Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt has expressed his confidence in the future of rock amidst the growing influence of artificial intelligence on music. In an interview with Metal Journal , the Portuguese musician argued that AI, despite its advancements, will never be able to replicate the essence of rock and roll.
Bettencourt highlighted that the history of rock demonstrates a resistance to technological change. “Look at all the technology that has arrived since the 1930s,” he said. “What has changed in the guitar? Nothing. Zero. What has changed in a drum kit? Nothing. What has changed in a bass guitar? Nothing.” According to the guitarist, the fundamental elements of rock – guitar, drums, bass, and the human voice – remain unchanged, regardless of technological advancements.
See the full interview at the following link:
Imperfection as a trademark
For Bettencourt, the essence of rock lies in its imperfection. “Rock is broken. It’s not artificial. It’s not perfect,” he stated. “That’s what makes us shine. That’s the danger of it.” The guitarist used Led Zeppelin as an example, highlighting that the band didn’t sound the same every night. This unpredictability and the energy transmitted live are elements that, according to him, AI will never be able to replicate.
Although skeptical about AI's ability to dominate rock music, the guitarist acknowledges that the new technology could have a positive impact on the genre. "The more sterilized pop music becomes – which it always has been for the last 10, 20 years – and the more Auto-Tune and everything else, the bigger rock and roll will be," he stated.
READ ALSO : Nuno Bettencourt refused an invitation to play with Ozzy and 3 weeks later his band broke up.
