This year’s batch of inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced awhile ago. While the ongoing omission of popular favorites like Bon Jovi and the simply shameful snubbing of Alice Cooper were already known outrages, the induction list is a further outrage, at least as far as I’m concerned.
KISS and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were snubbed in favor of ABBA. That’s just ridiculous; ABBA is anything but a rock band. (I won’t argue the induction of The Stooges and The Hollies, both of whom have more than enough rock cred. I mean, look at the Hollies. They started out as nothing more than a pop knockoff of the Beatles, but then artfully transcended that beginning to become a pretty cool rock and roll band.)
There’s just no good explanation of the supposed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s ongoing policy of inducting anyone with a few hits that hit it big on mainstream radio. If this continues, they will have absolutely no credibility left with anyone. (That’s assuming that they have any credibility now, which as far as I’m concerned, they don’t.) Madonna before Deep Purple? You’ve got to be kidding me.
They keep on talking about how you have to be “influential” to get in, but then they leave out Deep Purple, quite possibly one of the most influential bands ever to perform. If you hand a person an electric guitar and ask them what they want to play, I can guarantee you that the riff they want to play is NOT from a Madonna song. But Madonna is in, and Deep Purple, creators of Smoke on the Water, the greatest riff ever, are not.
The way it’s going, if someone wants to prove whether they’re a real rock star, all they have to do is answer the question: “Are you in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?”
(Here’s a hint: the correct answer is “No”, at least if I’m doing the asking.)
Related posts:
- Snubbed Again by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Bruce at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert
- Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction
- Random Song: It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll (But I Like It)
- Random Song: God Gave Rock and Roll to You II
Tags: Alice Cooper, Bon Jovi, KISS