Why the Rock Hall interests me

HOW/WHY THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INTERESTS ME

A lot of professions have some sort of thing where there is a way of remembering excellency for generations to come. Every sport has a Hall of Fame. The entertainment industry has its Walk of Fame. The aviation, agricultral and the science worlds all have at least one Hall of Fame. A lot of countries, states and cities have some way in remembering their citizens that have contributed positively in this world. People also get recognized with major industry awards, as well as statues, busts, among other things that cement their way to immortality.

Then we have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which was created in 1983 by longtime record man Ahmet Ertugen (along with a team that included Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner). There were several intentions for making it what it was. It was to recognize the people who made the music of rock and roll, as well as the people behind the scenes and helped promote it. Rock and roll music can be defined in many ways. Here lies the controversy behind it. What is considered rock and roll? Rock and roll was created as a mixture of blues, country, rhythm, among other things. The genre has evolved into several sub-genres and along the way, has intermixed with disco, electronic and hip-hop through the decades.

I'm a longtime music lover. I don't play an instrument, but I do love how its a part of my life. It's art. I collect it, I play it on the radio as well as where I live, and I go out and see shows whenever I can. I promote it to my peers, in-person and online. I read the stories behind my favorite artists. I like pop, alternative, classic rock, R&B (all decades), rap/hip-hop, even disco. Sure, there are a few subgenres I don't care for, but that's no matter because millions of people out there love what I don't like. I like that several legends who have created the soundtrack of my life, as well as everyone else's, will be recognized for generations to come. And it is all being told by several publications, people, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

With every Hall of Fame always has its controversy. Why isn't Pete Rose in the Baseball Hall of Fame, especially with how the baseball industry has changed over the years? (Sure, he gambled, but at least he didn't get on the juice...) Why isn't Hank Williams Jr. in the Country Music Hall of Fame? I'm sure some chess historian/enthusiast is upset that their hero isn't in the World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis. A lot of Hall of Fames are known to be about favoritism, at least according to some people. Of course, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has had more than its share of criticism, from rock music lovers of all ages. I'm getting a little ahead of myself here, as I'll explain more on this in the coming paragraphs....

HISTORY OF ME AND THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

It was 1995 and I was in junior high. Remember, the Internet was in its infancy and a lot of information was not at very much access to me at the time. I first found out about the Rock Hall as I was digging deep into my Joel Whitburn/Record Research books. (For those that aren't familiar with those books, they are mostly artist discographies with chart statistics and facts and so forth)  In some of the artists' notes - usually near the end of their short biographies, it would say "Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in (year)". I had no idea such institution existed, and I didn't give much thought at the time since I didn't have a list of inductees. It wasn't mentioned in the press hardly at all, at that time.

Late summer of that year, I was listening to Casey Kasem talking about the actual museum's opening in Cleveland on his Casey's Top 40 radio program. He went on to talk about how every band usually has a member that is a pack rat, and that person would donate their items and memorabilia to the museum. Everything from U2's early band shirts to Jim Morrison's Cub Scout uniform would be displayed there. I couldn't wait to visit a place like that! (Unfortunately it would take me more than 20 years to make it out there!)

For my 14th birthday that year, my oldest sister Jenny gave me a one-year membership to the Rock Hall. This would be the inaugural year, of course. Newsletters came in the mail, even an invite to the Hall of Fame dinner (of course, I couldn't afford it! lol). This would be my way of keeping tabs on the Hall of Fame for a bit, like with exhibits and inductees. My membership would expire in '96. I still have my membership card (they say it may be worth something in the future, who knows?). The only time I would keep up with the Hall would be through articles in Rolling Stone.

I felt that just about everyone who was in the Hall of Fame by the end of the 20th century was very deserving, and I couldn't wait to see who would be inducted in the future. Take a look at the first two classes (1986, 1987): you had the forefathers of rock and roll as well as the many important artists that rockers looked up to during the early years. In 1988 and 1989, the people behind the British Invasion as well as the Motown sound were given the honors. From the 90s, inductees included 60s greats Simon & Garfunkel and the Mamas and the Papas to the 70s titans, Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles. I thought, how can the Hall go wrong?

