Police and Dire Straits and shows how, through events such as Live Aid and the rise of MTV, rock achieved a global influence on culture and politics. The film concludes in the early 90s, as U2 effectively brought the era to a close by reinventing the big rock show so completely, that fifteen years later most major rock tours are still pale facsimiles.
- Director's notes
- Sebastian Barfield
- Director/Producer
"Stadium rock is not a genre - it exists somewhere far above the ebb and flow of genre and fashion, and is a term used to describe the music played by bands and artists as musically diverse as Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Police or U2 - acts who can regularly perform to upwards of 50 000 people.
In a strictly musical sense, there is little that connects these bands - the hopped up glam riffs of Kiss are far removed from the futuristic sonics of Bono and Edge. Rather, the link is in the outlook and actions of the musicians themselves. To start with, all these bands share a similar sense of ambition - a desire to use their music to connect with as many as they can.
Showmanship is clearly a shared common element - all have figured out how to make a large stage work for them. Performers like Springsteen, Freddie Mercury and Bono have gone beyond this, sharing a genius for performance that allows them to bond tens of thousands of individuals together - sending them home with a sense that they have been part of something greater than a mere rock'n'roll show. But at the heart of the best of these bands is, dare I say it, a generosity in their music: a sense that everyone is invited to the party.
All of this means that when a band reaches the heights of the stadiums, they face the accusation that they have "sold out", and risk forfeiting whatever critical kudos they have built up over their career. Bands who are revered by rock purists - The Velvet Underground for example - often barely sold any records during their career. And yet all of the artists featured in the film found their own way to fill large spaces without diluting the essence of what made them great, and in some very rare cases (Queen, Springsteen, U2), I would argue that the large venues magnified what they were projecting rather than diminished it.
In approaching this film, I wanted to get a sense directly from the musicians themselves about how they learned to work these big spaces, how they connected with their audience, and how they dealt with their success.
We got some remarkable interviews. Brian May shared his memories of Freddie Mercury, as well as explaining to us how Queen's career was built around their interaction with their audience - songs like "We Will Rock You" were specifically written to allow the audience to become one with the band.
Bob Geldof gave us his own perspective of Live Aid, while Gene Simmons charmed us with some of the most outrageous things committed to tape. Mark Knopfler, in a typically modest and understated interview, spoke about how he fought hard to retain his band's integrity as one of their albums suddenly became one of the most successful in history.
If I had to choose a favourite interview, it would be the one we filmed with Stewart Copeland, the drummer of The Police, who had obviously been thinking quite a bit recently about the ride that he'd taken with The Police over 25 years ago.
Not only had he recently produced a film memoir of his own about the experience (Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out) but had just signed up for their current reunion tour, although we didn't know this at the time of the interview.
He delivered the most precise and compelling dissection of what immense global success can do to a band and an individual that I have ever heard. Apparently the experience of being in an enormously successful band is like, "being an Aztec sun god. You know it's only temporary. You're surrounded by all this luxury and yet you know one morning you'll be dragged to the top of a pyramid, and the priest will come and rip out your heart.""
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Joe halifax
Great to watch but more Led Zep would have been better and in the artist section it says Led zep were influenced by hendrix!!! In NO way what so ever was led zep influenced by hendrix. the fact that his was a session guitarist from 63 to 66 and was with jeff beck for some time until he put led zep together in 68 and the fact hendrix didn't kick of unitl 66.
Peter, Lincoln
Gav in Bradford. Before you bemoan that Grateful Dead are included you might learn to spell their name. And Metallica were in the metal film.
Trevor , Lincoln
So Led Zep were the band that started Stadium Rock ?ELP were playing & conquering Japan before Queen released their debut LP And I thought I saw YES play QPR ( stadium ? ) in 1975 a decade before LIVE AIDBut I can say I saw all these bands in theatre's as well as Stadiums.................the theatre concerts remain the better !
BM, Manchester
Here they come, the Bon Jovi fans whingeing that their idols haven't been given enough respect... I suppose programmes like these will always incur the wrath of those who can't accept that their devotion to a particular band doesn't necessarily equate to cultural significance. Of course things will get glossed over but what do you expect from a seven-hour series that covers forty years of history? This is an ambitious documentary that will appeal to anyone with a genuine interest in rock music and how it has evolved since the late sixties; it is not a droolathon for people who dress only in denim and spend £50 a week on hairspray.And to suggest that punk has had "little influence on current music" is absolutely laughable - unless of course you think that "current music" is represented by the likes of James Blunt.(Which it isn't.)
Gav, Bradford
Aren't The Greatful Dead the biggest stadium rock band of all time? What about Metallica as a stadium rock band?Poor series rehashing the usual bands such as Queen and The Clash.
Gray, Stockers
Surely, a better way to end the show would have been to spotlight the fact that western stadium rock managed to write itself into the history books as a bridge between the East and West at the tail-end of the 80s with events like The Moscow Peace Festival with The Jovi, Ozzy, Scorpions et al? A quick mention of Zeppelin was also ridiculous...
Jamal, London
There was some great archive footage, but it didn't really tell us what "stadium rock" is. It was just half a dozen disparate bands that just happened to play in stadiums. I'd liked to have heard people discussing the sonic qualities peculiar to stadium rock (how does it effect how bands play?), the sociological implications (rock music as unifying glue, rather than force to separate), something about the politics of stadium rock (is it a bit Nuremburg? or can it be radical?). I thought it was by far the least interesting of an interesting series.
Walter, The Netherlands
There is simply no such thing as the best band in... whatever. The real inovators and inventors went underground and mostly do not surface. Sevenages of rock is like the good old p(r)opaganda. Television, simply a very very narrow view into this big big world. As small hole were you can peek thru for your own amusment.
crazytonyi, Austin, Texas, USA
Where do the lines get drawn between arena rock and stadium rock? Is there a distinction between bands who play huge municipal venues because of the size of their fanbase and the "arena rock" sound? Surely the term would not refer to Barbra Streisand or Barry Mannilow, but either one could fill up two stadiums (or could at the peak of their reemergence tours). Yet the Ramones are considered punk in spite of consistent evidence that they were desperate to have the presence and sound of arena rockers. The Beatles pulled the plug on concerts outright, simply because they had unintenionally become stadium rockers, and yet it was their studio albums which followed the retirement from stage that helped lay the template for the arena rock sound (revolution, helter skelter). Anyways, just looking over this page and was very disappointed that The Who's infamous 1970 concert at Leeds was not mentioned, either in the main content or follow-up messages. The Beatles may have been the first to play an actual stadium, and Zeppelin did validate the notion that it was a sought-after trend to sell out an arena, but The Who were the ones who said "this is the way it's done."
