RnR HOF- Travesty

[Rockindeano]

Rush. man, Love em or hate em, IMHO, they are deserving as all Hell.

Progrocker, take your unit out of the missus for a nanosecond and read this. Angie, put those beautiful milkbags back in the over shoulder boulder holder. This story is for you both.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29903313/


By Tony Sclafani
msnbc.com contributor
updated 3:50 p.m. PT, Mon., March. 30, 2009

When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame holds its annual induction ceremony April 4, there once again won’t be any progressive rock artists amongst its five honorees. The Rock Hall’s snubbing of the once-popular genre hasn’t gone unnoticed by its supporters.

In the past few years, fans of Yes and the Moody Blues have started online petitions to get those groups a nod. Blogs and Web sites question the Hall’s choices, as did Stephen Colbert when he interviewed Rush (who also have a campaign petition).

Decades ago, these groups packed thousands into stadiums and sold tons of vinyl by pushing the boundaries of rock. But evidence suggests their elaborate concept albums, impeccable musicianship and oblique lyrics might have pushed things too far for the Hall’s tastemakers.
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The Hall began honoring performers in 1986, starting with pioneers like Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Elvis Presley. More recently, pop acts like Billy Joel, the Bee Gees and Madonna have made the cut, but Rush, Yes, the Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, the Electric Light Orchestra, Genesis, Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Soft Machine have not. Beyond Pink Floyd, the closest the Hall gets to prog is Queen (who flirted with the genre) and Police drummer Stuart Copeland, who played in Curved Air.

Prog rock (as it’s colloquially known) will especially be conspicuous in its absence at this year’s induction. Jeff Beck was already inducted with the Yardbirds (the Rock Hall has honored over a dozen musicians twice), while Little Anthony and Bobby Womack are artists with limited influence. Metallica and Run-DMC have leapfrogged over the classic prog bands with their nominations, since members of both groups were still in school when progressive rock ruled.

The nomination situation
So who picked Run-DMC over Rush? Well, it’s a secret. Sort of.

According to Joel Peresman, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc., the initial selections are made by a committee of 30 to 35 music business people — who Peresman won’t name (although Fox News purportedly revealed a few names in 2007).

Peresman does say, though, that the committee is made up of people from all different parts of the business: “There’s musicians, there’s writers, there’s critics, there’s people from the live end, (there’s) managers. (There’s) a wide selection of people who have all been selected because we feel that they have a good, solid connection to a wide variety of music. Everybody knows a lot about different things, which is what the idea is.”

When that committee gets together every September, all the members submit the names of three potential inductees. They then have to defend their choices, Peresman explains.

“It’s not really that this one sold this many albums or this many tickets,” explains Peresman. “It’s really ‘What’s the significance of that artist? And why should they be inducted?’”

After a lot of discussion, committee members take a vote and pick the top 20 favored artists. That list is then trimmed to nine — the names that get announced each year as nominees. From there the list gets sent out to a much larger group, which Peresman says is made up of “around 500 to 600 people,” including “past inductees and other people within the music business.” Their top five choices are the artists who are ultimately inducted.

Monster issues and critics
Rock critics, who comprise a portion of the nominating committee, have historically held prog rock in low regard, as Chicago Sun-Times music critic and author Jim DeRogatis noted in a 1998 Guitar World essay. Critics used to complain that prog’s grand-scale flourishes and European influences were too far removed from early rock ’n’ roll’s immediacy. But as DeRogatis presciently notes, prog is now ignored instead of insulted.

That seems to be what’s happening with the Rock Hall. Have they noticed?


Slideshow
SIMMONS MCDANIEL MIZELL

Rock Hall 2009 class
Run-DMC, Metallica and Jeff Beck join the illustrious group of honored rockers.

more photos
“That’s something that’s actually been addressed, especially at this past meeting,” Peresman admits. “We look at things and see where there are some areas that we feel were kind of blighted — things that should be addressed. Last year was the first year that they did something different. They actually created some subcommittees within the major committee to say ‘Come up with a recommendation of a progressive act. Come up with a recommendation of some of the older R&B groups.’

“Besides Pink Floyd, we really don’t have much (progressive rock) in the Hall of Fame,” Peresman continues. “We realize that. And we’re taking a look to try and address some of those holes that we have in our place. So we just have to take a look at are we doing something right, wrong or indifferent.”

The Rock Hall’s very first choices for inductees sent the message that they wanted to set the record straight about rock ’n’ roll; specifically, that it was a genre shaped and founded by African-American artists. But now the Hall is creating its own misconceptions about what rock evolved into, suggests Scott Rowley, the editor of the U.K.-based magazine Classic Rock.

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“Rush and Yes and ELO are as good and as loved and as worthy as most of the acts in the Hall,” noted Rowley via e-mail. “I think it’s very damaging to the Hall of Fame’s credibility to continually ignore bands that they perceive to be on ‘the fringes,’ whether they’re prog, punk or metal acts. It makes you wonder if the selection committee is actually run by music fans.