Sometime during the mid-2000s, I started questioning things about the RRHOF. Why isn't Chubby Checker, Chicago and so many hit-makers and superstars not in? How cool do they have to be to get into the Hall of Fame??? Why is Percy Sledge in and not Brook Benton? Why has Donna Summer been nominated but not her former labelmates KISS? I asked myself these kinds of questions numerous times. It got to a point where I felt so many were picked by favoritism and based on the picks of the so-called professional critics, experts and publishers.

ENTER FUTURE ROCK LEGENDS

I don't remember exactly how or when I found it, but it was the website, Future Rock Hall (now futurerocklegends.com) that provided some answers. I immediately started commenting on some of the pages and posts. The site had the same questions as I did, as well as some answers. As I educated myself through many of the articles posted on that site, I gained an impression of what the behind-the-scenes of the Rock Hall were about. There were also many regular users on the FRL site; in fact, some of them I have interacted with outside the site (mostly Twitter), and I have hung out with one at music festivals in the Midwest. So needless to say, I'm proud to be part of a circle of people who share the same interests with me (you know who you are!), at least on-line. For the record, I don't share very much about the Rock Hall on my personal Facebook page since a lot of my "friends" have told me over and over how much the HOF is a joke, in the comments.

Over the years, I have followed who gets inducted year-by-year. These days, its in small batches of who gets inducted, as opposed to larger groups in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. Most of them are deserving, in my opinion. The good news is, the last few years, the Rock Hall has been open about putting former "blackballed" artists in there (ex. Quincy Jones, Moody Blues, etc.). Many bands from the classic rock era that fans have been longing to get in have also been nominated and inducted (Rush, ELO, Stevie Ray Vaughan, etc.). The Hall has also let the fans get involved with the "Fan Vote", which has been a success. Even though the Fan Vote counts as only one ballot, it has to this day helped bands get in 100% to this day.

But there is still a huge backlog of artists. This is where active and passive rock fans, armchair and professional critics and Rock Hall followers clash. Does Jethro Tull or Boston deserve to get in? Should the Monkees, who were created for a television show, be in? Does the Rock Hall need to induct more rap/hip-hop acts? When will the Rock Hall induct more electronic/techno/new wave groups? Several questions arise, and that's what keeps us on our toes, year-by-year. This is not to speak for all Rock Hall watchers, but I have a good feeling this is why they're all in it, too. It's kind of like fantasy football or any kind of sport.

The Rock Hall followers have come to a consensus on several issues facing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as far as who's in, who's not):

1)  the small percentage of women in
2)  the 80s/early-MTV era
3)  the Soul/R&B acts, or in a non-PC way, black artists
4)  too many classic rock groups inducted in the last few years
5)  number of inductees inducted each year is too small
6)  the passing over of several 50s & 60s acts
7)  the non-inducted people who have the opportunity to vote who gets in the Hall of Fame
7)  back-door inductions

I'm sure there's plenty more that I'm missing, but I hope you get the idea.

Me and a lot of others have a shared vision of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We hope it continues to induct the many worthy artists that have long deserved recognition. I can't always be happy, and neither can anyone else. There are plenty of things that I wish would change, and most were listed in the "several issues" list above.


Does Joe Tex belong in the Rock Hall? He put out several hits on both the Pop/R&B chart in the 60s and early 70s but his legacy has arguably been forgotten by many. In fact, I don't think not many people under the age of 40 know what he was about.

Does T. Rex belong in the Rock Hall? They had one hit in the U.S. (more overseas) but are known to be iconic in the glam rock genre. Lead singer Marc Bolan, who has been gone for more than 40 years now, is seen as an influence in many genres.

Does Eddie Money belong in the Rock Hall? He put out several classic rock hits, many of them still played on the radio today, and he still regularly tours.

I don't have the answer to these questions, as time will tell if their influence and legacy is proven by the voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.


For now, Rock on.