Before I get all snarky like I do every year when these announcements are made, let me say up front that there are some things to like about the latest choices for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
First, there's the fact that three of the five inductees (Genesis, The Stooges, The Hollies) are rock bands. This should be a given, but since so many inductees represent other genres, it's worthy of note that a slim majority of the inductees represent rock. (This year's non-rock inductees are pop's ABBA and reggae's Jimmy Cliff. As always, I acknowledge these inductees' positive impact on their respective genres, but have to shrug helplessly when asked what they're doing in a hall of fame ostensibly for rock artists.)
It's not just me. Even ABBA were surprised to be nominated. "I didn't think this would happen, because we were a pop band, not a rock band," one of the band's founders, Benny Andersson, tells Rolling Stone.
And could it be that the induction of Genesis signals a crack in the wall that has historically blocked progressive rockers? Being a glass-half-full kind of guy, I'm going to take this as a hopeful sign for other prog rock bands who have consistently gotten a cold shoulder from the people who nominate and select the Rock Hall inductees.
After adjourning to Cleveland (home of the Rock Hall Museum) for last year's induction ceremony, the 2010 affair will return to its longtime venue, New York City's Waldorf Astoria on March 15.
Comments
I would be interested in seeing a Genesis and Hollies reunion, but I must admit seeing ABBA perform would truly be historic. With that said, I do agree that until no-brainers like Rush, Yes, Chicago, or even The Cure are admitted, it seems a little early to let ABBA in. At some point, there is plenty of room at the Hall (it’s all conceptual anyway) for influential bands like ABBA who were not strictly R&R. But first we need to get eligible bands who have been over looked into the Hall.
It may be controversial, and it may represent the more sinister business side of the industry, but I believe the Monkees were a very important group. the all won’t do it, because I’m sure the fear the media fallout. It would be such an easy target for bloggers and uniformed journalists. But those 4 actors (and their bevy of producers, session guys and songwriters) changed how rock music is consumed – for better or worse. Their importance though is undeniable.
They need to change the name to the Music Hall Of Fame. Then some oneelse needs to open a REAL ROCK and ROLL hall of fame. Where are the MOODY BLUES? Would any rock fan even admit to listeniing to Abba. No way! Unless you are at a carnival in Europe.
How does the Hall ignore Savoy Brown?
i am a fifty year old rock collecter-this has become the rock and roll hall of shame-i quit supporting this organization years ago.
HEY Its a fu…. joke I agree with the 2 nd comment tooo much and especially agree with the third…IT IS A CAPITALIST ROLLING STONE JOKE….And I have asked myself that ??? for years and years about All the groups etc that ARE NOT Rock and Roll…A joke………….Mraudio—formerly Mr. Rock and Roll
2 Mike Berry AMEN…!!!
My first Rock record was a 78rpm of Bill Haley’s “Rock around the clock” my father bought me in 1955, my last CD, of the group “Dead Weather” . So, I guess I know a little bit about rock, and, like you, I also get “snarky” (?) about the yearly nominations. Who decides who is going to be listed? I am an old fart who still plays air drums while driving or sitting at my computer listening to Van Halen and… I love…..ABBA!. But.. they are not Rock, not Jimmy Cliff. If you are going to nominate someone different why not Brasil”s Os Mutantes, or France’s Jean Jacques Goldman, or Mexico’s Mana. They are more Rock than many American groups although they perform in languages oither than English.
I’m with you guys and wish there was a way to start a real Rock N Roll museum. Let’s move the thing to Memphis and get someone whom actually knows a little about the business of Rock. True Rock!!!!
What about J.Geils Band? Are they TOO Rock for that place?
Move it LA or NY or better yet both places, you know, where people visit. You couldn’t pay me to go to Cleavland. It’s a real city …right?
What? No rappers this year
ABBA rules!
I agree about ABBA and Jimmy Cliff and others of their type. They might be good music but NOT Rock and Roll! I also like some of the other suggestions like Rush and J.Geils Band. They ROCK! Moody Blues doesn’t rock to me, they don’t even roll. Who picks the inductees to the HOF anyway, sportswriters?
A very welcome change of pace for Genesis to get in their 1st year on the ballot! But then they are the best selling progressive band, having sold more albums/cds worldwide than even Pink Floyd.
If you don’t think the Moody Blues rock then you didn’t see them in concert in the last 40+ years…
Those who should be in the Hall, for their musical contributions and lasting influence:
Moody Blues
Zombies
Deep Purple!
Yes
Jethro Tull
ELP
Alice Cooper!
Humble Pie
Heart
Thin Lizzy
Iron Maiden
Judas Priest
Pat Benatar
Grand Funk Railroad
Cheap Trick
ELO (if ABBA, then…)
Kansas
Styx (if ABBA…)
Foreigner (yes, they rock)
+many others that are rock.
Forget two very deserving bands:
Rush
Chicago- still going after 40+ years of touring every year and have the 4th most Billboard charting records of all time!
Oy! Thanks, Shaman Dave, for opening up this tasty subject and all the Best for a great Holiday Season.
