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September 27, 2011Editor’s note: Not exactly a sports-related post, but with the release of today’s nominees, it’s not a bad time to break into a bit of a music discussion as we do on occasion.
Every year, the list of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees is greeted with some thoughtful analysis and criticism. The continued mishandling of Rush’s lack of induction typically draws the ire of Clevelander’s given the band’s history with 100.7 FM WMMS. Then you have the induction of bands or individuals whom may have had little traction in terms of mainstream recognition, but have had an impact on the way music is played and/or heard today.
That said, with the induction ceremony returning to Cleveland’s Public Hall this coming Spring, the list of potential inductees is littered with names which will – at least one day – grace the walls of the lakeside museum.
Beastie Boys | The Cure | Donovan | Eric B. & Rakim | Guns ‘N Roses | Heart | Joan Jett and The Blackhearts | Freddie King | Laura Nyro | Red Hot Chili Peppers | Rufus with Chaka Khan | The Small Faces/The Faces | The Spinners | Donna Summer | War
Unlike the professional sports, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame does not necessitate one being out of the scene for several years before making the list. Bands like the Beastie Boys and Red Hot Chili Peppers released albums as recent as this year; then again, Blood Sugar Sex Majik came out 20 years ago. Slash from Guns N’ Roses is fresh off of the Charlie Sheen roast from last week. War will always hold a special place in my heart thanks to the intro to Up in Smoke as well as Dazed and Confused.
As Michael Gallucci said over at Cleveland Scene, the Hall tends to have a ‘one rap group’ limitation per year, meaning that New York’s vote could be split and the Beasties could conceivably steal the induction from pioneer group Eric B. and Rakim. Could both Joan Jett and Heart get the nod? The Cure has to be a lock, right?
What say you, music heads? Who gets the nod? Who’s Waiting For Next Year?
46 Comments
Beastie Boys | yes
The Cure | no
Donovan | maybe
Eric B. & Rakim | who
Guns ‘N Roses | yes
Heart | no
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts | no
Freddie King | who
Laura Nyro | who
Red Hot Chili Peppers | yes
Rufus with Chaka Khan | yes
The Small Faces/The Faces | yes
The Spinners | yes
Donna Summer | no
War | yes
ps — i visited cleveland for the first time in decades in august. brought my son out to tour tOSU and piggybacked a visit to cleveland. we caught games at CBS (good) and the jake (great). but the sleeper great take was the Rock Hall. we were just looking for a way to kill a monday before the tribe game. WHAT A GREAT TAKE! i hope all you natives make the most of that resource.
pps — i dont know eric b /rakim but i dont see how that should impact the beasties or that they would be ‘stealing’ from a rap pioneer. beasties’ worthiness stands on its own.
It never ceases to amaze me that they still haven’t nominated RUSH to the Rock Hall. It should be RUSH or nothing. Pretty much all of those bands are lousy. They don’t call it the hall of shame for nothing.
I agree with the hand-wringing over Rush, but here’s an equally snubbed band. Boston. Ridiculous that they’re not in by now.
Speaking of snubbed bands, when is Right Said Fred eligible?
You’ve got to be pretty, pretty “sheltered” to not know who Eric B & Rakim are. Rakim fathered your favorite rapper’s style.
“You’ve got to be pretty, pretty “sheltered” to not know who Eric B & Rakim are.”
This.
That said, I’m not sure they make it this year despite how much they deserve it.
That’s a pretty power-packed list. I would’ve thought some of those acts were already in. Is there a limit to how many can go in in one year?
It seems to vary – last year, there were eight. In 2010, there were 11. Nine in 2009.
Blood Sugar Sex Majik came out 20 years ago.
I don’t come to your blog to be made to feel old! lol
Is the Wu-Tang Clan in?
No, but if you’re looking for Shoalin-type style, Ike Turner is.
Where the hell is RUSH?!?!?!?!?!
RUSH probably has not been nominated due to the fact that they are the worst band ever on the planet. this has been proved by multiple scientific studies. there is not a more terrible band ever to assemble on planet earth than RUSH. 99.9% of the human population as well as 4 out of 5 dentists, says they would rather be stricken with the ebola virus instead of having to listen to one single note of a RUSH song or a single annoying lyric of mr. geddy lee.
Another name to add to the list of constant snubs besides Rush and Boston is KISS. Say what you will about their music, but their impact and influence on rock cannot be ignored.
As for this year’s class I would say RHCP, GNR, Joan Jett, and the Beastie Boys should be locks while the rest are iffy.
Don’t sweat the technique.
That is all.
And Rush is overdue for the HoF like the Browns are overdue for a Super Bowl appearance.
The Chili Peppers have no business being on this list. They’ve done nothing but regress since BSSM.
Well the Beasties are the no-brainer of this list. I could tolerate debates about any of the rest, though I’m giving the nod to the Peppers and GnR for sure. And not knowing Eric B. & Rakim? That’s a touch embarrassing, assuming one is familiar with the rap genre in general. They get my approval as well.
And yes, needs more Rush.
@7doc — what can i tell you.. i’m old and i’m not urban anymore but i was there when grandmaster flash changed it all with The Message.
lol at rap snobbery.
