John Corabi recently sat down with Audio Ink Radio for an interview and talked about why rock fans have lost trust in the music industry while discussing the current state of rock concerts.
In response to a question about whether people now have a greater appreciation for live music, given its absence during the pandemic, the singer replied by saying:
“The funny thing is, even my solo shows, even in Europe, just throughout the world, it’s been hit or miss. It’s either incredibly packed, or it’s just a little, eh. I still think we’re still being manipulated with new versions of COVID and all the sh*t that’s going on in the news. Also, I think you’re finding that some people got very complacent and comfortable just sitting on their couch, and they’re like, ‘F*ck it. I don’t want to go out anymore. I don’t care.'”
Corabi further explained the impact of the pandemic on live shows:
“I think to a degree, some of these companies which will remain names that were doing the biggest concerts – one that comes to mind is the Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison, Joan Jett extravaganza – that concert kept getting postponed for the better part of two years, and a lot of the fans were complaining, because Live Nation, for example, had some little stipulation when you bought a ticket in advance that once COVID hit, you had a small window to request a refund for the tickets, and if you didn’t do it then, they had the right to hold onto your money and just postpone indefinitely.”
He lastly said a few words about the changing attitude of concert-goers:
“So, a lot of fans, I’m seeing the fans aren’t apt to buy ticks in advance like they used to do. They’re waiting until the last minute and just walking up to the door and buying it at the door.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Corabi also shared his thoughts on the ways people consume music nowadays. He is concerned that various platforms, like TikTok and streaming, are becoming overwhelming for listeners. He compared it to the challenges actors and writers face in dealing with platforms like Netflix and Paramount Plus, where tracking viewership has become complex due to technology. While technology has its benefits, he believes it’s also causing problems in some areas.
