BRITPOP vs NOW: Why was British music so much better in the 1990s?

[@jackwyllie3243]

This is a call to arms James You have my axe, let's go and save rock and roll!!!!!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Man the barricades my friend. Onwards and upwards

[@TheEddieandMatthew]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar I think your problem is, you don't understand that good music doesn't have to be popular music. Top Of The Pops is dead, the charts are irrelevant. BBC radio 1 ( infact BBC as an institution is on the way out) is dieing. So what!!! KZbinrs like you don't need BBC or ITV to be heard. The times they are a changeing. Good luck with the song writing, I am looking forward to see what you can do...

[@hermanthetosser4219]

@@TheEddieandMatthew demographics changed as well... Download chart is mainly determined by the populous (London) and any other overpopulated city.... they're mainly diverse area. They usually all listen to hoodlum music there

[@hermanthetosser4219]

@3rd Ear what next... digger or spanner rap?

[@tunesmith86]

@3rd Ear NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

[@martinculleton9093]

Couldn’t have been better said man you’re spot on. I’m 17 and flat out listening to oasis and stone roses. I can’t stand the shite that’s being produced today

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Martin. Hang in there mate, the times they are a-changing.

[@matthewlockey5965]

Smart kid

[@keir_murray6567]

same brother

[@RainzzYT]

Same man

[@protendi]

Check out the album Beauty Of Youth by Pretty Vicious. Might be right up your street.

[@blugroo]

Two words....Simon Cowell- fast food music, chewing gum for the brain. Soul-less money making machines. Christmas number one anyone ? Oh...I was 13 in 94', grew up with the folks rock n roll classics and was totally spoilt by the 90's , thought thats how it would be forever. Great vid again mate

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers blugroo yeah cowell and the endless talent show TV series really damaged music even further in this country Thankfully those shows are really on the way out now

[@simontunnicliffe2107]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Yeah they are. X-Factor didn't even have a show in 2019 (as I thought it myself, it'd lost it's mojo for a couple of years before that and become samey) nor in 2020 due to Covid. If you want 2 words to sum up why music has died and even largely imo ruined society, "the internet". It's ruined finding work (making it easy for employers to use algorithmic programs to scan words on CV's rather than allow people to have self worth and human interaction by going to employers with a nicely crafted CV and have some visual feedback when handing it in from a human being). Sorry I'm going off topic here but I'm pointing out how the internet has largely ruined everything, dating, jobsearching and indeed the arts, music mainly but also the movie industry I wouldn't doubt. I think the start was when programs like Napster and then Kazaa and Limewire turned up in the early 00's and allowed people to think, "hey, I'm not paying for music, I'll download it".

[@mrsifter6517]

I was 13 in 1994 too... Was just an epic time and I was "highly" influenced by the music of the time and still am... Happy times!!!

[@Dreyno]

The music industry was hijacked by people out to create a saleable “product”. Protools let people who couldn’t play an instrument create what passes for music. Digital music enabled kids to graze on singles rather than listen to albums.

[@simontunnicliffe2107]

@@Dreyno Other great points there and you're right but you can play guitar in Pro Tools and as an 8yr daw user myself I will say 75% of Pro Tools (just a guess) use it for guitar music but other daw's such as FL Studio, Ableton and Reason probably are used predominantly for more electronic stuff.

[@giuliapistolesii]

i'm 16, i love 90s music. blur is my favourite band ever, but i love pulp, suede, elastica,radiohead as well. at now there are some good guitar bands (like the strokes, arctic monkeys) but i miss the magic that there was in 90s' music 💔

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Let's bring it back my friend

[@attentionaddicts]

Nice

[@goldenhourkodak]

It never went anywhere, it just does not chart high anymore.

[@goldenhourkodak]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Never went anywhere!

[@JimB0802]

It wasn't the music mate, still plenty of good stuff out there. What you're missing is the lack of community and shared culture which can't work in modern day Britain because we're a fractured society.

[@Its__Good]

Counterpoint: People are more free to consume the content that specifically appeals to them, rather than what some (likely sex offender) music show host decides that they should hear.

[@stefano.piancastelli7932]

I'm 17 and I'm a songwriter who loves The Beatles, Oasis and all the great music you mentioned... Everything you said is true and I hope that our words will be heard as soon as possible because nowadays music really needs a revolution

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

The time has come my friend. Keep writing those songs!

[@tornaclconor5149]

im a 20 year old student whos loved guitar music my entire life and grew up on it. This year I watched Supersonic and started listening to Oasis, and in under a month Oasis became my favourite band and inspired me to start playing the guitar and learning Oasis songs. I will personally be subscribing and following and hopefully learning to make music so I can relive that golden period of music from the 90s in my own life

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Mate that's fantastic. There is literally no reason whatsoever that you can't be the next rock star standing in front of a crowd of 250,000 at Knebworth. No reason at all. Be the revolution my friend

[@danrl9710]

Totally echo was James said mate. Go get it! Listen to Oasis, the Beatles, Kinks, Weller, soak it all up and then start writing yourself. And because you’re as young as you are and probably tech savvy, save up for some recording gear, learn a DAW (GarageBand is phenomenal considering it’s free) and record/produce songs yourself. The likes of James and I would pay for your music and millions of others!

[@tornaclconor5149]

@@danrl9710 you have no idea how inspiring it is to hear this🙌 thank you man I'm gonna do exactly that!

[@tornaclconor5149]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar I've screenshotted your comment and saved it to my computer, it's crazy motivating to hear it. When I'm playing Knebworth I promise to plug your channel!

[@danrl9710]

@@tornaclconor5149 I’m very pleased to hear that mate. Just remember, writing songs isn’t as difficult as people think. Look at simple but effective chord progressions used by the great guitar bands and write some simple licks people can hum. Add that melody with some contemporary lyrics (and God knows there’s enough to write about these days) and you’ll be on your way. And write as much as you can. They’ll start off sounding lame but with enough practice and a good ear you’ll eventually stumble across a few bangers!

[@tomtannerr]

Great video. I’m 16 and there’s absolutely nothing for someone like me and my mates who are into indie rock apart from 1 or 2 half decent bands. My music taste just comes from my parents and grandparents who listened to and have seen the Beatles, oasis, smiths, blur etc

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks for that Tom. Mate, get yourself a guitar and go be the next headlining rockstar. JH

[@weredoingitinbabylon8452]

Before britpop we had acid house crap for a few years. Things will get better again 👍

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

@@weredoingitinbabylon8452 100% agree. Its always dreadful right before the next musical explosion

[@mattspencer187]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Let’s hope that every 30 years the music scene improves, 60s...90s...20s

[@mcfcpat1231]

dmas, catfish, arctic monkeys that's it really

[@robertwilson2416]

Spot on mate. Exactly how I feel. If you’re starting this revolution then I’m right behind you with my Les Paul turned up to 11.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi Robert, thanks so much for that. We're all going to have to work together to make this happen, so I really appreciate the support

[@oliverenglish3424]

What guitar is that my one goes up to 10

[@pavilionend8637]

The internet killed music, Golden age of popular music rip 1960-2005

[@benniefactor1366]

Agreed the first five years of the millennium are underated, a lot of good music, ok maybe not to the 90s standard but you're correct, from about 05 onwards music took a slow decline....

[@MrNorbo95]

Arctic Monkeys' debut album technically released in 2006, even if essentially all the tracks were released in 2005. So I'd shift it back a year. Actually, I'd shift it to 2007; their second effort was almost as seismic as their first.

