10 OLD 70s Bands That Should Retire RIGHT NOW!

Overview

The video argues that many legacy 1970s rock bands should stop touring because what audiences are now getting is increasingly “polished nostalgia” or a “licensed cover act,” rather than the original soul and key performers that made the music matter.

Key critiques by band

Chicago

• While surviving members (Robert Lamm, James Pankow) remain, the video claims the group’s true identity is gone without Peter Cetera (who left in 1985).
• Live clips are described as technically professional but “hollow,” with singers forced to imitate someone else’s defining voice.

REO Speedwagon

• Kevin Cronin is praised for consistent effort and stage presence.
• However, the video says his peak-era high-register power has declined.
• It also claims the band has shifted from energetic classics into a sluggish “victory lap” performance of older hits.

Bad Company

• The video suggests the live sound has softened after the loss of original elements—especially noting that Paul Rodgers’ rasp is now mostly a memory.
• It highlights Mick Ralphs’ 2016 stroke and absence from stage as a major historical gap.

Fleetwood Mac

• The current tour is framed as a tribute that feels misbranded because it lacks Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, and Christine McVie (died in 2022).
• The lineup is presented as competent, but marketed in a way that misleads fans expecting the “Rumours” era magic and soul.

Kansas

• Kansas is described as underrated and musically still skilled.
• But the video argues the spirit and distinctive progressive ambition have thinned since Steve Walsh left in 2014 for health reasons.
• Replacements may perform well, but the emotional/philosophical core of the sound is implied to be missing.

Cheap Trick

• Robin Zander is acknowledged for still having vocal ability.
• The video claims recent shows have reduced intensity—shifting from “dangerously fun” chaos to controlled professionalism.
• It argues the “danger” and unpredictability that once defined the band are no longer there.

Heart

• The video’s main point is brand confusion caused by the Wilson sisters’ long-running split.
• It claims Ann tours under the Heart name while Nancy does separate work.
• The result, according to the video, is fans paying for “roughly half a band,” turning a historic duo’s legacy into a kind of brand dispute.

America

• Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley are praised as genuinely warm and loving.
• But the video argues the live experience has become too subdued—voices and harmonies are described as intimate/fragile and sometimes hard to hear.
• Shows are portrayed as expensive “background music.”

Styx

• The video says Styx should have retired after a very public, messy split.
• Instead, it claims the band now functions as two separate touring acts (Shaw-led Styx vs. DeYoung solo).
• Fans are described as confused about which version they’re seeing.
• It emphasizes the absence of Dennis DeYoung’s voice as creating a large “DeYoung-shaped hole.”

Foreigner

• The video claims things have become “more surreal” since Mick Jones (founder/creative force) stopped touring as of 2024.
• It also says the band is touring without Lou Gramm or any founding member.
• With Kelly Hansen handling the role, the act is still framed as a licensed product/theatrical preservation of someone else’s career rather than the original band.

Overall conclusion

The commentator maintains that the music belongs in recordings, and that continued touring without key original members increasingly dismantles the legacy—“one shaky tour at a time.” They ask viewers whether the critique is too harsh or if a missing band should be added.

Presenters / contributors listed in the subtitles

• Robert Lamm
• James Pankow
• Peter Cetera
• Kevin Cronin
• Paul Rodgers
• Mick Ralphs
• Stevie Nicks
• Mick Fleetwood
• Christine McVie
• Steve Walsh
• Robin Zander
• Rick Nielsen
• Ann Wilson
• Nancy Wilson
• Dewey Bunnell
• Gerry Beckley
• Dennis DeYoung
• Mick Jones
• Lou Gramm
• Kelly Hansen