MR

‘The Hall of Fame tries to be too politically correct’: Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar questions why Journey isn’t in

by Something Else!
Rock Music — August 15, 2013


http://somethingelsereviews.com/2013/08 ... y-isnt-in/

Click to listen to interview...

Asked which band he thinks should join him in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Sammy Hagar says — without hesitation: Journey, the band Steve Perry spurred to chart heights just as Hagar joined Van Halen.

“My criticism is that the Hall of Fame tries to be too politically correct,” Hagar says in this Y108 clip. “They’ve got to have a soul person, and an old blues guy. They have to have a this and a that. C’mon, it’s called the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Certain people do not belong in it, you know what I mean?”

Hagar, who was inducted as a member of Van Halen, has a personal connection to Journey — going back to the 1980s, but continuing through to today.

Long before he took over for David Lee Roth, Hagar was a member of HSAS with Neal Schon, between the guitarist’s work on Journey’s Frontiers and Raised on Radio studio project. (Those two albums went eight-times platinum combined for Schon, Perry and Co.) Schon says he later recommended Hagar for the Van Halen gig.

Hagar recently reunited with Schon for a track on his forthcoming solo effort Sammy Hagar and Friends.

In a way, though, he’s not surprised that Journey — a band that ultimately scored a stunning seven straight multi-platinum records from 1978-87 — hasn’t received recognition from the hall. After all, he says, worthy bands like Rush and AC/DC waited for years.

“AC/DC, five years in a row they were nominated before they got it,” Hagar says, with no small amount of wonder. “C’mon! AC/DC should have been put in a year before they were eligible.”

I 100% agree with Sammy and something most of us have said for years. The rock hall of fame is not legitimate when bands like Foreigner, Chicago, and Journey are still getting passed by. If these bands dont define what successful rock music looks like, what in the world does? Its really pretty pathetic when bands like REM, Blondie, Talking Heads, and many others that have been inducted before mega rock bands like Journey. Chicago should have been inducted years ago, when the Beach Boys and Eagles were. All three of these bands though were never really considered "Cool" by the critics or writers and they seem to hate very successful classic rock bands. Funny, I thought being successful and selling records was a good sign, especially when your still doing it today.

There are 3 main reasons why Journey will never make the HOF:

Jann Wenner - Co-founder of the Rock & Roll HOF
Co-founder and publisher of the music and politics biweekly Rolling Stone.
Best friend of Jon Landau.

Hates Journey


Jon Landau - Head of the nominating committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
American music critic, manager and record producer, most known for his association in all three capacities with Bruce Springsteen.

infamously called Journey "corporate rock" in 1979.
Best friend of Jann Wenner

Hates Journey


Dave Marsch - Committee member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Rock Critic who has published four books about singer/musician Bruce Springsteen.
Is also closely associated with Springsteen because his wife, Barbara Carr, is one of Springsteen's co-managers.

In the 1983 Rolling Stone Record Guide, Marsh called Journey "a dead end for San Francisco area rock" and accused them of having "made records perfectly calculated to be inserted into FM radio." He awarded every single Journey album released up to that point – seven studio albums, a compilation album and a live album – the minimum possible score of 1/5 stars.

Hates Journey.

Now you also know what artist (Bruuuuuce).. they love..

Come on everybody knows the Moonglows were the biggest influence on rock ever , and better than Neal, Blackmore and Eddie.

I lost respect what little respect I had left for the HOF when they started inducting rap groups.

In the immortal words of Alex Lifeson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-zV4GaElko

slucero wrote:There are 3 main reasons why Journey will never make the HOF:

Jann Wenner - Co-founder of the Rock & Roll HOF
Co-founder and publisher of the music and politics biweekly Rolling Stone.
Best friend of Jon Landau.

Hates Journey


Jon Landau - Head of the nominating committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
American music critic, manager and record producer, most known for his association in all three capacities with Bruce Springsteen.

infamously called Journey "corporate rock" in 1979.
Best friend of Jann Wenner

Hates Journey


Dave Marsch - Committee member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Rock Critic who has published four books about singer/musician Bruce Springsteen.
Is also closely associated with Springsteen because his wife, Barbara Carr, is one of Springsteen's co-managers.

In the 1983 Rolling Stone Record Guide, Marsh called Journey "a dead end for San Francisco area rock" and accused them of having "made records perfectly calculated to be inserted into FM radio." He awarded every single Journey album released up to that point – seven studio albums, a compilation album and a live album – the minimum possible score of 1/5 stars.