John, Glasgow
One of the reasons that Springsteen featured so heavily in the programme is that he thought (and worried a lot) about the implications of stadium rock. He is a fabulous live performer (yes I admit I am a fan) and was better than most at performing in the big arenas but I don't think has ever truly felt that it is a 'proper' way to play to fans. That and the way the whole Born in the USA tour was misinterpreted and manipulated by politicians was an important side of the story (similar to Queens efforts to remain apolitical in South America). Which is why the story finished with Live Aid and U2's Zoo tour - where they took the totally opposite approach and embraced the potential to make it a mass political event, as well as a music concert of course.The programme was more about the cultural implications of stadium rock rather than the music - and I agree that some of the music selected was a bit arbitrary.Make any sense ?
Liz, Eastham
Not enough depth (J.A. Hawke)? This last episode had the lighting designer of the U2 tour. That seems pretty in-depth to me? What did you want?
Louise, Dunstable
This site makes hilarious reading and I have to say that I feel really sorry for the people that made these programmes. One post says that there were not enough people included and another cites a previous series as having more depth. So, they should have filled it with every artist under the sun but still have depth??? They include Kiss but are criticised for not spending enough time on them. Would you have preferred if they had left them out entirely. I, for one, wouldn't have missed them. After all, they meant absolutely NOTHING in the UK so you should be glad they got a mention. And, actually, someone said that they weren't about virtuosity but about entertainment and Gene Simmons, himself, went on to say they didn't care a jot that they were dismissed as rubbish. They made loads of money anyway. The fact is they were rubbish. Should the BBC have pretented otherwise and left out those people who were a bit dismissive? It seems the BBC are damned if they do and damned if they don't. As someone else on this website said, it would serve all you moaners right if they never again tackle a subject like this. And, instead, plonk yourself in front of the set for more celebrity driven reality list show rubbish.
David, Nottingham
Got to agree with Dale Brown on the Kiss issue. It was a chance to show what Kiss meant to millions of people around the world, not the critics, yet all we got yet again was critics dismissing them as style over substance. What these people forget is that Kiss is about entertaining people, putting on a show. Why should people always want to listen to drivel about how bad life is. Life should be celebrated and enjoyed and that is what Kiss are about. While their songs are not filled with underlying messages, they do push forth the message to enjoy yourself, get up and do something with your life, make the most of the moment. Surely those messages are just as valid. Very, very disappointed about the coverage Kiss got. Don't forget that they are still filling arenas around the world now (thought not the UK recently). And no mention of the 250,000 people they played to in one gig in Brazil in the early 80's on the Creatures tour. Would have been the biggest number played in one sitting out of all the bands in the program so maybe it would have skewed the message that they are not relevant, which is pretty much all we got.Finally, I also thought Iron Maiden the previous week had very little air time in comparison to other bands who were less important. IM were the biggest Metal band in the world, and to some extent still are.
Domingo, Little Oakley
I am afraid it was an opportunity missed with the last episode on stadium rock, by not including Depeche Mode's pivotal Music for the Masses stadium tour, which culminated in the legendary Rose Bowl show, as documented by DA Pennebaker. A clip of Dave Gahan orchestrating the sea of hands to NEVER LET ME DOWN AGAIN would have perfectly encapsulated the points being made about stadia shows by the episode. But no, presumably the Mode are not 'rawk' enough for you and it would have therefore undermined everything - another slight on DM but totally in keeping with how the band are not given their deserved kudos by the UK media.
Dale Brown, Portsmouth
I lost interest after two things. First, the sneering dismissal of Kiss, Aerosmith and Bon Jovi. Not sufficiently "worthy" enough, apparently. (And never mind the complete absence of AC/DC, Def Leppard, Journey, Bad Company, etc, etc, ) Then it turned into the Bruce Springsteen appreciation show. Oh joy.
Ozzy Rotten
Waah waah, so many disgruntled BOF's posting messages wanting more of the band they favour. Some of the omissions have been criminal (in particular ACDC, Guns & Roses,Motorhead,Thin Lizzy...the list goes on) but it's the Beeb, and the interviewee availability has obviously dictated the output (unfortunatley).As for berating punk as a flash-in-the-pan and "All sounding the same" (the Pistols sound like The Clash?sound like The Ramones?sound like The Stranglers...ich, don't think so), the after-effects of punk still resonate and have influenced all successive guitar-based rock music forms since, from Seattle grunge to nu-metal, from post-punk artists like Killing Joke to the emo-variants that are prominent now. But some people just seem to think that the male-orientated, blues-based monolith of 70's 'raack' is the only genuine article...minds as narrow as their flares are wide, eh John :) Metallica loved punk, G&R loved punk, U2 started their career playing Ramones sets, Lynott advocated punk and worked with Pistols members, REM loved punk, Liam G modelled his vocal style on Lydon and both him and Noel are huge Pistols fans, Cobain was a punk, Townsend embraced punk, Lemmy is punk, Elvis Costello, Paul Weller, Joe Strummer, Nick Cave...a plethora of succesful and original artistes originated or inspired by those 'two good songs' that punk made. But I doubt that's enough for the philistines.The punk 'movement' was always about community and scenes (not just the NY & London mid 70's originators but the many styles and people that have kept it active over the years)...and not about one band's ego or career or excessiveness ingratiating themselves into the rock pantheon. In fact I'd say another punk episode is in order to talk about the UK hardcore scene of the early 80's, the West Coast US scene of the 70's (The Germs, X, Viletones...Poshboy Records), the 80's Alternative Tentacles era (Dead Kennedys, Nomeansno...), the Washington DC 'straight edge/emo' eras (Minor Threat, Rites of Spring, Fugazi), SST's Black Flag and Husker Du (who I believe are on an episode soon, but only because they were signed to Warner Brothers no doubt), the Californian OC influence (Offspring, TSOL, Rancid, Green Day)...for a reasonable fee I'd make it for the Beeb :)I think that the first episode was the best and it's been going downhill since...
