Bob Geldof: 'Establishment kills rock music'

Bob Geldof has contended that rock 'n' roll must oppose the established order in society in order to remain viable.

While delivering the keynote address at the South By Southwest musical festival, where he also was awarded the 'Groupies' Choice Award', the 'Dazzled By You' singer expressed his opinion that musicians must seek to subvert moral restrictions.

"Rock 'n' roll needs to be against something," Geldof said. "It always needs a function in which to function."

The former Boomtown Rats frontman added: "There will always be great songs that don't suggest anything other than being a great song. But where are our Ramones or our [Sex] Pistols today? Do we need them? Yes is the answer. Will they be found? Maybe not."

The rocker went on to challenge today's popular musicians to take defined stances on the most vexing problems facing the world.

He explained: "I don't hear the disgust in the music. It doesn't have to be literal, it can be suggested. Can you imagine the '60s without the bands interpreting the fast-moving agenda of the times?

"Maybe this hyper democracy of the Web simply gives the illusion of talent ... Everybody has got the means to say anything they want, but nobody has anything to say."

Geldof, who recently suggested that he no longer cares about success, released his fifth solo studio album How to Compose Popular Songs That Will Sell in February.

Last year, the singer revealed that he has grown tired of hearing his own 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' each holiday season.