[QUOTE=Pochacco]
Johnny Rotten adapted just fine. Public Image Ltd was a viable (albeit fringy) band all through the 80’s.
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That is a good point. I thought of him after I posted the OP. I can’t see the band as a whole making it through. But Johnny Rotten, or Lydon, or whatever he’s calling himself did make it work.
Will Smith comes to mind, although he’s putting out music these days (that I know of). Successful as a rap artist in the eighties, solo career later on, also successful as an actor–he’s matured well and still manages to stay popular, but in different ways than when he was first starting out. Sort of an anti-Britney, who’s still shaking what she’s got (a little more this time), just like she was doing eight years ago.
[QUOTE=Big Bad Voodoo Lou]
I’d argue your stance on Johnny Cash. He made his most recent comeback and crossed over to an entirely new, young, hip audience when he recorded the American sessions with producer Rick Rubin, largely performing covers of modern rock and pop songs by U2, Depeche Mode, nine inch nails, the Beatles, and Nick Cave, to name a few. He was always an important presence in music, and always cool, but the five American albums really made him a household name again in the last few years of his life.
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I don’t see this as being in opposition to what was said earlier. What Cash did on those albums wasn’t really much different than what he’d always done. That’s what made the covers so noteworthy. The covers got him exposure to a new audience… but he didn’t pander to get that audience.
(also Cash had been doing similar covers on a few of his 80s records as well. Rubin should get the credit for helping choose ones that worked so well)
The Red Hot Chili Peppers. They started out way back in the early 80s with a mix of punk rock and quasi-rapping vocals, later incorporated funk, then veered into gritty, soulful alt rock, and have been consistently developing their style for about 25 years, which is a pretty damn good run if you ask me. Their latest album, I think, was kind of mediocre, but it was still good. I think Kiedis and Co. can be counted on to be making great music well into their old age.