One of my least favorite moments of the year is when Cleveland’s Rock Hall announces its annual nominees.
Like clockwork, the Internet blows up as fans, non-fans, haters, and trolls all go off in unison, debating the validity of musicians from around the world who may or may not make the cut.
Today’s “Best of” post is from last February. It was another round of Rock Hall honors and snubs, just waiting for fan reactions. Usually, I love to rock n’ roll around in the mud with all of you, but I’d prefer to rise above. But when it comes to this institution’s choices, I just can’t help myself.
After all, can someone explain to why Styx, Pat Benatar, and Soundgarden aren’t in the damn Rock Hall!? – FJ
February 12, 2021
What is it with these halls of fame?
The Baseball Hall of Fame in historic Cooperstown, NY announced last week that not a single player will be inducted into their hallowed halls in 2021. Apparently, no one was worthy from a list that included Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Todd Helton, and Curt Schilling.
Now you can understand the speed bumps being faced by Bonds and Clemons. And Schilling wants no part of any organization that would let him be a member. But no one gets in this year? Embarrassing.
And then there’s the Radio Hall Of Fame. They had the audacity to admit a consultant into their ranks in 2018, a mistake they happily haven’t repeated since. Who knows what they were thinking? 😉
It turns out that one of the consequences of creating these honorary organizations that bestow coveted awards on their participants is that they piss off as many people as they make happy.
Take the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, located in Cleveland since it was established way back in 1983. Over the years, there has been no shortage of controversy surrounding this institution, especially artists and groups included – and excluded.
Sadly, 2021 is no different.
When I saw this year’s list of nominees released earlier this week, I couldn’t help but join the amazed and amused on Twitter who wondered whether the Rock Hall had lost its mind – or at least its compass.
Or whether they enjoy the controversy, the buzz, and the second-guessing that always follows their list of musical candidates.
In case you missed it amidst the news of an impeachment, a pandemic, and an economic recession, here’s the list (artists in bold are first-time nominees):
- LL Cool J
- Todd Rundgren
- Fela Kuti
- Kate Bush
- New York Dolls
- Rage Against the Machine
- Foo Fighters
- Tina Turner
- Carole King
- The Go-Go’s
- Mary J. Blige
- Jay-Z
- Dionne Warwick
- Devo
- Chaka Khan
- Iron Maiden
Two things jump out at me from this list of performers – they are all gifted, talented and worthy of recognition and they are a very diverse group of musicians.
And I’m not even going to go where so many have gone before – questioning who actually belongs in an organization that calls itself “Rock N’ Roll.” That’s an old debate that takes place every year as fans incredulously stare at the nominees list.
I’ve experienced enough of those circular arguments and endless debates over which artists are “Classic Rock” – and which shouldn’t make the cut. My preference is to let the audience decide. (And whatever you do, please don’t ask me whether Nirvana now should be accepted into the classic rock family.)
Trying to second-guess what the nominating committee in Cleveland was thinking is like trying to figure out how U.S. Senators are going to vote. The odds are not in your favor. You will most likely be incorrect.
With any hall of fame or awards program, there are the inevitable snubs, the “What took so longs?”, and the WTFs.
The most (in)famous of these was when the geniuses who run the Grammys finally created a “hard rock/heavy metal” category in 1989, only to give the inaugural award for best performance to Jethro Tull who bested Metallica and their “…And Justice For All” album. James Hetfield is still considering taking up the flute after that landmark decision.
I’m pleased to report this year’s Rock And Roll Hall nominations checked off all these same boxes, as they manage to do every year. There was no social media when the organization was formed, but over the last decade or so, music fans and rock devotees have expended considerable outrage and passion over many of these decisions.
So, let’s get our criteria straight, and then I’ll get to my nagging and annoying questions. On their website’s ABOUT page, here’s how the organization describes itself:
So, here are a few of my questions – from this year’s nominees, and some of the more bizarre decisions that have been made over the years.
1. Tina Turner – what’s taken so long? She was recognized for her work with Ike, so this one is a nomination for her many solo efforts. About time.
