Bon Jovi will be my son’s Led Zeppelin

I grew up in the 70’s.  I’ll save the What’s Happening jokes and Evel Knievel references for another post and keep this solely about the mystery and romance of radio.   During that time radio and basement listening, just like in That’ 70’s Show was the only way to get music.  Music didn’t get any better for the rock set than Led Zeppelin.  The other day I was driving, rocking out with the kids when I realized that Bon Jovi will be my son’s Led Zeppelin.

That is not heresy.  I’m not saying that Led Zeppelin is as good, talented or enjoyable as Bon Jovi.  Nor am I slighting Bon Jovi, whom many people enjoy much than Zeppelin.

Let’s go back in the time capsule to the early 80’s when radio had just discovered rock.  Led Zeppelin, especially Stairway to Heaven, was overplayed and caused Zeppelin burnout for a generation.  It hasn’t been until recently when I could listen to Led Zeppelin without being bored.  Now I can appreciate the talent behind it, especially on the deeper tracks.

In 8 years, when my sons are as old as I was during my formative years what music will they consider timeless?

At first thought it was Nirvana, but they’ll be trendy amongst the art crowd.  I have In utero on vinyl the hipsters will say.  After a bit of thought those hipsters will realize that Foo Fighters are a much better band than Nirvana ever was.

Sure the Foo Fighters could be my son’s Led Zeppelin, but I bet it’ll be Bon Jovi.

Bon Jovi is played on more radio stations, yet not overplayed on any of them.  Because of their broader appeal they’re not just segmented to the Modern Rock stations like some of the bands that could take the mantle.

In the late 70’s/early 80’s there were several rock bands that were good, but not as huge as Led Zeppelin.  Deep Purple is in that camp along with many others.

Today you hear a couple DP songs on the radio, that’s it.  Part of that is due to the segmented programming of radio and the massive growth of online radio.  However, on terrestrial radio you hear Bon Jovi on the top 40 station, the classic rock station and the oldies station.  By the time our sons are 14 they’ll know more than a dozen Bon Jovi songs and be asking for more.

In college when I was in radio my friends and I called this song You Give Rock a Bad Name.  We were music purists and saw Bon Jovi as low brow cheese that only girls and posers liked.   I’m still kind of music purist, but the vast majority of Bon Jovi’s music has aged very well.   That, plus their new music is all very good and they’re showing more range as they get older.

Bon Jovi will be my son’s Led Zeppelin and I’m OK with that.  Also, Kingdome Come was under rated and filled a much needed void in the mid 80’s.  They were Whitesnake with more compact songs.  And the US Music Festival beat the pants off of Woodstock for variety and bigger acts, but that is an argument for another day.