Sam, Oxford
Queen didn't have a very very big mention even though they've sold over 300,000,000 albums and where voted unanimously the best band to appear on live aid. I also would have liked to have seen Bon Jovi, Van Halen and AC/DC appear on the show.
J X Hawke, Cornwall
I enjoyed much of this series so far but agree with the people here who say that there is much missing. For a more rounded documentary series that was that much finer go back to a particularly fine 'dancing in the streets' series also from the BBC about ten years ago, which showed greater depth.
Peter, Coventry
JULES - Sheffield. Actually, I think you're wrong. I think the content has been story driven rather than list driven. Clearly, they - the BBC - decided on what stories they wanted to tell and drew artists from those areas. Just because they didn't include your favourite band (AC/DC, Alice Cooper, Sonic Youth, Marc Boland ..... take your pick), doesn't mean it is a bad series. And the disgruntled feedback on this site makes nothing clear except that there is a typically over vocal minority of ungrateful wingers who are obsessed simply that their pet group isn't inlcluded. I would rather watch something like this -clearly intelligent and careful thought out - than some of the 'tut' (to quote Alan Sugar) that masquerades as music programmes. Or perhaps you would have preferred another 'I Love Rock Music' (which would, of course, have featured everyone and their mother).
Jules, Sheffield
Great episode. I'm glad you focused on bands that actually changed the way a stadium show / touring is done, not just those that are the most musically acomplished.
Rick, Stockport
Having initially been really excited about these programmes, i now realise that the content has been entirely driven by whom the BBC could get an interview with / from. Consequently there are some obvious and glaring omissions from what should have been an excellent series. The large amount of feedback on this site from disgruntled rock fans makes this pretty clear. Seems the Beeb have actually managed to alienate a big portion of the audience they intended to target.
Chris, Glasgow
The last two episodes have been hugely diappointing. Punk should never have featured as an Age of Rock, simply because it went almost as quickly as it arrived and has had little influence on current music in comparison to other genres of Rock. Stadium Rock featuring the Police????? Just because they have sold out stadiums across the world doesnt justify their inclusion. So has George Michael, Elton John and the Spice Girls. Should they have been included? NO, because they are not ROCK music and neither are the Police.
Andrew, Dundee
Fantastic programme. I agree, it was a pity more time could not have been spent on Led Zep but, then, I am familiar with much of their music and story so was pleased to learn more about bands I really had no time for - like The Police and Dire Straits. The fact is that Led Zep could have been in at least 3 of these programmes (Birth of Rock, Heavy Metal and Stadium) but you know that they (Page and Plant) never take part in these things and they've bought up all their archive so it really is difficult for TV people to do stuff about the band. We should moan to the band and their management - not at the TV stations who try to make programmes about them. They've got their hands tied, it seems. I'm looking forward to Nirvana next week. Excellent series, overall, BBC despite the (probably necessary) exclusions.
Jon - London
Police - Rock??dreadful, overrated pop music
Steve Emmerson - Romford
The "Stadium Rock" programme was a massive dissapointment - where the hell was BON JOVI??? Yet again the media ignore (probably) the biggest stadium bands of all time - 120 million albums sold and yet not deemed big or important enough for this programme.It was the same old same old (queen, U2 & Zep)Come on BBC give Jovi the credit they deserve
Axon
Frank Zappa, Guns n Roses, Van Halen???stop harping bout rock and Britain. Give credit were credit is due ..and i ain't AmericanA passing mention of a Zappa concert inspiring Smoke on the water...thas frank Zappa's legacy??
Kelv Reading England
I have a question for the makers of this series. Are you or have you already sold this to America? from what I have seen it appears heavily biased towards American acts or acts that were popular in America and not necessarily the UK. I am all for seeing more Rock/Heavy metal on the TV so the fact this program is on and creating all this debate is wonderful. I appreciate that in 7 hours it is very difficult to keep everyone happy as this genre of music is so vast and varied. But I still come away from watching the program feeling disappointed.
Herman The Haque Netherlands
Why Simple Minds is not included on this programme is very strange, they are certainly one of the best rock bands and should have been mentioned.
AIB Manchester
All the bands you love to hate in one TV programme. Yawn. I was OK with Led Zep, thought Queen came out of it well. But the image of Sting sitting in his plane counting all of his money made me feel physically sick. More than 20 years on and we are still living with the fall out that stadium rock created. A bunch of egomaniacs bent on saving the world but at our expense, not theirs.
Rizwan Siddiquee
With much anticipation, I turned on the TV to watch the programme about Stadium Rock ("We are the Champions")"At last"...I thought..."a programme that will do justice to the history of the group that officially replaced the Beatles as the biggest band in the world, the band that broke all attendances record for gigs and created the "Stadium Rock" genre, the band who were only second to the Beatles in terms of album sales, the band who took rock'n'roll excess to an extreme that no other band could even think of getting away with....all without selling singles or courting the media.So what do we get? A mere footnote mention. Instead we get chunks of coverage from Bruce Sprnigsteen, The Police, Dire Straits...etc. All these bands put together couldn't touch Led Zeppelin in terms of Influence, Album Sales, Live Attendance record, etc.
Michael, Teesdale
Not a bad try at the seven ages of rock but the 4th episode how could you not show ac/dc and ive just watch number 5 and you have shown dire straits but with little attention, they may be a good live band but they are rock in many ways. The contrast between punk and purpose rock maybe. Just a thought.
Mark Sargeant, Lowestoft
No Hawkwind?
martin chelsea
So Zep are stadium rock then? Only in the USA as just about anyone who's anyone gets to be 'stadium rock' in that country. Unless BBC 2 thinks Knebworth,Earls Court and Ally Pally are 'stadiums' of course!Just about every major act at some stage has played a stadium. Even The Pistols played at Crystal Palace Stadium a few yeras back.A strange episode, I dont really think the programme makers knew what they up to on this. Strange too that Mr Sharr Murray has disappeared having told us how wonderful Punk was.What about the bands that started the 'stadium' thing like ELP and The Floyd. This label is too general to apply to any genre of Rock.