If GNR and The Faces get in together I may have to find a way to see that induction ceremony
While you don’t have to be “out of the scene” to be nominated, it does have the be 25 years since your first record. (most people probably know this, but it wasn’t mentioned…so I thought I would add it for the record…)
As far as that list is concerned, The Beastie Boys, Heart, and Guns n’ Roses are the three I would vote for…(and Rush)
the cure
A list of additional big snubs:
T. Rex, the Smiths, Yes, Jethro Tull, Devo, Todd Rundgren, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Roxy Music, Willie Nelson, Warren Zevon, the Replacements, ELO, Chubby Checker, Los Lobos, Black Flag, X, the B-52s, Captain Beefheart, Sonic Youth, and the Go-Go’s.
Just to name a few.
@MaimLarry – Black Flag. Yes.
Rush not getting is a complete joke. They are much more talented than any of those other groups. Since when is Beastie Boys a real rock band. Rush are master magicians and anyone cannot say otherwise. RUSH
Oops, damn auto-correct. Musicians not magicians.
Unnecessary fact about my coming of age as a writer… I got my first published article ever anywhere in the Cleveland Plain Dealer student section when I submitted a review for the RHCP album “One Hot Minute.”
I know a lot of people slam that album, but I still love it. I would totally put the Chili Peppers in just based on BSSM, and Soul to Squeeze, let alone the millions upon millions of albums and concert tickets sold. Love that band, even as they got more and more radio friendly over the years.
I continue to not understand how they define the Rock & Roll genre.
Hey Matt Underwood,
Your take on why Rush hasn’t been nominated is neither humorous or witty. Your dribble proves that you have no idea what you’re talking about. You’re probably Jann Wenner’s shoe shine boy… You don’t have to like their music, but anybody with any knowledge of music at least appreciates their talent and influence on music for generations to come (except of course the ballot holders for the RRHOF) You can go back to listening to your Beiber CDs now.
It’s a grey area due to the fact that they’re willing to include those who had an impact on Rock and Roll as well.
Yes. Jon Anderson, Steve Howe (not that Steve Howe!), Rick Wakeman, Chris Squire, Bill Bruford.
Yes (1969)
Time and a Word (1970)
The Yes Album (1971)
Fragile (1971)
Close to the Edge (1972)
Yessongs (live) (1973)
Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973)
Relayer (1974)
How are they not even nominated? Guns ‘N Roses has what, one album (the great Appetite for Destruction)and an erratic lead singer? I concede Slash.
And Rush should kneel before Yes and thank them for leading the way for complex science fiction and fantasy progressive rock to gain a foothold in the rock world
Have the Sex Pistols ever made it in? And what about Motorhead and Slayer?
@24 yes to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Willie, and the Smiths for sure, and you have several others with good arguments there.
@17:
“And Rush is overdue for the HoF like the Browns are overdue for a Super Bowl appearance.”
…because they totally haven’t earned it?
With all due respect to Rush, Yes, Kiss, and all the other snubs, there’s one band that needs in before all of them: Deep Purple. Machine Head was just as influential an album in Hard Rock as Paranoid or Zeppelin IV, and they have dozens of great songs outside of that album.
Also, and I know I’m being old fashioned here, but I don’t agree with the inclusion of the rap and disco groups in the RRHOF. The pop megastars, I’m fine with. And I’m fine with some of the hybrid acts like the Beastie Boys. But it should at least be confined to those groups that had an influence on rock music. Otherwise, it’s just the Music Hall of Fame.
Anyone notice how this discussion is bit more civil than the usual “is it the QB or the WRs or the coaches or the front office or the OL or the play calling” stuff? This is nice.
Who did KISS influence? Good question…. ICP?
http://www.futurerocklegends.com/index.php
Very good website listing who’s in, who should be, who isn’t, and will be eligible in coming years.
KISS ia an interesting discussion…they weren’t very good musically, but their theatrics and stage show are pretty legendary. I probably wouldn’t argue if they got in, but I’m not sure I would vote for them.
Some other notable snubs: Bad Company, Chicago, Deep Purple, Def Leppard, ELO, Gram Parsons, Iron Maiden, Moody Blues…
@32 – You’d be surprised… Weezer, to name one.
@11 – EXACTLY!
I’m not really a fan of Jethro Tull, but how are they not in? On Sirius’ Classic Vinyl station, you can barely go an hour without hearing one of their songs (and the jazz flute!), and it’s usually not Aqualung.
Also, Rush may have been the best concert I’ve ever “heard” (at the Gund in 96, I think). The show itself wasn’t amazing, but the sound was like it was being played from a cd. Very tight.
Eric B / Rakim – definite yes. Eric B’s DJ style and Rakims vocals stand on their own as a pioneering sound. It would be difficult to list how many current artists rip off Eric B’s work let alone are influenced by him.
Cure – definite yes. Huge influence
Snubbed again – The Cars – how is this possible when bands like Abba are already in? Let alone their classic albums, Ocasek’s production work with other bands has his sound all over the musical map: Guided By Voices, Weezer, The Strokes, Jonathan Richman to name a few.
Snubs: Gram Parsons, Lowell George, Little Feat.
Apparently @matt underwood is on some kind of hallucinogenic drug designed to ignore the RUSH receptors in the brain. RUSH is the best band ever.
The PD wondered if GnR would reunite for the night if they got in. No way in hell they would, but I’d sell my children to buy tickets if they did.
@da-z. The Sex Pistols are in the HoF. After they made it in they sent the HoF a scathing letter that basically said the Hall was a P.O.S, look the letter up sometime on google. Its pretty funny.
Heart and the Beasties are the only ones on this list worthy. Joan Jett has had zero impact on rock and roll and one hit. Is that the current criteria? What about Rush, Bad Company, Moody Blues, Foghat, Boston, even Eric Carmen has done more than this group of nominees. For [WFNY edit: Pete’s] sake.