Rock Is Dead

Album: Aggressive (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The title of this song may imply what some people argue is the current state of rock music, but Beartooth's frontman Caleb Shomo makes it clear that this tune actually celebrates the genre when he boldly screams at the end of the chorus, "If rock and roll's dead, you can kill me right now."
  • In his Songfacts interview, Shomo spoke about this song's meaning. "It's just about my love for rock and roll and how I don't know what I would be doing in my life without it," he said. "When there are rock festivals where there are sometimes 120,000 people and they're all sold out and they're epic, I think rock is alive and well, and hopefully it stays that way."
  • Shomo continued to reveal the lyrical interpretation of this track in an album commentary for Spotify. "'Rock Is Dead' is just a fun song," he said. "I love rock and roll and it's just about how rock and roll music is the one thing I've always had and I've always leaned on. It's my emotional outlet. It is my true passion in life. I just love rock and roll so I made a ridiculous rock song with crazy drums that are doing fills every two seconds and ridiculous guitar riffs and bending strings trying to break them. It's just to me a fun, kind of lighter way to end the full-band side of the record."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.