The problem with Metallica is that they all decided to sober up, they had kids, and they lost their edge. When you watch "Some Kind Of Monster", and you see children in the studio, I knew it was all over. "Death Magnetic" is good, but no one cares anymore. In the past 10 years, they put out 2 albums (not including what is considered the worst album of 2011, possibly the worst album ever, the collaboration with Lou Reed).
Aerosmith is the same way. No new music in the past 10 years, just an album of covers.
An album of covers, or a greatest hits, is usually the death knell of a band, a sign they're done, exhausted all new material, they're throwing in the towel. Not always, but usually.
With Van Halen, the split with Sammy Hagar came when Eddie and Alex, along with their manager, decided they should put out a greatest hits album in 1996. Hagar said it was unnecessary, he felt it was ripping off their fans, because true VH fans already had all their albums and songs. And besides, a greatest hits album means you've got nothing new to offer. The Van Halen's overrode Sammy's objections, and to add insult to injury, they recorded a couple new songs (with Roth) to get the hardcore fans to buy the album. The album went to #1, but this caused the rift, damaged their reputation, and the Van Halen's decided to fire Hagar. It's been downhill ever since.
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My Bio: I am currently writing articles for POCI's Smoke Signals magazine and enjoy promoting and discussing the history of the Pontiac Motor Division.
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