Eighth time is the charm

[yendi]

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- an institution whose very existence, one could argue, undermines everything it stands for -- has announced this year's class, and The Stooges finally made the cut. Others who made it include Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, The Hollies, and ABBA. I'm pretty much fine with everyone who made it, as all of them have significant influences.

As for folks who didn't make it, The Red Hot Chili Peppers aren't actually the most overrated band of all time, but they're close*. Not sure that's who I'd have started with if I were writing that article, other than maybe any other eligible artist on the planet.

KISS deserves a place (and will get it, eventually, but there's clearly a quota on caps-locked bands), as does Heart, but Donna Summer? Really? If we're talking about female solo artists from that era, Pat Benatar deserves a spot before Summer's name is even uttered (and yes, Benatar damned well deserves a spot).

Bad Brains is about ten years overdue for induction, but given how long it took The Stooges, I suspect we've got a while to wait here. Devo's been waiting even longer, and I don't see anything changing for them in the near future, alas.

*I lied. They actually are the most overrated band of all time, as Weezer, Oasis, and Radiohead all have to last another ten years or so even be in the same league. Also, all of those bands have at least three distinct songs. The Chili Peppers are still stuck at two.

Comments

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Wait, someone ELSE listens to ska-reggae-hardcore punk that was banned in DC?

[yendi]

Yeah, us Devo fans pop up everywhere.

Or were you referring to a different band? :-)

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Brains.

Been listening to them since about 86.

[enderfem.livejournal.com]

Hm. I'm not sure that RHCP is more overrated than U2.

[yendi]

I can assure you that it's not even a close race (although U2 wins on the smugness scale).

[feste-sylvain.livejournal.com]

I would vote for Donna Summer IF she were considered for her vocal gymnastics etc. Disco is indeed a sticking point, tho, as "Rock 'n Roll", as broad as it is, may not cover the entire category.

But then, they had no trouble voting in the best of Motown, so perhaps such disco luminaries as Giorgio Moroder, the Trammps, Chic, and Donna Summer may eventually make it in.

(Some believe that ABBA got voted in for being disco, but really, those people must have stopped listening after "Dancing Queen".)

I am more upset by the fact that the Hall is still back-filling; everyone who made it in was from well before the 25-year-first-record cut-off. Were there truly no acts who recorded in 1984 who deserved the nod?

I'm specifically thinking of Yngwie Malmsteen here.

[yendi]

In fact, Bon Jovi debuted in 1984.

[brak55.livejournal.com]

1984 had its share of acts that, at least, deserved consideration. The Flaming Lips, the Pogues, Steve Vai and the Jesus and Mary Chain. I would even say that, based on past inductees, Whitney Houston (although I'm sure her antics have hurt her), Nick Cave and the Pet Shop Boys.

Next year may be a good time to bring in the RHCP and a few others they've overlooked because the best of that group of new artists are acts like Primal Scream, Faith No More, My Bloody Valentine and the Indigo Girls.

[lovingboth]

Ah, but someone else originally wrote Oasis's. Probably either The Beatles or David Bowie.

[not-hothead-yet.livejournal.com]

Dude, I love me some ABBA but rock-n-roll they are not. They even did some musical work. And yes, I listened after "Dancing QUeen" and they were still not rock-n-roll enough to warrant a space in the hall of fame. I'd quibble with Genesis just because Genesis stopped being worth listening to after "...Lamb..." and that's what? Two albums?

[lordrexfear.livejournal.com]

I feel you shouldn't be inducted into the Hall of Fame until you're marginally "retired". I mean it should be like a baseball or wrestling hall of fame. You can still be active, but unless you're not regularly touring or releasing new music, it's not Hall of Fame time. I feel the same way on Lifetime Achievement.

That's just me though.

[lordrexfear.livejournal.com]

Oh isn't there a rule about consistently being a band for 25 years? With no breaks or hiatuses? Meaning tour/album/tour and even if they take a "break", it'd be a non-acknowledged one.

Making bands like Aerosmith and Red Hot Chili Peppers currently ineligible...?

Maybe I got that wrong. Not sure...