Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees Announced.

The short list of nominees to be part of the 2012 induction class was announced, and quite a list it is (Percentages per Future Rock Legends):

Beastie Boys
Current Induction Chances: 82%

The Cure
Current Induction Chances: 57%

Donovan
Current Induction Chances: 11%

Eric B. & Rakim
Current Induction Chances: 41%

Guns N' Roses
Current Induction Chances: 76%

Heart
Current Induction Chances: 17%

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Current Induction Chances: 16%

Freddie King
Current Induction Chances: 5%

Laura Nyro
Current Induction Chances: 31%

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Current Induction Chances: 64%

Rufus with Chaka Khan
Current Induction Chances: 10%

The Small Faces / The Faces
Current Induction Chances: 33%

The Spinners
Current Induction Chances: 8%

Donna Summer
Current Induction Chances: 56%

War
Current Induction Chances: 30%

Two of the three potential nominees I spoke of in July are on the list--no-brainer Guns N' Roses and surprise pick Eric B. and Rakim. The only one of the acts first eligible this year that could be possibly considered a slight would be the exclusion of Soundgarden. But not much of one.

This list will be whittled down to five inductees. Trying to decide who will be inducted is a fun game, because the Rock Hall voting committee is notoriously mercurial in their selection process. Here is my handicap of the list, breaking it down to "In," "Possibly In," "Most Likely Out" and "Out".

1. Beastie Boys: IN: You could make the argument that the Beasties should have been a first ballot inductee, but this is their third nomination. Why the delay? Well, you become eligible for induction 25 years after your first recorded release. This could be albums, singles or EPs. The Beasties put out a number of singles/EPs before their breakout album, Licensed to Ill, which is why they were nominated so early. Conventional wisdom state that the voters would wait until 25 years after Licensed to Ill to induct them. That just happens to be this year.
2. The Cure: MOST LIKELY OUT: They are deserving, but this is their first nomination in their eight years of eligibility. That usually indicates they will not be inducted now, but possibly in the future. Also, the fact that other similar acts such as The Smiths, Bauhaus and Joy Division that many think are equally if not more deserving than The Cure have yet to be nominated might affect the voters' choice in the matter.
3. Donovan: MOST LIKELY OUT: This is his second nod in consecutive years. His induction might come in a weaker year, but not in this one. He is just over the boundary of being included, in my opinion, and that typically means he will make way for more worthy candidates.
4. Eric B. & Rakim: OUT: Not that they are not worthy. They are (and the nominating committee should get credit for recognizing that fact) but they are behind a long line of rap artists who are just as deserving to get in. The Rock Hall, for some reason, believes that rap artists have to be made to wait. You figure the Beasties this year, past nominees Afrika Bambaataa and LLCool J in the future, then Eric B & Rakim would go into consideration. If these guys jump the line, it just wouldn't make sense.
5. Guns N' Roses: IN: The only way GN'R won't get in is if the voters are trying to make some sort of a statement. But they are the strongest of all the nominees--they're influential, they're innovative, and there is built-in drama surrounding whether or not all the original members will attend the induction ceremony. Can't see them not getting in.
6. Heart: OUT: A lot of articles about this list seem to indicate that the Wilson sisters are a shoo-in for the Hall. I don't think so. This is their first nod in over ten years of eligibility, and it's hard to get in when that happens. I think their change from hard rock band to anthemic arena rock band in the 80s will do more harm than good. But the most damning thing against them is that they are nominated the same year as...
7. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: POSSIBLY IN: Personally, I think this band has a better chance of getting in. Jett is more of the legendary name in rock and roll, she has a load of history and even a film made about her (and her fellow Runaways). And the Blackhearts were more of a visceral rock band. They don't have the same late career switch to anthemic rock that Heart does. However, this is also their first nomination in seven years of eligibility. That is what doesn't make them a definite. The Hall is focusing in on women this year, which means both could be inducted. Or neither. But if only one is, I think it will be the Blackhearts.
8. Freddie King: OUT: He was definitely an influential and innovative blues musician, but there are contemporaries of his (Albert King, Albert Collins) that are not in. This is his first nod in over 30 years of eligibility.
9. Laura Nyro: POSSIBLY IN: She might not be well known, but this is her third consecutive nomination in her 30 years of eligibility. Obviously, the Hall likes her, or else she wouldn't get these nods, so I think this year will be her year.
10. Red Hot Chili Peppers: IN: This is another band that should have been a first ballot HOFer. I don't know why they weren't. But in this group, they are one of the strongest contenders. They also have an album out and intrigue about who will be up there to accept the induction. 
11. Rufus with Chaka Khan: MOST LIKELY OUT:
12. The Small Faces/The Faces: MOST LIKELY OUT: The combination of both incarnations of the band does give them an edge, but this might not be the year for them to get in, though they eventually will.
13. The Spinners: OUT: It is a long shot that they get in at all, let alone this year. But if they do, it will be the surprise of all surprises. Because if any R&B act from the 70s will be inducted, it will be...
14. Donna Summer: IN: This is her fourth nomination, and ever since Madonna got in, it was only a matter of time. And I think that time is now.
15. War: OUT:  This is their second nod, but I see them as being on the fence. Maybe in a weaker year, but I find it unlikely they will be in this year.

