Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix opened up about the next generation of rock acts. He discussed how younger bands continue to inspire veterans like himself in a conversation on Artist Friendly with Joel Madden.
The discussion touched on how bands that keep getting back up are the ones that endure. When asked about the artists who rise again after setbacks and how that energy affects him, Shaddix was candid about the competitive yet inspiring dynamic he feels watching younger bands emerge.
“Oh, dude, I’m telling you this, like when we see the young cats coming onto the scene and taking the stage and releasing videos, releasing music, I’m like, I like that,” Shaddix said. “It gets me inspired.”
Shaddix went on to name specific acts, including Beartooth and Falling In Reverse, describing a kind of friendly challenge he feels when watching them rise.
“I see the dudes and you know Caleb from Beartooth that the dudes and bring me bringing it and it’s like, ‘All right, what you got kid like are you the real deal?'” he continued. “You know, Falling in Reverse, Ronnie Radke, we took him on tour. It’s like, ‘All right, are you the real deal?’ and then they back it up. I’m like, ‘All right well let papa show you how it’s done. Now son, let’s go.’ It feels good to be around that energy.”
Shaddix’s comments reflect a broader theme of generational momentum in rock. Established acts find renewed motivation through the ambition of newer artists pushing the genre forward.
That sentiment is not just talk — Shaddix continues to back it up with his own presence in the live rock world. Papa Roach remains as active and relevant as any of the younger acts he champions.
At a major festival in 2026, Shaddix made one of the most talked-about entrances of the event. He arrived by helicopter before taking the stage with Papa Roach, underscoring the band’s continued commitment to delivering a spectacle.
Beyond the stage, Shaddix has expanded his reach into multimedia. He lent his voice as narrator for Masters of Dirt, a high-octane action sports production that placed him alongside some of the most daring performers in the live entertainment world.
The influence Papa Roach carries across generations is evident in how newer artists speak about the band. Emerging musicians have openly described their sound as shaped by the band’s legacy, with one artist putting it plainly: “My music sounds like Papa Roach raised me and Linkin Park grounded me.” That kind of cultural imprint speaks directly to what Shaddix described — a cycle of inspiration that flows both ways between rock’s established names and the next wave coming up behind them.
Rather than viewing younger acts as competition, Shaddix sees their rise as a call to action. It is a reminder that the stage belongs to whoever is willing to earn it, night after night.
