The annual nominees for the R&R Hall Of Fame have been released today. And with that usually it’s a day I go crazy and rant and rave about who is and isn’t on the ballot as I have since the thing opened. But I have thought about it and decided I’m done doing that. Why? Not because it has been fixed at all, quite the opposite actually. It is SO damaged and SO clueless and SO disrespectful of real rock bands that it has actually become irrelevant and not worth my time or aggravation. After years of screaming about Rush, Kiss and Alice Cooper, all who finally did go in, I noticed something else, it was forgotten about 24 hours later. I mean it had zero impact on any artists careers. It did nothing to spike sales of albums or tickets. Many don’t even see it because it is expensive to go to and the TV broadcast is now on a premium pay channel. Having attended the induction last year as a guest of Ace & Peter’s it was a really nice moment of course, and of course there are tons of worthy bands in the Hall. But looking at the nominees this year as far as who is on it and who is not even in the conversation after being snubbed for over a decade I realized something. Why get upset? This is NEVER going to change! It is a private club of the music industry snobs and never was the voice of the fans. They have run this thing into total irrelevance in my opinion because they are so hung up on what they think is cool vs what millions of music fans buy and care about. It just doesn’t matter at all in the big picture because the history of who has and hasn’t gone in (and how long some waited to finally get in) just taints it. If you are a real rock music fan and take a step back you just have to laugh at all the obvious bias going on. I get the sense the same people that made fun of me for liking Kiss in high school have all moved to the Hall nomination group. It’s that type of elitist music snob vibe. It always has been but I thought when Rush, Kiss, Alice, etc finally got in the tide would turn and progress would be made. But nothing has changed. Deep Purple, Bon Jovi, Dio, Motorhead, Motley, Def Leppard, Cheap Trick, Journey, Styx, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and COUNTLESS other huge selling and influential acts are still snubbed in the rush to get Green Day, or Sting solo in. I have decided by ranting about it I am giving this thing way too much credit and validity. I kind of thought that all along but actually thought some progress was finally being made. But it is as disrespectful as ever for real rock music and to the millions of fans these bands have. So it doesn’t move the needle, half the artists don’t want to go, most fans can’t go or even see the broadcast, and fans have very little to do with it and THEY make the bands careers! It’s irrelevant to me now and a total time waster. Yes I get it still means something to some artists to go in, and I would never belittle that moment for anyone. But it really has become irrelevant in so many ways to REAL fans of REAL rock bands that sold MILLIONS of albums and INFLUENCED generations that it isn’t worth my time and effort. And I know many will say “somebody needs to start their own Hall”. Heard that a million times, tried and still try to find an interested partner with the resources. Maybe one day. But until then I, or any other real rock fan, shouldn’t acknowledge this joke of a private club. I did for so long because I thought it would help change the tide, but I see that is just not going to ever happen and it’s time to move on. Especially when you consider in the big picture the way it’s done it means very little in the end.
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Paul Stanley said all the same things about the HoF and was somewhat crucified for it.Seems I read an interview with him saying why should we appease them they have never cared about KISS.
Paul not only preached it before they got in…he stated in front of everybody there. I still think the most “Kiss” thing they could have done would have been to say…no thanks.
And I’m 100% glad the original band didn’t play…no makeup, street clothes would have been cool but the Hall wanted them in full gear…and it would have been a train wreck, the very thing Wenner and his cronies wanted. It’s a joke…it had potential but as soon as you let bias into the equation the games over. You gotta be judged on success and influence…again, these are the same people who ranked Van Halen as the 70th best guitar player of all time. They clearly don’t and never have got it.
Kudos to Paul for saying what needed to be said.
Actually, no kudos to Paul anymore since he used the induction of Kiss on the latest tour to get applause and make Kiss seem relevant today, what hypocrisy is that? He does everything that makes him look good, that is the whole point. He is a conformist whose goal is to sell by whatever means available and currently possible. He did not like the RRHOF for some sensible reasons, but that did not stop him from using the induction for promotion. I’d say, if you wanna make the RRHOF look bad or irrelevant, which it deserves, just stop talking about it, stop using it, be it in interviews or on stage. I also agree, the best thing to stop their influence is NOT to go there and accept the “award”. I wish Kiss would have done so.
Jeah, Paul was right all along and had the balls to say something. On the other hand, Peter and Ace were totally in the dark and were so upbeat because of the attention they got. “i don’t get involved in politics” was Ace’s only comment, Peter just seems like a child, you give him a lollipop and you’re best friends.
Great point, Jeff. Paul Stanley put it right in their faces at the event, and there was very little support on this message board. Pathetic.
