What Do You Mean ‘Fill in the Blank’ Isn’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Let me first start out by saying, despite the fact that I work for a radio station group, I am not an expert when it comes to rock and roll. Heck, I played the cello for 7 years.
I, like most people, am just a fan of great music (be it rock, pop, alternative, jazz, R&B, country, classical, hip hop, whatever). When it comes to music, I like what I like.
So, when I saw that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame had announced it's latest nominees I decided to check them out to see who was on the list. To be honest, I was a bit surprised at the list.
It wasn't that I didn't recognize the names on the list - with the exception of one or two I knew them all - it was the names that WERE on the list.
Don't get me wrong. A lot of the artists I have actually listened to and enjoyed. But "Hall of Fame" worthy? Joan Baez, Kraftwerk, and Depeche Mode should already be IN the hall. Tupac, probably. ELO, maybe.
But Chaka Khan? Janet Jackson? The Cars? Jane's Addiction (Sorry, Dave Navarro. Love you on Ink Master)?
Really??? Yes, they had some good songs, but "Hall of Fame" level?
So I thought to myself: maybe it's because all the great bands have already been inducted.
WRONG!
When I started looking at who was already in - and who wasn't - I was stunned.
Looking at the inductees it's apparent that the Hall has a definite bias AGAINST British acts, alternative acts and heavy metal acts. Yes, The Beatles and The Rollings Stones are there (you could not have a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and NOT have those acts and still be considered a legitimate hall of fame).
Now, I am not disparaging those that are in there. They are all deserving. Just not BEFORE some of the acts that are NOT in there.
Linda Ronstadt BEFORE Kate Bush, Joan Baez and Pat Benatar?
Metallica BEFORE Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Motorhead, Ozzy Osbourne?
Yeah, I know Black Sabbath is there, but I would argue Ozzy should be there as a solo act much the way John Lennon and Paul McCartney are in there as solo acts. And would someone tell me WHY Ringo Starr was inducted for "Musical Excellence"?
Green Day BEFORE Thin Lizzy, New Order, The Jam, The Cure, Joy Division, The Clash, Nine Inch Nails, The Zombies (2016 Nominee)? OK, I will admit this one - I DON'T think Green Day should be in there at all.
Red Hot Chili Peppers BEFORE Alice in Chains, Dead Kennedys, Pixies, Smiths, Siouxsie & the Banshees?
That's right. None of those bands are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
With all that said, here is a list of just some of the other bands/performers that are NOT in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (in alphabetical order).
- Bad Brains (2016 Nominee)
- Bad Company
- Bangles
- Black Flag
- Bon Jovi
- Boston
- Def Leppard
- Devo
- Dire Straits
- Doobie Brothers
- Duran Duran
- Eurythmics
- Joe Cocker
- Journey (2016 Nominee)
- Kate Bush
- King Crimson
- Kingston Trio
- Kraftwerk
- LL Cool J
- Madness
- Meatloaf
- Megadeth
- Moody Blues
- Motley Crue
- Pantera
- Peter, Paul and Mary
- Sonic Youth
- Soundgarden
- The B-52's
- The Moody Blues
- The Replacements
- The Specials
- Three Dog Night
Who else is missing from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
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