Carlol, Holland
no ac/dc ??, Guns 'n roses ?? how can I take the documentairy serious from now on...
Jim, Guildford
It was when the narrator implied that Aerosmith and Guns n Roses were "All bombast and no substance" that I sadly realised that the film had jumped the shark and the film makers had no idea what they were talking about. For people under 30 Guns n Roses WERE stadium rock at the beginning of the 90's . They built on the foundations that Queen laid in the South American markets like no other band. Not even a mention of Bill Graham's legendary 'Gig on the Green' concerts at the Oakland Coliseum in the 70's featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Stones, Frampton etc. was another glaring omission. I'm really glad that Jimmy Page and Robert Plant wouldn't give an interview because the total misdirection that the film went on (The Police, Springsteen) would have sullied their fine name and legacy in my opinion. I don't know if I can bear to see what this program does to Nirvana next week.
Wayne, Bedford
Aerosmith anyone? The band are massive and have been since the 70's. They written some of the greatest songs ever and have two of the most iconic stars in Tyler and Perry.GnR have them down as one of their biggest reasons for them starting a band in the first place.I know its all about opinion, but the intepretation of rock in this series is a bit bizarre to say the least. Roxy Music? The Police? They're not rock. Nirvana and the Pistols ARE overhyped. They were good but not great. Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam had more talent and better songs than Nirvana.And to the joker that wanted to know where Bon Jovi was in this series.............get lost. If ever the word overrated was invented for anyone/band it was them. They'll be on a series of artists who sold their soul to the moneymen, along with Bryan Adams, Meatloaf and other "great" artists.
Ally
H.....MMMM........ RUSH, Real and total musicians. Never went down the fame route. Hey & never sold out they deserve a mention...
Alex, London
Didn't show The Beatles clip at Shea Stadium, Led Zeppelin, arguably the greatest rock and roll band in the World, are only featured about 5 minutes or less. They should mentioned it a bit more. A bit of a disappointment for this stage of rock. The best one in this series is the first stage of rock.
Rob, Rayleigh
Great show tonight guys, but I have to ask.... where were the originators of the intimate stadium experience... Aerosmith?? Your programme talked about U2 being the first band to do that in 1985, but Aerosmith had been doing it since 1977 in the USA.....Also, what about the Australian Rock Gods AC/DC?? They were the Kings of Stadium Rock producing a great show along with the heavy riffs required for a stadium rock show experience!!!!Come on guys, give the Rock Giants the credit they deserve.... and if you wanna see a show.... Hyde Park, 24 June.... Aerosmith back in the UK after 8 years!!!!!!
Alex White, East Preston
Watched the Stadium Rock programme, interested in some of the bands that were going to be covered. But becasue I'm only 16, I learnt so much about Rock music in the 70's and 80's. It is a fantasitic series that I have really enjoyed
lis, newark
Fantastic!!!! Love Queen!! Love Springsteen!!!! Loved this episode!!!!!
Josh, london
zeppelin didn't do singles over here, but they had to in America the record company wouldn't allow them to get away with it. as for capacity's the got way over 50,000 in many a show and they also pulled off two knebworth shows.
Chris New Milton
Just a reply to a few earlier posts on Zep, to say go out and buy a Zep dvd as they did enough is way off the mark !! They only released 2 official dvds and to say its a con trick to not release singles so you buy the album is a con trick is a strange one as to me the rest of the music industry takes a song off an album thats to be released sells it as a single then when you buy the album you have in fact bought the song twice...now thats a con !!! anyway everyones entitled to their opinion, just that they are wrong and i am right...Ha Ha Ha !!!
Bob london
Tony from cheltenham, i must correct you because led zep did release 3 singles from all their albums and they sold so many albums because they were the greatest band EVER. If u dont like them u hav no taste in music.
mark jeffrey uttoxeter staffs
AC/DC,... over 100 million albums sold,.... still play stadium rock,.... back in black sold over 20 million albums to date and is still selling, AC/DC have influenced 100 s of bands since the 70s so why have they not featured during this series...shame on you programme makers.
heloisa lobo-Brasil (hlobo11hotmail.com)
It's always good to be a music time traveller..From 73 to 75 I lived in London, where I had the chance to see Pink Floyd (Dark side of the moon),The Who, Genesis, Rolling Stones and others. It makes me feel younger every time I remember when...Fantastic,brilliant.... Heloisa
kevin, swansea
it is nice to see here in the UK that when you talk about rock that Springsteen is headlining the article, surely, beyond any reasonable doubt, the greatest songwriter of all time and most charismatic performer there ever could be.
joe russell , manchester
Stadium Rock without Bon Jovi isnt right !! get it sorted !!
Nick, Kent
RE : Another Londoner.Queen + Paul Rodgers played to 65,000 people in Hyde Park in 2005. Without Freddie Mercury. The Police will probably eclipse that on their current tour ?Also, U2 on the cover of Time is mentioned in the featured events. Springsteen did that in 1975, why isn't that mentioned?
neil , london
i think the series is very flawed....AC/DC has to be featured - Back in Black is an absolute monumental album and one of the biggest selling albums of all time in ALL genres. id like to know why they are not featured???? and led zep better have a big piece tonight.they are the kings of stadium rock and jimmy page has influenced soo many guitarists ever since.
Dom, Bolton
Screw U2, they suck, should have given the episode entirely to Led Zeppelin
Tom, Chorley
I'm with everyone else on this one! Led Zep deserve a much greater mention because of there influence on music. AC/DC should be in there to! The series should have been extended to 14 episodes to fit everyone in!!!
LO, OXFORD
Mike, Stockport.Bon Jovi. They're not really that good, are they? All pretty fluff, cliches and no substance. Please, pass me a sick bucket.
Howard, Pembrokeshire
Shame I shall have to miss tonights show. Springsteen and Dire Straits the most over-rated performers in history - just superbly packaged for the masses of brain-less followers of musical trends. (Only Coldplay have outdone them in the "cynical marketing ploy to sell records" since). Yes Knopfler could play guitar - but let's leave it at that.I agree with so many comments here that bands like AC/DC and Guns n Roses are being ignored in the Heavy Metal and stadium rock programmes, it seems that this series has hurriedly been put together when it could have been so much more. It scratches at the surface, rarely going into anything new we didnt know already. The BBC could so easily have created a milestone series in the definitive history of rock music, but sadly this falls far short of the mark.(No Motorhead either!! - shocking!)