“We’re at a weird place in rock history where things aren’t as compartmentalized as they used to be — where people used to define themselves as mods or rockers or punks or metalheads. Nowadays people have access to everything and pick what they like. The idea of ‘a canon of rock music’ — established and defined by a musical elite — seems more and more ridiculous and untenable.”

[Ehwmatt]

You are preachin to the choir Deano. How the likes of Run-DMC and Public Enemy are in there and revolutionary prog acts, AOR acts, and even some metal acts that deserved to be in there 10 years ago go completely ignored just makes the whole thing a big fuckin Rolling Stone politics clusterfuck.

[Rhiannon]

And this is exactly why everytime I've been in the Cleveland area and someone says, "wanna go to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?" I respond with a resounding, "shit no." Incredible...

[hoagiepete]

I'm a lifelong, huge ass, rock n roll fan and have zero desire to visit the Hall.

Fuck em.

[Rockindeano]

Oh fuck you two.

There are some quality acts there. Just because fuckin Journey aint in there, ,.....

My God, it's as if Journey is the greatest band ever.

Naw, fuck the Beatles, Stones, U2, Springsteen(who has a new exhibit there for a year), The Who, Van Halen, Elvis, Zeppelin, etc etc.

Sometimes, you Journey fans are as bad as the Pineda fans.

MYOPIC!

Look it up and draw your own conclusions.

[Gideon]

None of them... mentioned Journey...

[Ehwmatt]

Oh fuck you two.

There are some quality acts there. Just because fuckin Journey aint in there, ,.....

My God, it's as if Journey is the greatest band ever.

Naw, fuck the Beatles, Stones, U2, Springsteen(who has a new exhibit there for a year), The Who, Van Halen, Elvis, Zeppelin, etc etc.

Sometimes, you Journey fans are as bad as the Pineda fans.

MYOPIC!

Look it up and draw your own conclusions.

Huh? I don't follow. Clearly deserving artists are among those recognized in the hall... but many (even if you leave Journey out... they'd be a bit lower on my list of deserving acts, truthfully) aren't. What are you trying to say?

[Carla777]

not good at all, to hell with them still are other places where good music is appreciated for the people who enjoy some prog, for example the ones like me who likes prog metal can go to the next ProgPower USA X (sept 11,12; 2009), in the Center Stage (Atlanta, Georgia), some great bands in there...specially Fates Warning and Circus Maximus in the same day!!


http://progpowerusa.com/site/event-information/

[Angiekay]

And this is exactly why everytime I've been in the Cleveland area and someone says, "wanna go to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?" I respond with a resounding, "shit no." Incredible...

And yet, when I visited there about 7 years ago, one of Neil Peart's drum sets was set up in the middle of everything, larger than life. It said, "Do not touch" and I said, FUCK THAT!! I didn't wash my hands for days.

No doubt about it, they should have been in the first year they were eligible.





And my milk bags thank you, Deano....

[Rockindeano]

:shock:

None of them... mentioned Journey...

I have gone back and forth on this regarding Journey. I'm not so sure they should be in now that I think of it, especially with their shenanigans 3 years ago, i would vote no. Sorry, but a band has to respect its' music and rocknroll a bit better than they have, and IMHO, a band cannot piss on RnR by lipping, and knowing about it, and going along with it.

[Rockindeano]

And this is exactly why everytime I've been in the Cleveland area and someone says, "wanna go to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?" I respond with a resounding, "shit no." Incredible...

And yet, when I visited there about 7 years ago, one of Neil Peart's drum sets was set up in the middle of everything, larger than life. It said, "Do not touch" and I said, FUCK THAT!! I didn't wash my hands for days.

No doubt about it, they should have been in the first year they were eligible.





And my milk bags thank you, Deano....

Goddamned, thank you Mistress. I bow to you. Your breasts are an alter. I mean that. Listen, my puter crashed, can you resend me those nude shots of you cans? Pretty please!

[Rhiannon]

Oh fuck you two.

There are some quality acts there. Just because fuckin Journey aint in there, ,.....

My God, it's as if Journey is the greatest band ever.

Naw, fuck the Beatles, Stones, U2, Springsteen(who has a new exhibit there for a year), The Who, Van Halen, Elvis, Zeppelin, etc etc.

Sometimes, you Journey fans are as bad as the Pineda fans.

MYOPIC!

Look it up and draw your own conclusions.

No need to draw conclusions when you're cornering the market on it with that spill. I could give a rat's ass if Journey's in there or not... I find the whole place to just be a political popularity contest of the music industry variety and I don't care for it one bit. The story you posted here highlights a prime example of why. Abso-zero to do with that band we all know and some love.

