The Secret is Revealed
Yes, last Saturday The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame released its 15 nominees for induction in the class of 2024.
My column a few weeks ago previewed a few of the nominees and I was pretty close but not perfect on who would be on the ballot.
As I do every year I will go down the list and give my opinion about the nominees.
Before I start I want to just say (again) that the R&R HOF nominating committee are a bunch of clowns. I know that they want to be more inclusive but there are just some artists that should not be included. I could care less what gender, color, ethnic background the artists come from, great Rock and Roll is great Rock and Roll. Why force the issue by making sure you induct certain artists?
Let me start with my first fingernail on the blackboard artist, Cher. Riddle me this. Why put Cher in and not nominate Sonny and Cher? Cher is what Cher is. What she isn’t however, is Rock and Roll. Because she was married to Greg Allman doesn’t grant her entry or even a place on the nomination list. Stop forcing these mediocre singers who did little and said even less down our throats. Def NO.
While her voice drips with honey, I can not say Mariah Carey belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I am not saying she was not talented and a very entertaining performer but Rock and Roll, not even close. A big 7 octave NO.
I have already voiced my opinion on Sinéad O'Connor. One song (maybe two) does not mean you are a legend. Def No. Although this organization will vote her in, postumously. That’s just how it is.
Mary J Blige? No. I like her and I do think she is talented and she has a great story but is she Rock and Roll? No, she isn’t. She barely steals Rock and Roll riffs, how could she be connected? Def no.
Eric B and Rakim. In their world, Hip Hop and Rap, they are legend. Rock and Roll not so much. However, you do hear some Rock and Roll influence in their beats but they aren’t Rock and Rollers. A soft no.
Sade? Come on now. I love her voice but I hardly think her breadth of work is worthy of inclusion. Listening to her catalog I got the impression she was telling the same story five different ways with some interesting arragements. I say no but if she gets in it won’t be the worst move ever.
I have covered The Dave Matthews band and Peter Frampton previously. Both should be in and it’s a shame that neither was elected earlier and Kate Bush was.
A Tribe Called Quest can gain entry and I would not be upset. These guys are so unusual in Rap and Hip Hop that they stand out. The production and arrangements on most of their recordings are excellent and lyrically, I think if these guys wanted to play Rock and Roll, they could easily do it. I say yes, sue me.
Ozzy Osbourne. I mean if he isn’t Rock and Roll, who is? However, as much as Ozzy typifies that Rock and Roll we all know and love I think you have to look back at his solo work. He released over 15 studio albums and having parsed through them over the years, I would have to say they weren’t very good but he did write 80% of all the tracks and he has toured off and on for 20 years as Ozzy in Ozzfest. I think he should be voted in just for his resilience. This guy is the Jake Lamotta of the Rock and Roll world. Cut me Mickey (Wrong reference, oops) put me back in. He should be in and I would pay to see his acceptance speech and performance.
Oasis is an interesting nominee. Once thought to be “The Next Big Thing” in Rock and Roll, they imploded because the Brothers Gallagher did not like each other. I was never a fan (except for “Merry Christmas”) and never really got the whole who ha about these guys. Maybe they get voted in so we can watch Noel and Lliam battle it out on stage. I say No.
Foreigner is another borderline group. On the one hand I think their catalog and their popularity during their heyday should warrant inclusion, yet, I just don’t think they were as good as everyone says they were. Maybe I am being too hard and just because I become violently ill every time I heard “Urgent” or “Juke Box Hero”, I am not being fair. I say they get in, because they really were the most popular band in the World for maybe 3 years in the late 70’s. This is a case of popularity and quality are divergent.
Lenny Kravitz? It’s like you took advice from 10 dead rock stars, pieced them together and made a single person posing as a super rock star. The guy plays this rock thing to the hilt with very little actual substance behind the persona. If he didn;t posture so much and actually got down to writing credible music over a consistant time frame I might consider him but he sucks and his act is worn out and he needs to focus on interior design and stop wearing leather and dumb looking hats and pretending to be something he was not and will never be. A hard NO.
I am going to do a toss up with Kool and The Gang. Yes, it was disco and mostly wedding band music but they were actually a very talented band and wrote almost everything they performed. No, they are not Rock and Roll and I would have to say No but if they snuck in, that would be some party in Cleveland when they get up on stage.
Janes Addiction is a secret favorite of mine. I think Perry Farrel has an incredible voice and Dave Navarro is an excellent guitarist. I think if you want a template for a rock and roll band in the 90’s, these guys would be the perfect band. No holes barred shows, excessive drug use, rehabilitation and eventually arena performers. Not sure the catalog matches my feelings however and if they don’t get it, I would be ok with it. Here is a case were quality is important and I just don’t think they have enough quality in their history.
So that’s the list. Another year goes by and they force crap down our throats and leave great Rock and Roll in the wind. I thought with the turnover at the top they would start taking a hard look at what dilution is doing to the museum. I have always felt that it should honor greatness and talent in Rock and Roll first. Influencers second. Because you steal a riff or two and sell a million records does not make you a Rock and Roll player, it makes you a sampler.