David Preston, Bournemouth
I used to think the Roling Stones were the worst example of cynical stadium rock - huge venues, overpriced tickets and a set list that showed their best songwriting days are a third of a century behind them. Until, that is, I saw them at the Isle of Wight last weekend. What a show! Quality musicianship, energy and, above all first class showmanship and entertainment. I never saw Zep or Queen, but I would be amazed from what I've seen of them if either came close. ENTERTAINMENT. v
Marcus, Belfast
I think the title of the programme is faintly ridiculous. There is/was no 'stadium rock' age of rock music. This is pure revisionism. And if there was such an age it didn't end in 1993. I saw U2 a couple of years ago at Croke Park and 'stadium rock' was alive and well. I was wondering how Springsteen and U2 were going to fit into this era idea as it is their ability to transend eras or phases that makes them special. I also agree with many of the comments here that AC/DC played a big part in the history of rock and it should be recognised.
Jenni, Birmingham
Stadium rock to me means Bon Jovi, The Scorpions, Van Halen, et al. Yes, I'll concede Springsteen should be there...but The Police & U2? Not rock bands to me, I'm afraid! I agree this has been a missed opportunity..I've been a rock fan all my life & was hoping this would explain the roots of rock to my two teenage children (also heavily into rock) but too many holes..no Cream, AC/DC, too little Led Zep, far too much punk. Such a shame.
Dee, Clare
Good show-especially liked the heavy metal episode, but...many things left out or not given enough playing time. Led Zeppelin grouped into Stadium rock??? They, or at least Jimmy Page, should have been mentioned in the blues episode. You're giving them nowhere near as much time as they should-they are a pinnacle in rock as we know it. And they are a genre unto themselves anyways.No AC/DC, Van Halen...???? And just a tad too much on Black Sabbath. And I have a feeling that you're going to give U2 way too much time, which they really don't deserve. You really should have had a hard rock episode, and given Led Zeppelin at LEAST the same time as Jimi Henrix did.
Dave, Chichester
I am a hugh rock fan and follow most of the bands mentioned however amazed bands such as Guns n Roses, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, etc when these bands had just as much influence on the rock scene as any of the other bands and in some cases had larger followings.
andrew sunderland
we talk bout led zep and springsteen but what about thin lizzy ac/dc or the who all geniuses in ther own right why werent these mentioned??????
Simon, Essex
Lets face it AC/DC should be in there, as should Bon Jovi as in the late 80's they made Rock music alot more mainstream while writing classic songs (wanted Dead or Alive being the best) and then there was the huge GnR influence from 87 which blew the cobwebs off of the LA scene (it wasn't just Metallica), then there was the return of Aerosmith post Pump. Will be interesting to see what the other ages are.
Donna, Devon
I'm not a hardcore Led Zep fan, but like a lot of their stuff..but they were the biggest stadium band of the seventies hands down...they didn't have a tour bus, they had a tour JUMBO JET!!! Nuff said..they'll probably only get a 5 minute mention in this programme..this series could of been so much better..actually, just repeat rock family trees...
BIG TOMMO, WORKINGTON.
Led Zeppelin were, and still are, the biggest and best band ever to come out of the UK, its absolutley criminal that they have not had more airtime on the programme. The bands they influenced are still emerging today, Jimmy Page is the guitarist that any guitarist admires, and i mean any guitaist. And as for Tony from Cheltenham comments, maybe he should look in the record books to Knebworth 1979, where Led Zeppelin broke all records to play to well over 400,000 in two shows, learn your rock. ROCK ON
Jovi, Ireland
simple as this, how can you have a show about studium rock and exclude the biggest selling studium rock band of all time Bon Jovi!, it just doesnt make sense, You have included Bruce Springsteen, the man that is Jovis idol, yet the Band that was third biggest tour last year and one of the biggest selling OF ALL TIME is excluded, and yet you have KISS and band that dead now! Your also missing KEY bands like ac/dc, GNR, Aerosmith!! these are the bands that made the 80s!! Jovi are still one tf the world biggestsd bands, and havnt died out in the case of all the rest!
Garry, York
The arguments of selling out are a little shallow. I was a little too young to see the Zep in their heyday although I loved the music. Have seen Queen(5 times), Dire Straits,(3 times) U2 and the wife was at Springsteen in '84 so we're really looking forward to part 5. How many of those concerts would I have seen had they not gone to larger audiences in stadiums or at places like the NEC and Wembley arena. It simply gave more people the chance to see them live- there were still many dissappointed souls who couldn't get tickets. Have also seen Bon Jovi three times -so a little disappointed they aren't there. Still its been a cracking series. Any chance of a spin off covering individual bands ??!
Pam, London
I am a huge fan of led zep and dire straits so can't wait for the next one But I do have to say that I feel they should have got more attention in your series, they're pretty big compared to most in your episode. Also, their riffs etc are constantly being used today in modern stuff. furthermore, page influenced Slash and van halen. They were pretty monumental... so I think that you should have covered them a bit more...question: how come no doors in the first episodeQuestions (rather):no van halen? surely he's the one who made fast guitar main stream.also, no ac/dc?no guns and roses?too long on the punk movement, all the music apart from like 2 songs were almost unbearable and all the same.
Tony , Cheltenham.
All this boring stuff about Led Zep, the reason they sold so many albums is because they didn't release any singles!!, so people had to buy there ALBUMS! It's the old CON trick. GET IT? Led Zep Fannies!!!. 50,000 live gig? They will be great when they get near to 350,000!!!!!.
