Dave Evans, the original AC/DC singer, recently shared his perspective on the evolution of the rock music scene in an interview featured on Heavy Interviews. He commented on the stark differences between the industry then and now.
When asked about the biggest differences between the rock scene of his early days and the current landscape, Evans highlighted how the competitive nature and diversity of the past have given way to conformity in modern music.
“Well, there was a lot more bands back in those days and we didn’t have the internet and everybody went out,” Evans explained. “No one stuck around at home. We all were out everywhere and there was so many bands, millions of bands, different types of bands, all trying to get a record deal because there wasn’t many record labels, hardly any in those days. So if you signed, you were like touched by God. Overnight. You were a God overnight.”
Evans noted that the competitive environment of the era forced bands to differentiate themselves. “It was competitive, really competitive, and you had to be different. Every band had to have its own gimmick. That’s it. Stand out from the other lot, the music as well and it was diverse,” he said.
In contrast, Evans expressed concern about the current state of the industry. He attributed the lack of diversity to record label control. “Now, just all the guys that live at home with their mom and dad a lot of them, you know, that it’s not exciting. And the record labels these days, they’ve got control again and all the bands sound the same, you know, they want a sameness,” he stated.
“So right now, the record labels, there’s millions of them out there, whatever they’re dictating to the bands what they want and so you’re conforming to what the bands want, the record labels want. Like it was in the ’50s. A lot of the time, the eyes all sort of looked the same and did the same thing and they had songwriters for them. They didn’t write their own songs.”
Evans’ observations reflect the unique landscape of the Australian rock industry during the 1970s and 1980s. This period fundamentally shaped his career and the broader music scene he describes. According to Wikipedia’s AC/DC members page, AC/DC was formed in Sydney in 1973. The band initially featured Evans’ glam rock style before shifting to a harder blues-rock sound with Bon Scott as lead singer in 1974. This transformation exemplified the competitive and diverse rock environment Evans highlighted, where bands actively honed distinct identities to stand out from their peers.
The scarcity of record labels during this era was a defining characteristic of the industry. Rock 95’s AC/DC history documents that the 1970s and 80s Australian rock scene was marked by a limited number of influential record labels. Signing with one of these labels was a rare and transformative achievement for bands. This scarcity intensified competition and reinforced the importance of differentiation that Evans emphasizes in his critique of modern music.
The contrast between then and now becomes apparent when examining how record labels operated. Ultimate Classic Rock’s coverage of AC/DC lineup changes reveals that the band’s evolution and success during the 1970s was driven by the need to constantly innovate and adapt. Bands had to stand out in a crowded but limited marketplace. Today’s music industry features a proliferation of labels and digital platforms. This often leads to homogenized sounds shaped by market demands rather than artistic variety.
The regulatory environment also played a crucial role in supporting diverse music during Evans’ era. Radio stations were legally required to meet quotas for Australian content. This meant that bands with unique sounds had genuine opportunities for airplay. This structural support for diversity has largely disappeared in the modern streaming age, where algorithmic recommendations and playlist curation often favor commercially safe, formulaic content over experimental or distinctive sounds.
Evans’ frustration with modern conformity stems from having experienced an industry where survival depended on being different. The bands of his generation had to develop distinctive styles, unique stage personas, and original sounds simply to compete for the limited record deals available. In contrast, today’s emerging artists often face pressure to conform to established templates. Record labels prioritize marketability and algorithmic compatibility over artistic innovation—a dynamic that Evans sees as fundamentally undermining the vitality of rock music.