ABBA my aching adenoids! Next year maybe Tony Bennett.
If the Hall were truly totally “a Rolling Stone blow up doll”, the J. Geils Band would have been in BEFORE they were eligible. Werner loved the Band. They were the RS best NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR circa 71 (or thereabouts). Peter Wolf’s “Sleepless” was in the RS top 500 of all time. The Band enjoyed 2 covers, Wolf’s had a cover and they ALWAYS got more than their fair share of ink and paper between the covers.
And….they deserve to be in because they rocked the house like no one else until Bruce and the E Streeters blew into town. Geils is my favorite Band of all time; 38 years and counting. I watched them come onto the NY scene at the Filmore and haven’t been quite the same since.
As for the Hall…What we have here is a failure to be true to one’s roots, lineage and charter. If they want to have Rap, Hip Hop, Elevator Music, Reggae and Disco…just rebrand the thing as the Contemorary Music Hall of Fame.
Just don’t ever tell me that ABBA and Jimmy Cliff (who was cool) are rock and roll.
That’s like saying Tiger is the 1st Golfer to use his wood on a different course (or 2).
ABBA…somebody please get me the Demoral.
But it’s not, nor has it ever been (as evidenced by inductees Jimmie Rodgers, Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, Leadbelly, and Woody Guthrie, all of whom were inducted within the first three years of the HOF’s existence) an exclusively rock-and-roll old boys’ club… many of the inductees are influences who had far more to do with the overall development of rock and its various subgenres than the torchbearers who carried forth those subgenres.
If there was no Jimmy Cliff, there would be no UB40, No Doubt, Sublime… and, for that matter, hip-hop would not exist as we know it, nor would any of the rock that has been influence by hip-hop. (I could make the same argument for ABBA, but I really can’t stand their music, so I’m begging off.) And let’s be honest here: Jimmy Cliff might be the least controversial artist on the list, if we’re actually talking about people’s taste in music. Who DOESN’T like Jimmy Cliff? All arguments about whether or not he belongs in a rock and roll museum to the side, everyone can pretty much agree that he’s a great artist. All of the other four on this list are far more divisive, from a purely musical standpoint. But I digress.
If the HOF had always been a purely rock entity, I’d say these choices were weird, but it’s really trying to cover the greater scope of the rock spectrum, and by that definition, these five all fit in just fine.
No argument about influences, Megan, but would you agree that they should be inducted in the influences category, rather than as performers?
Somehow I had it in my head that they discontinued the whole “influences” sideline category. I’d say that they are both fringes-of-the-rock-umbrella enough to be in the general category, but that’s just me and my general refusal to stake out the grey areas.
Is Jimmy Cliff any more or less of a rock star than Otis Redding, who is clearly best described as an R&B musician, but is uncontroversially included in the HOF?
Frankly, I don’t think either Redding or Cliff should be there as performers. Both were hugely talented performers, but I would no more put Redding in a rock hall of fame than I would put Black Sabbath in a R&B hall of fame.
You’re right, RRHOF did away with “Early Influences” but now puts those folks either in “Sidemen” (their sexist label, not mine) or “Non-performer.” But these categories are screwy, too. Headline performers like Chet Atkins, King Curtis and Floyd Cramer are classified as “sidemen.” Allen Toussaint is considered a “Non-performer.” Really?
As some have suggested, it would be more accurate to change the name to Music Hall of Fame or, perhaps, Rock & Roll Era Hall of Fame.
Can anyone say Moody Blues??? At this rate The Rasmus will make the Rock Hall first.
I’m born, raised in the Rock and Roll capitol of the world, Cleveland, and have worked in the entertainment industry for 30- years. I even have my name on an I-Beam in the Rock Hall. Clevelanders would love to take the Rock Hall back by Eminent Domain! If we had our way, NY decisions would be gone and we would induct 100 artists per year just to catch up.
The snob board in NY is out of touch with what needs to be done and what the people see. No band should get in before those bands who have been up for induction get into the Rock Hall.
This Rock Hall was founded for all Rock Bands and NO ONE should be over looked, or out right denied.
On Sept 10th 2001, fox news exposed the board in NY for unfair practices on electing inductees, but sorry to say that news bit got lost the next day.
Unfortunately this comment is NOT an opinion but fact.
ABBA is certainly NOT A ROCK BAND!! There are sooooo many deserving classic rock bands out there. What about Stevie Ray Vaughan, who bridged the gap between blues and rock? Savoy Brown, BTO, J. Tull etc….so many!
I agree with Patricia. The R&R Hall of Fame was made for and in behalf of rock bands that made their mark. They need to increase the inductees yearly to catch up and give recognition to the deserving great rock bands.
I guess, as in all other things, politics probably reared it’s ugly head again in this selection. Such a pity!!
Hey Smitty You mean Tony Bennett ISN’T a member..???!!!
wow just what I wanted to see IGGY performing with ABBA W O W
I have had a grudge against the R&R Hall of Fame for years because they haven’t inducted the MOODY BLUES!!