Noel, Worcester
You could have given a nod to Motorhead in the metal show. Astounded not to see Guns and Roses anywhere, would have been nice to have them in the 'Grunge' programme as the 'anti Nirvana' since they were selling millions of albums and filling stadiums in the early 1990s. You will no doubt blow Nirvana's contibution to rock to biblical proportions when we all know if Cobain hadn't sadly died they would have only lasted another album anyway. Guns and Roses (ok, I know its only Axl now) did a huge tour last year and the rest (Slash, Duff etc) are about to release a second album from their band Velvet Revolver, which has sold millions and led to world tours. Where are the rest of the grunge bands? Sound Garden anyone? Pearl Jam? Still around in one form or another but not nearly as big as G'n'Rs second incarnations. But finally, how dare the BBC not have any AC/DC?!?!?!? Looking at the rest of the programme outlines I am not sure I am going to bother watching the rest, even though I am huge Led Zep fan I really don't want to see them unless they are given huge chunk of the next show, and since Sir Bono is in there too, I know thats not going to happen.
Bill Murray
10000s of people feel as one at a baseball park or a Billy Graham awakening, so what is special about a rock stadium concert? BBC doesn't answer this at all, doesn't look at how promoters can exploit yobs in large numbers with a pseudo event advertised on the radio , tv and street posters.
footsy cardiff
page and plant are gods who came from another planet to asume human form and write and perform music that will live till the world ends
Marcus Breese, Oxford
As others have said, it seems to me a lot of bands have been criminally neglected in favour of more commercial, pop bands. The Police? U2? There are so many great 'stadium rock' bands you could have focussed on (although it's such an umbrella term anyway, it's faintly ridiculous) I cannot understand why Bruce Springsteen is headlining this program. Imho, this should be focussed on the 'rock' side of stadium rock, bands like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses (87-93 era), The Allman Brothers, Van Halen, Thin Lizzy. Bands of that ilk, not these soul sellers.
Paul, Blackburn
How can you possibly make a program based on ages and not make it chronological in nature. I missed the 4th episode, because Punk destroyed the most creative musical force ever. Stop with the talking heads. Roxy Music as rock, not in my lifetime and why no TULL!!
Darren Redick
Not so much a complaint as bemusement; but how can your (excellent) series exclude Van Halen? Surely they should have been in the heavy metal episode, but also the stadium rock. I mean come on, David Lee Roth was the poster child for big hair in the early 80s. Just sayin'.
Victor, Bath
Gareth ... Get over it! If you want to watch Led Zep, go buy a DVD. The band have released enough of them. This is not a series about YOUR favourite band - it's about a whole musical genre. And I, for one, am enjoying it. Maybe you should direct yur moan at Led Zep. Seems to me they are the ones who like to keep a low profile.
Jess, west yorks
I have to say that you have covered most of the great bands but where are Guns N' Roses! Seven ages of rock are great and in the last programme you did touch upon Glam rock, no that GNR are under the Glam rock banner but did reach peoples ears at that time and at the Tokyo Dome, and when they played in London in I think it was the Use Your Illusion Tours, Rock In Rio, and such like gigs where they played to thousands in stadiums across the world this has surely got to come under a stadium rock banner? But when I check what bands you are covering... no! Even if you couldn't get any interviews with any members of the band, I know its hard for the media to talk to W.Axl.Rose but slash isn't, then you could have just included them in somewhere but just said you couldn't get any interviews with the band, but I know that you can get plenty of people who worked or knew GNR to speak about them! Or could the BBC not fund enough to include one more legendary band??
Jamie, London
I'm a little shocked artists like Prince are being ignored when Springsteen is being praised, the two were the heavyweights of the 1980's, surely Prince deserves his mention. A little strange also how this show has seemed to avoid black music, especially seen as though rock came out of it. Later artists like Stevie Wonder, Funkadelic/Parliament, Curtis Mayfield and Sly Stone ain't here? Don't tell me Funk can't rock. Perhaps that's why Prince has been disgarded, because y'all seem to want to cling to the white rock imagery. Come on now.
Tony, Bishop Auckland
Why no AC/DC? A programme that ignores their contribution to rock simply doesn't cut it in my book. To ignore the conttribution of a band that has the fifth biggest selling album of all time (Back In Black) makes absolutely no sense and only reduces the programme's credibility.The BBC's reluctance to give them the credit they deserve continues - it's almost as though Auntie, and the rest of the televisual media, like to pretend they don't exist, forever banging on about U2, Oasis, Queen, and um, The Police.The Police - Rock? Don't make me laugh. Pop-reggae maybe - successful - undoubtedly, but ROCK? As they say on EastEnders - you're having a larf mate!Queen sold out on their rock roots years ago with Radio Blah Blah etc in an attempt to become more popular. As a result they became a shadow of their former selves and little morre than a pop band that played their earlier rock songs to appease the faithful. Oasis? Rock? Again, nah! About all these guys have in common with rock is an alleged penchant for mind-altering chemicals, arguing with eachother, booze and starlets looking for a career boost. As for the muisic, it doesn't rock, it merely pootles along, with "messages" and "meaningul lyrics".Dire Straits? "Pop" music played using guitars instead of synthesizers. Great music, but they don't rock.Admittedly AC/DC have never been ones to court media attention, preferring to keep to themselves, but that doesn't mean their contribution should be ignored.Nice try Auntie, but could do better!
Stew, Mansfield
I am stunned that a certain Frank Zappa has been overlooked in this entire series, unbelievable
Steve, Liverpool
Why no mention for Simple Minds? I've seen at lot of bands (and many mentioned here) and quite frankly the Minds just kick their arses. They are a supreb live act. Stadium rock at its best.
Chris New Milton
Led Zeppelin The Band who Have sold more records than anyone else ( and that without releasing a single in UK) other than The Beatles. By the look off things they will only get a small part on one of your shows !! This is a great series but to only give them a small part in in one of your progs is a huge oversite to the most successful rock band of all time !! There shows and manager Peter Grant changed everything in the music business and forged ahead the way rock concerts became an event and not just another gig to go to. The importance of the Beatles cannot be overlooked but they are in essence a pop band and not rock, as the Police etc, both great bands but not really rock music. Loved the heavy metal prog though. Good series though although could of been better with a little more thought !
Jasmine, London
Queen forever! Mercury eclipses them all.
Julian @ Leics
Great to see the continuing BBC bias against AC/DC is still alive and well!! When will you guys get a balanced perspective?AC/DC have influenced several generations of music including punk and have sold more records than most bands on the planet (140m+ I believe). Hmmmm....
Elliot, West Country
How were ACDC overlooked in the heavy metal prog. A band that has produced more original memorable riffs than any other metal band and is the most borrowed. I know you can't fit in everyone, but Poison got a mention, I mean, give me strength. The first flaw in a so far flawless series.