[@bomb-de-dyl]

I completely disagree. The internet is amazing for music. It has made smaller artists way way bigger and accessible than ever before and bigger artists with money backing them smaller. For someone who doesn’t just wanna listen to whatever is being pushed by record labels it is an amazing trade off. For example compare Kanye who you could argue is one of the biggest artists in recent years to Led Zeplin and he’s just no where near as big. But compare your local punk bands, or whatever - and it’s so much easier to find an audience and cuts out the middle man. DIY or die ;)

[@iwanjoness]

@@MrNorbo95 Glastonbury 2007 was the peak for sure

[@gnu_andrew]

@@bomb-de-dyl yeah it's not the Internet, it's the way the music industry has reacted to it. In the late 90s to mid 2000s, when there was still plenty of decent music around, everything was still based on physical sales and the industry were obsessed with trying to prosecute people who downloaded music from the Net and even went to the point of releasing broken CDs that wouldn't play on some devices to try to stop people transferring them to computers. Sales were low in the early 2000s, and piracy was blamed for this, but there have been periods before where it was low (e.g. early 90s) and I suspect it has more to do with the music on offer than piracy. They assume that an illegal copy is the cost of a sale, but that only works if someone would have bought it instead. Plenty of people download stuff they would never actually buy or maybe can't even buy because it's not available anywhere any more. Come 2006, they started including paid downloads in the charts and sales went up again for the late 2000s to early 2010s. Where it really goes to shit is when they started including streaming in a way that undermined people actually purchasing records. If you look at the sales only based chart, it can be starkly different from what they now call the official chart, but has no real relation to what we had in the 90s, as it's full of stuff hardly anyone has actually bought a copy of. I've found songs in the top ten on streams before that can't even make the top 30 on sales, and their higher position in the sales+streams chart means they'll push down stuff that people are actually buying.

[@legolasgreenleaf1961]

This is incredibly spot on!! Kids want to pick up guitars and make music like we did in the 90s. My son's 16 and is loving my cd collection, from Metallica, acdc, guns n roses, to nirvana pearl jam soundgarden etc, to all the great Britpop stuff including oasis, the verve etc. As you say there is music out there for them, but they have to hunt for it. Since the 2000s its just been an endless false appreciation for, exclusively, singing! Largely due to the likes of simon cowell and manufactured pop songs and artists, who are then dropped within a year. I cant believe the endless train of reality tv singing competition shows, is still rolling. Ask anyone and they'll say its all very tired. We need a musical shift. A new sex pistols, a new nirvana, a new guns n roses, essentially music with attitude and meaning for real people. The cds we own we can listen to forever, can people honestly say that todays forgettable bubblegum pop, will stand up alongside these bands? Ofcourse not, dont let us kid ourselves though, as if you remember in the 90s there was a massive dance/rave scene that sat alongside guitar bands, yet people had an equal choice and there was a level playing field. Now its exclusively all sanitised pop, no one seems that rebellious anymore, and no wonder kids look to the older bands as they still sound amazing. The millennium generation have had political correctness rammed down their throats for 20 years, essentially their entire lives! Dont get me wrong, much of it is for the greater good, but we seem to have swung a little bit too far from cigarettes and alcohol, to sickly sweet iced cup cakes. Says it all really

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Couldn't agree more Robert. 100% spot on. Testify.

[@gnu_andrew]

The music industry has deliberately forced out that rebelliousness. They don't want the likes of the Sex Pistols, Oasis, the Prodigy dominating the chart. They want naive little boy bands who'll do as they say. Look at how the music of the early 80s reflected the state the country was in (e.g. UB40, Specials) and try and find the equivalents for the last 10-15 years. All the political consciousness has been swept out of the charts as well. The dance/rave & indie scenes of the 90s didn't just sit alongside each other. They even collaborated on things like "Setting Sun" by Chemical Brothers & Noel Gallagher, or dance mixes of indie tunes so they could be played in nightclubs. The soundtrack of "Trainspotting" is another example of both of them rubbing shoulders together.

[@qcerv1777]

I’m a 22 year old Texan, and Oasis played a very big part in helping me find myself as many of you older folks know, it can be a confusing time for many, Oasis delivered an authenticity and rawness that immediately resonated with me, Noel moved me to pick up the Guitar, and Liam encouraged me to actually say fuck and t and give singing a go, since then, I have a much more deport confidence in my abilities. Great video, and very well said, thanks for sharing - Cheers y’all 🤙🏼

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hey Quentin, that's awesome. Keep playing my friend, this needs to happen everywhere!

[@robertovalero6186]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar You forgot Supergrass,the Prodigy and the Chemical Brothers.

[@FelixL2010]

You are correct (for the most part, at least). It's the commercialisation of the music industry that ruined everything. Great video (Morgoth's Review brought me here).

[@kylereece1979]

Im 41, and a 90s teenager at heart. I totally appreciate your interests, passion and words here! For me- my era was just right before Britpop, and from the city of Seattle. Nirvana's "Nevermind' is still my favourite thing in the world. In the Autumn of '91, there was an incredible stream of weeks where modern classic albums were released. Be it my own personal defining Grunge scene, to world beating albums from Metallica, Guns n Roses and U2. It was a super exciting time for rock music. Like what you said here, Britpop a coupla years later captured the heart, soul ,fire and mind of the zeitgeist. 'Definitly Maybe" gave the UKs youth a musical ID and that scene is a perfect snapshot of life at the time. Overall then the first half of the 90s was an incredible time for all forms of Rock music. Grunge and Britpop- very different from eachother in terms of sound and appearence,- but both genres organically and naturally tapped into what the current youth were feeling, whilst also harnessing back to past music revolutions from Punk to forward their own influence and attitudes. Great video, mate. All the best to you.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Kyle Thanks for your kind comments JH

[@Aromatic.Bleach]

Nirvana and grunge started the downward spiral. They are so beyond overrated. Britain had a way better thing going on at that time, and I'm American. As much as I hate Nirvana - I'd rather listen to them than f*cking Taylor Sh*t or something.

[@bryandonoghue3141]

James thank you for this video. As a 31 year old who has been playing in guitar bands for about 12 years it has been a soul destroying journey of rejection and closed doors. I grew up listening to my dads 60’s cd’s and had the added sprinkle of britpop from my older brother so I’ve always written in that style. I just love it. Your view on the old records having inconsistencies and mistakes is true to point. It makes everything more human. More relatable. The whole 30 year gap thing just gave me goosebumps.....I’m halfway through my debut solo album which should be out this summer and something about these next few years feels different. With the pandemic it’s almost like the world needs and is going to get the relief of British guitar music again to heal us from the last year or so. I would love to send you some of my album stuff (some finished tracks and some demos) to have your opinion on it. Not for promotion or a shout out.....just for some like minded british guitar music lovers opinion ✊🏻 Here’s to the revolution!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi Bryan, you can get my email address from the website in the header, would love to hear from you mate

[@goldenhourkodak]

Maybe your music just isnt good? Lots of guitar bands do make it.

[@bryandonoghue3141]

@@goldenhourkodak Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. My point about the 12 years of closed doors and dead ends is relatable to a lot of very good bands I know. Some great guitar music that never sees the light of day. There’s no need for the dig. I know my music will never make it. I gave up on that a long time ago mate. I’ve seen my fair share of shit bands get continuous airplay and exposure simply by ‘who they know’ in the industry and by being well funded in promotional campaigns. Standards of music ain’t the benchmark in this industry anymore…..radio 1 as an example!

[@timharrison2076]

I saw things change almost overnight in 1997 as BBC DJs had to reluctantly fill their shows with acts like Puff Daddy, Notorious B.I.G, Mace and Coolio. Even the evening session started playing hip hop. Dare I say that guitar music was shunned by the BBC because it was mostly made by white people.

