The Big Lady (No One Should Care About) Sings: Rock Hall Inductees Announced
Friday, December 18, 2015 at 12:01AM Today's post is from our friend HIM.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just announced this year’s inductees. There are two obvious first year choices: Cheap Trick and Steve Miller. There is one obvious choice that had been overlooked for years: Deep Purple. There is the peripheral choice in Chicago (formerly a Transit Authority, now just a city without Cetera). There is the expected non-rock induction of N.W.A. (hey, the hagiography—I mean, movie—had to help, right?).
There are also, of course, the other bands filling the sappy salad bowl of rejection: Chic (ten years in a row), Janet Jackson (“Rhythm Nation” sorta’ rocked), The Cars, Los Lobos, and Yes.
The nods and the no-nods would matter if the RaRHoF mattered. Why leave out Yes, given their output and influence, not to mention the fact that Chris Squire so recently passed? How can Chicago get in but the Cars get left out? “Let’s Go” smashes to bits any chance that I want to “Stay the Night.” N.W.A. certainly belong in the Rap Hall of Fame, but you would suspect that Easy-E would squash this noise with a pair of Beats headphones that Dre lent him for the ceremony. Chic? While Nile Rodgers can certainly tear it up, I am not sure that "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" ever threatened to overtake Zeppelin or the Beatles.
But the RaRHoF doesn’t matter. While I realize that rock is an elastic thing, and that the roots and branches and offshoots are many and varied, that only plays into the type of discussion that in some way legitimates this sorry excuse for a "process." 800 votes do not a decision make, especially one so wedded to corporate interests and the whims of the management. While it might be heartening to some fans, and a nice nod for some bands, the Hall of Fame—as an entity—is really only worthwhile as a museum: curated, tended and tame . . . all the things that rock is not.
It took the snarling mess of a punk band in decline, and looking for some “filthy lucre,” to say “bollocks” to the whole thing.
Letters of Note: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a piss stain
A reverse peace sign/archery fingers salute seems like the appropriate gesture this or any year. Then again, you could listen to no less of an authority on rock than Ian Gillan:
Leave it to Gillan to strike the right tone: succinct, bemused, polite, and ultimately unaware. Others should follow his lead.
Reader Comments (9)
THIS could shape up to be quite an induction ceremony if it isn't diluted by the usual types of members who go all high school and refuse to show up at the thing, like that's cool, or whatever.
Yes, indeed, if Blackmore reunites with Purple to perform "Smoke On The Water" at the induction in April, that would be SO large -- it would go down, in many circles, as one of THE biggest moments in Rock & Roll History, let alone, The History of The RARHOF. Indeed, if Black more shows up, it's one step closer to giving The RARHOF the credibility the institution should rightfully or wrongfully have.
Also, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick has indicated they want the now long estranged original drummer back on stage behind his kit for the ceremony, which would be almost as HUGE as the baseball bats Carlos would always inevitably wind up bashing his drums with during the encore.
Viva, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for finally getting it right and possibly relegitimizing itself!
Two things:
(1) Recent comments by Paice suggest that the Mark II band playing together live is highly unlikely, even if it would be great (though missing Lord). Which leads to the question of who exactly is going to be inducted . . . another one of those indulgences I avoid given the state of the RaRHoF.
(2) I purposely chose the even-keeled Gillen quote because it struck me as being tonally in line with what I wish others would do. His more recent comments have a bit more--actually,, a lot more--of the bite of Rotten/Lydon and are a lot less charitable.
The DEEP PURPLE members that are being inducted are: Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale, Rod Evans, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Glenn Hughes, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.
. . . and I need to start spelling "Gillan's" name right! My apologies for the mistake.
I made my comments about Deep Purple's long overdue induction over on Farcebook.
I'll copy it over here.... And of course, I nit-picked. Because this SHOULD be nit-picked.
Has Rainbow EVER been nominated??? THAT would give the Hall of Shame fits over which members to induct & which not !!! LOL
anyhow... Congratulations to DEEP PURPLE for their induction & the correction of their absolutely criminal exclusion from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
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As usual, Jaan Wenner & the clueless clods that make up their nominating committee still manage to f*ck things up. YES should've been in before Cheap Trick. And Chic before NWA.
It's about time Deep Purple was inducted. (Third time is the charm... a pity they were snubbed while keyboardist Jon Lord was actually alive) Bonus points for deciding to induct original "Hush" singer Rod Evans, (while dissing original bassist Nick Simper), And a cheer for inducting both singers #2 AND #3, Ian Gillian and David Coverdale, along with bassists #2 & #3 Roger Glover & Glenn Hughes. What a shame the HOF deciders came up short-minded in deciding to only include guitarist Richie Blackmore, while disrespecting the memory of his legendary replacement, the late Tommy Bolin, or current DP guitarist Steve Morse.
Still criminal in their exclusion, T Rex, The Sweet, The Runaways, The Babys , Def Leppard, Motley Crue, The Raspberries, guitar wunderkind - Randy Rhoads,Suzi Quatro, & Chic. There's 10 that can fill the next 2 years of worthy nominees.