My Picks for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2009.

The Nomination list for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are out. Here are the nine nominees:

• Jeff Beck
• Chic
• Wanda Jackson
• Little Anthony and the Imperials
• Metallica
• Run D.M.C.
• the Stooges
• War
• Bobby Womack

That's a pretty eclectic list if you ask me. Run D.M.C. was the only first year eligible act to be nominated. No Bon Jovi, no Stevie Ray Vaughn, no The Smiths, and no Cyndi Lauper. Metallica finally gets nominated after being snubbed last year.  Chic is the only nominee to return from last year. Which means the Beastie Boys got snubbed. 

The inductees are set to be announce in January. This is who I think will get in. Not who would vote for, if I had a vote, but who I think has the best chance of being inducted:

1. Metallica (Eligible since 2007, first nomination): They definitely deserve it. I mean, when it comes to Heavy Metal, you don't get much more influential or innovative than Metallica. But they also lost the first Heavy Metal Grammy to Jethro Tull, so voters have a sort of blind spot for them.
2. Run D.M.C (First Year Eligible, first nomination): There are other rappers that came before them, but none that had the influence that Run D.M.C had. They opened up rap to a whole new audience and influenced several generations of rappers.
3. The Stooges (Eligible sine 1994, seven nominations): I think this could be the year this widely held favorite gets in. This is a band who might not be the most popular in terms of sales, but are mad innovative in the industry and influential with other artists. I argue that if they don't get in this year, they never get in.
4. Chic (Eligible since 2002, five nominations): After the Stooges, it's anybody's guess. I am thinking these guy might have a good shot considering four of their five nominations were in the last four years.
5. Wanda Jackson (Eligible since 1983, two nominations): This choice is risky. Jackson is the least famous of the nine, but she has a lot of fans in the industry. She certainly fills the bill for innovative--being the one of the first female rockabilly artists--and influential--for almost all female country artists. And she has been called the female Elvis, which would get my vote.  

I obsess about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 2008 edition.

Another Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony has come and gone, and just like I did last year, I am going to list the performers who are first eligible to be nominated for next year's ceremony, as per this site. It is a really diverse list, one full of bands who I though came around much later than 1983.

1. Anthrax
2. Art of Noise
3. Billy Bragg
4. Bon Jovi
5. Butthole Surfers
6. Corey Hart
7. Corrosion of Conformity
8. Cyndi Lauper
9. D.R.I.
10. Dio
11. Europe
12. Frankie Goes to Hollywood
13. Howard Jones
14. James
15. K.D. Lang
16. Katrina and the Waves
17. Naked Raygun
18. New Edition
19. NOFX
20. Pantera
21. Paul Rogers
22. Pulp
23. Queensryche
24. Ratt
25. Run DMC
26. Slayer
27. The Smiths
28. Social Distortion
29. Stevie Ray Vaughn
30. The Style Council
31. Suicidal Tendencies

I never thought Pulp or James were THAT old.

