As you know by now, I have taken issue with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland regarding their selections. I have definitely mellowed with respect to The Hollies and ABBA but I still don’t get Madonna and Whitney Houston. Or N.W.A. or Notorious B.I.G. And Tupac. How are they even remotely considered Rock and Roll?
Bring a wider audience? Why? It’s a museum, not a theme park and you want to celebrate all the things that make Rock and Roll great, not pander to an audience you might want.
This years list is even more head scratching than usual.
Now I like Dolly Parton very much. She is a talented performer with a huge heart and she should be celebrated in every way possible. However, she is not Rock and Roll, never has been, never will be. Pop and Country and she is the queen but in Rock and Roll, sorry, it is a huge stretch.
A Tribe Called Quest isn’t that much of a stretch because if you ever listen to them, a lot of the samples and breaks are based on rock and it is obvious, they have listened and learned their craft from a lot of different genres. Similar to the Beasty Boys, I can give these guys a pass but not Lionel Ritchie. Sorry, he is as far removed from Rock as Dolly Parton is and it’s just a huge stretch.
Eminem is another of those dubious choices. I know he stands out as this Rap and Hip hop legend but he doesn’t meet my minimal standards as far as entry into the Hall. Plus, I think he is a poser. Guy is a multimillionaire and he raps about life with a gun under his pillow fighting for scraps in a World that doesn’t see him. Uh, that might have been thirty years ago. Enough already.
While I like Pat Benatar and The Eurythmics, I am really not sure if their full body of work was all that good. I felt the same way about Joan Jett back in 2015.
Same goes for The New York Dolls and Beck. Talented and tradition breaking I suppose carries some weight so I wouldn’t be so pissy if they got in.
Carly Simon and Dionne Warwick would also pass my litmus test. Long, successful careers and while they weren’t true rockers, the roles they played in music history really can’t be ignored.
Judas Priest, while never a fan, I am pretty sure there are 12 million Priest fans out there that could make a case for entry. Too bad most of them don’t know how to use a computer to vote or these guys would have been in years ago.
MC5? That’s a big question mark. Number one, I don’t think I have heard a song these guys did yet almost every Rock and Roll person in the Midwest think that Rock and Roll did not start until MC5 started, yet they can’t get elected in.
Devo? Another group, while unique, maybe had one album that actually sold and they faded into some VH1 History of the 80’s show and were never heard from again.
Fela Kuti might be the least known of any nominee of any sort, anywhere. I had to look the guy up on Google and I read his bio and I still don’t know why he would be on this list. Guess they are trying to develop a following in Lagos Nigeria, where he remains an icon.
The last two, Duran Duran and Rage Against the Machine sit at two different parts of the Spectrum. Duran Duran, poppy, sappy almost like an English Boy Band at times should eventually get in. I never thought they were particularly talented but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like “Girls on Film”. Rage Against the Machine, like Lincoln Park, basically destroy your eardrums while trying to actually say something important. I will just say this, they will get in, even though the popular vote may not be on their side. They have Tom Morello on lead guitar and Tom is very good friends with Bruce Springsteen and the Hall loves Bruce and if Bruce calls up and says I’d love to see Rage get in and I would like to present them, they will get in. You can’t really argue with that though. They have been around a long time, they have a very loyal following and they play rock and roll, period.
Now for what they missed, as usual. To start with, The J.Giels Band. I have only said it a dozen times and I will say it another dozen times. You put in mediocrity like The Go Go’s but yet one of the all time best party bands is left outside the door. Another artist that missed his entry was Warren Zevon. I am not a huge fan of that angst riden California sound but Zevon was different. His lyrics were funny, irreverent at times and almost always perfect. His career might have been shorter than the world would have wanted but what he did put out was excellent.
The Stone Roses, which I don’t think were ever put on a ballot should have had a shot. An English band that has been around since the Mid 80’s, they were very popular in England and had some success in the US. While they had few hits, they did produce some very interesting stuff but I guess thats not good enough for the Rock Hall.
Now this might be a stretch because as you well know, Rock and Roll did not exist during the mid 80’s to late 90’s (probably later) other than some crap by Aerosmith so suggesting that groups like New Order, Ministry, Joy Division and LCD Soundsystem have any shot is scandalous. While they all had success, it was never sustained and that seems to put off the people in Cleveland. Yet, Devo is nominated. Go figure.
Lastly, Jethro Tull should be in. They should have been in before Journey, before Kraftwork, before Pearl Jam for God’s sake. Dismissed because of their one hit wonder status and the schtick they created. Critics disliked them, yet they sold 70 million records. How could they not be in?
One last comment. The Hall of Fame is a great place to visit for sure. You literally could spend all day there and totally enjoy every minute. It is a quality museum in every respect. I will give you an example of how cool this place can be. I went there several years ago and I heard Bangladesh by George Harrison playing in a small theater. Two hours later I came out of that theater having seen “The Concert for Bangladesh” in surround sound and wrap around. It was an immersive experience like no other. Thats what you get when you go there. My problem is not with the museum itself, it’s with those people involved in nominating and deciding who gets in and who doesn’t. I know it’s political and Jann Wenner has a big say who is in and who isn’t but still, don’t they see that some of their inductees and nominees just don’t belong?
I think they want to expand the base to something it was never intended.
Does the Country music Hall of Fame have Metallica or Grand Funk Railroad. No. They know who they are and what they are celebrating.
Very good article and plenty of spot on points and Thank You for addressing the "political" aspect;(
Maybe a name change is in order, instead of R&R? seems "anyone" who meets there criteria is eligible..........