Hates Journey.

Now you also know what artist (Bruuuuuce).. they love..

Yeah I have heard that about Journey. What about Foreigner and Chicago?? What's their problem with them? Chicago has been around the 60s. I dont think Mick Jones every got a good answer as to why they keep getting passed up.

I think Jann Wenner has an unusual hatred for arena rock groups That might be part of the reason.

Eddie Money recently said during one of his shows in Cleveland that fans need to help get Survivor, Styx and REO Speedwagon into the Rock Hall Of Fame.

Journey/Survivor wrote:Eddie Money recently said during one of his shows in Cleveland that fans need to help get Survivor, Styx and REO Speedwagon into the Rock Hall Of Fame.

I think that REO and Styx are probably worthy of getting in at some point down the road, but not before mega platinum selling bands like Chicago, Foreigner, and Journey. Those three bands were at the top of the heap in respect to hits, albums sales, and popularity throughout the late 70s to the early 90s. All three bands are in the top 50 best selling music acts of all time in the states at #28 Journey, #39 Chicago, and #41 Foreigner. Survivor is a great band and I am a fan of their music, but I dont know if their quite at the hall of fame level compared to the others. Its hard to gage though when you see alot of the crap that goes into the hall.

By the way, good to see your Indians doing so well this year. They are really competitive this year and you have a great coach in Francona.

jrny84 wrote:

Journey/Survivor wrote:Eddie Money recently said during one of his shows in Cleveland that fans need to help get Survivor, Styx and REO Speedwagon into the Rock Hall Of Fame.

I think that REO and Styx are probably worthy of getting in at some point down the road, but not before mega platinum selling bands like Chicago, Foreigner, and Journey. Those three bands were at the top of the heap in respect to hits, albums sales, and popularity throughout the late 70s to the early 90s. All three bands are in the top 50 best selling music acts of all time in the states at #28 Journey, #39 Chicago, and #41 Foreigner. Survivor is a great band and I am a fan of their music, but I dont know if their quite at the hall of fame level compared to the others. Its hard to gage though when you see alot of the crap that goes into the hall.

By the way, good to see your Indians doing so well this year. They are really competitive this year and you have a great coach in Francona.

In terms of talent I feel like Survivor should be in the Rock Hall, but I know that it will never happen.

Until the last series between the Indians and Tigers, the Indians were still in the Central Division race, but then your Tigers swept us, and now at best we might get a wild card, although I don't think that that's going to happen either. My biggest complaint about Francona is how he handles the pitching staff. Other wise, he's been pretty good.

jrny84 wrote:

Journey/Survivor wrote:Eddie Money recently said during one of his shows in Cleveland that fans need to help get Survivor, Styx and REO Speedwagon into the Rock Hall Of Fame.

I think that REO and Styx are probably worthy of getting in at some point down the road, but not before mega platinum selling bands like Chicago, Foreigner, and Journey. Those three bands were at the top of the heap in respect to hits, albums sales, and popularity throughout the late 70s to the early 90s. All three bands are in the top 50 best selling music acts of all time in the states at #28 Journey, #39 Chicago, and #41 Foreigner. Survivor is a great band and I am a fan of their music, but I dont know if their quite at the hall of fame level compared to the others. Its hard to gage though when you see alot of the crap that goes into the hall.

Yeah, but some of those artists in the hall only ever had one hit then disappeared.

I think what hurts Chicago and REO, is they started off as somehwat original rock bands and then turned into air supply in the 80s'90's.

Chicago would easily be in if it wasn;t for Chicago 16,17, 18, and 19.

Survivor is a one hit wonder to 99.9% of people.


To the HoF Journey and Styx are corporte rock bands.

ebake02 wrote:I think Jann Wenner has an unusual hatred for arena rock groups That might be part of the reason.

How are Van Halen and Rush not arena rock acts?

FamilyMan wrote:

ebake02 wrote:I think Jann Wenner has an unusual hatred for arena rock groups That might be part of the reason.

How are Van Halen and Rush not arena rock acts?

Exactly. Especially Van Halen, Aerosmith, and even Heart.

scarab wrote:I think what hurts Chicago and REO, is they started off as somehwat original rock bands and then turned into air supply in the 80s'90's.

Chicago would easily be in if it wasn;t for Chicago 16,17, 18, and 19.

Survivor is a one hit wonder to 99.9% of people.


To the HoF Journey and Styx are corporte rock bands.