Again, like last year, I will offer my top five choices for who will be on the nomination list. Not the five that will get in. Because five first year eligible artists never get in (and this might be a year were no first year nominees get inducted). Just five who will be on the 9 artist nomination list. In alphabetical order:

• Bon Jovi: Bon Jovi might fall into the "KISS" category of uber-popular bands who get no love from the journalists. I can very well see Bon Jovi fans on message board bemoaning the fact that their band was snubbed. But I think they are influential enough (From a whole bunch of hair bands that immediately followed to the country artists of today)  and innovative enough ( combining metal and pop and a bit of country into something new) that they may make the nomination list at least. And the fact that they are still working today might help.
• Cyndi Lauper: You might think that she is as rock and roll as a turnip, but she is more rock and roll than Madonna and she's in. And she is a survivor who has influence artists as varied as Celine Dion and Nelly McKay.
• Run DMC: The rap pioneers seem to be a lock to get on the nomination list. But there are a lot of other rap artists who have been eligible for years ahead of them. So they might not get in. But they derseve to, if only for bridging the worlds of rap and rock.
• The Smiths: I'm sure there are people who like rock music who have never heard of the Smiths. However, they are one of the best bands to come out of England in the 80s. This is my sentimental favorite to get on the list. I hope they do.
• Stevie Ray Vaughan: He is a guitar legend who has influenced a wide variety of other axemen. And he revolutionized blues as we know. Anything with a blues twang you hear today most likely came from him. So he should be another lock for nomination.

  There are a lot of legendary names in heavy metal (Anthrax), punk (NOFX), and alternative (Butthole Surfers, Social Distortion) on the eligibility list that I'm sure many people think are worthy (and they probably are) but the HOF doesn't really lend itself to those genres. Don't get me wrong, they should. But they don't.

K.D.Lang might also have a shot. I am a closet Howard Jones fan, but I think he's too poppy. He has less of a chance than Duran Duran and they are still waiting for their first nomination.

I guess we'll see later on this year.

Rock Hall Inductees Announced

I was off by one. The Beasties didn't get in. The Ventures were inducted instead. So I guess surf music trumps rap at least this year.

The Hall should have slot each year dedicated to fan balloting. Every class upsets at least one group of fans by its ommissions. And isn't it the fans that decide fame or not? Didn't their support of rock and roll have more to do with the genre lasting over 50 years that the support of rock journalists?

Rock critics might not like rap, Kiss, Rush or disco, but that doesn't mean that they don't deserve a place in the Hall of Fame.

My picks for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is set to announce their inductees on Thursday (or next month. I've heard both). The nomination list consists of:

• Afrika Bambaataa
• Beastie Boys
• Chic
• Leonard Cohen
• The Dave Clark Five
• Madonna
• John Mellencamp
• Donna Summer
• The Ventures

As it is every year, there were some other notable snubs. Among the bands who were first eligible this year that I thought deserved a nomination include:

• Metallica: I had thought that this would be a no brainer. The HOF nominating committee uses influence and innovation as a qualifier. You do not find many more bands who are as innovative and influential in the world of heavy metal as Metallica. Bias against headbangers, HOF?
• Sonic Youth: In my opinion, there wouldn't be an indie scene if it wasn't for Sonic Youth. I thought that the band might not be a lock for the hall, but a shoot in for the nomination list.
• Sting: I thought he had a chance, since the Police are already in. 

So, of the nine above, who do I think will be the five voted in?

1. John Mellencamp (Eligible since 2004, nominated 3 times): Apparently, he told a concert audience a week and a half ago that he was already confirmed as being in. Maybe that was just wishful thinking. I like his music, but I always sort of considered him Bruce Springsteen-lite by way of Bob Seger.
2. Madonna (First year eligible, first year nominated): Her attitude is total rock and roll, her music is not. But everything I read says she is a lock.
3. Beastie Boys (First year eligible, first year nominated): I love the Beasties. I definitely believe the have grown as artists and deserve to be in. Only thing, there are a lot of other rap artists out their (Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow) that aren't in and the arguement could be made should be in before the Beasties.
4. Leonard Cohen (Eligible since 1993, first year nominated): This might not seem to be a good choice. After all, he has been eligible for 14 years and never appeared on one ballot until this year. But he is wildly inventive and while many people might not know of him, two HOF's, U2 and R.E.M., list him as an influence. That's why I think he will be inducted.
5. The Dave Clark Five (Eligible since 1989, nominated 3 times): Supposedly, they were the fifth highest vote getter last year. But some of their votes came in too late and Grandmaster Flash was inducted instead. Unless there is some backlash, I think they'll be in this year. 

Am I right? I guess we'll see on Thursday. Perhaps with commentary from me. 

Bill    

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