Immediately after Tom Petty’s halftime performance at the Super Bowl ended, some friends and I tried to think of other artists who would be candidates for what’s essentially become the biggest platform for classic rockers to announce to Americans that, yes, they still exist and would like to be worthy of some of your dollars pronto. But with time ticking on and the pool of musicians who appeal to a great swath of Americans eroding by the day because of the increased fragmenting of the musical sphere and the classic-rocker demo getting, y’know, old, who can America’s TV programmers turn to in an effort to make their subjects stay seated on their couches for 20-plus minutes? After the jump, a poll: Who should be the frontrunner for next year’s Super Bowl halftime show, keeping in mind the ultraconservative post-Janet classic-rock leanings of the whole enterprise? (Also, if someone could tell us why no one thought to ask Van Halen what they were up to on Feb. 3 until about 10 minutes after the final note of “Runnin’ Down A Dream” rang out, that would be great. Seriously. Diamond Dave on the big stage? That would have been a show.)
[Photo: AP]
Weird Al
Yes Van Halen absolutely would have killed this year.
Next year? This is such a no brainer I can’t believe the suits haven’t thought of it yet: AC/DC!!!!
Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland
@DHMBIB: Interesting…
@FionaScrapple: Someone else on the Interwebs (can’t attribute, sorry) made the point that, if anything, the Super Bowl should be played during the intermission of a Zeppelin show.
Hannah Montana. It would bring in a whole new (very valuable) demographic.
Actually, can’t it be Prince again? Please?
Why not a band that young people like but play music that sunds like old, out of touch rockers, namely the Foo Fighters.
Although my vote until the end of time will be for The White Stripes, Arcade Fire or Kanye West.
@mhulot: If not Prince, how about the Time? (Remembering the post of the other day)
The Polyphonic Spree
Girls Aloud…
They didn’t pick Van Halen because there is always the chance they’ll break up right before the Super Bowl…I’m surprised the tour has help up this long
Eh. It’ll probably be Lenny Kravitz.
John Fogerty.
I can’t believe he’s not on the poll.
The worst part about that U2 performance was when the backdrop (w/all the WTC names) fell down. It gave the appearance of the towers falling again - which, just a few months after 9/11, was unnerving.
Um, Foghat. Duh.
Europe?
2 words: bon jovi
It would be ever so sharp to see Feist recreate her 1234 video with the entire crowd. Of course, at the end of the song the stadium would be empty.
That would be way too cool.
Bop! Boobzee boobzee bop! Biddy bop!
“Sunday Bloody Sunday” would kill at Super Bowl.
@Dead Air ummm Dead Air: Hummeleh bebeleh zeebeleh boobelah hummeleh bebeleh zeebeleh bop!
Man, I would love to see Neil up there. Or Cheap Trick.
We actually had the exact same discussion, and although U2 was a popular choice last night, I think Bruce might be the better choice. Or maybe Huey Lewis and the News.
i cannot believe you didn’t include my anal cunt suggestion.
Like it’s not gonna be Bob Seger.
Panic[!] At The Disco
Van fuckin’ Halen obviously, who should have been playing this year!
Supposedly Tom was the third choice this year, after Eagles and Bruce.
@pr0FF3ss0r_j3rkwh3at: Seger’s window closed when they didn’t let him play Super Bowl XL in Detroit.
Taylor Hicks
Bobcat Goldthwait doing standup with Emo Phillips as a reunited 4 Non Blondes play their one hit in the background.
@loudersoft:
Damn Straight! or maybe that little British blues four-piece, Lead something or other.
Nicole Scherzinger
U2 played the 2001 Super Bowl. There are plenty of other aging musicians that need recognition. And I’m voting for Grim Reaper.
In my opinion, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen are essentially the same thing, nice guys who can’t sing. Well, they do sing slightly better than Neil Young, who is NOT a nice guy.
Assuming that the New Kids entry is just a joke, that leaves Cheap Trick, U-2, and Van Halen. Any of those would be good, although I’d worry about Ed being drunk yet again, on a live gig. I’ve never seen Eddie van Halen play well, live. Of course, the Republican-minded, stuffed-suit, NFL (No-Fun-League) execs would probably prefer bands that keep it down, on the stage. Ed’s Jack Daniel’s bottle would hurt their image.
@Jon Can Dance: Only if they bring “Wolverine” with them.
@Jon Can Dance: Thanks, I was waiting for someone to point this out. To be exact, they played the 2001 season Superbowl, i.e. the one in January 2002. I.e., the first post-9/11 Superbowl.
Does no one remember the douche-chill-inducing moment when Bono flashed the American-flag lining of his jacket while the list of WTC names scrolled behind the band? Don’t mean to sound accusatory — I wouldn’t blame any of you for blocking it out.
@dennisobell: Well, I had blocked it out, but now the whole thing’s come back to me. Thanks for that!
@dennisobell: I liked it, except for that part. I thought they put on a good show. MLK was an interesting choice.
@Poubelle: Sorry.
@Lucas Jensen: I’m no U2-hater, but I didn’t think that performance was their finest moment.
@dennisobell: As a Pats fan I am embarrassed and ashamed. I will show myself out.
Lightning Bolt, who could set up on the grass in one corner of the stadium, nowhere near the empty and elaborate stage.