Rock Hall 2008 Inductees or What I Like To Call: Jann Wenner Sucks
Yet another year has gone by and tonight we prepare for the next class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, and as usual, it sucks huge donkey testicles.
I blame Jann Wenner, the simpering queen and publisher at Rolling Stone for his constant need to pass up the greats so he can cater to his friends and special interests of the marginally talented. Lest you think I am being too harsh, take a look at this year’s artists, compared to who has NOT been inducted yet.
2008 Performer Inductees
* John Mellencamp
* Leonard Cohen
* Madonna
* The Dave Clark Five
* The Ventures
With the exception of Leonard Cohen, who is an amazing singer/songwriter and likely should have been in YEARS ago, this is a list of *ehhh*, who cares. Sure, Madonna is a master of marketing and mimicry, and John Cougar Mellencamp has some great songs, but the Dave Clark Five? Give me a friggin’ break.
Ok, here’s a list of groups who’ve been completely ignored for years (and mind you, this is a tad heavy on the 80’s New Wave, but STILL…)
Roxy Music - It is a crime against humanity that Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music have been ignored for years, YEARS I tell you. I mean if we aren’t going to judge on artistic integrity, creative genius, and sheer longevity, then what’s the point. Roxy Music is one of the most seminal art-rock bands who crossed over into popular music that ever existed. Period, the end. Case closed. Jann sucks.
The Cure - What the F*CK excuse does the RH committee have for not including the Cure in the Rock Hall? The Cure were as influential to rock as REM, U2 and the Clash, three bands from the same era who are in, yet somehow they keep getting overlooked. I would like to punch Wenner in the ballsack for this oversight.
Rush - I don’t even particularly even LIKE Rush, but still, come on. Progressive rock wouldn’t be the same without them. In fact, there are no prog rock bands in the Rock Hall. No Emerson, Lake and Palmer, no Yes, no Moody Blues, nothing. Why? Because Jann Wenner sucks big hairy ones, as do all the toady lickspittles who kiss his ass. BTW, Jann Wenner likes Scientologists. A lot. He might even be one.
But wait, there’s more glaring omissions: Duran Duran, Joy Division/New Order, Depeche Mode, B-52’s, Tears For Fears - the list goes on as far as the New Wave/Electronic/Punk set goes. What about Cyndi Lauper even? These bands and artists were not only immensely popular, and most still are, but they had tons of hits and sold massive amounts of records.
I will be at the Rock Hall tonight helping the publisher of Blogcritics.org, Eric Olsen, to cover the event for Cleveland.com. I will also be thinking evil thoughts about Jann Wenner, the sucktacularness of Rolling Stone, and his crappy taste in music.
Feel free to list bands who YOU think have been overlooked because the Rock Hall is run by a bunch of corrupt, scruffy-looking nerfherders.
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Nice rant, D. You’ll get no argument from me about Jann Wenner, described by the late Abby Hoffman as the Benedict Arnold of the 60s counterculture.
It is truly nauseating how the Hall committee couldn’t wait to kiss Madonna’s rump.
To be fair, I went over to allmusic.com to read about The Ventures and the DC5. Still can’t see why either of them should be in the Hall. The Ventures, in particular, seem a poor choice - they did nothing more noteworthy than Walk Don’t Run and the Hawaii Five-O theme. The DC5 was a purveyor of mindless pop music, nothing more.
Comment by Narcissus — March 10, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Thanks N, I had to get that out of my system, as I HATE the whole set up of the Rock Hall, how Cleveland’s role has been marginalized and some of the crap they’ve chosen to induct. You should read Roger Friedman’s article (second link from the top). I normally would never read Fox News, but that’s a great article.
Comment by D — March 10, 2008 @ 2:27 pm
Don’t hold back, tell us how you really feel.
Comment by k — March 10, 2008 @ 2:42 pm
You can call Dave Clark Five mindless but The Ramones were more influenced by them than anybody else the HOF has offered in awhile. I agree with your opinion of Jann Wenner. I can’t stand him or his magazine. Lets get rid of him and induct sex clark five and jon cougar concentration camp
Comment by Bleachboy — March 10, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
They (I) don’t call it the Rock and Roll Mausoleum for nothing.
I will never go, especially now that Madonna is rotting away in there.
Comment by marcab — March 10, 2008 @ 3:32 pm
Correct, Roxy Music is the most glaring example that proves the rock hall and Wenner are frauds. Outside the USA, per the Guardian - Roxy are considered arguably the 2nd most influential British band ever after the Beatles. At worst they in the top 5.
Comment by JOB — March 10, 2008 @ 3:44 pm
Once I heard Amy was snorting flaming vodka, I couldn’t stay away. We talked about this pathetic list on Josh’s show. I would disagree with you about “The Cure were as influential to rock as REM” because as much as I enjoy those Athens fellows I think there’s evidence The Cure have been more influential.
Fight the good fight.
Comment by El Bicho — March 10, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
ahem… The Dave Clark 5 are a hugely influential band, getting none other than the Van Halen brothers into rock music. Think about that…
The Ventures also belong in there.