[@Aromatic.Bleach]

Yep

[@benwilkinson815]

This video and these comments have given me a new hope for music. Im 16 and i spend all my time just listening to music from the 60s-90s and just wishing there was some good bands about today. there's literally nothing i want more

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Excellent! Let's make this happen my friend

[@danwylde4507]

100% agree with u. Music from the 60s and 90s is iconic, has had such an impact on pretty much everyone in some way. Can’t let it die man

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Dan. You're right, it's the only music that lasts. Time is coming for a resurrection

[@jethronicholls5112]

Yeah completely agree. It’s unfair. I’m only 16 and I wish I was there to see the proper authentic music back then. To be fair though, I have noticed myself, that bands like oasis in particular are becoming increasingly popular among my generation which is great.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi Jethro - yeah it is exciting to see the interest rising again in teenagers across the nation. Keep an eye on the horizon mate. Change is coming

[@marcuswarren4447]

me n my mates ( about 15 of us) all listen to oasis and love em and that type of music

[@diego_cabanillas]

Thanks for all your videos man! I just turned 18 and I've learned a lot with them. I've started recording some demos for a while now too. I'm looking forward to seeing more videos from you and listening to the music you release, I'm sure it will be great. Good luck!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Diego, glad you're enjoying them 👍👍 Thanks for your support re new music. Something has to be done in the UK... it's a mess.

[@applepeel1662]

I'm 21 and from India and rock n roll music saved me from depression. Bands like pink Floyd, Radiohead, led Zeppelin, Beatles, oasis etc made me fall in love with bass and guitars. I visited London last year and was hoping to really vibe with the people my age. I was shocked when I went to a party with a friend and literally no one listened to classic British music. They all were sucked into rap music and not even good rap music but grime and just artificially produced garbage with a catchy tone that gets sucked into your head. I was so disappointed and I couldn't believe that the land where such godly music was created, isn't even appreciated by their own people (at least the majority). I personally like some rap music when it's done well but nothing comes close to the legacy of say bands like pink Floyd. I love your initiative but there is simply too much money to make in commercial music and the thing is it works, hyped up young Brit and American teens thrive on such music..

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi mate - London is a weird one to be honest. I live in in the North in Yorkshire, and up here there is a massive live music scene. London is a difficult one as even though it's the capital it genuinely does not represent the rest of Britain in any way shape or form. Check out York some time 👍👍👍👍

[@chrishenniker5944]

Who’s India’s equivalent to The Sex Pistols, Black Flag, Sonic Youth or The Velvet Underground back in the day, or even now?

[@matthewgresty7464]

Just discovered your channel and loving it already! I'd be interested if you've heard of Sam Fender or heard and of his music. He's been in the charts a number of times with his guitar-prominent songs, having taken a lot of influence from Springsteen. I truly love his music and I admire the fact that, in a culture of rap and electronic music, he's managed to establish himself time and again. Another thing I've noticed is the contrast between which artists are topping the charts and which artists are bringing the crowds to the UK's biggest festivals. Just look at the last 5 years' worth of Glastonbury and Reading/Leeds lineups. There's so many guitar or piano based solo artists & bands that, despite their obvious popularity, most of the time don't get on the charts. At just 19, I feel like I've grown up as part of a generation which has been force-fed rap and EDM. Now we're at a point where almost ANYTHING that isn't EDM or rap is labelled as "indie". With all of that said, the way to win in the music industry in 2021 is to gain traction and publicity using social media. Labels & radio stations now are specifically searching for artists who have already established themselves on social media. For them it's the security of knowing that there is already an audience: why would they spend their time scouting at venues listening to "risky" (brilliant or not) indie rock bands when they can just go on Instagram, find a rapper who copy & pastes beats onto a software and invest in them because they have 10k followers which they can monetize. I think the real issue here is the "hype" that surrounds EDM and rap culture easily sidelines new & upcoming Indie artists. When all EDM sounds the same, a bedroom EDM artist can easily rise to fame. With "rock" (and I use the term broadly), that same hype simply does exist. So, the problem isn't that great analogue music no longer exists. Of course it exists - and probably far more of it - now that we live in digital age (I see the irony) which makes recording facilities available to the masses. The problem is creating the hype for that music. In 2021, where you're competing against billionaires who implant diamonds into their foreheads, you simply cannot ignore the fact that branding, publicity and your social media is absolutely essential. We creators of real music have a duty to not only create fantastic music, but to also put the same effort into publicising it, with or without the help of a label. Once more and more of us start turning the heads of radio DJs, social media influencers, venue managers and TV stations, that's when real music is taken seriously once again. I want to finish by saying, I don't like the fact that we as indie artists have to start turning ourselves into "social media influencers" to rival the bigger names in the industry. It goes without saying that the focus should be on the music. 20, 30 years ago, good music was the key to success. Unfortunately, nowadays even the greatest music won't be successful without adapting the the times.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi Matthew, thanks and welcome! Yeah I've heard some of Sam Fender's stuff here and there, and I'll be honest... I dont remember what it was, but I remember liking it haha Yeah 'force-fed' is a bloody excellent term when it comes to rap and edm at the moment. It's a bloody awful situation. There will always be a way through for real music dude, just will take some analysis and planning! We can do this.

[@charliecollins3826]

Another good one is alt J

[@lonelygimmick]

Hello, I am a new British artist/producer and I completely agree with everything you say in this video. I grew up listening to artists from the 90s such as blur and oasis, even loads of noughties bands such as the strokes, Franz Ferdinand, the libertines, the cribs, early arctic monkeys etc. I am heavily influenced by all that music and have been playing guitar since I was 12 (so over 15 years now). I would love to get your opinion on my music. I have just released a hip hop track but it features heavy bass and guitar (I don't rap but it features a female rapper from London). My earlier releases are all guitar based with my singing. Anyway love your thoughts and this video. You are speaking for so many of us. It's good to know there are like minded people out there to me.

[@mr.stevejones1947]

Great vid James. I love your stuff. I was born in 63 and after getting into classic rock and 60s stuff in the 70s I experienced the massive changes that Punk brought about. Then in the 80s guitar music was on the back foot for a while until Manchester started to get a hold. When Oasis appeared like a tsunami in the 90s, I was well into my 30s but felt like I'd been born again and experiencing all that a great current music scene has to offer. Oasis were the band we'd been waiting 20 years for. We had everything, and more, that the 60s generation had but it was our own and we weren't living in nostalgia. We owned it. Looking back I am so grateful that I was at Knebworth to see Oasis. Now I'm 58 and loving learning your stuff and planning on getting together with other musicians as soon as lockdown rules lift. My 18 year old daughter loves Oasis and The Stone Roses. I hope that we have been living through a period in some ways similar to the 80s and the pandemic, as tragic as it is, will eventually create a social climate in which people will crave real social connection and real, human music. The time will be ripe for a resurgence and renaissance of guitar bands, a cohesive youth culture and a rejection of corporate culture and formulaic, factory produced, anemic, , dulled down, whiny, shit muzak. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZds. Keep on keeping man and keep 'em coming because we're going to LIVE FOREVER.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Preach it my friend. I agree with every word. Man the barricades... the time is coming.

[@pete7825]

What's stuck firmly in my mind is Joni Mitchell recalling how she was talking to a record exec at a party and he told her that record companies were no longer looking for talent, but rather a certain look and 'a willingness to cooperate'.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Man it's mind blowing isn't it. Get money and art out of balance and watch the good things in society disappear.

[@jackysguitarcovers2757]

Spot on James. You've really hit the nail on the head with this video haha. That ending clip from Noel has never been more true!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Jack! Lets make it happen my friend...

[@michaeltownsend8990]

Sorry for being controversial but there's another reason why mainstream radio won't play rock n roll . It's because it's mainly white lads playing it and that's just not on with woke radio. Before anyone calls me racist ill inform them that I have love of motown and jazz and some soul . My guitar hero is Hendrix .

