The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Not Getting It Since The 80’s

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction for this years candidates aired last night on HBO. And to be quite honest this years inductees weren’t a complete debacle. Def Leppard and Stevie Nicks absolutely should be in an institution entitled ‘The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.’ There’s also been many other acts inducted in the past that belong in the homage museum for the genre: Queen, Aerosmith, Metallica, Black Sabbath, KISS, Rush, AC/DC, Cheap Trick, Blondie etc…. Some softer rock acts as well: CCR, Billy Joel, Eagles, Fleetmood Mac and the like. And of course the legends, founders and forerunners of the genre: Elvis, Chuck Berry, The Beatles, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Little Richard and so on and so fourth. But there’s also a considerable lack of real hard rock in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while there are many acts that don’t even transcend into the genre. Making the institution seem more bias towards sub cultures in the genre than the actual music itself.

I think the most prominent example would be the fact that N.W.A are in the R.R.H.O.F and bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest remain excluded. I mean, that doesn’t make sense. I’m saying that N.W.A. and other Hip Hop, R&B artists aren’t worth of having hall of fame recognition. In fact, Hip Hop and Rap have stood the test of time and if anything deserve their own hall of fame institution. But they’re in the R.R.H.O.F and that’s fine. What isn’t fine though is that there are groups that aren’t rock that are present while some of the biggest heavy rock artists of all time, bands that have sold millions and have legions of fans, are completely ignored. It’s insulting! What’s even crazier is there’s loads of these bands that fit the three criteria for getting into the hall: Innovation, Contribution and Sales. Where exactly does Judas Priest fall short on those three criteria? I use Priest as an example because they’re a band that best fits all the criteria: They innovated what became modern metal, they created the leather, chains and studs look that we all know, they’ve sold millions and millions and still put out quality material. And they will most likely never get in. Especially after being snubbed a second time in a row. The same fate lies for Iron Maiden and most likely Motley Crue.

The hall of fame was founded in the early 80’s by Ahmet Ertegun, who ran Atlantic Records. And since then it’s been a small committee of elitist culture snobs who run Rolling Stone and the like. And they’ve always had a bias towards heavy rock. In pretty much all of its forms. Some of the acts I mentioned above were forced in by the fans or were inducted because they were the number one fan entry. The number one fan entry gets an automatic induction. Which I believe is the case with Def Leppard’s induction this year. But I can’t understand why these people continue to snub heavy rock. Maybe there should be a Hard Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. VH1 actually tried that about ten years ago with a program called ‘The Rock Honors.’ It only lasted two years though.

I just want to ask the committee: ‘What is it about hard rock and heavy metal?’ ‘Is it the fans? You don’t want to be associated with them?’ ‘Is it the music itself? Something you guys just don’t like?’ ‘Is it the fashion?’ ‘Is the rampant celebration of deadly drugs?’ I must admit that recently it seems like the R.R.H.O.F has been at least trying, even if it’s forced, to have more metal and hard rock. But it’s still very very unequal and uneven. So I’ve concluded that they just don’t really care. They don’t care about ‘low brow’ rock and metal. And it’s bullshit. And I will continue to be vocal and annoying about it. Hopefully the trend to add more hard rock and heavy music continues. But it looks like the hall will never truly include the hard rock and heavy metal crowd. Despite it being pretty much THE sub genre of rock n roll. Not that I care about that sort of thing.

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