Whatever happened to live album jams?

I'm a live album mega-fanatic, particularly of those from the 70s. What was so great about albums like Tokyo Tapes, Made In Japan, Live Killers, KISS Alive!, and so many others was that the bands played around with their songs. Jams often got excessive, but isn't that what rock'n'roll was/is about?

I understand that times have changed, but why do so few bands keep this tradition alive?

People today seem to have a shorter attention spans than they did back in the day. The average political ad has been shortened greatly in the last 40 years. After about 5 minutes, people start to zone out.

Because jamming requires that you understand music and the musicians you're playing with. I assume bands simply can't pull it off like they used to. You can't learn this stuff from Guitar for Dummies.

When bands like Wishbone Ash or Status Quo or (my fave) Epitaph would fire up the twin guitars and drive the song down the stretch I go straight to heaven. Jams are alive and well at my house anyway.

Eyesore wrote:

Because jamming requires that you understand music and the musicians you're playing with. I assume bands simply can't pull it off like they used to. You can't learn this stuff from Guitar for Dummies.

Very well stated! On a related note, I am listening to Rainbow Live in Germany and they have been jamming this one song for so long I forgot what song it was? Stargazer, I think.

I'm about to be "skewered in the belly" ( ) but I hate the extended jam. Hate. I'm using the word hate. About extended jams. Hate.


O.K., that was going over-board, but I really don't care for it. I like 3-5.5 minute songs.

I love hearing bands jam if they are good at it say like Dream Theater, i'm not into bands that seem to jam the same thing every song say like The Allman Brothers. Bring the shred on any day..

Eyesore wrote:

Because jamming requires that you understand music and the musicians you're playing with. I assume bands simply can't pull it off like they used to. You can't learn this stuff from Guitar for Dummies.

you cant learn anything from guitar for dummies. i know ive tried

Live album pwns!