Someone's opinion about R & R Hall Of Fame

[*Laura]

An interesting read.

http://www.users.interport.net/f/a/fatysnax/www.negativewaves.com/features/pastparty/vanamonde_rockeffect.htm


"The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is bullshit.Ok, it's really cool, and all the old costumes and guitars and whatnot are pretty kick ass, but still, it's bullshit. It's a 70 million dollar expression of self-importance by the music industry, and exists pretty much for the sole purpose of promoting defunct bands and selling their catalog.

Not to mention that its inhabitants are completely flawed. For example here are some people who are in the rock and roll hall of fame:

The Doors
The Grateful Dead
Van Morrison
Aerosmith
AC/DC
Steely Dan
Bob Marley

Not to mention all of the Beatles (except for Ringo) as solo performers.

And here are some eligible bands that are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Cheap Trick
Rush
Black Sabbath
Journey

I mean, ok, I like AC/DC and everything, but they're in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Black Sabbath isn't? Black Sabbath invented a whole genre of music, a genre which AC/DC happens to be a part of. Aerosmith? Sure, they're ok too, but what are they if not a Led Zeppelin cover band? Van Morrison? Steely Dan? Give me a freaking break. The only music that sucks more than that is, oh I needn't look far, The Grateful Dead, The Doors, and Bob Marley are all on the list. Right there are three bands/musicians responsible for some of the most God awful music ever recorded. Next you're going to tell me that the Eagles are in the Rock Hall (a quick search confirms that yes, indeed the Eagles are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, for crying out loud).
..........

First of all, the nominating committee is composed of, "rock and roll historians." Historians? How old is rock and roll? Like maybe 50 years old? What exactly must one do to become a "rock and roll historian?" Own over 500 records? Is that it? Can one get a degree in this?

"Criteria include the influence and significance of the artist's contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll."

So you're telling me that a band that has released 25 successful albums over the last 30 years, has held onto a fan base that still allows them to sell out arenas, has three members that are all consistently mentioned as influences to the young musicians at their instrument, and are continually ranked in the top 5 at their instrument by magazines devoted to such instruments is not making significant contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll? Sorry, there's no room for Rush in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, because we have to have a place to honor the significance of George Harrison's solo career. Give me a break. It's bad enough that all of these idiot rock critics, sorry rock historians, have bad taste, but to shower praise upon people who don't even deserve it is just ridiculous. Obviously, as frustrated musicians, pot smoking crack heads, or whatever it is that one must be to become a rock critic/historian, they resent the technical abilities of musicians who are expert craftsmen at their instrument. Which is why rock critics continually poke fun at bands like Rush, Queensryche, Journey, and Dream Theater. Bands that show some prowess at songwriting and musical perfection Yet they heap mountains of praise upon musical idiots that can't write a song to save their lives nor can barely play their instruments. But these undeserving icons have managed to cultivate some sort of fabricated image of rock and roll pretension that supports their thesis of rock and roll being somehow important to the advancement of our culture, like Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, Bob Marley, the Doors. Garbage."

[Big J]

The key is this.

If your music failed to ever "inspire" pot smoking hippies to hump unshaven in a field, or burn the American flag, you are simply not eligible for induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Very simple concept.

[Free]

The key is this.

If your music failed to ever "inspire" pot smoking hippies to hump unshaven in a field, or burn the American flag, you are simply not eligible for induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Very simple concept.

It's like almost everything - very political. If you get more than one person in a room you have something that will eventually turn political. It's human nature. And human nature is very flawed.

The hall of fame slection process is completely flawed with self envy or penis envy if you like. What I mean is you got a lot of jealus people selecting the bands. Journey sold a ton of records and were not part of the screwed up, God awful 60's crowd.

[TRAGChick]

Journey sold a ton of records and were not part of the screwed up, God awful 60's crowd.

..and THANK GOD for THAT!!

[Lilla_Forever]

I agree with you 110% Shania, the RNR HOF is a travesty to music.

Actually, Black Sabbath was inducted this year, but it is a poor saving grace.

I agree that the bias towards 60-70's legends is hogwash.

