Let the Whinging Begin! The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominations are Here

Here is the complete list:

• Alice Cooper

• Beastie Boys

• Bon Jovi

• Chic

• Neil Diamond

• Donovan

• Dr. John

• J. Geils Band

• LL Cool J

• Darlene Love

• Laura Nyro

• Donna Summer

• Joe Tex

• Tom Waits

• Chuck Willis

So. Outside of Tom Waits and Dr. John this isn’t an especially inspirational list. I can imagine lots of these artists on some commercial radio station designed to play for aging boomers. And I say this as an aging boomer. Is Neil Diamond rock & roll? Really? And how does LL Cool J get in ahead (again) of the Sugarhill Gang? This year’s real WTF moment — Bon Jovi. Really? Bon Jovi? Maybe my perception of this list is colored by the fact that plenty of them are repeats — Love, Waits, LL Cool J, Summer, Tex.

The Smiths, Billy Bragg, The Replacements, The New York Dolls, Big Star — these have been some of my go to complaints about this list recently. What are yours? Who did they really miss out on this year?