2007 Inductees: The Rock Hall’s Blatant Bias and Hatred Towards Entire Genres
Every year at this time we get to celebrate who made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and I get to lament who has been sorely overlooked. AGAIN!
I have no real issues with this year’s inductees. They each have merit, certainly some more than others. But I am convinced that those who vote are deeply biased against certain genres. They HATE new wave, punk, rap, prog rock and metal. Dorks.
This year’s inductees:
The always angry, former Rage Against The Machine’s Zach De La Rocha, will induct rock queen Patti Smith who is LONG overdue.
Rap mogul Jay-Z will induct Grandmaster Flash and Furious Five finally representing a segment of rock that has been ignored for the last 30 years.
Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder will induct R.E.M, whose record of hits and popularity is unquestionable.Â
Swarthy pirate wanna-be Keith Richards will be inducting Ronnie Spector and the Ronettes which makes sense I guess (when’s Phil going to jail anyway?)Â 
And last, but not least, drug-addled Velvet Revolver will induct drug-addled Van Halen, who haven’t had a hit in more than ten years.
But what about those artists who have been overlooked year after year?Â
Roxy Music: Absolutely without a shred of doubt Bryan Ferry and company should have been inducted YEARS ago. Few bands have had the kind of impact and influence on so many artists as Roxy Music has. By blending fringey art rock with spacey/ambient music, they remained extremely listenable, all while filtered through Bryan’s inherent romanticism. Rigidly described by many as “art rock,” their music spans several genres including new wave, punk, adult contemporary and prog to name a few. If hits alone don’t do it, then influence, originality, execution and consistency should.
Hits for your consideration: “Do The Strand,” “Street Life,” “Love Is The Drug,” “Angel Eyes, ” “Dance Away,” and the entire Avalonalbum. And those are the obvious ones. I could list a dozen more that are just as great. Besides Bryan Ferry is smokin’ hot and without Brian Eno and his influence a band like U2 might only be half as great.
Iggy Pop: Cripes, it’s just an outrage that Iggy has been ignored for so frigging long. If your name is the “Godfather of Punk” then what do you have to do to get recognized? He’s been kicking ass since the 60’s (and it shows). Dogged by years of drug use, Pop was beloved by rock icons like David Bowie who stood by him through his various addictions. It wasn’t until the 80’s that Pop would have a bona fide hit with “(Real) Wild Child,” ”Candy” but ten years earlier he created the anthemic “Lust For Life” which despite his dabbling in drugs, he clearly has - outliving many of his peers. His gravely voice, gaunt but taut appearance is iconic, and without him the musical landscape would be far less rich.
The Cure: How is it even possible that the Cure aren’t in the rock hall? What kind of anti-new wave/punk f*ckfaces are rigging this contest. Possibly one of the biggest bands of the 80’s and 90’s, The Cure are easily as loved as REM but keep getting looked over. Is it the goth thing, the makeup, the theatrics? It certainly can’t be the music, because they are consistently great and have huge hits in the U.S. and the U.K. with “Close To Me,” “In Between Day,”"Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me,” ”Why Can’t I Be” “Just Like Heaven,” ” Hot,Hot,Hot” “Pictures Of You,” “Friday I’m In Love.”  I mean seriously, what the hell is wrong with these Rock Hall voters?Â
Why for example is Joy Division/New Order not in, WTF?  Feel free to offer your own list so we can gnash our teeth together.Â
Peter Gabriel, Genesis, Echo and The Bunnymen, Psychedelic Furs, Squeexe, XTC, INXS, The Buzzcocks, Duran Duran, The Smiths, Deep Purple, KISS, Yes, Run DMC, The Church, The Replacements, Cheap Trick, Public Enemy, Sugarhill Gang, B-52’s, Mott The Hoople and many more that I can’t think of because my anger had blinded me and crippled my hands so I can’t type anymore.
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No one can deny the influence of Ani DiFranco and the Indigo Girls on modern singer/songwriters. I believe they are at least 80% responsible for the girl-with-guitar movement in the 90s. The Slits should also be honored. Perhaps not quite as well known, but definitely breaking down the barriers for women in punk.
Comment by Anna — March 12, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
I agree about Roxy Music and Iggy Pop, but The Cure? They never were a big deal to me. I would add New York Dolls to your list, Brian Eno (separate from Roxy Music), Billy Idol, Cindy Lauper.
Comment by Dale — March 12, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
One word: Rush.
Comment by James — March 12, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
New York Dolls for sure, Brian Eno absolutely. I hadn’t thought of the other two Dale, but that’s a pretty interesting suggestion.
While I like Ani and the Indigo Girls I don’t think they are eligible yet. I think the cut off is 25 years. The Slits might be too obscure, but clearly not enough women are being represented in general. Although they did induct Blondie, which was a pleasant surprise.
Rush just further illustrates their hatred of prog rock.
Comment by dmdo1016 — March 12, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
very nice analysis and I agree with your assertions!
Comment by Eric Olsen — March 12, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
Rap and hip hop are not rock and roll but they are, along with mtv the 3 biggest reasons of true rock’s demise. At best let them get their own hall. Many of the bands you mentioned are not rock and roll, only “pop” musicians. A fad, or short flavor of time. Unfortunatly many pop bands have already been inducted. It’s all just politics, money and advertising. Another reason the sun is setting fast on real rock.
Comment by Tim — March 12, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
I’m totally with you on The Cure. The HoF is very, very flawed.
Comment by DJRadiohead — March 12, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
I’m getting all teary and emotional and VERY VERY ANGRY just reading this!! WTF!!!
*gnashing and grinding of teeth as contemplates storming Hall of Fame oneself, armed with velvet revolver or similar weapon*
Comment by The Domestic Minx — March 12, 2007 @ 11:45 pm
And then R.E.M. played “Gardening at Night!”
Comment by DJRadiohead — March 13, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
“Gardening at Night” is one of my favs. DJR’s post about REM is one of my favs also.
Oh, don’t cry DM, we always have next year!
Comment by dmdo1016 — March 13, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
[...] seems like just yesterday that I was lamenting how eggregious it is that certain bands have never been inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, [...]
Pingback by GlossLip » Some Punks Never Die: The Buzzcocks Celebrate 30 Years Of Rock At SXSW — March 19, 2007 @ 8:59 am
Not to mention the current omission of Link Wray (the guy who basically invented fuzztone) and the Zombies, whose transcendent “Odessey and Oracle” alone warrants their inclusion. (Also the equally transcendent voice of the Zombies’ Colin Blunstone, one of the most distinctive and musical in all rock).
Comment by Rob — March 19, 2007 @ 11:58 am
At the risk of following up my own comment…may I ask why Bonnie Raitt is in but Paul Revere and the Raiders aren’t? Something wrong with that picture. Acts that are now deemed uncool are ignored too. Three Dog Night were a hit machine but are now taboo, apparently.
Comment by Rob — March 19, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
[...] have railed about Jann Wenner before on Glosslip. His choke-hold on the Rock Hall Inductees reeks of cronism, [...]
Pingback by GlossLip » Fox News’ Roger Friedman Manages To Slam Cruise AND Jann Wenner In One Fell Swoop — July 18, 2008 @ 10:44 am