Besides leaves changing colour, the arrival of fall guarantees unseasonably heated debates about whose presence is worthy of being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Nineteen performers have been nominated for the Class of 2018. To be eligible, a minimum of 25 years must have passed since an artist released their first record, meaning Radiohead’s 1992 Drill EP and Rage Against the Machine’s self-titled debut officially put these two groups into the running for this dubious honour (Sex Pistols did once call the Rock Hall a “piss stain”).
As much as I’m not crazy about Radiohead’s post-2000 material, they totally deserve to be inducted and are a shoo-in IMHO. I’m less convinced on RATM than I am regarding 300 wins being the Cooperstown benchmark for pitchers, but if the ceremony next April 14th in Cleveland gets Zach de la Rocha out of hiding, I’m all for him reuniting with the members of Audioslave and Prophets of Rage.
Arguing about who should or shouldn’t be in the R’n’R HoF is a pointless exercise though. Kind of like thinking American gun control is going to change anytime soon. Unlike trying to reason with NRA-loving conservatives, your votes allegedly do count here so show support by clicking!
Other candidates I don’t necessarily have anything snarky to say about include Kate Bush, The Cars, Depeche Mode, Dire Straits, Eurythmics, Judas Priest, LL Cool J, MC5, The Meters, The Moody Blues, Rufus feat. Chaka Khan, Nina Simone, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and The Zombies.
As for some parting thoughts, here’s hoping the excellent documentary RUMBLE is enough for Link Wray. The J. Geils Band has a shot on their fifth go-around (the most of anyone listed), on account of John Warren Geils passing away back in April. Not that this sentimentality helped Chris Cornell, as Soundgarden were inexplicably omitted. Or Motörhead for that matter. Enshrine Lemmy now! And whose leg does Oscar-winning Trent Reznor have to hump for Nine Inch Nails to merit consideration? Bon Jovi had the most pathetic banner in the history of commemorations hanging at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre for awhile, and they’re on the ballot!