2. Devo – not Pat or Dave? I like rock as much as the next guy, but Devo gets nominated and Pat Benatar does not (despite coming in second in the fan vote last year)? The Dave Matthews Band won the fan vote – and got snubbed, too. (Actually, I’m not passionate about either one of these snubs, but on Twitter and other social media outlets, it was Pat Benatar’s omission that was trending.)
@rockhall WHAT Pat Benatar did not make it into the 2021 nominations for the RocknRoll Hall of Fame. PLEASE STOP THE INSANITY!
— Laura Godinho (@ljgodinho) February 11, 2021
3. Fela Kuti?
4. Speaking of Jethro Tull, why have they never been nominated? OK, so they got a gift from the Grammys, but still – this band was as big back in the 70s as so many other bands that have made it into the Hall. Maybe this is the payback from that wrong-headed Grammy.
5. Why is the Rock Hall in Cleveland anyway? When it comes to influential bands from the city on Lake Erie, who are we talking about? Chrissie Hynde, James Gang, Devo, Michael Stanley, Nine Inch Nails, the Black Keys are all rockers that hail from Cleveland (or nearby Akron). It’s not a bad list, but it’s certainly not exactly a cornucopia of rock talent.
For that, you might look to nearby Detroit. Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, Eminem, Jack White, Ted Nugent, Kid Rock, the MC5, Iggy Popp, the Romantics, and so many others. And I haven’t mentioned Motown, Aretha, Bill Haley & the Comets, the Knack or Sonny Bono.
(OK, I feel better now.)
6. Fela Kuti?
7. What about the Guess Who? So, the Rock Hall is achieving global diversity with Fela Kuti’s nomination (he’s a Nigerian), and a truly accomplished Afrobeat beat artist. But what about our neighbors to the north? Once again, the Guess Who get the snub, despite a long portfolio of big hits, including “American Woman.” Hmm…maybe that’s why some people think it’s political:
It was one thing for President Biden to kill the Keystone oil pipeline. Okay, fine. But having the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snub The Guess Who yet again? Now, THAT’S how you piss off a Canadian. #GuessWho #RockHall2021 #BoycottRockHall #BoycottCleveland #music #Canada
— Canada’s Travel Guy (@JimByersTravel) February 10, 2021
8. The Foo Fighters? Seriously?? Yeah, seriously. I can’t begin to predict whether most of these nominees will end up in the Hall this year or not. But the Foo Fighters are an absolute lock to get inducted. They represent everything that is wonderful about rock n’ roll.
So, here’s the crazy part. Outside of the Foos, only four of the other nominees will make it in this year. The rest may have a shot in later years. Someday, Pat Benatar will get in. The Dave Matthews Band will get in, too. And so will King Crimson, Foreigner, Joe Cocker, and Bad Company. Even a K-Pop group could one day make the cut.
That’s because at the rate the Rock Hall is going, everyone will be admitted at some point. But that won’t stop the finger-pointing, the ranting, the
raving, the bitching, and the Tweet storms.
All that snubbery creates an environment of outraged people, petitioning for their favorites, whipping up their social media followings, and making noise about how lame the Rock Hall truly is.
And isn’t that the point?
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Dave Grohl finally gets props, he’s rock royalty but nicer than the Royals. Great. Now where is Paul Rogers? Surely Bad Company belongs. Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels? MC5? In the words of POTUS’s campaign slogan, “C’mon man!” Politics. Love the hall as a day trip, Fred. But their choices? Are they all high?
Paul Rogers, yes–provided it’s based on his earlier work in the band called Free.
[ducking]
I actually love the guy’s whole body of work. One helluva vocalist, including with Queen. And John, if anyone ducks around here, it should be me.
Ed, I don’t think drugs has anything to do with it. It is organic lameness.
I would add Kansas to the list. They have legacy of great songs and continue to put out wonderful new music. And I agree with you on Pat (and I hear she calls Michigan home now).
I didn’t know Pat and Neil live in “The Mitten.” Hope all is well with you, Bill.
When the Hall of Fame rolled out its Alan Freed Memorial Radio Studio some years back, Radio World newspaper dispatched me to Cleveland to photograph it and write an article about it for an upcoming issue. When it was published, I received the delightful news that a framed copy of it went up in the HoF studio for all to see.
