IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith spoke about the certain rock artists who are relying on pre-recorded tracks during their live performances.
Asked by the New York Post if he feels that a reliance on backing tracks is alarming, Smith said: “I tell you what, I see it with a lot of younger bands, and I don’t think it’s a good thing at all. I mean, the music is getting too technical now. You have computerized recording systems, which we use, but I think we use them more for convenience than because we need to.
“We’ve toured with a couple bands that use tapes — it’s not real. You’re supposed to play live; it should be live. I don’t agree with using tapes … I think it’s a real shame.”
In a recent interview with Consequence Of Sound, former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach talked about the artists who use pre-recorded tracks at their live shows, saying that “it’s becoming very rare” to see bands “not miming or doing silly moves while a tape is running.”
He said: “I don’t know how much longer I can say to you that I don’t use tapes onstage, because I don’t, and I never have. And I still don’t. I’m not going to for this tour. I feel like I’m one of the last people.
“When I have opening bands, and they’re using tapes, and then I come out and I don’t use tapes… sometimes, it makes me feel stupid, because I’m like, ‘What am I doing, when all these kids half my age can come onstage and do all of my moves, but they don’t have to warm up for an hour before the show, or weeks, before the first show?’ Sometimes, I’m like, ‘Why do I even bother, if the public is so used to this other way’?”
