I’m not a fan. The building is cool. I’ve been there, it was nice. The exhibits were spectacular and I highly recommend that you visit if you’re in Cleveland, Ohio. Do I think they are doing a good job with the inductees? No.
I agree with Black Sabbath superstar Ozzy Osborne who said…
“The nomination is meaningless, because it’s not voted on by the fans. It’s voted on by the supposed elite for the industry and the media, who’ve never bought an album or concert ticket in their lives, so their vote is irrelevant to me…. Black Sabbath has never been media darlings. We’re a people’s band.”
Ozzy (Black Sabbath)
It has been called everything from wildly inconsistent to outdated. Many inductees have a hatred like Steve Miller, KISS, Black Sabbath, Guns & Roses and Joan Jett. Not to mention that a innovative, original band Jethro Tull is not in the hall?!?!?
Mostly it’s because of politics…the nominating committee (more like inner circle) of this institution doesn’t like Jethro Tull, or any other band who went above and beyond what they consider to be rock and roll.
A Fan
Progressive Rock legends Emerson, Lake and Palmer have not been inducted despite their 11 gold albums, mostly without the help of singles. They are three superstar musicians in a single band that all progressive rock bands to follow would, and still do, play music influenced by them.
Now they have let two of the members pass before even getting a nomination. Other bands like The Runaways, Styx, Bad Company, The Monkees (3 have passed), and Grand Funk Railroad have also been shunned.
“I don’t want to sound flippant, but I never cared one way or the other about that — or about frankly any other accolades or awards. I’ve never been one to chase that stuff, ever. My greatest thrill was winning an Emmy in ’66. But the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is, like, a private country club, and ‘We’re not gonna let in who we don’t want in our club.’ It’s their prerogative. So I’m not going to chase it.”
Micky Dolenz (Monkees)
The Bangles have been eligible (25 years since their start) since 2007 but have not been considered. There is no doubt that they were not only successful but highly influential to all the women musicians to come since.
Now that my blood pressure is up I’ll announce my “Doyle’s Space Music Hall of Fame“. These inductees will be chosen by me – and you probably see a theme from my list above. More to come!
“I just don’t understand their standards. They’ll have some songs that aren’t a rock and roll song — one guy had one song, and they put them in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. And I’m not bitter about it. But it’s just frustrating to be held up to those kinds of standards when all we really care about is our fans.”
Tommy Shaw (Styx)
