Annual Rock and Roll HOF Inductee Thread

[Anodyne]

I know the general consensus of the board is that the RRHOF is off its rocker. Beyond the annual inductee stunt, however, there are great things happening in the archives and library segment. There will be amazing, really important historical works generated from this collection for generations to come. And I think the museum exhibit program has a lot of value, and I like the way it is evolving. So, if the dubious practice of inducting particular people does little more than raise the visibility (and thus funding and visitation) for an even stronger archive and exhibit program, then so be it.

With that apologia out of the way, here's the 2015 class:

-Lou Reed: Easy pick. He made at least three classic solo albums. One of 20 double-inductees.

-Butterfield Blues Band: Long overdue. Amped up electric Chicago blues. Interracial. You cannot overstate the importance of their collaboration with Dylan in 1965. I watch the Newport 65 performance of Maggie's Farm/Like a Rollig Stone at least a few times per week. I have lately become obsessed with Mike Bloomfield. I visited the space where Bloomfield returned to electric in '64 after a year mastering acoustic bluegrass and flat-picking styles, where he honed his growling electric style just as Dylan sought him out for Hwy 61 Revisited sessions ---it's now a Vietnamese nail salon.

-Joan Jett: I dunno, I guess this is OK. Long career. Big influence. Seems like a straight ahead rocker during the synth-happy 80s, which is worth memorializing.

-Bill Withers: Another easy pick. Incredibly prolific and versatile songwriter. Everyone has recorded, covered, or sampled a Withers song.

-Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble: Solid. Popular. Won the fan voting quite comfortably.

-Green Day: I don't get it. Actually, I do. This is a marketing ploy (see apologia). But still, that Green Day receives recognition before someone like Fugazi makes me want to fire up the torches and march on Cleveland.

-Early Recognition Award: Five Royales. Not familiar with the work.

-Random Award Short of Induction: Ringo Starr. Secures big donation to the Rock Hall Foundation?

Nominated, but not selected this year:
-Nine Inch Nails
-NWA
-War
-Sting
-Kraftwerk
-The Smiths
-The Spinners
-The Marvellettes
-Chic

Fan vote:
1. SRV
2. NIN
3. Jett
4. Withers
5. Butterfield Band
6. Lou
7. War
8. Green Day
9. Sting
10. NWA
11. Kraftwerk
12. Smiths
13. Spinners
14. Marvelettes
15. Chic
This post was edited on 12/16 8:50 AM by Anodyne

 

[Dally1up]

Not familiar with a few of those but Lou Reed, JJ and even Green Day can't be argued too much (unless you compare to who isn't in there).

 

[BiloxiPoke]

Stevie Ray Vaughan absolutely deserves it.

 

[AC_Exotic]

RRHOF will become legit when they have the balls to nominate Ted Nugent.

They should call it the fluff hall of fame.

Loved it last year when Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley basically pissed on them on their way in last year.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[MegaPoke]

Pretty solid class.

Joan Jett's influence is way more impactful than you are giving her credit for though. The Runaways were really a big influence and broke a lot of barriers. Joan then went on to a hugely successful solo career and has a ton of producer credit. She's recorded with and has produced for a literal shit ton (or butt load if you prefer) of artists.

Take a look at her Wiki page and see if you don't think it looks like a more solid pick. She wasn't just selected for her contribution as a member of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (note: SRV is inducted with "Double Trouble"). I think her selections is uncharacteristically brilliant for the R&RHOF - whom I usually think are a bunch of twits.

SRV&Double Trouble - Duh. Obviously. Way overdue. Glad it's the band and not just the solo artist. Outstanding rhythm section (Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton) and sometimes Reese Wynans on keys. And those guys weren't "just" blues guys. Very talented band and I'm glad to see they were included.

Lou Reed - obviously

Bill Withers - obviously

Butterfield Blues band - hippie jam band..... I really like them but are R&RHOF worthy in the same way I guess that Phish will be or Widespread Panic or something. Perfectly kick ass music but HOF worthy career? Debatable. They did play Woodstock, so that probably grandfathers them in somehow. I guess you could say they were an influence on modern blues rock popularity? I just looked and Paul Butterfield dies in 1987. They haven't really done much since a 1979 Woodstock reunion concert. I don't hate the pick. Just doesn't seem like they should get in in front of say... Cheap Trick???

Ringo Star - Ringo is the Peter Criss of the Beatles which is ironic because Peter Criss is the Ringo Starr of KISS - which is to say both are average drummers, shitty singers and lucky sons of bitches who won the lottery. Ringo at least did not piss his good fortune away and has now leveraged that into solo R&RHOF status. Hard to argue against a living Beatle, but c'mon man... Ringo as a solo artist ahead of say.... Ozzy Osbourne as a solo artist???

Green Day - OK, I'm just not seeing it. Perfectly decent band but how the heck do these guys make it in this fast? They are certainly not more deserving to get in ahead of say.... Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Soundgarden, Steve Miller Band, Pantera, Motorhead, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, ELO, Dire Straights, Duran Duran (yes, I'm serious), Chicago, The Cars, Cheap Trick etc. NO way no how, they should be ahead of those bands.

The 5 Royales... um... had to google them to find one song I've heard of. This is the only WTF pick IMO. Green Day close behind and Ringo.... well, you just can't stop Ringo from being in the HOF if by no other reason than osmosis. The rest of the list is solid.

The R&RHOF is still a joke but it's certainly had worse lists than this.