I think its extremely sad not to see any of the excellent 80's era rock bands on the list, like Journey, who for all intents and purposes included some of the most gifted rock musicians to rise to fame during those years. It can certainly be argued that Journey, along with other bands like Van Halen and Scorpions helped elevate (hard) rock to become truly popular music.

And, my own personal rant, ZZ Top is in the HOF but Deep Purple isn't? Since when does repeating titty-women-and-fast-cars videos become a significant tribute to rock music?

[*Laura]

I didn`t write that article,Lilla,although I agree with what the author says. Anyway,it was written last year,so Sabbath`s induction happened meanwhile.
I do believe that the R&RHOF is BS as long as it doesn`t include the bands that represented so well the 80s.Their music not only made rock`s history richer,but it also changed people`s attitudes and lives.For me,the 80s will remain the most high-spirited, fun and inspired decade of all! So much awesome music was written back then...It`s a shame that some weirdos,like the memebers of that comittee, are still on crack and fail to see the truth.

[Big J]

I agree with you 110% Shania, the RNR HOF is a travesty to music.

Actually, Black Sabbath was inducted this year, but it is a poor saving grace.

I agree that the bias towards 60-70's legends is hogwash.

I think its extremely sad not to see any of the excellent 80's era rock bands on the list, like Journey, who for all intents and purposes included some of the most gifted rock musicians to rise to fame during those years. It can certainly be argued that Journey, along with other bands like Van Halen and Scorpions helped elevate (hard) rock to become truly popular music.

And, my own personal rant, ZZ Top is in the HOF but Deep Purple isn't? Since when does repeating titty-women-and-fast-cars videos become a significant tribute to rock music?

Well now, let's not get on ZZ Top too hard. They were a lot of fun back in their day, especially the earlier stuff, before the synthesizer hits of the mid-80's.

That's like judging Journey off of the Faithfully/Open Arms piano ballad repetition stuff.

[Lilla_Forever]

Well now, let's not get on ZZ Top too hard. They were a lot of fun back in their day, especially the earlier stuff, before the synthesizer hits of the mid-80's.

That's like judging Journey off of the Faithfully/Open Arms piano ballad repetition stuff.

True, ZZ Top had their funny moments, like "Doubleback" (and video) and "Viva Las Vegas" (and ditto).

I'm just contesting the fact that they should have made any significant contribution to rock music, which I don't think they have, compared to for instance Journey. I think Journey's music stands out a lot more, its more varied and progressive, despite the mainstream ballads. Also, in terms of music history, Journey played a big part in ushering in arena rock, true music for the masses (like it or not, as some critics don't).

Perhaps I need to dig deeper into Top's back catalogue to find another side to them. But for the most part, at least for their 80's stuff, the music is pretty bland and the creativity in terms of videos is at a low point.

[NealIsGod]

I think ZZTop is in the HOF as much for their videos as they are for their music.

[Lilla_Forever]

I think ZZTop is in the HOF as much for their videos as they are for their music.

Their videos certainly pass for a separate genre (however repetitative), like 'em or not

[junky]

I agree with you 110% Shania, the RNR HOF is a travesty to music.

Actually, Black Sabbath was inducted this year, but it is a poor saving grace.

I agree that the bias towards 60-70's legends is hogwash.

I think its extremely sad not to see any of the excellent 80's era rock bands on the list, like Journey, who for all intents and purposes included some of the most gifted rock musicians to rise to fame during those years. It can certainly be argued that Journey, along with other bands like Van Halen and Scorpions helped elevate (hard) rock to become truly popular music.

And, my own personal rant, ZZ Top is in the HOF but Deep Purple isn't? Since when does repeating titty-women-and-fast-cars videos become a significant tribute to rock music?

Well now, let's not get on ZZ Top too hard. They were a lot of fun back in their day, especially the earlier stuff, before the synthesizer hits of the mid-80's.

That's like judging Journey off of the Faithfully/Open Arms piano ballad repetition stuff.

True, I think most people don't realize ZZ Top had their first hit in 1971 and a string of hits in the early to mid 70's.

Because of the the broad definition of Rock and Roll, and the thoroughness expected of the RRHOF, there is a huge back log in the induction process. With a few exceptions, chronologically they've only made it to the mid 70's.

It may be a while before Journey gets a serious consideration by the HOF simply because they really didn't have any major hits until the 80's.