Is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legitimate or a joke?

Joke

1 of 15

by Arlene Miles

Write now Print Invite a writer™ Add to Favorites RSS Feed Contact this writer

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a great idea which has turned into a joke thanks to the alleged preferences of those controlling the Hall, as well as inadequate and erratic inductee classifications.

For years, rumors have floated that a number of musical acts have not even been nominated, reportedly because individuals such as Jann Wenner and the late Ahmet Ertgun simply did not like the music these artists produced or had other biases against them. What is ironic and ultimately hypocritical about this is that the the Hall's website clearly states that one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation's many functions is to "recognize the contributions of those who have had a significant impact on the evolution, development and perpetuation of rock and roll."

The very nature of many of the acts that have been bypassed by the Hall is in direct opposition to the Foundation's mission. Arguably the most glaring example is the Canadian trio Rush. With a career that spans over 35 years, this Toronto-based band began as a metal outfit, crossed over into progressive, and marched back to straight rock, ultimately combining all of these elements. Rush has a catalog that encompasses more than 20 CDs, and continues to be one of the top-grossing acts when they tour. The band is even part of popular culture, earning references on programs such as That 70s Show and Family Guy, while one of the subplots of the recent movie, "I Love You, Man," revolves around the main characters' love for Rush. Not only that, the band has been cited by acts such as Metallica, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, as well as several bands that emerged from the Seattle-based grunge movement, as an influence. Yet, the powers-that-be have never seen fit to even nominate Rush for a slot.

Another glaring omission involves an entire sub-genre of rock and roll, namely progressive rock. Although many of the acts earned the term "dinosaur rock" with the advent of punk in the late 70s and early 80s, the prominence of these musicians in their heyday, as well as the influences that can still be heard today, are significant. The list here is significant, with Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Genesis/Peter Gabriel, and the Moody Blues being the ones most frequently cited. Fans of each often mount periodic petitions asking for their band's admission into the Hall.

Oddly enough, a visit to the Hall will show that the powers-that-be feel that these musicians have merited recognition on some level. Yes' 1972 album Fragile, is featured as one of the most influential works of that year. The Hammond B-3 organ that Keith Emerson regularly stabbed with knives in concerts with The Nice as well as Emerson, Lake & Palmer is also prominently on display, yet neither has been inducted. As far as Genesis' achievements, the band could be considered the basis of the performance rock movement, a genre that Peter Gabriel as a solo artist has continued until the present day. The Moody Blues' Days of Future Passed is considered to be a ground-breaking album in that it combined rock with a symphony orchestra for the first time.

Finally, the categories for which nominees are considered need refinement. For example, in 2006, the late Miles Davis was inducted into the Hall's general artist category. Davis is an outstanding musician and has a prolific body of work, but the average headbanger has no idea who he is because Davis' work occurred primarily in jazz. That brings us to another glaring omission. There is no category for jazz fusion artists, such as John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, Stanley Clark, and the like. All of these musicians have a considerable body of work and are regularly playing and selling out concerts today.

Another lesser, but related problem is the placement of blues artists in the Hall. Willie Dixon is considered an "early influence," but John Lee Hooker was inducted under the general category. Blues, as one of the root of rock and roll, deserves its own category.

Any "Best Of" or "Top Performers" list will never satisfy everyone, so it will always be with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Someone will always feel that their favorite performer has been slighted. That's the nature of the beast. Even with all of its minuses, the Hall is still a wonderful repository of music history. But until the powers-that-be let go of their prejudices and foster induction of musicians who have proven bodies of work, it will remain a joke.

Learn more about this author, Arlene Miles.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.