Image via WikipediaWe've debated the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame here before and I think 90% of us agree that its pretty much a joke. Which is sad, because R&R deserves its own hall of fame. They need to change the name to the "Music Hall of Fame". Although, with all that said, I'd still love to visit the museum.
I took this directly from Dave White's Classic Rock Blog:
A sure sign of autumn: the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces its nominees for induction, and the debate resumes over the Rock Hall's relevance, and its puzzling definition of what rock is, and who has performed it or had some undefined "influence" on it. Well, they're nothing if not consistent. I'm sure you won't be surprised at the usual scarcity of rock artists among the latest crop of nominees:
• Jeff Beck
• Chic
• Wanda Jackson
• Little Anthony and The Imperials
• Metallica
• Run-D.M.C.
• The Stooges
• War
• Bobby Womack
Now that the nominating process is complete, the equally Machiavellian voting begins. Anybody who gets more than 50% of the votes cast gets the honor being able to buy a ticket to the induction ceremony early next year.
Hey, how about those legendary rockers like Chic, Wanda Jackson and Run-D.M.C.? I can't wait to read your comments!
• Jeff Beck
• Chic
• Wanda Jackson
• Little Anthony and The Imperials
• Metallica
• Run-D.M.C.
• The Stooges
• War
• Bobby Womack
Now that the nominating process is complete, the equally Machiavellian voting begins. Anybody who gets more than 50% of the votes cast gets the honor being able to buy a ticket to the induction ceremony early next year.
Hey, how about those legendary rockers like Chic, Wanda Jackson and Run-D.M.C.? I can't wait to read your comments!
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12 comments:
I'm in the "it's a joke" camp, but I do have one question; where the hell is RUSH?
Fool, that's the joke part :(
I think calling it the Rock Hall is a misnomer. That said I don't think anyone can argue the early blues and R&B artists going in. And, frankly, I like pop music as well. Perhaps they should nominate to the Music Hall of Fame and list genres.
That said, Stooges dammit.
I agree with Nobody's Fool. Where is Rush? Also, where is KISS? You want to tell me they didn't have a lasting influence on hard rock and heavy metal? Where's Genesis? Where's Yes? I'm beginning to wonder about the whole process...
Starr, this blog has been a bit dull lately cause you haven't been around to liven things up! Good comment, I agree.
Dr. J,
Well my top two favorite bands are in there so I don't care. JUST KIDDING! I do care. I think someone needs to start a new award based solely on the votes of the fans and has not ulterior motives or political agenda or BS such as that.
Who's Wanda Jackson? Who's Little Anthony and the Imperials? Who's Bobby Womack?
Shouldn't a hall of fame consist of inductees that most people have actually heard of?
My picks for this group: Metallica, Jeff Beck, The Stooges, and there MUST be a way to get Rush in there too. That leaves one more pick. Is Thin Lizzy in? Just off the top of my head, that's my fifth pick.
Wait a second, people still get in? I thought they included all they needed and just find ways to keep all the other undeserving bands and artists out, like King Crimson or Rush or Captain Beefheart, to name a few. Shame on me, I must be out of the loop. And apparently have no taste, either.
Since rock and roll is a generic title for a variety of musical genres, I don't have any problem with it being called The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. However, I sometimes wish they would change it to something like The Popular Music Hall of Fame. That way, we can end the tired "what is and what isn't rock and roll" debate and concentrate on musical merit and influence.
A few years ago, someone said that fans should have a hand in the nominating/voting process. I was against that then because what's to stop a brigade of Britney Spears fans from getting her inducted?! Since I learned about the bias of the nominating committee toward certain artists (which I wrote about in a post today), I now say that involving fans isn't such a bad idea.
If it's true (which I don't think it is) that most people have never heard of Wanda Jackson, Little Anthony and the Imperials, or Bobby Womack, that is a sad state of affairs.
Malcolm- in theory, involving fans sounds good, but all you have to do is look at the debacle otherwise known as the Baseball All-Star Game to see just how bad an idea that is. Ballot box stuffing, Internet voting, and dare I say it, the dumbing down of the American public renders this a moot point, I fear.
Nobody's Fool: In the post I wrote about the RRHOF yesterday, I linked to another post I wrote last year. It contains a letter from a former member of the RRHOF board stating the petty/faulty reasons why some artists weren't even considered. The former board member also relays a story about how The Moody Blues were knocked out of the box by the nominating committee.
When I orig. dismissed the idea of involving fans in the nominating/voting process, I was looking at it in a "worst case scenario" manner as you seem to be. As I mentioned in my previous comment, I used to feel that involving fans could lead to unworthy artists like Britney Spears getting inducted. However, when one considers the favoritism, cronyism and any other negative "ism" that's currently used to determine who is/isn't considered worthy of induction, I think we can all agree that a shakeup needs to take place.
Without question, involving all fans in the process is a bad idea. However, if the RRHOF Foundation randomly selected a small group of fans with paying memberships to the RRHOF and Museum, that might be a step in the right direction. Otherwise, what chance do you think a band like Rush has of getting nominated or inducted?
I've always felt those that should be inducted in the RARHOF should like "pioneers of influences". Otherwords,the ones who created ideas and passed it down for generations to come. It blows my mind that bands like Yes,Genesis,Rush,Blue Oyster Cult,and Kiss never made it.
Starrlight took the words right out of my mouth... MUSIC Hall of Fame
Russ/RF must be young not to know Little Anthony or Bobby Womack.
I think these people should be honored...But what about (thanks Starr) The Stooges, or (thanks Hatter) King Crimson
OH AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAYLA!
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