I know that you said that Survivor are a one hit wonder to 99.9% of people, and that you yourself are not saying that they are.
But, here is a list of where some of Survivor's biggest hits peaked on the Billboard Charts in America...

Eye Of The Tiger #1
Burning Heart #2
The Search Is Over #4
High On You #8
Is This Love #9
I Can't Hold Back #13
American Heartbeat #17
Poor Man's Son #33

Plus 10 other Hot 100 songs.

jrny84 wrote:

FamilyMan wrote:

ebake02 wrote:I think Jann Wenner has an unusual hatred for arena rock groups That might be part of the reason.

How are Van Halen and Rush not arena rock acts?

Exactly. Especially Van Halen, Aerosmith, and even Heart.

I also think Journey's current status/line-up is a big reason why they're not getting in. I'm sure they're being perceived as their own nostalgia act/cover band by the holier-than-thou's at the HOF. At least Van Halen blazed a new trail and had a definitive new era with Hagar. What I could see the HOF doing is inducting JUST Steve Perry.

FamilyMan wrote:
I also think Journey's current status/line-up is a big reason why they're not getting in. I'm sure they're being perceived as their own nostalgia act/cover band by the holier-than-thou's at the HOF. At least Van Halen blazed a new trail and had a definitive new era with Hagar. What I could see the HOF doing is inducting JUST Steve Perry.

Doubtful, Steve Perry is most hated by Rolling Stone, over the rest of the band. I seem to remember the last time I read a review in Rolling Stone that the "reviewer" stated something to the effect that "Steve Perry sounds like a baby seal being clubbed to death" (Paraphrased). The HoF is a joke, and no need for Perry or Journey to be there.

ebake02 wrote:I think Jann Wenner has an unusual hatred for arena rock groups That might be part of the reason.

The other reason is that he is just a complete ass kissing, trend following, asshat.

whocares wrote:

FamilyMan wrote:
I also think Journey's current status/line-up is a big reason why they're not getting in. I'm sure they're being perceived as their own nostalgia act/cover band by the holier-than-thou's at the HOF. At least Van Halen blazed a new trail and had a definitive new era with Hagar. What I could see the HOF doing is inducting JUST Steve Perry.

Doubtful, Steve Perry is most hated by Rolling Stone, over the rest of the band. I seem to remember the last time I read a review in Rolling Stone that the "reviewer" stated something to the effect that "Steve Perry sounds like a baby seal being clubbed to death" (Paraphrased). The HoF is a joke, and no need for Perry or Journey to be there.

Really? RS seems very respectful of Perry and finds the band thereafter to be somewhat of a joke.

1980 Departure review by RS - "He's a {SP} fine singer with a snack for writing songs with strong hooks. The band functions more as a unit now and they never rocked harder."

Steve Perry's departure in 1998 - "Augeri sounds enough like Perry to warrant that Scottish Cloning Scientists took part in the auditioning process." When asked Perry of his/band's parting. "They did what they had to do and I did what I had to do." RS called him "very diplomatic, not saying anything bad about the guys."

RS on the lipping incident 2005? "When Steve A. was hired he was told one thing, sing like Steve Perry, which he did....."

"If a band sticks around long enough it turns into a tribute band for years Journey has been on the oldies circuit with a rotating cast of singers try to impersonate Steve Perry." Revelation/2008 RS Review

"Journey believing with the Filipino Steve Perry soundalike." 2008

By the way, that "tribute band" review was the final cut review of Revelation that appeared in the magazine, but initially (online) some guy there started out with this titled review "Journey will be all right without you Steve" but I take it that reviews go through to the top dog and they pass or fail, as was the case with that. Never saw that one again, no where to be found.

That Silverstone lady accusations in 2010 - RS replied "despite the accusations Perry marvels in her ability to make people laugh saying you got to see her show."

And of course, despite RS' dislike for Journey, Steve Perry was chosen as one of the Top 100 singers, by peers, musicians and RS staff. Guess they grew to respect that "baby seal being clumbed to death" with sayings like "No denying today his pure tone and passionate sincerity." /2008

ebake02 wrote:I think Jann Wenner has an unusual hatred for arena rock groups That might be part of the reason.

He does. And the rest is all $$$$$$$.

Wanker. Asshole. Douche.

Sammy made another appeal for Journey on the Howard Stern show last week.

Interview is here: http://www.hennemusic.com/2013/10/audio ... oward.html

Go to 38:15 for his pitch.
Howard essentially ignores him, but at least Sammy's still waving the flag.