[pinkfloyd1973]

Jann Wenner and his ilk can kiss my lily-white ass



Robin

[stevew2]

Rush is the real deal {not to coin Dick Neal} Altough Geddy sings like my cat had his balls removed, they are true to there music, and still kick ass and no lipping I might add. One of the only bands with the same players.They are still kicking ass

[Saint John]

My God, it's as if Journey is the greatest band ever.

From 1981-1983 I'd say they were.

Naw, fuck the Beatles, Stones, U2, Springsteen(who has a new exhibit there for a year), The Who, Van Halen, Elvis, Zeppelin, etc etc.

With the exception of The Rolling Stones and Van Halen with Hagar, none of the bands you mentioned is worth maggot puke.

[squirt1]

The RnR HOF is in Cleveland and that explains it all. They pick and not the fans. They have no credibility to me. I don't know who half of those artists/groups are and what they really ever accomplished. The 60's were slow. The 70's were great, but the 80's exploded. Songwriting , sales and size of venues say something. Maybe Perlsman is 85 yrs old and he worships Benny Goodman.

[Ehwmatt]

The RnR HOF is in Cleveland and that explains it all. They pick and not the fans. They have no credibility to me. I don't know who half of those artists/groups are and what they really ever accomplished. The 60's were slow. The 70's were great, but the 80's exploded. Songwriting , sales and size of venues say something. Maybe Perlsman is 85 yrs old and he worships Benny Goodman.

That's a laugh. The Rock Hall is New York owned and operated. It pains me to say it, but Cleveland's a lame duck site for the museum itself and nothing else. At least they're having the induction there this year.

[squirt1]

OK educate me- Is the museum in Cleveland ? N Y will explain the mentality as well. They seem to live in the past i.e.50's- 60's- some 70's. It is like they do not acknowledge the chages in music. Musicians actually played instruments and wrote their hits and played to huge venues and sold millions of records with incredible singers ! They seem to be discarded. Will some of the 90's too.

[hoagiepete]

Oh fuck you two.

There are some quality acts there. Just because fuckin Journey aint in there, ,.....

My God, it's as if Journey is the greatest band ever.

Naw, fuck the Beatles, Stones, U2, Springsteen(who has a new exhibit there for a year), The Who, Van Halen, Elvis, Zeppelin, etc etc.

Sometimes, you Journey fans are as bad as the Pineda fans.

MYOPIC!

Look it up and draw your own conclusions.

Let's don't get carried away! While admitedly a Journey fan...that is not the main reason I have no desire to go. Those that control the Hall...just like the publishers of Rolling Stone...have looked down on many of my favorite groups for decades. It's like living the seventies all over again. They want to shape the news, not report it or honor it, while ignoring an entire segment of rock and roll artists and fans.

I agree there are plenty of worthy groups...but the few that have no business being there (Madonna, Patti Smith, Parliment, The Velvet Underground, Ramones, etc) piss me off...while the many I feel deserving are told to fuck off.

What is the definition of Rock and Roll anyway?

[ProgRocker53]

Great article.... why Rush, Yes, ELO, Genesis, Boston, and Styx aren't in... is a mystery... is King Crimson even in? Damn, Run-DMC before ANY of these guys? Pathetic...

[ProgRocker53]

My God, it's as if Journey is the greatest band ever.

From 1981-1983 I'd say they were.

Naw, fuck the Beatles, Stones, U2, Springsteen(who has a new exhibit there for a year), The Who, Van Halen, Elvis, Zeppelin, etc etc.

With the exception of The Rolling Stones and Van Halen with Hagar, none of the bands you mentioned is worth maggot puke.

The Beatles, U2, Springsteen, The Who, Elvis, and Zeppelin.... how the hell are they not worth anything??

[ProgRocker53]

Oh fuck you two.

There are some quality acts there. Just because fuckin Journey aint in there, ,.....

My God, it's as if Journey is the greatest band ever.

Naw, fuck the Beatles, Stones, U2, Springsteen(who has a new exhibit there for a year), The Who, Van Halen, Elvis, Zeppelin, etc etc.

Sometimes, you Journey fans are as bad as the Pineda fans.

MYOPIC!

Look it up and draw your own conclusions.

Let's don't get carried away! While admitedly a Journey fan...that is not the main reason I have no desire to go. Those that control the Hall...just like the publishers of Rolling Stone...have looked down on many of my favorite groups for decades. It's like living the seventies all over again. They want to shape the news, not report it or honor it, while ignoring an entire segment of rock and roll artists and fans.

I agree there are plenty of worthy groups...but the few that have no business being there (Madonna, Patti Smith, Parliment, The Velvet Underground, Ramones, etc) piss me off...while the many I feel deserving are told to fuck off.

What is the definition of Rock and Roll anyway?

Parliament and The Velvet Underground belong. The others are questionable, I will agree.