And now for something completely different!
The powers that be released their list of nominees to the Hall of Fame for 2017. So that is time for us to get our music snobbery on and dissect this (mostly uninspiring) list. The nominees:
Bad Brains
Chaka Khan
Chic
Depeche Mode
ELO
The J. Geils Band
Jane’s Addiction
Janet Jackson
Joan Baez
Joe Tex
Journey
Kraftwerk
MC5
Pearl Jam
Steppenwolf
The Cars
The Zombies
Tupac Shakur
Yes
The Hall changed its nominating process this year, to specify what band lineup gets in if inducted:
In a change of tradition, the Hall of Fame has announced the individual members of each band that will be honored. Pearl Jam have had five drummers, but only current drummer Matt Cameron and founding member Dave Krusen will be inducted should they make it in. Electric Light Orchestra has had many musicians come and go over the years, but just Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, Bev Bevan and Richard Tandy made the cut. The classic Steve Perry lineup of Journey is listed along with founding keyboardist/singer Gregg Rolie. As far as Yes, original singer Jon Anderson is on the ballot along with drummers Bill Bruford and Alan White, keyboardists Tony Kaye and Rick Wakeman, guitarists Steve Howe and Trevor Rabin and bassist Chris Squire. Keyboardist Vince Clarke left Depeche Mode after their first album Speak & Spell, but he is listed along with the rest of the band.
So if any of these bands get inducted, the reunions could be fun.
For me, starting with the What Are They Thinking category — J. Geils Band, Jane’s Addition, Janet Jackson, Journey, Steppenwolf, The Cars. Not that there is anything really wrong with these bands (except Journey, seriously) — I’ve listened to most of them and they’ve been fun pop or rock bands to help pass the time, but Hall of Fame worthy? Sheesh. There’s alot of brilliant bands out there that haven’t had a shot at this. I’d prefer that we stick to some quality picks and leave the run of the mill top 40 alone.
Brilliant, but No Way Category — Bad Brains. Mind you, I think that they SHOULD be in the Hall (these guys are still touring too!), but something tells me that the folks who voted this shortlist were patting themselves on the back.
It’s Well Past Time Category — Chic, Joan Baez (I was surprised to find she wasn’t in), Joe Tex, Kraftwerk, MC5, The Zombies
A Stone Lock — Tupac, Pearl Jam, Chaka Khan. I love Chaka Kahn, but there are other female singers that belong here. Still.
Not sure what to do with ELO. I LLKE ELO (mostly). Early ELO was well-done music, the Travelling Wilburys was pretty good and he’s been an active producer. And ELO has been touring to some pretty good reviews. There’s alot to like here, but I balance that pick against what could have been. I mean, where’s The Smiths? The Meters? Joy Division? King Crimson?
Lots of ink gets spilled about these picks every year. Here are a few entertaining ones:
In Defense of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — basically an argument that what we all argue over is who is left out of a fairly mainstream institution.
Conjuring the real inside story on Rock Hall voting: Mike Polk Jr.
— an imagination of the thinking of the HoF nominators.
The 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees Are a Disgrace to Music
— an excellent assessment of those who were nominated with the usual They Shoulda Nominated. Great read.
The only way to fix the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is to keep making fun of it
— includes a case for why this list isn’t as bad as usual.
So what say you? Who do you think will make the final 5? What’s crap on this list?