The window of opportunity to write and post this update is more along the lines of a porthole, really. Meaning it’s very small indeed. I have no time, my friends. So, I thought I’d just post my quick thoughts on the 2019 list of Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductees, which was announced today. How’s that sound? …Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of. Onward!
First of all, have you ever been to the so-called Rock Hall? I have, and it’s good, I guess. I wasn’t completely blown away, but it was certainly well-done. I remember there was almost nothing about Bob Dylan in there, which seemed weird to me. And I remember some drawings of football players by a very young Jimi Hendrix, which kinda blew my mind. You almost forget that the mythological rock gods were actually, you know, regular people at some point. The drawings were not very good, just typical kid stuff. But those kinds of things stick with me more than just guitar after guitar after glittery jacket after high-rise boot. Ya know?
Anyway. I have no idea what criteria is used during the selection process. But I can tell you one thing… it’s a true basket of turds. I mean, it feels 100% arbitrary. There are BAFFLING choices, both in the list of people who get in, and the list of people who do not. I don’t want to be totally dismissive, but it doesn’t seem to have an enormous amount of integrity. Am I wrong?
In any case, here’s the Class of 2019 and my quick thoughts on each:
Stevie Nicks Uh, no. I can take her in the context of Fleetwood Mac, but undiluted? What possible reason would there be to do such a thing? There’s so much good, challenging music out there. But, on the other hand… she’s very mysterious, like a gypsy witch, and has a lot of scarves and spins round and round on stage, etc. And she does sing like an agitated pygmy goat. So, perhaps I’m wrong?
Janet Jackson Seriously? Why?? She had some poppy radio hits. But so did a lot of people. Apparently having Jackson as a last name goes a long way. Next year they’ll probably induct Reggie Jackson.
Radiohead I believe their first two albums featured actual music. Then it just turned into caterwauling and various sound effects. Years ago stores that sold stereos would have demonstration tapes you could play to test out speakers before you bought ’em. It was all just random sounds, like dogs barking and ambulance sirens and that kind of thing. I think that if we unearthed one of those recordings today, and put Radiohead’s name on it, Rolling Stone would give it five stars and call it brilliant and revolutionary.
The Cure I’m down with that. They’ve been around since the late 1970s and have been very consistent. Lots of great songs, and several great albums. I have no issue with this pick.
Def Leppard I don’t know… When the list of possible inductees was released I knew they’d be a slam-dunk. It just feels very Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, right? And I don’t have a problem with the band. Their albums are fun and sound great in a car. But are they innovative and especially important? Have they moved the ball forward in any way? I don’t know about that.
Roxy Music To tell you the truth, I’m no expert. I’m very familiar with their album Avalon, which is excellent. And I’ve heard some of their earlier work, but not enough to offer an educated opinion. However, as a young hillbilly child, I did appreciate their Country Life album cover. Oh, I appreciated that one real good. And for that alone, they belong.
The Zombies Hell yeah! This choice made me the happiest. I’m a big fan of the band and believe their final album, Odessey and Oracle, is one of the best of all time. I saw them about a year ago, with all the original surviving members. And they sounded fantastic. A great, somewhat surprising choice!
Folks who didn’t make the cut: Devo, John Prine, Kraftwerk, LL Cool J, MC5, Rage Against the Machine, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan and Todd Rundgren. Yeah, I know… a lot of it doesn’t make any sense. Janet and Stevie, but not John Prine? Whatever, man. Pass the beer nuts.
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And I’ll see you guys again on Monday
Have a great weekend!
Now playing in the bunker
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That’s an endless argument – what bands should be in and who should not.
Seeing Richie Valens roller skates at the Hall made me sad.
Wide of the mark on Radiohead.
The Cure have been a great band, some of the best musicians I’ve seen live.
I saw Radiohead’s “King of Limbs” special on Palladia a few years ago. Definitely out there and not what I would normally listen to but I found it well executed and fascinating. Great musicianship!
I don’t really know much about The Cure. I was reading about them earlier – and that clown face guy is the only original guy left. And there are some who have came and went from the band several times over the years. I wonder who will be inducted?
Give The Cure live album Entreat Plus a listen, it is superb. I was at one of the gigs on that record, I don’t think it was all recorded on one night 🙂
I might – but I don’t really care of that kind of music.
Janet Jackson but not Dire Straits? Really?
Janet Jackson had a rock song during my radio days. Black Cat could rock but we were told to bury it in the middle of the set and not to pre or back sell it. This reminds me of Jethro Tull winning the first heavy metal grammy. Ugh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CRu2SWDtRA
One is reluctant to get in a pissing contest about what constitutes Rock ‘n’ Roll, Rock, Pop, and all the sub and sub-sub genres of manufactured, derivative, vernacular, and fusion music forms. However, a world in which Janet Jackson is in ANY hall of fame from which John Prine is excluded is an unnatural world of despair and billions of tin ears. “Hello in There” would be enough, but he wrote, played and sang dozens of other brilliant songs. I’d go ahead and give Janet Jackson Mr. Prine’s spot in the Postman’s Hall of Fame. It makes as much sense, and the banquet isn’t televised, which would offer some sonic relief.
John
Man, the rock and roll hall of fame is a total ‘get off my lawn’ institution for me. A true rock and roller would scoff at the idea of some group of assholes determining what bands were worthy of inclusion into some stupid tourist trap.
I love discussing what bands were truly great (and Radiohead is on the shortlist for me, FWIW), but that’s for a magazine article or internet listicle, not some gargantuan ‘Hall’. The very notion of some group of critics determining what ‘good’ or ‘important’ music is drives me bonkers. And I hate that amazing bands are totally on board with the whole notion and show to play on their inclusion concert or whatever.
Lame, lame, LAME!
Whew. I’m out of breath.
I would have liked to see Devo among the winners.
Seriously. He brought home the bacon, albeit with one chromosome too many.
It never made sense to me if the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland, why is the ceremony in New York?
More crime?
No Devo? Bullshit.
Janet Jackson over Todd Rundgren? Todd was a great producer of many great albums as well as a genius writer/performer.
The Cure is a good choice.
Stevie Nicks.solo? No how
I’ve always enjoyed Roxy Music, good solid catalog going back to the Brian Eno years’
Devo should be in for their first 2 albums before Whip It
John Prine belonged in years ago
Criteria are, criterion is. Yeah, I know it’s a technical violation like all those women Trump paid off, but first they took the nouns, then they took the verbs . . . and when they came to take the articles, there were no words left to say, “Fuck off.”
jtb
Monica?
From Cleveland.com:
“It’s always been a thorny subject with me,’’ Rundgren said. “I never thought a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland or anywhere else was a good idea.
“It’s not rock ‘n’ roll anymore anyway,’’ he said. “What we used to call rock ‘n’ roll – the original term, defined by DJ Alan Freed – meant to refer to a certain kind of music that Chuck Berry and Little Richard and Elvis [Presley] were playing, and it was distinguishable from ‘popular music’ at that time.’’
“What you have now is a pop music hall of fame, and I don’t care if I’m in the Pop Music Hall of Fame or not,’’ he said.
I’m glad you like The Cure. This band was a subtle, if not important, soundtrack to my chaotic life. Still listen to their stuff to this day to pull me out of my doldrums.