Hey, it is late September. You know what that means? It means it is time for my annual rant about the nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This year, being no different from others, I decided to re-run my rant from last year, with just a few minor revisions(mainly Alice Cooper getting inducted), because things have not really changed. So here it is, my yearly RRHOF rant. Enjoy.
If you are a lover of music like I am, you may want to, at some point in your life, go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. While there, you may expect to see all of the inductees that have had huge success, a long career, and/or were influential to many others. You might expect to see the following artists:
Herbie Hancock(n), Ella Fitzgerald(n), John Coltrane(n), Pat Boone, Sammy Davis Jr.(n), Chubby Checker(n), Paul Revere and the Raiders(n), Willie Nelson(n), Patti LaBelle(n), Wayne Newton(n), The Moody Blues, Cher(n), Randy Newman, Iron Butterfly, Jethro Tull, Steppenwolf(n), Steve Miller Band, Chicago, Grand Funk Railroad(n), Joe Cocker, Yes, Diana Ross(n), Jimmy Buffett(n), The Doobie Brothers, ELO, Meat Loaf(n), REO Speedwagon(n), Thin Lizzy(n), Blue Oyster Cult(n), Peter Frampton(n), Styx(n), Scorpions(n), Bachman-Turner Overdrive(n), Barry Manilow(n), Barry White, The Pointer Sisters(n), Rush(n), Tina Turner, Bad Company, The Commodores, Judas Priest(n), Kansas(n), KISS, Robert Palmer(n), Journey(n), Ted Nugent(n).
That would be one hell of a Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, none of these artists have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Do you see the names with the "(n)" after them? These artists haven't even been CONSIDERED for the HOF, much less nominated. This list, by the way, is just a short sample of those that are not in. This list also is made up entirely of artists that have been eligible for over 10 years. IF you add those that have been eligible for less than 10 years, you get these folks:
Air Supply(n), Boston(n), Kenny Loggins(n), Luther Vandross(n), Peter Tosh, Sammy Hagar(n), .38 Special(n), Cheap Trick, Foreigner(n), George Thorogood(n), Peter Gabriel, Black Flag(n), The Cars, Devo, Rick James(n), The B52's, Bryan Adams(n), The Dead Kennedys(n), Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Twisted Sister(n), Weird Al(n), Billy Squier(n), The Go-go's(n), Huey Lewis and the News(n), INXS(n), Loverboy(n), Ozzy Osbourne(n), UB40(n), The Bangles(N), Billy Idol(N), Depeche Mode, Duran Duran(n), Eurythmics, Lionel Richie(n), Ministry(n), Motley Crue(n), George Clinton(n), Janet Jackson(n), Sting(n), Dio(n), Slayer(n), Stevie Ray Vaughan, 2 Live Crew(n), Pet Shop Boys(n), Steve Vai(n).
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame did nominate KISS 2 years ago, but they didn't make it. I will give them credit for inducting Alice Cooper last year, but he seems to be a small bone thrown by the same people who do not think, KISS, Rush, Journey, Deep Purple, and Stevie Ray Vaughan deserve to be in a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. These same voters thought that ABBA was more deserving to be inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame.
There is bound to be some disappointment with this years class. The nominees for 2012 are;
The Beastie Boys
The Cure
Donovan
Eric B. and Rakim
Guns 'N Roses
Heart
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Freddie King
Laura Nyro
The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Rufus with Chaka Khan
The Small Faces/Faces
The Spinners
Donna Summer
War
There are some very deserving nominees here. However, as mentioned above, there are way too many who deserve to be in before some of these are voted in. I won't go into my thoughts on, "non-rock and roll" artists in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the fact that they should just change their name to the Pop or Popular Music Hall of Fame. We will see who, from this group, gets in the Rock and Roll hall of Fame in April of next year.
Cheers,
The Alpaca Buggerer
