So every year about this time every rock writer or critic
gets riled up over the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame inductions. Who is in, who
isn’t, and who needs to be?
The ceremony was just held. The inductees for 2011 included
Alice Cooper, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Darlene Love, Tom Waits, Jac Holzman, Art
Rupe, and Leon Russell.
According to the official
Rock Hall
website, “The 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performer inductees were
chosen by more than 500 voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Foundation. Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame 25 years after the release of their first recording.”
I’m actually not a huge fan of the whole concept, but the
debate is interesting. Plus I like to see who shows up and who doesn’t, who
buries the hatchet, and who still holds a grudge.
I think in the past I was happiest to see The Ramones and
The Clash inducted, sadly after the deaths of Ramones front man Joey Ramone and
Clash front man Joe Strummer.
The “rock n roll” definition seems to be broad. There’s been
an argument against rap bands, and pop singers like Madonna. This year the big
uproar was over Neil Diamond. I suspect the issues are slightly over the
question of rock n roll credibility, but more so that certain artists have been
inducted before certain other more rock-n-roll artists.
Yes, some of the obvious are already inducted: The Beatles,
The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, The Who, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie. Pioneers
like James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Robert Johnson,
Sam Phillips. The list does go on…
But who should be there who is not? Who should just have
been let past the velvet rope without a ticket?
Kiss and Rush always top the list of who should be in. The
travesty of Alice Cooper not being in was rectified this year. Few bands may
have been more influential and groundbreaking than Kiss. I saw them on TV on
the Paul Lynde show in 1976 and it may have warped me for life.
Rush are probably the most well known “prog rock” band with
a legion of rabid followers, and huge influence. Who doesn’t love “Tom Sawyer,”
the Canadian “Stairway to Heaven?” Who hasn’t air drummed to it at least once
in their life?
Now of course we’re venturing down a dangerous highway here,
open for heated debate. After a little research though, I’ve found some bands
that have been snubbed for years. I’m going more based on influence and lasting
impact than anything else.
If you look at the 70’s alone, how about Styx, Chicago,
Boston, and the Moodie Blues? I mean the epic guitar solos alone helped launch
the punk movement, but certainly these bands are giants of their decade.
Where’s Cheap Trick, Deep Purple, ZZ Top? T Rex and Roxy Music, along with
Bowie basically launched new wave. What about Chic?
Speaking of new wave and the 80’s, what about bands like
Duran Duran, the Cure, Depeche Mode, The Smiths? Don’t worry, U2 are already
in. Bono kept showing up to the all-star jams so they got rushed through the
process.
As far as punk, where are the Runaways, Dead Kennedys, Bad
Brains, Devo, and X? Talk about bands that launched 1,000 other bands!
Where are metal gods like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest,
Motorhead, and Dio? At least Black Sabbath, AC/DC and Metallica are in.
Well it’s obviously not a popularity contest, so what is the
process? According to the
Rock Hall site,
“One of the Foundation’s many functions is to recognize the contributions of
those who have had a significant impact on the evolution, development and
perpetuation of rock and roll by inducting them into the Hall of Fame.”
I think a lot of artists see the Rock Hall as kind of a
sham, but many of those same artists will still show up if inducted. I suppose
the recognition is nice, however late it comes.
Let’s start with Kiss and Rush, maybe next year?
No comments:
Post a Comment