Can Rock ever again be (truly) culturally relevant?

Which reminds me!!
You know, Aerosmith coulda RETURNED the favor!!!
By the '90's, Run-DMC couldn't get ARRESTED!
They couldv'e AT LEAST did a cover version of a Run-DMC song, while they were living high on the charts then!

 

But, the Aerosmith/Run D-M-C collaboration angered a LOT of rockers back in the mid-80s. They were too blind to see that rap and rock music have more in common with each other than rap has with R&B as far as execution, energy, and rebellion are concerned.

You are right about Blondie, though. The rap crowd hardly acknowledged "Rapture". It was the rock and pop fans who thought it was the latest and greatest thing. Even today, you've got people running around thinking that Blondie started rap music.

 

"Rock Box" would be perfect.

 

Over the summer, I saw Blondie (for the first time) at one of those nominally-priced summer outdoor shows. The obviously did perform that tune, but not in the exact same style as the single. So, they apparently don't even present it as some sort of important blend of rap and rock. Maybe some of that was attributed to the production of the time, but it always seemed like Blondie's influence was way overstated in this respect.

 

I don't think Rock is dead but it's definitely lost its place in the mainstream.

 

It's been here for the last 60+ years; why should it go now?