Mark, Manchester
Having lived through the vast majority of the Seven Ages Of Rock, and physically witnessing most of the bands and artists featured in your show. I don't understand while you haven't mentioned the greatest rock band of them all AC/DC.
Ian Baxter, Blakburn
Re: The Police (mark, holloway) are you kidding me? The Police were one of the greatest bands this country ever produced, pre-1983/84 not once they used backing singers/ tapes... you name me one 3-piece band that made a sound as good and original as The Police, .. you can`t can you? Because there isn`t one.IMHO the greatest band ever, brilliant music., brilliant lyrics.. ie: `King of Pain` , `Invisible Sun`... i rest my case.
Fooy, Liverpool
Have to concur with the comments about AC/DC and the lip service paid to Led Zep. Methinks there's a missing episode!! (start of another conspiracy theory! lol)
frank, spain
Dire Straits is the best
Jehan, Surrey
No Guns N' Roses eh?
Nicky, Cheshire
Can't understand why Led Zep are grouped in this category with the Police and Dire Straits, all good bands in their own right but Led Zep are the ultimate rock and blues band and no-one else comes close!
Gareth, Oxford
So Black Sabbath, Springsteen, U2 & Oasis, to name a few, warrant more attention than Led Zep. Pathetic!! Why do these programmes never give Zep the credit they deserve, although I suspect Page, Plant & Jones like it that way. They merit a programme all to themselves.
Gary,belfast
Ah yes, the usual exaggeration of the influence of the Ramones, Pistols, and Nirvana, and the criminal neglect of the mighty Led Zeppelin and Cream. How predictable. Jimmy Page and his band were a colossus.
TONY,CHELTENHAM
final word on all that has been spoken on rock. the greatest!!! rock band of all time is QUEEN!!! performed to the biggest audiences of all time, BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY THE GREATEST SONG OF THE LAST MILLENNIUM!!! (as voted by most of the best artists in the world). GLOBALY CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD !!!!!.
Ellie, Greater London
if i could travel bac in time 4 1 day i wud definately go bac 2 live aid just 2 see queen!!i love their music so much and i think its so sad freddie had 2 die so young.
Rich, Cheshire
Supertramp please.
Ben Ford
2 Words guys and gals...DIRE STRAITS.Just the greatest rock band to have ever lived on the planet.Go see Knopfler perform now he is still amazing.Royal Albert Hall for me next year on his new tour for the new album which comes out this year.
Viv, London
The whole series seems to be such a missed opportunity! It could have been so great - a comprehensive (or at least somewhat accurate) history of rock music, but, instead, it is just snobish take on rock music. So many key artist are missing, that one has to question directors motives. And all this talk about not having enough time for eveything is just a poor excuse - no one expects every single act to be included, but missing out absolutely crucial bands throughout the series is just a joke. Not to mention the systematic failure to give any credit to Led Zeppelin. Even if you'd hated them, surely you couldnt deny their enormous contribution to and influence on rock music. And this is just one example, albeit the most obvious one.
keith virgin, chudleigh Devon
i cant believe you have left out AC/DC, they have the biggest selling rock album,EVERY "metal" band and most rock bands cite them as an influence, they were around in london in ''76 while everyone was spouting on about punk, FILLING EVERY VENUE THEY PLAYED. with all the raw energy, riffs & shear power of blues/rock that more than matched punkevery documentery that the BBC do always ignore the influence that AC/DC had on the music industry right from 1974 through to the 90'si think they deserve a whole programme dedicated just to them."ANGUS" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joel, Epsom
hang on --- where is bon jovi?
Mike, Stockport
Adrian in Donegal, don't be a muppet, this isn't a current affairs programme!What? Hardly a mention of Led Zeppelin? Led Zep kickstarted millions into creativity and still do. Their numerous musical styles, image and even their touring antics have been regurgitated time and time again, influencing generation after generation. However, Led Zep are conspicuous in their absence...just the way they like it. How many bands have culled their fanbase by cheapening what it means to be a fan of theirs, by mass marketing and over promotion? The remaining Zep lads clearly don't want to fall into the same trap, which is why they remain a band that you delightfully discover whilst thumbing through your dad's records. You spend all day listening to them and the rest of your life keeping an ear to the ground for titbits of trivia and taking pride in correcting rumour and informing Beatles fans that Led Zep 2 knocked the Beatles off the number 1 spot.
Mike, AB
aDRIAN - I GOT ME TICKETS TO SEE THE POLICE PLAY TOMORROW NIGHT! IN fRONT OF 60 000 PEOPLE!!!! AWESOME!!!!BTW- WILL WE GET TO SEE THIS IN CANADA???????????
David Garvin, Loughborough
My first concert was U2's Popmart show in 1997, I only wish I got to see Zoo TV in 1992/3, I blame my parents for liking Dire Straits instead. But then I was only 12/13 yrs old at the time. I recently saw U2's last tour Vertigo at Twickenham Stadium, not only do they have state of the art technology but know how to use it it the right context and what works most effective with each song. They are masters at this!They are the best live band by far, expensive but worth it. I think Muse will be up there with them soon, I will see them in three weeks at Wembley Stadium, so stadium rock may just live a little longer!
Peter, Liverpool
PETER FRAMPTON sadly meant nothing to a British audience. Whereas it is true that Frampton Comes Alive was a huge album in the States, it made less impact here. Yes, he is stadium rock but he's also 1960s pop (The Herd). I guess difficult decisions have to get made. Hardly anyone would know who Peter Frampton is and then they (the BBC) would only be inundated with complaints.
Adrian,Donegal
'Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Police or U2 - acts who can regularly perform to upwards of 50 000 people'?When did Zeppelin,The Police or Queen last play to 50,000 people?
Another Londoner
I realize how tight the time is on these programs. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Peter Frampton, AC/DC and The Allman Brothers (maybe some Joe Cocker?) no?. On the groupings of the bands though, genius; Jimi and Cream with the Who, Bowie with Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Queen (almost like the King and Queen, no?). Do You Feel The Way We Do? Free Bird?. Led Zeppelin is the 8th age of rock, the everlasting gobstopper of rock philosophy.
dij, Stockport
Well this sadly seems like a low point to the series - it's all just too BBC - This is supposed to be about Rock? Huge chunks of important music history are ommitted, great and influential ROCK bands overlooked but we have an hour of Queen, Dire Straits and U2? These are pop bands. Any ounce of rock in them was sold with their souls, long before they hit the stadiums.