By virtue of that example of my creativity being conspicuously on display in those hallowed halls, I facetiously began including in my resume that “I was in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (details on request)”, just to see who would actually be curious about it. Those who made it all the way to the bottom of my CV and saw the entry couldn’t help but call and ask me, and had a good laugh over it.
It was fun for a few years, but I took it off before someone called the Hall and tattled on me.
Haha! Love it! I say put it back! Hey, if Fred can boast of being in the hall, so can you!
Oh, go for it, Alan.
1. Accolades are nice and must be a great feeling but validation as an artist starts with having a career. When asked what “American Pie” meant, Don McLean jokingly replied, “It means I don’t ever have to work again if I don’t want to.” If I was an artist that has already sold millions, toured over and over again and I’m comfortable from a business standpoint and the impact of the brand is well established. I’m not so sure I’d be that worried about the Rock and Roll HoF. 2. Maybe it has always been this way but lately, the pendulum seems to swing towards the subjectivity of its beholders. I know no one wants to hear this but decisions are made more for the message it sends out than rather it makes sense. Next, Ok, Dave Grohl is rock royalty, I get it and the Foo Fighters are nominated. Oh, he’s on the committee, of course, it’s a slam dunk. I’m sure it had nothing to do with it but appearances sometimes make you scratch your head. 3. This is an organization that needs to stay relevant, they have visitors and they should, Cleveland is a great town. Alan Freed coined the term “rock and roll” so it was ordained. But, their marketing and promotional machine is just like any radio station, artist, it needs to be fed for sustainability. They’ve managed to position this annual gala in much the same way as the Grammy’s. Controversy always helps, the idea of what Rock and Roll really was/is/future is the perfect tool, but this is where they lose credibility. Bee Gees have been in there since 1997, need I say more. And what rock bands are not in the HoF, that literally built the industry.
Well, that’s my two cents : )
I expected you might weigh in on this one, Billy. Like any other institution that is in need of funds and butts in seats, it’s hard for politics NOT to become intertwined with their mission. We’re both on the outside, but many selections historically seemed motivated by….something, that has little to do with musicianship, albums sold, or arenas sold out.
No question about it. They also thrive on controversy. But wild choices that stir the pot get old after a while, and maybe even erode whatever cred the Rock Hall may have had when they got it going decades ago.
I know I piss off people every time I write about the Rock Hall (and Cleveland), but that’s OK. This is a process that is all about cred.
“I can see the HOF (Hall of Fame) is a private enterprise. It seems to operate as a business, and the inductees are there by some action of the owners of the Enterprise. The inductees appear to be chosen at the owner’s pleasure. This seems proper to me. It is their business in any case. It does not seem to me that the HOF carries a public mandate, nor should it be compelled to conform to one.” – Michael Nesmith
RIP Mike!
Always a bright rock star, Mike. Thanks for sharing this quote.
I think the Cleveland decision was a follow the money one. IIRC, Cleveland wanted it and made the most attractive offer, was selected primarily for financial reasons and I don’t think Alan Freed had much, if anything to do with it.
Rock Hall politics and decisions have always been weird. Social media has ensured that whatever controversy their strange nominations elicit will gain viral status – they obviously subscribe to the no publicity is bad publicity philosophy. And beyond that, much of what’s there hasn’t changed in many years, there’s almost nothing interactive, or even a decent headphone guided through the exhibits. A lot of the tech is 1960s vintage.
I guess its a lot like the Marconis. Its an honor to be nominated/selected, but no one really knows what they mean or what the criteria is for inclusion. I won’t go into details, but I can tell you that the closer in you get at the Rock Hall, the stranger it gets.
Your last paragraph resonated with me, Bob. I think whether we’re talking about the Oscars, the Golden Globes, the Grammys, or the Marconis, there’s always the side we don’t see. Thanks for the comment.
I must disagree with my esteemed colleague, Mr. Bellin. Alan Freed’s coining of the term, and his ‘birthing’ of rock n’ roll radio, first Akron, then Cleveland, had a lot to do with it. Of course, his influence grew amongst the intelligentsia by taking his show to New York.
As Ian Hunter sez…
I will leave this debate to my Ohio friends. I just wish the place was in Detroit.
I don’t care much about this Hall of Fame since the year they nominated Los Lobos and left them out.