Ron DeSantis recently responded to comments from Billy Corgan, questioning what happened to rock music’s cultural power.
Ron DeSantis responds
Taking to his X account, DeSantis wrote:
“Not sure out the cause, but the primacy of rock music has definitely faded over the years. And of the top grossing rock acts today, most of them were active 25 or more years ago.”
Not sure out the cause, but the primacy of rock music has definitely faded over the years.
And of the top grossing rock acts today, most of them were active 25 or more years ago. https://t.co/DEexVn7qsF
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 10, 2026
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman recently opened up on the declining social and political influence of rock, suggesting that the genre’s diminished role may not be accidental.
As per Corgan, certain forces actively marginalize voices that refuse to align with accepted narratives, a dynamic he believes has affected rock music’s place in modern culture.
“There are forces in the world that go out of their way to marginalize particular voices… because they refuse to accept the given narrative,” Corgan said.
He contrasted the present moment with the 20th century, when rock music was deeply intertwined with cultural movements and social change. From civil rights and anti-war protests to generational rebellion, Corgan described rock as “the greatest single social changing force of the 20th century.”
However, he finds it striking that rock now holds little sway over the social or political order, despite the genre’s historic impact.
“Here we are 25 years into the 21st century, and rock couldn’t be less of an influence on the social political order,” he noted, adding, “Does anybody think that that’s kind of strange?”