[@galileostongue4538]

You've hit the nail on the head without realising it. The minute you start saying "I'm not racist" you have lost. If you can ditch being petrified of being called racist then you can stand up for white culture and get somewhere. When have you ever heard somebody black say they want to hear more hip hip on the radio and then qualify it by trying to assure the audience that they're not racist against whites? Doesn't happen. We've lost unless you change this attitude. Grow a pair.

[@gx2music]

You’ve lost already by doing the “I’m not racist” argument.

[@stokes8762]

Exactly, the globalist world order doesn't want young white lads getting inspired and forming their own cultural movement and identity.

[@karlosthejackel69]

To maintain ESG scores, most music contracts these days can only go to specified groups, similar to who has books authored and who doesn’t. Do you dare look into this?

[@joe0xygen244]

A common misconception is that teenagers nowadays love this mumble rap radio music but most of my friends listen to old Brit pop. I am from a black family and sometimes people think we're mainly into rap and hip-hop.Those genres have their pros and cons but we have always preferred guitar music. I play the guitar myself and I hope to one day be part of this music revolution. Some of my modern music recommendations are Catfish and the bottlemen,Sam fender,Artic monkeys,blossoms,Jake bugg,the looks,Inhaler,Circa waves,Declan McKenna and Sea girls. None of these are as iconic as Oasis or the OG brit-pop bands but it is definitely a step in the right direction. Love the video man. Keep it up.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi Joey - mate, that's great to hear. If you get anything recorded, send me a link man.

[@gnu_andrew]

Reads like the playlist at our local indie club, but even some of those acts are getting to be 10-15 years old now.

[@Skate771parts]

Mate this content is just getting better and better. I’ve asked this question myself and I’ve come to the same conclusion as you. I’ve got a band ready to go as soon as this COVID thing let’s us go! We’ve all gotta make a change. I believe Apple Music (ITunes) was the best basis to run the music industry (paying for the song or album) and I believe that people soon will come to realise the music industry has been neglected since the mid 00’s. you can clearly see how little people care about the industry with COVID lockdowns and such. It’s sad to see what’s going on in the British music industry and I can sadly say it’s happening everywhere else too. Much love from Denmark.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks for that 👍👍 Hey man seriously if you get some new original guitar stuff recorded, stick it in the comments and Ill have a listen

[@dancingdoves577]

The reality is record labels nowadays are more interested in social engineering than they are in promoting music. They want to promote a culture centred around blacks, gays and feminism. They're not in the business of promoting ordinary White men - the demographic most likely to be interested and involved in instrument-driven music - anymore. It's the same thing with movies, television, advertising and all cultural spaces in general

[@harveywestwood5042]

Top class video. I’m a 17 year old and sadly there’s no indie/ rock n roll bands about today but the genre is still massively popular with our generation. Hence why you still see loads of the youth at Liam Gallagher gigs. Please can you continue your great work and please show us how to write songs like indie bands it will be much appreciated as I’ve started learning guitar over the past year. Thanks.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Harvey, I really appreciate that. That's fantastic news that you're learning the guitar dude - be the change my friend. If us in our 30s and you guys in your teens are all pulling in the same direction we are gonna be unstoppable. Let me know when you have some recorded stuff online!

[@Drew.Parry-Guitars]

As a musical community we have to find a way, I can’t give up on my roots, I can adapt and listen to some of today’s music, but at 38 years old I’m still far more interested in discovering huge bands that I never even new exsisted in the 90’s and early 2000’s. I’ve not discovered it all yet so I just can’t let rock die. I support you good sir !!!. 👍🏻

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks so much Drew, and welcome aboard my friend We all need to work together to make this happen man, thanks for your support 👍👍🎸🎸

[@cannibalholocaust3015]

Entertainment lawyer I met once knows a guy who was in this meeting. Absolutely disastrous impact not just on mere music, but cultural behaviour/norms. “In the late 1980s Sumner Redstone, aka Murray Rothstein, owner of MTV Walked into the exec's meeting and declared that NO MORE ROCK AND ROLL "we're going to go hip hop." And the rest is history” Literally one man, and the studio system turned the musical clock back 1000 years.

[@stokes8762]

That fact should be more well known

[@marcojerseyone]

I'm 15 and I love British indie rock music. I'm Mexican but i really love it, since I started listening to Oasis, I felt in love with Britpop. I think we can really make a big change. And I have friends here in Mexico that they also love Blur, Oasis, Pulp, and more, so even in Mexico we love British Indie Rock Music!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hey Marco - yeah Mexico and Japan right now are the best places for guitar music worldwide. I am envious!

[@polygon.fiction6514]

As much as I love guitar-driven bands, especially from the 90's, some of the most emotionally resonating music I've ever used have been heavily synth/electronic-based. It's all about the talent, work ethic, and honesty of the musician. “I find it so amazing when people tell me that electronic music has no soul. You can’t blame the computer. If there’s no soul in the music, it’s because nobody put it there.” - Björk That being said, there are actually still a lot of alt/rock/guitar bands here in the US who chart, but it's definitely true that it's not even close to how it was back in the 90's or earlier. There will always be a place for shallow pop music - most people, including myself, still like a cheap McDonald's cheeseburger every now and then., if you know what I mean. But here's hoping that the 90's make a comeback soon. It's been said that it takes about 30 years for a decade's media to become popular again. We're possibly at the tail end of the 80's resurgence (synthwave music making a huge splash online, Stranger Things being a fun nostalgia trip, etc.), and it's been just a little over 3 decades since the 90's. So anyone wanting to start an alt rock/britpop/grunge band - now's the time.

[@Fretter18]

James, you hit the nail on the head. I grew up around the same time as you and keep saying to my daughters now that the charts and music now is crap. So I decided to get in the studio and record my songs. May rock and roll live forever.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Fretter - that's great news about you recording your stuff! Send me a link if you ever upload any

[@AnearPlayz]

hi, I'm 15 and I'm a huge fan of Oasis, I also am a fan of The Beatles before I found Oasis. I listen to them not because a family member liked them aswell, I found them via KZbin and taught myself the guitar to play their songs. I learnt a lot about the Gallagher brothers and the music they wrote. I really wished there was a britpop rock n roll band for this generation to listen to, I've never been to a Oasis concert and it's a shame I didn't get to. Today all that's on the charts are just hip hop trash that comes nowhere near the glory days of music(days I didn't live in). Hope for the best, anyways keep up the great videos James!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks AnearPlayz, thats fantastic that you've taught yourself guitar! Good for you. Next you need to start writing your own songs... 🎸👍🎸

[@thebouncinghearts]

Check out The Arctic Monkeys and The Last Shadow Puppets....there are plenty of great guitar bands around, you just have to go find em.

[@AnearPlayz]

@@thebouncinghearts yeah I've heard of them. I know a few Arctic Monkeys songs. I'm more into indie rock and britpop. Not to say they're bad, they're actually quite good even for me, but they're about what I'd like to say near the end of the primary years as a band. I like listening to 90's indie/alternative pop rock like Oasis. I'll check The Last Shadow Puppets out, I know what you mean by great guitar bands exist you just need to find them. I just happen to like 90's Oasis, Radiohead vibes and Beatlesque stuff.

[@thebouncinghearts]

@@AnearPlayz You might like 'The Lemon Twigs' a great band from the US, fronted by two very talented brothers...their sound is very 60s/70s retro, and they are incredible live.

