Stryper frontman Michael Sweet recently shared his candid thoughts on contemporary rock artists. In an interview on the Kingdom Builder Podcast, he addressed the question of what modern music excites him.
Yungblud talks about today’s rock music scene
He was asked what current artists or songs inspire him and he reflected on the rarity of truly groundbreaking music in today’s landscape. He explained his perspective by drawing comparisons to transformative moments in rock history.
“Well, I mean, there’s not a lot,” Sweet said.
“I’m a guy that comes from a time when Van Halen came on the scene in 78. And I heard that for the first time and I was just in awe and like my mind was blown so much that I literally had no words. I didn’t know what is happening what am I hearing, you know.”
Sweet has acknowledged that some modern bands have impressed him but few have got that same level of impact. He cited Muse and Keane as examples of artists who captured his attention. However, they did not reach the degree that Van Halen did decades ago.
“Has there been anything really to come out like that? I mean let’s be honest, anything? With that kind of like life changing power and where you just say, ‘What?’ I don’t think so it’s rare,” he continued.
“There are some bands that do come out that blow my mind. Muse was one of them, when they first came out. I was listening to Muse a lot and they kind of blew my mind. Not at that level of Van Halen. Keane, when Keane came out, although it’s not hard rock or metal, I loved it and I thought, ‘Wow, this is really different.’ Only a trio, piano, drums, and vocalist. I thought, ‘This is brilliant.’ There aren’t a lot of bands that give me that wow factor.”
When discussing rising star Yungblud’s recent collaboration with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Sweet was notably unimpressed. “I just heard the new Yungblud and Steven Tyler, Aerosmith song and he’s a rising star and he’s great, you know, that’s fine. Everybody loves him. But did it make me go, ‘Wow.’ No. I mean, maybe I’m just real picky. I have no idea. I don’t know. And I’ll probably get myself in hot water for saying anything like that. But there’s not a lot that blows my mind.”
On the other hand, Glenn Hughes earned the title of “Voice of Rock” and his latest solo album “Chosen” as well as his collab with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai proves that he’s still got it. Hughes recently stated that he doesn’t see any new rock bands that would rival Prince or Led Zeppelin in terms of impact and popularity, and reflected on his reputation as “The Voice of Rock.”
Speaking to Argentina’s Rock & Pop 95.9 in a recent interview, Hughes was asked to comment on bearing such a grand title, to which he said:
“Well, it’s a very special thing to be called. I’ve been called this for so long. I’m very honored to be the voice of rock. It’s fantastic. But it’s something that I’m very thankful and grateful that I have been given this recognition, and so I’m really happy to be here with you again so I can perform.”
The Voice of Rock then admitted that he doesn’t see a new generation of bands forming that would carry the genre forward the way it was carried in the ’60s and the ’70s:
“With the new music, I don’t hear a new Prince. I don’t hear a new Jeff Buckley. I don’t hear a new Led Zeppelin. I don’t hear a new Rolling Stones. I don’t hear anything. So, for me, I’m waiting to hear something special — I mean, really something special. I’m hoping that happens.”
