I obsess about the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame.

The Rock N' Roll induction ceremony was held several weeks ago and I can't stop thinking about it. I was greatly interested in the Hall since its foundation, but this year was the first time I actually watched the induction ceremony (that might be because I believe it was the first time it was televised.) I got to experience the glee of having my favorite band, R.E.M. inducted, be amused by the fact that the only two members of Van Halen to show up for the ceremony are the two who are no longer in the band (not counting Gary Cherone, who apparently has ceased to exist), and become facinated by the music of Patti Smith.

I also got to think about who might be inducted next year. Each year there are 5 entrees and a band is only eligible to be inducted 25 years after the release of their first album. The bands that are infulential and are innovative are the ones selected. There is usually controversy over the nomination list. Rumor has it that politics play a big part in it.

So, I decided to blog about who I think will be inducted next year. Just so you know, this does not necessarily mean that I like the band. This is just who I think would be inducted.

Here are the eligible bands for next year:

1. 10,000 Maniacs
2. Adrian Belew
3. Afrikka Bambaataa
4. Asia
5. Bad Brains
6. The Bangles
7. Beastie Boys
8. Big Country
9. Cocteau Twins
10. Culture Club
11. Dokken
12. Don Henley
13. Everything But The Girl
14. Falco
15. The Fixx
16. Ice-T
17. Janet Jackson
18. Jimmy Page
19. Kenny G
20. Lionel Richie
21. Madonna
22. Marillion
23. Marshall Crenshaw
24. Men at Work
25. Metallica
26. Michael McDonald
27. Robert Plant
28. The Smithereens
29. Sonic Youth
30. Steve Earle
31. Sting 
32. Talk Talk
33. Tears for Fears
34. Twisted Sister
35. The Waterboys
36. Yaz.

If I had to pick the five from this list (and the five might not come exclusively from this list. There are hundreds of acts from previous lists that are still eligible), these are the five that I think have the best chances.

 

 

• Madonna: Personally, I think Madonna is about as rock n roll as a pair of orthopedic shoes. But I have read a lot of articles that say she is a shoo in. She is innovative and influential.
• Beastie Boys: Grandmaster Flash was the first rap artist inducted, and that was just this year. So there are probably a lot of rap artists that will be inducted before these guys. But they are, in my opinion, should be a lock for entry some day.
• Metallica: While I think that they have sold out quite a bit in the last several years, I think their influence in the world of metal cannot be denied.
• Sonic Youth: If there was ever a band that that advanced the artistic side of alternative music, its this one. Heck, Kim Gordon inspired a whole generation of female bass players all by herself.
• Sting: It was a toss up between him and Don Henley. Both the Police and the Eagles are in, and of the two, Sting had the more prolific career, was more innovative and influential. I compare him to Paul Simon, who was inducted as part of Simon and Garfunkel and as a solo artist.

I would like to see the Smithereens, 10, 000 Maniacs, and Steve Earle get in, but I think these guys are the most likely to get in, if all five entrants are from the same year.

In the future, I'll blog about who is already eligible and who wasn't voted in yet but should get in. I'll also keep track of this post and see how I made out when the nominees are announced later this year.

What do you think?

Bill