[@OllieTattersall]

Spot on about physical music. I used to love spending my free time in record shops in the likes of Berwick Street, London, just flicking through vinyl and CDs, picking up things that were maybe on the same record label as some of the stuff I knew. One of the best things about physical albums is the fact that an artist has, or should have designed the track listing in a way to take you on a journey. I've brought albums that I was disappointed with, but came back to years later and found them to be actually quite brilliant. Also, if say Definitely Maybe or Nirvana's Nevermind were released today I don't think they would cause much of a ripple, let alone the lasting effect they had from time of release. Mainstream music today seems to be driven by consumerism, rather than by art and, as with so much of society's attitude, music is throwaway.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah the art of the album can't be allowed to fade away. It's important. I agree with you there very much

[@MediumGuage]

With the recent uptick in Guitar sales and possibly other instruments this may be a catalyst for a future rebirth / renascence of Guitar orientated music. Love the channel and your enthusiasm.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

The time has come! 👍👍👍🎸🎸🎸

[@TerryWhisk]

Club music should be left in clubs, a 7 minute Diplo mix is not what the general population wants to hear on their drive to the store

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Preach it

[@BeerLover25]

Great video man, I’ve been saying this for ages too and my wife calls me a moany old man haha but it’s true. I feel sorry for the younger ones growing up with the crap that’s coming out now, they’re genuinely missing out on something we had in abundance in the 90’s and that’s a pity.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Couldn't agree more

[@squills1]

Pretty much every genre was great in the 90s. I wouldn't consider myself an indie/rock head but liked a lot of it back then. Particularly liked suede, blur, oasis and a few bits from kula shaker as well as many more

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Was a great time for british music

[@lewangillard9701]

I'm so glad someone made this video, I've been waiting for it for ages haha. I think there's many reasons to it really. I think the society and the music industry are the main factors. I think because life in the UK since WW2 has been rough, with every increasing strikes and unemployment being very high since factory closures since the 60's. BUT, music has always been something that brings people together, and keeps us going through hard times. So because times, especially for working class people, have been rough, for a lot of people music has been the only thing that they could call their own. Even with fashion, music and music movements have always brought along their own fashion, so you knew what type of music someone was into simply by the clothes they wore, at least on the surface anyways. But because life is much better than it was back then, more working class people live better lives, and the general population too. So music isn't as important anymore, music movements don't happen anymore, and the younger generation don't need music to express who they are, because social media is the new "music" and so does that all for them. Like you said with radio stations, it was a make-or-break, as it could literally make someone's career. Because of the rise of spotify and cheaper alternatives to buying physical music, radio stations don't hold as much power in terms of career-importance anymore. Because of how easy it is to listen to bands, and how accessible it is, there isn't even a need for Top of The Pops anymore, which also could make-or-break someone's career, as most of the time the BBC radio dj's had a say, as they would play the music they would see on TOTP's. The music industry has become saturated full of uncreative music. All songs sound the same because they all use the same beats, as they know it "sells". I feel sorry for upcoming bands because without radio/totp/physical music sales/labels signing them, they struggle a lot of the times. Music was better in the 1990's because Britpop was a movement which came off the back of Thatcher's reign in the 80's, and so society finally had something to hope for after she'd gone, which was Britpop. We've not had something culturally significant and suppressive as Thatcherism to cause a movement. However, I honestly believe that something huge is gonna come out of Covid, and the shit year everyone has had. People have had enough of being suppressed, and so everyone is gonna go wild and enjoy themselves to the max, hopefully bringing a new movement with it too. Long paragraph I know but it's something I take a lot of interest in, and I'm only 21 haha.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Very interesting points! I think the over-saturated market has meant lots of people just don't bother listening to new music anymore as the sheer volume of choice is too overwhelming

[@lewangillard9701]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Very true. I always try to give new bands a go that show promise other than the shite in the charts nowadays. I ended up loving this new-ish band called Temples, their album Sun Structures is really good.

[@Tas896]

“Oasis were the last, the greatest. Nothing anybody does will be as big as Oasis”

[@balf1111117373]

Arctic Monkeys cam close but quickly disappeared

[@108noonoo]

Overrated

[@Tas896]

@@108noonoo maybe so, fact of the matter is however - no band will match the size, growth and impact of Oasis in the Uk. They went from playing to a capacity of 2000 people in clubs to selling out stadiums and playing to 125,000 in 18 months - indie bands shouldn’t be doing that but they did and no one else will after them

[@gregorybrown3272]

James, You are 100% correct. It is 1963, all over again, the market is Singles oriented, not Album oriented, Producer oriented, not Songwriter oriented, and Singer oriented, not Band oriented. Great music by great artists and bands is available, it's out there, but it is not being brought to the attention of the audience that is seeking it, because the music industry that used to deliver it...is gone (for the most part). The record labels are either dead or in full on retreat, a producer from Motown told me that the industry does not know what the next big thing is going to be, they are lost, they are waiting for us to tell them what it will be. Radio, also, is on it's deathbed, for them, it has been death by a thousand cuts since the late sixties, the only good news is that as long as people get in their cars to travel from point A, to point B, there will always be a need for radio. Of course, the internet has everything on it, but it is scattered all over the place, there needs to be a way for audiences to find the art, and for artists to find their audience. Perhaps some of these systems that are in use nowadays can be utilized to create a better listening experience than what Spotify, Pandora, or any other algorithmic based system can deliver, something that can use algorithms, but are also driven by human tastemakers who can present it in a context that can bring out the depths of the artistry that might be lost when presented to the listener without context. You have also hit on a very important aspect that has been lost in recent decades, and that is the sense of community, I rarely ever hear people talk about the latest music anymore, thanks to the intrawebz, listening has become a singular, and isolated experience, sure, you get exactly what you want, but you are never provided with anything challenging, the experience is passive, not active. You should want to talk about music, and have others talk with you about it.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Couldn’t agree more mate

[@vitaliksavonevsky6108]

Hi! You’ve forgotten to mention highly underrated shoegaze genre that in recent years has finally started to gain a fair share of loyalty and adoration. Nevertheless, great stuff and thoughts, subscribed!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks and welcome!

[@pathlightltd5919]

Thanks for this, James. Some excellent points raised. I’m also a lover of 90s indie, Britpop and guitar bands...and I hold a great nostalgia for those days. I’d love to see such ‘real’ music given a fair crack of the whip for today’s youngsters - I’m saddened by how things have evolved in the music industry. I wish you well with your campaign. However, I do want to take issue with a couple of points you made, which strike me as inaccurate sweeping statements. Firstly, you say that 90% of people still love this type of guitar music. This seems to be based upon the people who attend your gigs and those in your social circles. I would suggest that this is not a representative sample of the population. I accept that many youngsters today DO love guitar music, but many others do not, preferring the mostly manufactured stuff that mostly dominates the charts. Secondly, over the past several decades, I believe many folk in each generation has bemoaned the ‘fact’ that music was better in their day and today’s stuff is all just rubbish noise. I suspect that much of this is subjective and based upon nostalgic reflections of the good times we had when enjoying the ‘proper’ music of our formative/hedonistic years. Finally, you say there is no good guitar music out there these days. I accept that there is little such music that makes it into the charts but, in my subjective opinion, there is LOADS of great guitar music out there - we just need to dig deeper to find it.

[@mikekaraoke]

And the 1980's as well. Liked how you mentioned-The Smiths great band from the 80's :-) Also when you did your list at the end, you forgot to put: Echo + the Bunnymen-another really good British Indie band from the 80's.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah there was some decent stuff in the 80s - Stone Roses especially

[@mikekaraoke]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Yea there def 100% agree, Yea Stone Roses another decent example-The Housemartins/The Cure i am also into .

