KISS, ABBA, LL Cool J, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Donna Summer, Genesis, The Stooges, The Hollies, Jimmy Cliff, Darlene Love, Laura Nyro and The Chantels. That is the list of nominees for induction into the 2010 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Now, the Hall as often rode a thin line between ridiculous and reverent. The irony of an institution built to honor a movement that more often than not was anti-establishment is usually not lost on rock and roll fans, though the Hall themselves often seem oblivious. The ceremonies themselves are usually poorly produced non-events that get relegated to VH1 classic or some such. Often the people doing the inductions are either acting in self promotion or seem ill-concived to the artist they honor. In contrast many of the inductees are proud, humbled and excited to be part of the proceedings. The weirdness of it all is probably best epitomized by The Sex Pistols reaction to the nonsense of their induction in 2006. The band refused to attend the ceremony and called the building itself in Cleveland "a piss stain".
The Hall of Fame organization itself is made up mostly of journalist and music executives rather than musicians. That itself has been one of the biggest criticisms. The other of course, it that you are formally honoring people in a setting that is dynamically opposite to the art form itself. And of course "rock n roll" itself is a nebulous art form that is open to interpretation.
The Hall itself seems to have the most interesting and liberal definition of rock and roll.
Madonna, Brenda Lee and Run DMC have all been inducted. Important musicians all, but rock n roll? This year's class nominations underscores most of the problems with the Hall and also indicates that they steadfastly intend to retain the staus quo. Acts like LL Cool J and Red Hot Chili Peppers are getting nominations on their first year of eligibility while acts such as Rush, Cheap Trick, The Moody Blues and countless other "rock" groups sit out, eligible but snubbed.
Politics, laziness, ignorance...whatever the reason for some of the nominees, and all of the snubs, it makes the organization look bad and out of touch.
Look at it this way, we are not that far away from acts like Goo Goo Dolls or Britney Spears, or Death Cab for Cutie or whatever being eligible. Gone are the times of classic legendary rock, nigh are the times of Taylor Swift.
So while I am sure that indeed the Ladies do Love Cool James, I am just not sure if he is the right fit for something called the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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