Journey guitarist Neal Schon recently proposed an all-rock lineup for the Super Bowl halftime show. He shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter).
Schon suggested that three iconic Bay Area bands should perform together. He emphasized the regional connection and the need for musical diversity at the event.
“Who would like to see Journey Metallica, and Santana for halftime Super Bowl?” Schon said. “Says they’re all Bay Area bands and is taking place in the Bay Area makes sense to me and they haven’t had a rock show in quite a long time.”
The guitarist continued his appeal for variety in the halftime entertainment.
“How about some diversity?” he added. “It’s like the same thing every year.”
Schon’s proposal highlights the lack of rock representation in recent Super Bowl halftime shows. It advocates for showcasing local talent from the host region.
This isn’t the first time Bay Area musicians have voiced concerns about rock’s absence from the Super Bowl stage. The debate over musical diversity at the halftime show has been ongoing for years, particularly when the event takes place in regions known for their rock heritage.
CBS San Francisco reported that Carlos Santana previously expressed dissatisfaction over the NFL and CBS excluding local Bay Area acts from the Super Bowl 50 halftime show. Santana stated that bands like Metallica, Steve Miller, and Journey would have “done the SF Bay Area proud” and delivered “real live music, real live vocals” to the audience.
The push for rock representation gained momentum during Super Bowl 50 weekend. Loudwire noted that Metallica participated in Super Bowl weekend festivities with a sold-out “Night Before” concert in San Francisco. This performance sparked a fan campaign with the hashtag #TooHeavyForHalftime to bring heavier rock to the main halftime stage.
Rock acts dominated numerous halftime shows in the early 2000s. Ultimate Classic Rock documented that artists like Aerosmith, U2, and The Rolling Stones took the stage during that era. However, recent years have increasingly featured hip-hop, pop, and R&B artists. This trend has left rock genres underrepresented in this high-profile showcase.
Schon’s call taps into a broader conversation about reclaiming rock’s place in the Super Bowl halftime show. It highlights the opportunity to showcase the rich musical heritage of the host region. His proposal aligns with the longtime tradition of featuring major live music spectacles at the Super Bowl. It draws attention to local cultural identity and the potential to refresh the halftime show with diverse, iconic rock talents from the Bay Area.