[@cullipyt]

Absolutely agree. I did a audio documentary for my college about physical album sales and I put so much passion into it. I’m 18 but I grew up with music like this because of my parents and I’m so glad i did because music these days is toilet. Honestly this is something I feel so passionate about I had to do it as a college project.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Well, we're going to try and fix what's broken here. Good to have you on board :)

[@insidiousy]

I'm from America, and I'm addicted to 60's and 90's British music! I agree that it's untouched in how real and organic it sounds. Music shouldn't come from a program, it should come from the heart and soul! I also just started playing guitar, so I'm hoping I can contribute in some way in time. American music is in desperate need of more mainstream rock'n'roll too!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi Insidiousy, yeah you're absolutely right. Keep music natural. That's fantastic that you've started playing. Be the solution my friend

[@ghosttundra]

This is really great!! I'm a 16 yr old and that's really something I've noticed, most of the artists I enjoy are 90s and 80s and not by a counscious choice, it's just that there's isn't much to find! What ends up ressonating w/ me is Blur, Lush, Graham Coxon's solo work..... When I'm able to start making music you got me by your side!! And I'd also like to promote an amazing underground guitar band from Leeds, which is Mush!! They've got two fenomenal albums and deserve more attention. Cheers!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Excellent, thanks and welcome to the movement!

[@lutonian7918]

Two words...... Oasis , Nirvana enough said !! Bring back the 90's

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

We were spoilt for talent back then

[@craigbuchan]

I literally couldnt name 1 song in the charts right now.....

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Don't waste precious oxygen trying. None of them are worth it.

[@uniwerksdesign]

Love it mate! I am behind you 100%. Much love from across the pond. Cheers

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers! I really appreciate it. Onwards and upwards

[@MaquiladoraIII]

Of the many things the last year has taught us, it’s to hold on to things that are tangible and meaningful. Personally, I think that applies to music more than almost anything else in life. Keep fighting the good fight, James!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Preach it. Couldn't agree more

[@anotherindiegirl851]

I'm 14 and a massive fan of music, especially British bands from the 80s and 90s. As I spend a lot of time on social media, I think the problem is that there are no great bands. I don't think the radio is that much to blame. The bands that are around now are not original as bands was were, because they don't have to. Bands don't need to work hard for a record deal anymore, so it seems the mentally of musicians has changed

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi Indie Girl. Yes social media is a massive factor too. Glad you've got good music taste tho 👍👍🎸🎸

[@harvkent8017]

I’m 17 and have recently picked up guitar alongside two of my mates and we are hoping to eventually make music similar to all the brilliant British bands that have come before us, but the charts today can feel disheartening as if there isn’t a chance a great rock n roll band can’t make it anymore

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

that’s fantastic news! There is no reason whatsoever you guys can’t be a massive part of turning the tide. Get writing songs my friend! And I expect a signed copy when you go platinum…

[@snorrehenriksen1356]

This is an important video! Great job! Keep making these important videos! Love from Norway!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks so much. Will do. Onwards and upwards

[@ellew999]

EXACTLY IT!!!! im 16, my mum n dad raised me on britpop, rock, indie etc from the 90s, and eventually when i started listening to the radio in my early teens it just felt off. everything you said was so spot on, i totally agree.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks El 👍👍🎸🎸

[@Marcuscachia]

James im from MALTA and im trying to make my own guitar music but find it hard sometimes sounds amazing to have you teaching us

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Watch this space dude, more info on making your own music soon!

[@hyperfantasia9147]

This is a great video, James. I've often wondered why music but also art in general seemed to die after the 90's. I've got my own British music project Hyperfantasia and am right behind this in any way I can, and am certainly up for promoting and helping other musicians.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Excellent thanks for that :) Yeah we absolutely all need to work together to make this happen

[@susanofhullhumberside4753]

In every supermarket a consistent stream of antiwhite sewage is played through the speakers.

[@stokes8762]

True. I could never work in such a place, as it is I can't get out quick enough

[@tonyminutti5277]

This really warmed my heart! I knew I couldn’t be alone out there! I was too little to enjoy the Britpop movement but my older cousins and younger uncles would blast Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Radiohead, The Verve, Stone Roses, etc...while growing up in Mexico City! I got to enjoy and grow up with the Post Punk Revival/Garage Rock of the 2000’s with amazing bands like Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes, White Stripes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Block Party, The Libertines, Kaiser Chiefs, Interpol and a Mexican band that still fights alone out there (like the Arctic Monkeys) called “Zoe” during High School and the first years of Uni (i went to Uni in London) I was in heaven growing up with Britpop and my dad and uncles listening to The Beatles and Rolling Stones (they always preferred British bands...and so do I but we had some good ones growing up that were American haha). There came a time when I graduated from Uni where everything kinda blurred and all of the sudden it was hip hop, reggaetón and Dance music (not even good 90’s/00’s dance but sampling everything Dance and adding rap verses). There has been a hollow feeling since then. I don’t even listen to the radio anymore, obviously things change, I listen to Radio 1 here and there online to see if Britain has anymore good bands emerging? And no...they don’t list them. But I have found some from the British isles that are interesting but I didn’t realize how these gatekeepers have been blocking it all off from us! Rock doesn’t die though...it’s sleeping! I think an event like this pandemic will create a wave of new talent that will push the boundaries! I’m hoping Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and other cities stand up and break this cycle! I have a lot of faith. Going back for my Masters in Scotland there was so much talent out there...in London! But these asswipes just want rap, hip hop and shitty dance music taking the airwaves. I support you haha I really hope we get indie rock bands at the top of the charts once more! Music is just empty without it! And there are millions of us, not just in the UK/Europe...but also in the USA and Latin America! Believe me! We are ready! Cheers!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

That's awesome! Yeah Mexico and Japan are two of the few remaining places where guitar music is still alive and kicking according to many full time pros in the touring world. Thanks so much Tony, I appreciate you man.

[@tonyminutti5277]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar yes! Mexico is one of those last bastions for guitar music from traditional (mariachi) to rock, it’s in our blood! We are lucky to be in North America so we get all the big name bands touring Mexico unlike our brothers and sisters in South America haha (Japan is a huge market too so they get honorary tour dates of course!) BUT other countries like Argentina mainly as well as Chile, Uruguay and Brazil are there with Mexico waiting for new bands since the markets here have been inundated with raegeton (Latin urban music pretty much) and cheap EDM! Rock is sleeping (or taking a siesta) and I’m sure it’s getting ready to wake up again! Can’t wait! :)

[@kenny75photography2]

Great and very important video, James and totally agree with you. I actually paused your video at the bbc radio tracklist and listened to a few of them and unsurprisingly found them to be awful soulless crap. Music these days all sounds the same with this electro, rap, Latino-esque rubbish permeating the airwaves. I will definitely share the video, James and let's hope guitar bands re-emerge strong in this decade.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Kenny! We have to work together to get guitar bands back - it's going to take a movement. But I'm constantly impressed over and over again by how many people have been just waiting in the wings for a call to action! There are ALOT of us.

[@jamesbarton3155]

Great video dude. Somebody needs to shout it from the rooftops. I had a brief listen to Radio One the other week and it was awful. It felt like a barrage of fake bullshit from the presenters and even the one 'Rock' track they played was painfully slick. It feels like society has sleepwalked into something really awful with how music seems to be now. I mean I look at my nephews and there aren't any bands for them like when I was their age. It's so weird looking back. If it wasn't for cassettes, there's absolutely no way I would discovered what the 90's had to offer like Oasis etc. I love looking back as a 9 year old and remembering listening to 'What's the Story' at my cousins on their 90's boombox and then my brother recording it for me on cassette for Christmas THEN taping Knebworth off the radio when it was on! All this and I was only 9! The world is just different now and obviously how music is consumed is different so maybe that's one of the problems.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah we need to adapt and find a way through for Rock & Roll in the new world of streaming.

