January 4, 2012 21:33

The Black Keys: 'Rock and roll is dying because people became OK with Nickelback'

Drummer Patrick Carney admits there's nothing worse than trying to be the 'biggest rock band in the world'

Photo: John Peets/Press

The Black Keys have admitted they believe rock and roll is dying.

Drummer Patrick Carney claims there's a lull in guitar groups coming to the fore at the moment, blaming Nickelback for its decline.

He told Rolling Stone:

Rock and roll is dying because people became OK with Nickelback being the biggest band in the world.

Carney added: "So they became OK with the idea that the biggest rock band in the world is always going to be shit - therefore you should never try to be the biggest rock band in the world. Fuck that.

"Rock and roll is the music I feel the most passionately about, and I don't like to see it fucking ruined and spoon-fed down our throats in this watered-down, post-grunge crap, horrendous shit."

His comments come after Kasabian also recently admitted there is a "drought" of rock'n'roll bands in the UK charts because guitar groups are "frightened" of making more interesting records.

You can watch the video for The Black Keys's latest single 'Lonely Boy' by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and clicking.

They are due to play a one-off London show as part of the 2012 NME Awards Shows.

The band will headline London's Alexandra Palace on February 11. To check the availability of NME Awards London Shows tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0844 858 6765.