BUT... for the moment, lets at least revel in the small victory of the inclusion of David Coverdale & most of the DP boys... Who didn't pick up a guitar in the last 40 years & NOT have the riff to "Smoke On The Water" be one of the first things they learned how to play???
Though I hear you on Paice's assertion Blackmore won't be part of the induction performance, one hopes better angels will prevail in time for it to actually happen, HIM.
Bob and Ace, it is indeed cool they included Rod Evans, as his vocals on "Hush" alone create the classic, definitive version of the song.
And, I was wondering about David Coverdale and glad to see he made it in, alas with Bolin overlooked, as Ace points out, as that line-up with Hughes thrown in for good measure, was pure bad*ss C*ck R*ck! Click below to see why that version is the very definition of the term:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aEIAXewOPSo
And though I do agree YES should be inducted, Ace, I don't mind Cheap Trick jumping ahead of them as I recall listening to WGTB, Georgetown University's FM Radio Station in '77 when I was 17 (yikes!), hearing nothing but non stop Prog Rock from the student DJ's. Suddenly, someone got the bright idea to blow that sh*t off the airwaves when they teed up cuts from the first few albums of bands like Cheap Trick, AC/DC, The Ramones, The Damned, The Runaways, The Sex Pistols, 999, The Clash, The Dickies, Devo, Sham 69, et al.
Saying listening to Cheap Trick's "Surrender", "Stiff Competition" or "California Man" was a way more gratifying experience than hearing YES, would be an understatement... Cheap Trick is WAY more Rock & Roll than YES, hands down!
I will say this... I own zero Yes records... Deep Purple & Angel are as "Prog" as I ever cared to venture.
As for Cheap Trick... I first saw them OPENING for the Runaways on the tour for CT's 1st LP & own pretty much every record they put out... They even recorded "Busted" at the studio I was working at in 1988. My favorite Trick records are "In Color", the self titled 1995 Red Ant release, & of course the "Sex America" box set! They deserve to be in... no doubt. I just think "on the first try" is giving them a soft walk in.... Much like "Smoke On The Water" should've been Deep Purple's "All Access Pass" to the building, long ago, "Roundabout" should have been the same for Yes. As i think of humungous acts who've been slighted, I can only wonder how many years it'll be before Grand Funk Railroad is even nominated??? "I'm Your Captain" alone should be their key to entry. "We're An American Band" , Anybody??? ANYBODY???
P.S. Can I just say how much I enjoy the intelligence & amazing comments of the people that regularly post here??? Happy Holidaze to you all.
Jon Lord was religiously a HAMMOND organ man... up until "Come Taste the Band" when he moved to YAMAHA & dodgy synth sounds... which altered the sound of the band more than swapping out Blackmore's classical licks for Bolin's more jazz influenced playing did.
One more thing... Is there anyone here that doesn't own Tommy Bolin's "Teaser" LP?
And if not, why not??? Literally every rock musician since the mid 70's has lifted a riff from that.... Motley Crue , Legs Diamond & Jake E. Lee have all covered the title tune. You should at least KNOW it !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2FYpNP2DHc
I also watched that promo clip last night of "Hush" with Rod Evans going for a dip in the pool.
And I've got both Bolin's "Teaser" and "Private Eyes" LPs. I was also fortunate enough to SEE Bolin open for Jetho Tull in '76 at Capital Centre, Largo, MD. I also just dug out that Deep Purple box set I will comb over today and listen to those solo albums I mentioned in his honor.
As for Cheap Trick, what can I say, I'm a HUGE fan (just like your buddy, Nikki Sixx, C.C. Deville or Cobain and Corgan) owning Trick's stuff in every form imaginable including tons of memorabilia, an original Cheap Trick bow tie among it. Though you and I have an occasional moment of rare disagreement and I often get my facts wrong (no excuses, but I'm not a musician and my memory is lazy), one thing we TOTALLY agree on is Cheap Trick's "In Color" album! That is, hands down, their best, though the band themselves would disagree, as they thought Werman's production was too slick, even going to the trouble of rerecording it with Nirvana nob twiddler, Steve Albini.
I would also recommend, relistening to their 1st eponymous album and "Heaven Tonight", their 3rd, as well... How I envy you, when you witnessed the recording of "Busted", though by then, sadly, they had completely jumped the shark at that point, having lost their edge under pressure from Epic.
I'm just glad they got in... Their not even being nominated up until now was an oversight way worse in my mind than them jumping ahead of YES, simply because they are one of THE greatest American Rock & Roll Bands of All Time! Induction into The RoRHoF should have nothing to do with seniority or even influence. It should have to do with how much a band ROCKS, though I readily admit, this is blatantly not necessarily the consistent criteria of The RaRHoF, unfortunately.
p.s. Ace, I'm with ya, boy! Grand Funk should have gotten in long ago, and I've got that Japanese Only Crue EP with their cover of "Teaser" on it... KICKA*S! And I hate you for having seen Cheap Trick open for The Runaways (another band who should have been inducted long ago when Sandy West was still with us! What is Wenner and his gang of idiots thinking, or not, as more likely the case, when not inducting acts when they should be... No sense of timing, something you think they would have considering the board's backgrounds.