Firstly I really like Arcade Fire. They are a great band, great albums and brilliant live. I would say that they are nowhere near one of the biggest bands on Earth however (yet). They have received a lot of critical acclaim and awards (rightly so), are very successful and a big band. Awards & critical acclaim alone do not make you the biggest band. They are at best however, on a worldwide scale, an arena band, not a stadium band. (Hell, I would LOVE to be in a band big enough to sell out arenas around the world). Yes, they will headline nights at festivals around the world but they wouldn't (as yet) be able to do a stadium tour. This day may come, but I doubt it.
To be considered the biggest band on Earth I think you really need to look into worldwide CD sales, downloads etc. and the tours that the band can do. I would say that (from the bands still out there playing) U2, Coldplay, Rolling Stones (their back catalogue alone probably shifts more than an AF album or a PJ album for that matter), Bruce, Foo Fighters, Kings Of Leon, Muse, RHCP & Green Day to name a few are "bigger" than Arcade Fire. Better? No (especially not KOL) but bigger yes. Then we have to look at sustaining that size over a period of time and we are really only left with a handful of truly big bands led by U2 & the Stones.
I'd agree with all of this. I'd also add that just because a band headlines a festival, which tend to be fairly niche beside a couple big bands, does not necessarily mean they are the biggest band in the world. I mean, Phoenix headlined Coachella and is a headliner at Lolla this year. Anyone going to try to make a case that Phoenix is the biggest band in the world?
Firstly I really like Arcade Fire. They are a great band, great albums and brilliant live. I would say that they are nowhere near one of the biggest bands on Earth however (yet). They have received a lot of critical acclaim and awards (rightly so), are very successful and a big band. Awards & critical acclaim alone do not make you the biggest band. They are at best however, on a worldwide scale, an arena band, not a stadium band. (Hell, I would LOVE to be in a band big enough to sell out arenas around the world). Yes, they will headline nights at festivals around the world but they wouldn't (as yet) be able to do a stadium tour. This day may come, but I doubt it.
To be considered the biggest band on Earth I think you really need to look into worldwide CD sales, downloads etc. and the tours that the band can do. I would say that (from the bands still out there playing) U2, Coldplay, Rolling Stones (their back catalogue alone probably shifts more than an AF album or a PJ album for that matter), Bruce, Foo Fighters, Kings Of Leon, Muse, RHCP & Green Day to name a few are "bigger" than Arcade Fire. Better? No (especially not KOL) but bigger yes. Then we have to look at sustaining that size over a period of time and we are really only left with a handful of truly big bands led by U2 & the Stones.
I'd agree with all of this. I'd also add that just because a band headlines a festival, which tend to be fairly niche beside a couple big bands, does not necessarily mean they are the biggest band in the world. I mean, Phoenix headlined Coachella and is a headliner at Lolla this year. Anyone going to try to make a case that Phoenix is the biggest band in the world?
You missed the point obviously.... No one is making that argument and no one is making the argument that just because PJ is headlining a festival that is makes them the biggest band in the world..... How do people make these wild inane quantam leap jumps is beyond me???
R and R Station - Mar 26, 1992 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Aug 29, 1992 ** Summerfest Milw - Jul 08, 1995 ** Summerfest Milw - Jul 09, 1995 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Jun 26, 1998 ** ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre (E.V. at Tibetan Freedom Concert) - Jun 13, 1999 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Oct 08, 2000 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Jun 21, 2003 ** United Center - May 16, 2006 ** Summerfest - Jun 30, 2006 ** Riverside Theatre Milw (Eddie Solo Tour) - 2008 ** United Center - Aug 23, 2009 ** The Chicago Theatre (Eddie Solo Tour) - Jun 29, 2011 ** Orpheum Theatre MN (Eddie Solo Tour) - July 2, 2011 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Sep 03, 2011 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Sep 04, 2011
Well the Arcade Fire -vs- Pearl Jam debate was put to rest, as far as Australia is concerned. Pearl Jam and Arcade Fire are both part of that festival series but Pearl Jam is the HEADLINER and not A.F..... so I think it's fair to say PJ > AF ... atleast in Australia
Right but AF was also second band listed in front of Blur and Snoop Dogg. Those are two BIG 90's acts they're headlining over.
I think it shows they are a top 5 modern music act in terms of name value. WIth Muse Black Keys Jack White etc.
AF is a good, modern, relevant band, and they deserve second billing in this festival but that isn't what the post was about, it was strictly about PJ and AF, no one else.... and in that case the bigger band that would be the bigger draw is always the headliner, hence PJ > AF, that doesn't mean I think AF sucks, that was another poster.......
R and R Station - Mar 26, 1992 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Aug 29, 1992 ** Summerfest Milw - Jul 08, 1995 ** Summerfest Milw - Jul 09, 1995 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Jun 26, 1998 ** ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre (E.V. at Tibetan Freedom Concert) - Jun 13, 1999 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Oct 08, 2000 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Jun 21, 2003 ** United Center - May 16, 2006 ** Summerfest - Jun 30, 2006 ** Riverside Theatre Milw (Eddie Solo Tour) - 2008 ** United Center - Aug 23, 2009 ** The Chicago Theatre (Eddie Solo Tour) - Jun 29, 2011 ** Orpheum Theatre MN (Eddie Solo Tour) - July 2, 2011 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Sep 03, 2011 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Sep 04, 2011
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I'd agree with all of this. I'd also add that just because a band headlines a festival, which tend to be fairly niche beside a couple big bands, does not necessarily mean they are the biggest band in the world. I mean, Phoenix headlined Coachella and is a headliner at Lolla this year. Anyone going to try to make a case that Phoenix is the biggest band in the world?
You missed the point obviously.... No one is making that argument and no one is making the argument that just because PJ is headlining a festival that is makes them the biggest band in the world..... How do people make these wild inane quantam leap jumps is beyond me???
AF is a good, modern, relevant band, and they deserve second billing in this festival but that isn't what the post was about, it was strictly about PJ and AF, no one else.... and in that case the bigger band that would be the bigger draw is always the headliner, hence PJ > AF, that doesn't mean I think AF sucks, that was another poster.......