I'm with mirza on this one. Until the 80's and MIDI, bands were 100% live. Then we, as keyboard players, got the ability to do away with old fashioned drummers, bass players, even guitarists (a ton of 80's pop was all synth). We did solo acts with out DMX's or early MIDI sequencers, we embraced samplers to do drums and strings, horns etc., we had a really good run for a good 10 years or so.

But we opened the door to where we are now.

I'm sorry, but this sits squarely on US and our generation (if you played in the 80's).

But again, this is nothing new. Remember the first recording devices...? OK, the wax cylinder wasn't that big an issue, but the 78, and then the LP and the radio killed more bands than anything since. Back then, you either went to hear a live band, or you didn't hear music at all! Technology is a two edged sword.

Don't forget, the world is in a financial recession the likes of which hasn't been seen since the twenties. Everyone is tap dancing as fast as they can to deny it, but the pot got a LOT smaller recently. This is usually the time when new technology that makes entertainment cheaper gets widespread use.

But it's always a pendulum. We all pi$$ed our pants about DJ's killing the music industry in the late 70's disco era. It went away. Now it's back... It'll be gone again, in a while.

If you wait by the river long enough, the body of your enemy will float by...