Popdose: Jesus of Cool: Rousing the Rabble for the Rock Hall of Fame
el bandito
· 1 year ago
How the Monkees are not in but Grandmaster Flash and Cohen are is beyond me - makes no sense. How many kids became musicians because of "Bird on a Wire"??? Maybe 2 from the upper Westside of NYC...come on. I'd also throw Deep Purple in there...what is the one song everyone learns on a guitar. THAT's rock n roll!
luffy66
· 1 year ago
Van Halen was inducted last year.
It would be nice if the Hall of Fame "committee" (ahem jan wenner) would get their collective heads out of their asses and elect KISS to the Hall of Fame
I have no problem with Grandmaster Flash and co. getting in, even on a technicality (especially over the Dave Clark Five...WTF!)
Rap has a rightful place in the HOF. I'm glad the powers to be waited on inducting The Beastie Boys (eligible this year) because no other rap group should go into the hall before Run DMC.
Now, when the hell is Chic going to get in?
el bandito
· 1 year ago
I like GMF but don't think they are to be inducted in the Rock and Roll HOF. The DC5 had a lot of hits and again were a group that changed things - there were people who saw them on the Ed Sullivan show and decided to play music. To me that makes a difference. Just as there were people who heard "The Message" and decided they wanted to rap or be a part of that scene. I agree that rap has a place there. I think that Jann Werner is looking more and more like a jerk off by keeping out bands and artists that should be remembered forever for how they changed the face or landscape of the music world. The most L Cohen did was give us a few great lyrics but he did not change the landscape. Think of the bands and people that are not in... KISS, Deep Purple, Wolfman Jack...things changed because of them. But they need to be more selective. I love Mellencamp but he probably should not be in. And the fact that he didn't play "Play Guitar" at the induction sucked even more!
JonCummings
· 1 year ago
"Influential" is, unfortunately, a rather nebulous thread on which to hang a particular act's merit (or lack of merit) for something like a hall of fame, if that's going to be your sole criterion. I recognize that influences are important and that a particularly influential artist can have as much impact as one with longevity and lots of hits, but I think you have to make room for both. Thus Buddy Holly (huge influence, short career) and Mellencamp (some influence, long and illustrious career).
I also think you have to make room for surpassing quality. Leonard Cohen did exert some influence on the generations that followed--if he hadn't, would there be so damn many cover versions of "Hallelujah" out there? He's never had real popular success--probably a good portion of the folks who watch that telecast will be hearing his music for the first time. But more than anything else, Cohen is just goddamn fucking BRILLIANT. He is one of the few songwriters in whose work you can always find a new insight every time you listen.
All he had to do last night was get up onstage, say a quick couple of thank yous, and then recite the lyrics to "Tower of Song," and he created the most indelible moment of the whole event. It was extraordinary.
Where the Dave Clark Five fits into all this, I still don't know. Tom Hanks gave it his best shot, and was very enthusiastic and evocative and all, but he still came off sounding like a Buffalo Bills fan, or like he bet on Alydar all three times. (How's THAT for an obscure reference?) The DC5 were never better than second-best at what they were doing in 1964, and despite the sheer volume of their Ed Sullivan exposure, they're largely forgotten now.
One last comment: I've never seen Madonna so nervous. I hit the fast-forward button when I saw how thick her speech was. She went on forever!
Bastard_Number_1
· 1 year ago
Rush and Kiss should definitely be in. Strangely enough - I think Weird Al deserves to be there as well. How many artists say "you know you've made it when Weird Al does a parody of you." He's the pioneer in that genre and no one can match him. To me that's what the RnR HoF should be about.
It would be better re-named as the Recording Industry Hall of Fame or something like that - because Madonna is not rock - but certainly deserves to be there.
It's way too easy to get in - to the point where it only means something to me because I might get to see some memorabilia one day. Past Madonna, I'm torn on the rest of them. I'm not even sure I believe Mellencamp should be there.
That said - my trip to the HoF four years ago was one of the best experiences of my life. And I would recommend it to anyone.
JonCummings
· 1 year ago
I'm not sure Weird Al should be a top priority, but I hear you. If they let him in they should also induct Dr. Demento--which brings up the fact that Alan Freed is the only DJ in the hall. Where's Wolfman Jack, for god's sake? I recognize that broadcasters have their own hall of fame, but there certainly are a few who were important enough to rock's development that they deserve consideration.
EightE1
· 1 year ago
Did anyone watch the live HoF broadcast last year? That is a show that absolutely BEGS to be edited. Ronnie Spector's acceptance speech was longer than an Allman Brothers rendition of "Whipping Post." I'd rather spend the time looking for an online petition to get REO Speedwagon inducted.
Rob EightE1
David_E
· 1 year ago
I will just go on record saying that "Baby Come Back" is better to these ears than anything Madonna Co. has ever done. Thank you! Goodnight!
JonCummings
· 1 year ago
Just in case anyone's still paying attention: iTunes just posted an exclusive Dave Clark Five greatest-hits collection. It's the only DC5 music currently in print, far as I can tell. 28 tracks, $11.99. Of course, about one-quarter of those tracks represent all the DC5 you'll ever need...
All Comments
It would be nice if the Hall of Fame "committee" (ahem jan wenner) would get their collective heads out of their asses and elect KISS to the Hall of Fame
Rap has a rightful place in the HOF. I'm glad the powers to be waited on inducting The Beastie Boys (eligible this year) because no other rap group should go into the hall before Run DMC.
Now, when the hell is Chic going to get in?
I also think you have to make room for surpassing quality. Leonard Cohen did exert some influence on the generations that followed--if he hadn't, would there be so damn many cover versions of "Hallelujah" out there? He's never had real popular success--probably a good portion of the folks who watch that telecast will be hearing his music for the first time. But more than anything else, Cohen is just goddamn fucking BRILLIANT. He is one of the few songwriters in whose work you can always find a new insight every time you listen.
All he had to do last night was get up onstage, say a quick couple of thank yous, and then recite the lyrics to "Tower of Song," and he created the most indelible moment of the whole event. It was extraordinary.
Where the Dave Clark Five fits into all this, I still don't know. Tom Hanks gave it his best shot, and was very enthusiastic and evocative and all, but he still came off sounding like a Buffalo Bills fan, or like he bet on Alydar all three times. (How's THAT for an obscure reference?) The DC5 were never better than second-best at what they were doing in 1964, and despite the sheer volume of their Ed Sullivan exposure, they're largely forgotten now.
One last comment: I've never seen Madonna so nervous. I hit the fast-forward button when I saw how thick her speech was. She went on forever!
It would be better re-named as the Recording Industry Hall of Fame or something like that - because Madonna is not rock - but certainly deserves to be there.
It's way too easy to get in - to the point where it only means something to me because I might get to see some memorabilia one day. Past Madonna, I'm torn on the rest of them. I'm not even sure I believe Mellencamp should be there.
That said - my trip to the HoF four years ago was one of the best experiences of my life. And I would recommend it to anyone.
Rob
EightE1