Placing the Blame for the Condition of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Rock has been teetering on the edge of obsolescence for about a decade now. All that was needed was a bold movement like rap to come along and nudge it.

The main problem--which Hilburn touched on--is that whereas at one time the music united the people who loved it, it has become a means of dividing people into elitist cliques of taste.

Metalheads refuse to listen to R&B; Deadheads hear none of the energy in alternative rock; New Order fans are likely to derisively refer to the Doors as “old music.”

Rock’s energy has always come from its ability to mix and match the sounds of different cultures and explore new ideas. Now most fans are intolerant of any sound that they’re not immediately familiar with. And rock is nearly dead in the water.

DARRIN NAVARRO

Glendale