[@rickyberry00]

James can't agree more with what you've said. Finally someone with a pair has came out and said what a lot of us are thinking

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks Ricky, I appreciate it The time has come to turn the tide

[@iammechner]

I think about this everyday James! I specifically make my music as devoid of quantisation and perfection as I possibly can I try to get it as RAW and real as I can! I’m sick of the way things are now! When I was a kid the electric guitar was the coolest thing in the world, and to me it still is, it is my weapon to crucify my enemies through power chords and blistering solos! Kids and adults alike need that catharsis, that human expression to feel like they aren’t alone to get them to connect! My music has been my own little revolution against everything I see wrong in the industry! I’m glad to see I’m not alone! I think you should do a series of videos finding and highlighting some great guitar music that’s out there now, it’s still being made but as you said it’s not being highlighted by those in charge of the media...

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

"My weapon to crucify my enemies through power chords and blistering solos!" hahahahahah I love that Thanks for your comments, I agree 100%

[@iammechner]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar ;) Cheeky reference to a Muse lyric which always rang true with me, or at least that's how I interpreted it "my plug in baby, crucifies my enemies"

[@gooneradam]

I think that there's another important aspect of technology that you haven't mentioned. Namely that someone can make an album in their bedroom on a laptop now. Whereas 25-30 years ago, that needed to be done in a studio and funded by a record label. And to get that record deal, you generally needed to be an act that had demonstrated a minimum standard of capability: years of gigging, active fanbase, etc... Nowadays none of that is necessary. Meaning that you're getting less bands and way more one-hit wonders who luck out with a single tune messing about in their bedroom.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah, the massive availability of home recording equipment is a blessing and a curse haha

[@databoy2001]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar I know, really glad we had Jamie T because of this 🙌

[@Fatkun223]

I'm 16 and I'm more bummed than ever to not have been a teenager in the 90s. I listen to blur, oasis, pulp, and other bands outside britpop like nirvana, acdc, pixies etc and its quite a shame that the media doesn't even bother to expose artists of the genre that much... Nowadays the charts are full of garbage music that mostly consists of terrible lyrics, weird abstract tunes and mediocre vocals, all of my mates wont even BUDGE to listen to a preview of the music i listen to! Quite disappointing.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Well Dylan this is why we have to take back the charts mate. It’s time to make a change

[@keviniverson]

I think there are great bands out there, HOWEVER, your absolutely right regarding bands like The Beatles/OASIS etc... Great video! A lot of us are looking & waiting for the next band... been waiting too long though!!!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Youre right - bloody THOUSANDS of us

[@PunkMarioBros]

Don’t worry James, me and my band are with you in your quest (although we don’t have any way to record stuff yet because we are still in school), also, I remember in a music lesson a few months ago, someone in my class heard Elvis for the first time and now loves Elvis’ music

[@thomasporton9656]

One band who I’m glad I can call my generation is Catfish and The Bottlemen. The first album may not be timeless such as Definitely Maybe or The Stone Roses but it was the first proper gig and guitar band I seen on the eve of my 16th birthday back in 2015. Seeing them in a maximum capacity venue of around 2,000 was amazing as the next time I seen them it was an outdoor venue in Newcastle.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

CATB are great! I love their stuff.

[@danrl9710]

As always, James, EXTREMELY well said. I’ve been banging on about this for years and you’ve helped further my case! I’ll hopefully be releasing my first album this year in my mid-40’s and it will sound as though it was written in 96...or 66!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Great stuff, let me know when its online and Ill give it a listen!

[@danrl9710]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Online! You’ll need to head down to Sifters for this record mate!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

@@danrl9710 hahahaha

[@tommydickens4617]

Big respect. That clip at the end says it all. We need a group with that Oasis attitude again. I think it is hard to convince people who are used to the modern music, and have little interest in raw and talented music from the past about what you are saying. However, having said that, I think that most of those people would even admit they’d rather go to see a guitar band like oasis live, than a modern solo musician live, where the experience is little different to just listening to the recording if the track. I think the best music these days comes from Australia. Some great music from bands like DMAs and Sticky Fingers and Ocean Alley, which have that rock and roll character to them as people as well as in their great music. I think Ocean Alley is currently one of the most experimental and genuinely passionate bands out there, who are creating great music, with so much depth and character. And any live performance on youtube of those three bands has 100 times the atmosphere of a live performance of Doja Cat shouting over a pre recorded track on a stage in front of a load of robots. Really rate what you’re doing and hope it gets something changing in the music industry. Would be great to be able to live through the building of the legacy of a great band like oasis, rather than watching performances from the 90s in awe that as a 19 year old I will never be at such a good gig myself.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Tommy. Yeah there is some outstanding Australian guitar music out there I plan to do everything I can to see some changes, so fingers crossed

[@rtdejimasan893]

Great video James. Im 14, and these British bands were the ones who inspired me to pick up the guitar and take over the world. Looking at mainstream music today, it seems a lot of it has just lost that “magic” of older music. But I’m hopeful someone will come along and bring back that musical spark. And I’ll be waiting.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks so much. Keep playing that guitar - it could be YOU who does it! I'll be doing my part, but it needs more than just me. Bring back that spark my friend :)

[@robertedwards2527]

James, I was fortunate enough to be 16 when Definitely Maybe was released, so like you I'm a big fan of guitar music. I like to compare Liam's popularity of today as being similar to late 60's and early 70's bands headlining a festival in the mid 90's, it just wouldn't have happened. Imagine Slade headlining a festival in 95, as good as they were, just not possible. To me it highlights the lack of new meaningful live music that can attract the masses.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah I agree. We need NEW guitar bands! Desperately.

[@WhatwouldRoddyPiperdo]

Speaking of masses think about this the first number 1 of our millennium was Manic Street Preachers Masses against the classes that would NEVER happen now

[@parklifetvchannel]

Absolutely love your videos James! Keep fighting the good fight brother!!!!!

[@antichrist8543]

I miss Jamiroquai, moreso the earlier eras (extremely nostalgic for me). Stu Zender was an absolute king on the Bass, the rest of the band being equally as amazing in their own rights with their own instruments etc, but god I would do anything just to go back in time and experience them play live. I was born in 2003 though, so, not really a possibility for me from the beginning really, seeing as many of the original members had moved on at that point.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Jamiroquai were epic. I loved their first album, and Travelling Without Moving

[@antichrist8543]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Their first album is so sick, love it to bits, especially the live performances they’d do around that era as well. Amazing, amazing band

[@candyapplesun]

Amen!! We've experienced the same thing on the majority of mainstream radio shows, where they flat out refuse to play guitar based music because it's not "on trend." The description of "Junk Food Music" is just so spot on! 😆

[@iwanjoness]

There's a lot of good indie music, I just wish it was more mainstream. Catfish, Sam Fender, Blossoms, Inhaler, Fontaines, The Lathums, DMA's, The Snuts, The Royston Club, Wolf Alice, etc. We need to push kids to learn instruments and want to be in bands. I play guitar and I'd love to be in a band but it just seems like no kids are in bands anymore. I've been huge into guitar music for years but only over lockdown I actually started to study music, learn an instrument, etc. Hopefully this leads to a resurgence with people like me! Hopefully I'll see you when I'm playing Glasto! ;)

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Fingers crossed! I expect a backstage pass haha

[@bawsack69]

All the bands you list are gash, especially the Snuts. TopShop indie.