I guess I’ve kind of reached the same conclusion as Eddie. I don’t really care anymore, it’s a lost cause, but I can’t help but still get a little fired up every year when the list of nominees comes out. And I try to be objective about it, even though I’m heavily biased towards hard rock and metal I try to think about whether a given artist has had the kind of career that would warrant being honored or recognized in such a way (if it actually meant anything). And that doesn’t just mean commercial success, but whether they’ve been influential to others on a meaningful scale, or brought something unique or new to the table that “changed the course”, or had a level of relevance or longevity that could be seen as a measure of high achievement. The “Rock and Roll” part of the title has long been a misnomer. It should be renamed “Pop Music” hall of fame, because it $h!ts on the legacy and history of real “Rock and Roll” every year. Echoing Eddie, I would never belittle the so called honor of being inducted from any artist that is already there, or nominated now or in the future. Congratulations, for whatever it’s worth or means to you. But how the hell does Green Day (no disrespect intended) get nominated before Journey, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Scorpions, etc.? Guns N’ Roses had ONE truly great album. Deep Purple is usually on the list with the likes of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin as a highly influential early/classic rock band – and it’s not like they were/are underground and nobody’s ever heard of them (which I can’t say for several already inducted). As usual there’s a whole herd of elephants in the room that are just ignored. Whatever, who cares, it’s just a marketing ploy and high rollers country club anyway. I was out of my mind for Rush to get in, and I’m happy they finally did and their fans pretty much took the event over, but there’s just too long a list of inexplicable exclusions to overcome. Unless the whole thing changes hands and the way the process is done completely changes this is just what it will continue to be.
So who is the myterious hof election committee anyways.?? Is there no accountability?? Are these tight ass music blowhards too special to be named?? Its my guess Jan Hammer ? And Rolling Stones magazine are the main assholes. The music in RollingStone magazine is horrendous!!!! If it wasnt for the political pieces and social outstanding writers, id have no use for it. Keep flying the flag of heavy metal and hard rock. Ive been for over 40 years :))))))))))
Semper Fi & Up the Irons!!!!
Green Day!!! Really? What have they done that wasn’t done by the other punk bands? Oh yes, be creative! The Smiths? One hit. Who did they influence? Nobody! I went to the concert and Eddie will back me up on this, Bruce Springsteen and his friends took over an hour which lead to there being no final concert. It’s a joke. I loved how hall and Oates made fun of it which was not aired!!!!
The Smiths influenced a s–tload of terrific bands. Sorry they don’t fit your Kix and Faster Pussycat blueprint of music.
Smiths one hit? Are you barmy?? Their influence has been huge since 1982 and still burns on with kids today. It’s hardly metal or rock, and i wouldnt be surprised if Morrisey snubs the whole thing, but Johnny Marr is one of the greatest guitarists of recent times and their song writing and originality shadows bands such as Bon Jovi to a huge degree. Just because it aint metal doesn’t mean it’s rubbish.
The Smiths one hit? Try again-like their whole catalog. They might not be hard rock, but they influenced a lot in all types of music
And yes, Deep Purple, Maiden, Priest, UFO deserve to be in before them. Nevertheless, they should be recognized along with Kraftwerk
Actually, Green day are the first punk band to alter their sound in a pop format, to make it more accessible for everyone. They’re the first Punk band to break Mainstream. Some snobs will say Nirvana did that, but that’s playing with semantics. Nirvana is Punk influenced, but not a Punk band. And how many bands can you name from the late 90’s that still sell millions of records, still have the same impact on this generation as the last one, and even had a damn Broadway musical made out of their music? Not many.
It’s funny, because I was in Cleveland a month or so ago on business and arrived an afternoon early. Not far from me was the HOF. After a 20 minutes internal debate as to whether I should “sell out” and go in or not, I decided I’d “sell out” and check out what I have ranted against nearly as much as Eddie has for all of these many years. As far as displays and the memorabilia they do have there, it is priceless. Alex Van Halen’s 1980 drum kit, Elvis’s rings and coats, endless Garcia guitars, lots of John Entwistle basses and even a suit. All kinds of things. I got there kind of late in the day and they close at 5:30pm or so (no night hours which surprised me). As far as any HOF institution, it is bought and sold by those in power. It’s more a reflection of who is on the Board than who is turning the turnstiles. Same with the baseball HOF, for example. However, after going through it and (quickly) going from floors 1-6, it is worth a trip if you are in the area. It is beautifully presented and obviously a lot of care and detail went into it. However, they are something I just don’t take seriously. I look at it as a very elaborate warehouse storing lots of cool stuff.
Joan Jett is on the List which is a good thing. Cheap Trick for me is the band that probably;y won’t get in but really needs to be in IMO.
Joan Jett is the only one on the list I’d vote for.