Prince performing at Super Bowl XLI. The greatest?
For more than a decade, classic rock fans were spoiled when the NFL began a great run of the genre’s greats during the coveted Super Bowl halftime show. In 1997, a somewhat oddball combination of the Blues Brothers, ZZ Top and James Brown performed. In 2000, Phil Collins shared the bill with a number of pop stars. Then, in three straight years, we got Aerosmith (2001), U2 (2002) and Sting (2003).
After Super Bowl XXXVIII featured a variety of acts including Janet Jackson’s infamous “wardrobe malfunction” (with Justin Timberlake), rock stars returned: Paul McCartney (2005), the Rolling Stones (2006), Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (2008), Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (2009) and The Who (2010).
Sandwiched in between was Prince‘s electrifying performance during Super Bowl XLI at rain-drenched Dolphin Stadium in 2007.
In recent years, however, the NFL has reverted to using more mainstream acts. Justin Timberlake headlined Super Bowl LII in 2018. The past few games have featured such pop stars as Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Katy Perry and the Black Eyed Peas.
The league finally confirmed on Jan. 13, that Maroon 5 will be the halftime entertainment at Super Bowl LIII. They’ll be joined by rapper Travis Scott as well as Outkast’s Big Boi. The game will take place on February 3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. and televised nationally by CBS. The group, led by lead vocalist, Adam Levine, has sold a reported 75 million records. Two of their albums and three of their singles – including 2011’s collaboration with Christina Aguilera, “Moves Like Jagger” – have reached #1 in the U.S.
Multiple reports arose back on Sept. 19 that Maroon 5 was the league’s choice. Many artists have reportedly balked at performing at the high-profile showcase, given the NFL’s controversial handling of quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s taking a knee to protest social injustice.
Watch Gladys Knight’s elegant rendition of the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl LIII
Did you see that wild Audi commercial? Bravo…
Separately, Aerosmith headlined the NFL’s first Music Fest during Super Bowl weekend.
Listen to Maroon 5’s cover of Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day”
Watch Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers rock Super Bowl XLII
For years the NFL’s Super Bowl halftime entertainment featured an assortment of middle-of-the-road productions with less-than-stellar talent. At Super Bowl XI in Pasadena in 1977, for instance, the theme was “It’s a Small World,” which featured the Los Angeles Unified All City Band. In 1984, for Super Bowl XVIII at Tampa Stadium, it was “Salute to Superstars of the Silver Screen,” which included “Hooray for Hollywood” and “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”
Watch the Stones perform in 2006
Related: One of our favorite Super Bowl commercials of all-time
Look at the bright side: The choice for 2019’s game will thus afford classic rock fans to have extra time to take a bathroom break at halftime.
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2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationLooks like it WILL be toilet break time when Marooned on the Toilet 5 play!
75 Million Records? Who buys this drivel?