Otherwise the rock hall is a joke. There’s nothing to stop someone else starting a new rock hall and seriously, they should do it. Why not?
Comment by ahem — March 10, 2008 @ 5:35 pm
It’s well known now that when the Rock Hall was being built musicians and bands were invited to “donate” to the “cause”… and those bands/artists who declined to “donate” will never see induction into the Hall.
Comment by Chloe Davidson — March 10, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
Oh no! This is worse than the Cult of $ciontolgy recruiting celebs. Madonna is trying to buy credibility by having the Stooges perform her music!!!!!
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080310/ENT04/80310062/1118/RSS
Why are the Stooges performing for Madonna?
Even band’s guitarist knows rock hall pairing is odd
By BRIAN McCOLLUM
FREE PRESS MUSIC WRITER
Don’t be too worried, Stooges fans: They haven’t sold out to the other side.
So proclaims guitarist Ron Asheton, who tonight will join band mates Iggy Pop, Scott Asheton and Steve MacKay as the Stooges play a pair of Madonna songs — “Ray of Light” and “Burning Up” — during the latter’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Asheton was reacting to online reports that have described the band’s scheduled performance as a “tribute” to the dance-pop star, whose music is a far cry from the Stooges’ own gritty, primal Detroit rock.
“The Stooges represent everything that’s against what she is,” Asheton told the Free Press from his New York hotel this afternoon. “I don’t wish her ill. I don’t hate her or anything. But I’d never even heard of these songs until I had to listen to a tape and figure out what’s going on with them.”
In reality, Asheton says, Madonna asked the Stooges to perform as an act of protest: The group, widely considered a linchpin of early punk, has yet to be inducted by the rock hall, despite six appearances on the nomination ballot. By inviting the group on stage, she sends a message, says Asheton.
Last year’s rock hall ceremony featured a similar demonstration, when the night’s inductees performed the Stooges’ “I Wanna Be Your Dog” during a jam session finale.
“Basically she was upset that we’ve been nominated so many times and never made it, so she asked us to play in protest. And it was under those auspices that I thought we were doing it,” Asheton said. “At first I went, ‘Whaaat?’ Then Iggy said, ‘Why don’t you think about it?’”
Comment by marcab — March 10, 2008 @ 7:49 pm
Roxy Music….How many times have we brought this up together? Bryan Ferry is a sexy genius and has certainly been overlooked for his musical contributions. It’s a shame that although RM may not be considered a band that is appreciated by all, they are far more deserving of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognition. I hope Bryan is reading my post and feeling the love. Big kisses to you my tall, handsome crooner. I shall always cherish my autographed mementos and our chance meeting. Peter Gabriel is also another unsung hero who got left in the dust as well.
Comment by D-Bomb — March 10, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
Depeche Mode should have made it, they took electronic music to new and exciting heights.
Comment by Rob — March 10, 2008 @ 11:03 pm
I totally agree — especially about Rush. They are one of my most favorite bands ever.
And all those 80s New Wavers, they gave us something to listen to, I’d go so far as to say it was our “emo.”
I don’t really know what qualifies as “influential” these days — does it mean they changed the sound of the industry? does it mean that they laid the groundwork for later artists giving them the ability to be successful? Or does it simply mean that they knew how to “play the game” and sucked up to the right people?
Hmmmmmmmmmmm.
Comment by crazymom — March 11, 2008 @ 1:44 pm
Oh probably all of the above Crazymom. I have to say though, despite my initial vitriol of this post, after seeing the artists inducted into the Rock Hall last night, they each deserved to be there, but that really wasn’t my issue, in so much as who’s been left out.
Next year the ceremony will be in Cleveland, so that’s nice. And supposedly will return every three years, so that softens the blow. If anyone wants to read our blow by blow from the rock hall, go here:
http://blog.cleveland.com/rockhall/
It really was fun, I just can’t stand Jann Wenner, he so full of it.
Comment by D — March 11, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
Thank you for being objective about Rush. They are a definite acquired taste, but anyone who looks at their credentials with the same objectivity will see they should be a Rock Hall no-brainer; as are a number of Prog-related acts. Jann Wenner is truly a wart on the ass of humanity.
Comment by weirdharold2112 — March 13, 2008 @ 10:50 am
My son wants to grow up and be Neil Peart.
Comment by k — March 13, 2008 @ 2:27 pm
its an absolute CRIME and INJUSTICE that Duran Duran have been overlooked! what more do they need to do? theyre still together but now with nothing more to prove. theyve sold 80 million plus records, had 18 US Top 10 singles, 30 UK Top 10 singles, made countless contributions to video, style, fashion. need i go on? most bands today consider Duran Duran an influence on them, bands like Foo Fighters, Sugar Ray, No Doubt, Bush, Savage Garden, Nirvana, Live, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, etc etc etc. what the hell is wrong with the voting commitee???
im not a Rush fan but they deserve to inducted as do Depeche Mode, The Cure, Roxy Music, Tears For Fears, etc.
the voting commitee needs to stop smoking crack!
Comment by a Duran Fan — April 8, 2008 @ 9:43 pm