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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189 Responses
Best thing for rock music is to forget the Hall of Shame! If no one talks about it will become irrelevant to the industry. It’s been a joke since day one.
Eddie, I’m with you on most of your wish list, but Styx? Really? I like Styx as much as anyone, but their rep was shaky at best BEFORE “Kilroy Was Here”. That album sealed their fate in the minds of everyone forever.
And Dio…I know you love him/them dearly, and he clearly should’ve been inducted with Sabbath, but his own namesake band? I bet the voting pool can’t name a single Dio song. I bet most people I went to high school with couldn’t name a single Dio song, and I grew up in a rural Midwestern town that definitely loved their 80’s metal. They were a great band, they likely influenced a lot of people, but HOF caliber? I just don’t see it happening.
Having said that…Purple, Cheap Trick, Crue, Journey, Def Leppard…yeah, long overdue. And I think they’ll probably all happen eventually.
Styx – should have been in years ago, they have an amazing catalog before Kilroy and are still relevant today. They have more songs still played on the radio than most other artists. They meet the “so called criteria” by leaps and bounds.
I agree, RJD will probably be in the Hall one day but probably as one of those legend inductions or something. Sabbath w Dio, Dio, or Rainbow for that matter will not make the hall. I mean really does every band have to get in at some point???
Dude…. How can anyone who calls themselves a true fan of hard rock and metal NOT know at least Holy Diver and Rainbow in the dark?? But, getting beyond that, Ronnie deserves to be in the RRHOF as his own entity….Forget about choosing any specific band he was in, doesn’t matter.
Because “Rainbow In The Dark” and “Holy Diver” really didn’t get played on the radio or MTV all that much back in the day, that’s why. I’m not saying they’re not great songs. I’m not saying Dio isn’t a great band. Just saying I don’t see that band ever getting in the HOF.
I think a case can be made for inducting Ronnie James Dio as an individual artist. In the ’70s his work with Rainbow helped define hard rock and heavy metal for years afterward, and he deserves credit for rejuvenating Sabbath in the early ’80s. His eponymous band may not have been as innovative, but they were still very successful globally and represented a continuation of what he accomplished with the previous two bands (not to mention Elf). His career longevity was also remarkable.
LOL.. never heard of like 5 of those artists,.. N.W.A !?!? ’nuff said… just sickening.
Have to disagree on putting styx in there. Thats a joke to think styx accomplished a fraction of legacy of a judas priest. Not everyone can go in the hof. Then it would be the opposite of what it is now but still every bit a joke.
I agree 100% That’s why I didn’t get upset when Axl didn’t show up or Eddie Van Halen or DLR. It’s a joke. Who really cares, that’s why you Eddie need to start getting sponsorship and getting your own Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Hall of Fame. Do it!