The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced a diverse collection of nominees for induction in 2012. Joel Peresman, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation said, “From vocal groups to hip hop, from singer-songwriters to hard rocking artists, this group represents the spirit of what we celebrate at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.” The nominees include:
· Beastie Boys
· The Cure
· Donovan
· Eric B. & Rakim
· Guns ‘N Roses
· Heart
· Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
· Freddie King
· Laura Nyro
· Red Hot Chili Peppers
· Rufus with Chaka Khan
· The Small Faces/The Faces
· The Spinners
· Donna Summer
· War
To be eligible for consideration, artists must have released their first single at least 25 years before the year of nomination. The voting will take place in the next few weeks and the induction ceremony will be held in Cleveland on Saturday, April 14, 2012. The ceremony will be open to the public and tickets will go on sale in December. Here’s a look back at the classic video for “Under the Bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who may soon be joining the ranks of 296 other current inductees:
When will Todd Rundgren be a nominee? Seriously, Laura Nero? Freddie King? Eric B. and Rakim? The Cure? Joan Jett? It’s a joke.
The fact that Rush continues to be overlooked is not only a travesty but lessens the RNRHF’s legitimacy.
Seriously?? How do you not induct all of them?
Had a conversation the other day with half a dozen people all were shocked and agreed that the legitimacy of the Hall is damaged by RUSH not having been inducted.
So, the new list comes out… Still no Rush? Seriously? But, Joan Jett, Laura Nyro and Chaka Khan? Huh?
Agree with others who are questioning why Rush has yet to be voted in. IMHO, the RRHOF has become a joke in recent years. I guess I just don’t see how rappers and hip hop are nominated. Beasties?OK… They often use guitars in their music. But Eric B & Rakim? How is a duo that uses turntables and rapping considered Rock and Roll? Same for last year’s inductee Grand master Flash? Don’t ‘they have the Source Awards or a rap equivalent for these guys? You certainly would never see any rock acts getting nominated for their awards. Guess I just don’t see the connection.
YES! I mean No. It seems that Yes has done something to offend the Hall of Fame somehow. I’d be curious to know if anyone knows of (or has a link to) the process and the criteria that they us for these inductions or is it all a big secret? As a Yes fan I’m left the owner of a lonely heart every year. Open your eyes Hall of Fame. In a roundabout way this all seems very strange.
What started as a way to honor the pioneers and performers of an area of the musical spectrum that seems to get slighted by mainstream pop awards like the grammys, has become an extension of the Grammys, where everyone will eventually be in.
It should be more exclusive. To make it, performers should have made a mark beyond their peak period, ground-breaking in what they brought to the music, been highly influential or ubiquitous, or at least known by a signifcant majority of people polled on the street. I also would acknowledge artists recognized by their playing peer as exceptional and/or groundbreaking, even if not well known by the average person or by record sales (Robert Fripp/King Crimson or Robin Trower come to mind).
Aside from Freddie King, I don’t see anyone on this list that I would vote for. Some may be worthy in their genres (Donna Summers comes to mind) and others are certainly noteworthy in the history of RnR, but come on. Rap, popR&B should not be part of RnR HoF anymore than country (or western) (I AM open to the argument for real 70s soul – lots of quality players). Neither should one-hit-wonders, one album wonders, or acts whose only claim to fame is FM radio keeps their best song in rotation.
Some past inductees I don’t get (not all by any means): Nat King Cole, Brenda Lee, Mahalia Jackson, Wanda Jackson. What is RnR about any of them? Pop, gospel, jazz, yes. RnR, no.
And I’m skeptical about nominees being announced around the same time they have a new release. Smells of industry tampering.
I agree with the previous mentions of Rush and Yes. Off the top of my head I’d add Deep Purple, Blue Oyster Cult, Jethro Tull, Moody Blues…
Yeah, the Hall of Fame is a joke. Moody Blues and many others totally overlooked.
Of the nominees, these are the only ones that can really be called Rock and Roll:
Beastie Boys
· The Cure
· Guns ‘N Roses
· Heart
· Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
· Red Hot Chili Peppers
· The Small Faces/The Faces
But Hall of Fame should be either longevity with consistency (Cal Ripken) or work substantially beyond their peers (Gale Sayers) or changing the game (Goose Gossage).
So that leaves:
· The Cure
· Guns ‘N Roses
And RUSH.
But based on this list of nominees, Justin Bieber will get in before RUSH and KISS.
It seems every year we’re all complaining about the inductees. I have no problem with the RnR HOF honoring artists from different genres of music but let’s not do it at the cost of a deserving Rock n Roll artist who’s paid their dues.
I believe there might be some poorly defined mechanism in place now, but it still seems like a lot of gray areas. For example this year’s R&B/Soul nominees would be Donna Summer, Rufus and the Spinners. The Pioneer/Groundbreadker nominees would be Freddy King or Donovan. Give them one entry every year and all should be fine.
I believe this would allow 3-4 true Rock N Rollers to be inducted…like Rush, Yes, ELO
and what i think is the most glaring absence The Doobie Brothers!
Until Rush is in the Hall I have no comments…What a JOKE!!!
Here are the top 25 vote-getters (year 2011) on the “Deserving of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame” list at:
http://www.rateitall.com/t-2529-deserving-of-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame.aspx
The 2012 nominees for the R&R HoF are (# indicates where they were on my list at the time of their nomination): Red Hot Chili Peppers (#19), Guns n’ Roses (#25), Joan Jett (#60), The Beastie Boys (#168), Heart (#12), Freddie King (#181), Laura Nyro (#191), Rufus with Chaka Khan (#421), Donna Summer (#212), The Faces/Small Faces (#232), The Spinners (#82), Donovan (#30), The Cure (#43), Eric B. & Rakim (#949), War (#64)
1) Rush
2) Chicago
3) Yes
4) Deep Purple
5) Doobie Brothers
6) Moody Blues
7) Dire Straits
8) The Cars
9) Electric Light Orchestra
10) Jethro Tull
11) Pete Townshend (solo)
12) Heart
13) Journey
14) Steve Miller
15) Carole King
16) Styx
17) Kiss
18) Peter Gabriel (solo)
19) Red Hot Chili Peppers
20) Squeeze
21) Stevie Ray Vaughan
22) Jim Croce
23) The Guess Who
24) Foreigner
25) Guns N’ Roses