In a recent interview with Kerrang!, Bring Me the Horizon singer Oli Sykes said that, he feels, a Kardashian is helping to keep rock and heavy music genres relevant today.
At one point in the interview, Sykes is asked about why he feels alternative artists (pushing aside genre boundaries), are seeing so much success today. The Bring Me the Horizon singer goes on to talk about how everything from alternative acts, to death and black metal are seeing a lot of success today.
He then goes on to say how one of the Kardashians dating someone from Blink 182 is a factor in helping to make heavy music genres relevant. Sykes is of course referring to that of Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, who recently just married Kourtney Kardashian.
To understand the full context of what Sykes had to say, you can find his full response to that initial question below.
“The scene is so healthy at the moment. There are so many bands and artists that I’m really excited about. There’s so much diversity and so much that’s was allowed to come through. It’s like celebrating the spectrum of rock music – from alternative acts to death and black metal. Whereas, five to 10 years ago, things were a little more segregated. You couldn’t be part of this because it’s not heavy enough, but I think people have given up on that.
“It might sound crazy, but one of the Kardashians dating someone from blink-182 [is a factor, too]. [And everything] is just a bit rockier now. You remember where Panic! At The Disco were five years ago and it all starts coming [back]. I think it’s all of these little things that have made it. Rock and alternative music is in the best place ever. I feel like it’s where it’s meant to be. It’s not the early 2000s where it was the biggest genre, but rock was never meant to be the big genre – that’s not what it’s about.
“We’re the alternative people that don’t like the mainstream. We don’t like what’s popular. We have different tastes, we have different urges, and we have different feelings. But, at the same time, there was a point where it felt like it was almost dying. There’s so much excitement around rock and alternative music out there and it’s right where it needs to be.”
To some degree, regarding his comment about Kourtney Kardashian – we get what Sykes is saying. While hard rock and metal have always had a consistent and loyal fanbase among music listeners – other genres such as pop, rap, and pop rock, have much greater followings (in terms of mainstream audiences).
So, when you have such a popular and relevant figure like a Kardashian being seen with such a prominent artist from the world of heavy music (and said influencer even rocks a Cannibal Corpse tee) – folks are going to recognize that. They are going to search out the music of Kourtny’s husband, they are going to get a little curious as to what the hell Cannibal Corpse sounds like.
We do agree that the genres of rock and metal are in a very good place (especially when it comes to the underground acts that are further building upon and expanding the definition of what heavy music can be).
But ultimately, what do you think about this claim made by the Bring Me the Horizon singer? Do you think he has a good point?
Bring Me the Horizon Singer Says The Rock Genre Was ‘Never meant to be mainstream’