[@sexybeast4320]

@@bawsack69 modern indie is so crap I agree. I do quite like inhaler tho- but more of a classic 80s vibes. They have strong melodies and tone unlike the Snuts is just uninteresting and weak

[@theblurredcrusade.2557]

Todd In The Shadows is a great channel for looking at One Hit Wonders and Trainwreckords where he breaks down what happens with bands and how the music industry creates or breaks down artists, and maybe because it's all been done and there just isn't any young bands coming up with something relevant and new anymore, so yes I fully agree there needs to be a new revolution in music 🎶

[@bigbruhmo5650]

Im 15 and I've recently started playing guitar after being inspired by kurt cobain and loosing van halen, hopefully me and my mates can bring back punk rock and replace the utter crap on the radio.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Do it man! We need as many musicians and bands out there as possible. Let's make this happen

[@CosmicBos]

Good video sir, we at Cosmic Bos are from Brighton UK and we have been making an improv music podcast which always makes use of guitars as we are from the same generation as yourself, we have been doing some covers recently and Live Forever was our first brother duo one. A new music revolution is coming, and guitars will be in charge once more

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Couldn't agree more. The time is coming!

[@1234legend1234]

The manics are still going and still sound great. I think after the strokes where you had libertines, cribs and Artic Monkeys the radio was flooded with indie guitar bands and it sort of killed itself.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah you could be right. Not that way anymore though, and Id say its gone too far the other way

[@1234legend1234]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar yep the radio doesn't play anything i'm interested in anymore. Even Absolute radio play crap like George Ezra. Sadly it's difficult to find new bands these days.

[@alexturner9924]

Couldn’t of said it any better. I’m 16 and I play guitar and write songs and I seriously hope what I do is gonna one day make a change to the mindless music that’s in the charts today

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Good for you man. Make it happen!

[@thomasandrews1998]

I’m 22 and there are bands out there at the moment that I love such as the Amazons, royal blood, nothing but theives etc

[@barronpierce8699]

True, I think his point is that they are not getting the airplay that the shit music is getting but I definitely agree good bands are out there just gotta look harder for it

[@garethd2285]

Outstanding as always - breath of fresh air. Makes me wonder even more than ever why NG has gone down the road of his most recent work...

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks so much Gareth 👍👍 yeah it’s sad but true, literally the only rockstar from then who has kept the faith is Liam

[@jamiemitchell7098]

James a couldnt agree more and this is why i write music everyday for my band. I need to find a way of sending u our demo ep when its finished.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Good man, that's awesome. You can send me a link to your demo via my FB page or via the email on my guitar teaching website. Looking forward to hearing it 👍👍🎸🎸

[@projectfilms5930]

This video is the most factually correct video ive ever seen also good luck with you gigs man i hope you get big!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks for that! Much appreciated

[@markprior2278]

I grew up in the 70's but i agree that musics last great hurrah was the late 90s. There are some great modern bands out there, but you have to seek them out for yourself as the media no longer support them.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yep. Its a shame.

[@doctorlefthandthread]

I totally agree with what you said I thought it was because I was getting old. I could have never said it so well there is something fundamentally wrong with music today. I was 18 in 1995 I loved Oasis Pulp the verve cast and many others. I hope you are successful in recreating your version of the classic guitar songs we loved in the 90s.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Doc! I appreciate it

[@oliverread1060]

music suppression by corporations. Fantastic video, really enjoyed the Frankie Boyle and Travis clips. So relevant. Some would also say AI is another reason why guitar music is dead. It takes someone 6 months to get to a decent level on the guitar where they can play songs, but you can make a beat on your laptop in minutes that you can play to a party of people

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Oliver, guitar music may seem dead, but it's time for a resurrection I feel

[@jamesc8062]

I feel this video, it's the same here in Ireland 🇮🇪 we need to take action, thanks James

[@chrisunderhill4668]

I’m 16 and love the police and dire straits. My mates are all gradually stopping listening to the crap released today and are moving towards what their dads listened to when they were younger.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Glad to hear it!

[@jamesvseverything5974]

Great video, seriously well said. I listen to mostly old music like Pink Floyd and the Who and I genuinely do try to get into modern music, I’ve tried many bands but they don’t feel the same. It doesn’t feel genuine and when I put on the radio only to heard crap like ‘Dance monkey’, I always try to think where the quality is in the song. I completely agree with what you say here, it’s time for a new generation of British guitar bands to emerge.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

The time has come my friend! Axes at the ready...

[@robsol123]

Agree 1000000% with EVERYTHING SAID IN THIS VIDEO SIR!!!! BEEN SAYING THIS MYSELF FOR AGES - POPULAR MUSIC HAS GONE SHIT NOW = IN THE 90s WITH OASIS, BLUR, ETC = IT TRULY WAS AMAZING X

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Rob! It's gone rotten, true, but the time has come for the resurrection my friend.

[@alfiepriestley7630]

Spot on! Head twisting how bands from 20-30 years ago are inspiring 15/16 year olds like myself to be playing and writing rock n roll music, with this I think many teens should be starting bands and making a change to the modern music industry by making original music like it was back before the internet.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Couldn't agree more. Time for the revolution

[@jules153]

Remember is was 2006 when the Arctic Monkeys debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006), became the fastest selling debut album in UK chart history... Unfortunately this didn't open the floodgates like Oasis did, however it could happen again. It just needs a band as good and as original as the Arctics!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah I agree. That is one hell of an album

[@jules153]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar all we can do at a grass roots level is to listen to, and promote, as much real music as possible. Also don't forget the radio 1 indie show at 10pm on Thursdays!

[@ThibaultKV]

Good words lad. The recording/producing cost of a record seems to be the biggest problem. You said it about the La's or Definitely Maybe, but if we look even further in the past, records such as Sgt Pepper or Electric Ladyland couldn't happen nowadays. No record company is gonna put enough trust and faith in such crazy ideas. I don't remember where i read it first, but i read that one of the shift in the music business was that the money went from recording/producing to marketing and communication. Back in the days, a record company was mostly about ingeniors and producers, now it's community managing and time spent on studying what's what on the internet instead of recording songs. So they keep the budget tight with ProTools and loops. And i think some bands are not enough aware of that, i read an interview of a metal band, Mastodon, one of the guitarist said the record cost 500 000$ to produce, and he had absolutely no idea where the money was spent. it's fucked up, the whole music business is doing non sense shit. And it's pretty hard to unlock what they locked. On the other hand, i got the feeling that most of the new guitar bands, even very young acts, are more matured and witty than the average teenage bands from the 50s or 60s. I don't say that trying to undermine those bands from the early days of rock'n'roll, but it would be a bit silly for a new rock band to sing one thing such as "i hope i die before i get old" and having the purpose to carry the flame as long as possible, innit? If you look at bands such as Fontaines DC, they play straight rock'n'roll, but the point of the songs isn't obvious. I think guitar music has grown in a good way, and its meaning nowadays couldn't be further away from the corporate shit. Even in the 90s, the biggest bands all had a punk/DIY background, and i think this punk spirit is alive as ever, and cannot be accepted by the industry. One other last thing, i think rock'n'roll is getting stuck in the UK, US and in Europe because the music business is what we know. But in other parts of the world, where there's no such power from the dead suits up there, guitar bands are hot shit. Look at the crazy rock scene in western africa, guitar heroes such as Bombino or Mdou Moctar, they're just smoking players, and they are as known as top football players in their countries. Guitar music is growing all over the world, because it always will be one the strongest expression of being alive. I mean, watch the documentary "They Would Have to Kill Us First" about guitar music in Mali, where it was illegal to play guitar for years. The next wave of guitar music will rise from everywhere!

[@ThibaultKV]

Now i get back strumming the shit of G/D/Am7/C-Em/D/Am7/FM7.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks for that - yeah I agree Rock & Roll is worldwide and for everyone. I really do think the next wave is just around the corner. Cheers!