With the announcement this week of the 2014 class of performers to be inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall-of-Fame" (Cat Stevens, Hall and Oats, Nirvana, Kiss, Linda Ronstadt, and Peter Gabriel), I felt it was a good time to discuss a few issues and questions I have with and for the Rock and Roll Hall-of-Fame (RRHOF) Foundation.As you may or may not know, the RRHOF resides in Cleveland, Ohio and began voting in recipients in 1986. Since then, 719 people, 295 performers, and 104 groups have been inducted. Which brings me to my first question. The induction of 295 performers over a 27 year period averages about 11 per year. At that rate, isn't every performer going to be in the RRHOF at some point in the future? I would hope that the RRHOF foundation will decide sometime soon to start inducting fewer people (five or less) each year to preserve the dignity of the hall. If not, we'll start to see more and more mediocre acts being inducted, and the quality of the RRHOF will slowly be diluted.
My next question to the RRHOF would be a pretty basic one: "What is your definition of Rock and Roll"? I only ask, because here are a few of the performers who have been inducted into the hall since its initiation: Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, The Supremes, The Temptations, The Platters, The Four Tops, The Four Seasons, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Bee Gees, Brenda Lee, Donna Summer, The O'Jays, The Ronettes, Run-D.M.C, and Abba. All great and even legendary performers in their own right, but Rock and Rollers? Pop Hall-of-Fame, Rap Hall-of-Fame, Soul Hall-of-Fame, Hip Hop Hall-of-Fame, R&B Hall-of-Fame for sure. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? I'm not too sure about that.
"Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria include the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll. The RRHOF Foundation's nominating committee selects nominees each year in the Performer category. Ballots are then sent to an international voting body of more than 600 artists, historians and members of the music industry. Those performers who receive the highest number of votes are inducted." That is the extent of the RRHOF Foundation's explanation of their voting/induction process. What is considered a high number of votes? Is there a minimum number of votes needed to be elected? If not, who determines which performers have the "highest number of votes" for any given year? Where's the cut off? Inquiring minds want to know!Finally, what do the following list of performers have in common: The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Yes, Emerson, Lake and Palmer (ELP), Jethro Tull, The Cars, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Journey, Dire Straits, Bad Company, the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), Styx, and Kansas? None, I repeat, none, are in the RRHOF! That's stunning to me. What's even more outrageous is that outside of Yes, NONE of them have ever been nominated! And all but The Cars and Dire Straits have been eligible for over 15 years now! How can this be? How can some, if not all of these groups be omitted? They certainly fit the RRHOF Foundation's criteria of "Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria include the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll. " Sure, some of the groups border on pop (Chicago, Dire Straits) or New Age (The Cars), but no more than any other group already in the RRHOF (The Beach Boys, The Bee Gees, Abba, Simon and Garfunkel, Earth, Wind and Fire, Beastie Boys, Hall and Oates this year, or any of the other members mentioned earlier).
Aerosmith and Queen were inducted 12 years ago.The Talking Heads and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 11 years ago. The Police and AC/DC 10 years ago. ZZ Top in 2004 and The Pretenders in 2005. Blonde in 2006. Van Halen in 2007. Genesis in 2010. Kiss and Hall and Oates this year. I'm a fan of most of these groups, and all probably should be in the RRHOF at some point, but is there really a good argument for any of them being inducted before Chicago, The Doobie Brothers or Yes? And not just elected, but some 10 years (and counting) before them? I have a hard time finding one.
Unfortunately, I don't have the answers to any of my questions above. I wish I did! If you fish around the internet, you'll find various opinions, including some who believe the whole process is very political with grudges and favorites existing throughout the music industry. That I could believe and would actually make some sense. Regardless, being a big fan of music, and especially rock-and-roll, the RRHOF's process has always been a perplexing one to me. Not to mention a bit vague!
So there you go.....my gripes and confusion with the RRHOF Foundation. I feel much better now! Feel free to chime in with your thoughts!
Good links:
- RRHOF Snub list: http://www.futurerocklegends.com/The_Snub_List.php
- RRHOF Overview page: http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/