Londoner
Just curious...Does this mean that Frampton meant nothing to any of the 7 ages of rock. Definitely a major influence to anyone who on the planet Earth can be called human. As far a Zeppelin is concerned, No Quarter to those who assume that their favorite band is the Greatest Band Of All Time. If I am not mistaken, music bored the audience for the previous ages, until STADIUM ROCK, suprisingly, singles compacted into an Album, without an artsy fartsy concept, instead a raw art based musically diverse concept, for those curious why other bands aren't listed. But Stadium Rock should have Deep Purple as the Loudest Act (Guiness Book of World Records Type Stuff). Peter Frampton Was Forgotten In the 7 ages of Rock..."How 'bout some Rock & Roll?".... No? Ask the Zep members what they think. Sir JB would have said "we've got four already but now we're steady and then they went...1, 2,3,4....".
Dave Liverpool
I hope that KISS get the respect that they deserve and aren,t ridiculed like they are all to often over here!!! lets face it they've sold over 110,000,000 albums and still sell out stadiums all over the world, and whilst perhaps not musically as good as some of the other bands, they showed them all how to do it when it came to a live show, they played the Maracana in Brazil in the 80,s in front of 250,000, what an amazing show, and they are still as good now!!!
martin chelsea
So Zep only get a mention on this show as a 'stadium' band- thats pathetic. No doubt the Sex Pistols and Nirvana will get talked about like they are the most important bands of all time on the furture shows but the mighty Zep are the greatest of all. BBC go make a decent programme about them you fools! Get Danny Baker to produce it!
Ben
I hope queen feature heavily as in the 80's there was no stadium band bigger live aid to wemberly stadium and the largest stadium concert in the eastern block to name but a few not counting there phenominal influence and talent and fantastic back catalouge
Baby I Love Your Way
DO YOU FEEL THE WAY WE DO? You Forgot Peter Frampton Ladies and Gentlemen................Live!.........Almost Famous. Oh and I would present Bonham as the greatest drummer of all time if I was you, only the best for JPJ, JPP and RP. P.S. Seen Uriah Heep, Doobie Brothers, Deep Purple, RHCP, James Brown, Yanni, Robert Plant, Sting, The Who (Recently, Not Bad), The BLACK CROWES AND PETER FRAMPTON.... You forgot the last two...............They we're of the better shows, for those who couldn't see the bands live, the albums are all the had to go on, except for Mr. Frampton? makes me wonder.... P.S.S...Probably all punk editors aren't you.....? Bias Interpretation.......
Dimitri, London
Well...People have seen them live, why would I complain? For those who haven't but do have a sound recollection of how great Zep, Cream, Genesis, is comparing......Don't forget, Punk v.S. Rock was an Important TIME IN THE SEVEN AGES, as MOD V.S. Rock....Zep wins? I concur..... No Quarter (Live) {The Song Remains The Same - CD2?} Ever Heard It? Just as I expected you haven't.... Probably haven't heard of PETER FRAMPTON either have you guys? Oh yeah, the live gig guy...ffs
Ger, Swansea
Cough... Van Halen?
gilbo northants
How can Zeppelin have such a minor roll in this whole series of programmes they should have a programme just for themselves. They are the most important band after the Beatles they created the genre of rock !!!!!!!! they were recently voted the ultimate rock band yet on this brilliant concept for a programme they are bit players ......very strange
Elaine, Scotland
I'm just very, very confused as to how you can do a full show on stadium rock WITHOUT including Bon Jovi, who can still sell out major stadiums on every tour (including 3 sell out shows at Giants Stadium last year!). Added to that, of course, that not only did they CLOSE Wembley, but they're now opening the new O2 Dome.......something so wrong that they've been overlooked.
Elvira, Cork
Right on The Nailer! I, too, love The Queen and the Duke of Edingborough and Lady Diane (R.I.P). I am soooooo excited about this stadiam rok filum. This series rocks! I just hope they show the classic 'I wont to brake freee' queen video. That was truly awesum.
Jimbo, Chingford
Where the is AC/DC?
Mike, Liverpool
Loved th efirst one hopefully zeppelin will have a decent amount of time in this programme although i would of thought they would be in blues based rock. also does th ebigger writing menathey have mroe time or am i being stupid.
The Nailer
Oh man oh man Oh man this prog looks way awesome definitely gonna be the best in the series...........I love The Queen! The Stadiums is where it's at...just a shame you had to mention Lead Zapplin.
karl potter,Liverpool
wen i was grouping up in livepool i all was came home from school and lisined to queen. me and my mum all was dance to it there were the best years of my live
Mark, Holloway
The Police??!!! are you kidding me? since when does bland, white regga constitute as Rock??? perhapes it would have been a nice touch to have included the Live Aid concert in 1985 for a good/better example of the power and symbolism of stadium Rock?
Duke, Ireland
ZooTv was the greatest tour of all time. It will never be matched
Stuart, Edinburgh
Great to see rock music get prime air time, but surprised at the choice of bands - no AC/DC !! Judging from the programme notes seems a bit on the short side for the impact and legacy of Led Zep, while the whole series seems to omit a number of earlier major influential bands and artists at the expense of some lightweight/short-lived modern acts. Maybe next time ?
robin; london
a great opening part 1, let the films,the actual events do the talking, not talking heads. looks like a great series,well done beeb.other classic series are the rock and roll years 1985-1990.featuring 1956-1989 rock,music.'walk on by'a history of poular song 2001'jazz' a history us abc series shown on bbc2
Someone, Somewhere
Stadium rock on the day i go see muse at wembley stadium!
Mark, Penrith
I Remember Zeppelin at Knebworth in 1979 over two weekends in August. Around 200,000 the first weekend and 150,000 the next. Awesome band - awesome music!
Pete, Stockwell
There's nothing like losing yourself with tens of thousands of people listening to the best music in the world...can't wait to see the Police at Twickenham in September!