Today the Rock And Hall Induction Committee announced their list of finalists for the 2010 Class for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and as we say year in, year out….What were they thinking?
The finalists are the Red Hot Chili Peppers, LL Cool J, Kiss, Genesis, The Stooges, Donna Summer, ABBA, Darlene Love, Laura Nyro, The Chantels, The Hollies, and Jimmy Cliff.
I would like to know. Which member of the Induction Committee stood up and argued as the advocate for ABBA? Seriously!
Can we see some problems here?
By looking at the list, you can almost imagine the conversations in the room when you see a Genesis alongside Donna Summer or Kiss next to Darlene Love or The Hollies beside LL Cool J. Each of these artists have someone nominate them, argue for them and make deals to get them on that final list. “I’ll vote for Kiss if you vote for ABBA.”. Is this the way an artist should be honored?
By looking at the list and seeing Genesis (eligible since 1993 and first time on ballot), Kiss (eligible since 1999 and first time on the ballot), The Hollies (eligible since 1989 and again first time on ballot) it is like they said amongst themselves “We better put some classic rock bands on the list or we’ll get crucified in the press again.” Dave Marsh, a member of the Induction committee, was quoted last year about Kiss “Kiss is not a great band, Kiss was never a great band, Kiss never will be a great band, and I have done my share to keep them off the ballot.” Then when pressed on the Kiss issue by City Scoops Magazine he responded by email “I oppose Kiss because I think it was a shitty rock band, not worthy of induction. What else is there to say?”Then why are they on the ballot now Dave?
You know what Gene Simmons response was? “There are disco bands, rap bands, Yiddish folk song bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but not Kiss. I believe we have more gold records in Americathan any other group, but it’s OK.”
No it’s not Gene. (Bear’s Note: As my readers know, I am not a huge Kiss fan, I like a couple of songs but to not acknowledge their impact on music in general is a travesty)
Little Steve Van Zandt of The E Street Band and a member of the Induction Committee in the new issue of Rolling Stone is quoted as saying “There's dozens and dozens of early rock & roll groups that should be in. I notice a bias toward the post-art-form rock critics' sensibility as opposed to the pre-art-form rock & roll sensibility. That's why I had so much difficulty getting the Rascals and the Dave Clark Five in. We'll probably never get Paul Revere and the Raiders in. Anybody who didn't eventually get into Important Personal Lyrics is not regarded seriously. It's very difficult for me to justify the Talking Heads being in the Hall of Fame before the Hollies, or Michael Jackson being in before Johnny Burnette.
Now there’s some insight into the process folks!
It is like they are trying to placate us by throwing us a bone here folks. Don’t get overexcited by seeing Kiss or Genesis, The Hollies, Jimmy Cliff, or The Stooges being on this list. Remember in the end, they don’t have to vote for them and only 5 of these bands will get in. So throwing us the bone now maybe lessens the blow later when we see Donna Summer get it.
As Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee Madonna put it so clearly when she learned she was inducted "I heard about it and I kind of felt ambivalent, like, 'What is that, the place they put musical dinosaurs?' ".
Committee Members and Rock Hall Voters….Nice Job! This is who you honor by putting them into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?
Last spring we did a poll on http://www.clevelandrockandroll.com/ (here is the link for the archived story http://clevelandrockandroll.blogspot.com/2009/03/votes-are-in-readers-vote-on-hall-of.html) and the Top 10 bands the fans wanted to see inducted were Rush, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kiss, Genesis, Doobie Brother, Heart, Jethro Tull, ELO, Cheap Trick. You know what they all have in common, not one disco song among them!Looking at this list and based on the past voting here’s how I see the Class Of 2010. LL Cool J, Donna Summer, Jimmy Cliff, The Stooges and The Chantels. Next in line would be the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
No Genesis, No Hollies and it seems if Dave Marsh has his way NO KISS!
Sad is all I can say, hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think so. The real rock fans just don’t seem to matter.
Maybe next year Stevie Ray……..
Nuff said, least till next timePeace Out
Bear
5 comments:
actually there is approximately one disco song among them "I Was Made For Loving You" is pretty disco if you ask me
Kiss Suck
Kiss, my ass
Okay, I am not a big Kiss or Genesis fan. However, I can accept both of these bands being nominated and inducted into the Rock Hall.
Kiss never was known for excellence in songwriting or musicianship. BUT you cannot deny the pure spectacle of a live Kiss show and the huge influence they had on kids picking up a guitar.
Genesis, musically are great, but they bore me. I never did understand why the lamb lay down on Broadway. But I cannot deny that these guys also belong in the Hall.
It is way to soon for the Chili Peppers to be given this honor when there are still tons of bands from the 60's and 70's still out in the cold. Like the Hollies and others mentioned by Little Steve Van Zant.
And we have already grudgingly given a nod to Disco and Hip Hop with previous classes. That does not mean that we must include them in every new class.
That would be like The Country Music Hall of Fame putting in a Rock act in every one of their classes. It aint gonna happen! The Rolling Stones did a couple of country flavor songs but are not in the Country Hall.
Run-DMC got into the Rock Hall as a performer on the strength of doing a cover of an Areosmith song. If Hip Hop had a Hall of Fame would Areosmith be inducted as a performer for the same song? Or just an early influence?
Disco music did more harm than good to Rock and Roll. Many clubs, that used to have live local bands learning their craft, switched to DJ's and records putting many good musicians out of work. Does that sound like something that Rock fans should honor?
They are picking these acts in order to bring in a younger (and blacker) crowd. It is strictly a marketing ploy and not to honor past achievements.
That is not to say that we should exclude black artists. That would be impossible due to the fact that our beloved music was built on black music. Most of the artists that recorded on the Chess, Stax, and Motown labels deserve induction. They had great influence on the musicians that we listened to growing up. If you don't believe me just do some exploring on your own.
This is after all The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and not the Pop Music Hall of Fame or the Record Industry Hall of Fame. Lets bring back the real reason we all thought this was a good idea.
I believe the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is full of donkey dong...Up till last year, they had their induction cermonies in NYC, and not in their own building in Cleveland...They inbrace acts like Maddona, Run DmC...Meanwhile artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan, who revived a music genre called the Blues are not put in yet...I could go on and on about who should be in...but why should I waste my time....I'll will never attend the hall until it truly becomes what it was built for...homange for those who deserves to be inducted....I guess that will never happen...Maybe I wait until Snoop Dogg gets nominated, he is a real rocker
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