With the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame passed us out, so has the opportunity to induct and recognize many deserving and respected rock artists who continue to be ignored by the prejudice voters and organization committee. People always criticize the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for its shoddy choices, omissions and rules and, quite frankly, those criticisms are justified.
To counteract the idiocy of the Hall, we have to recognize the band/artists that they ignore either purposely (Rush, Kiss) or unintentionally (everybody else). Progressive rock, glam rock and British alternative rock music was never their fortee but they didn’t become artists: the guys that played guitar did, guys like U2, The Sex Pistols, Guns N’ Roses, Rage Against the Machine, Joy Division, Radiohead, Def Leppard, Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Cheap Trick, Sonic Youth, Oasis, Nirvana, Metallica, Garth Brooks, just to name a few. Those guys know who should be the Hall of Fame yet the ignorant, snobby Hall refuse to turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to these complaints.
Well, now, it’s time for ME to complain and address who should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and why. There were a lot of tough choices but these are my 10 picks of who should be in the Hall of Fame and why.
So without further ado, here are the 10 choices:
1. New York Dolls
One of the most influential bands of the 1970's, the New York Dolls were punk rock before that term ever existed.
One of the greatest travesties about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is their refusal to acknowledge the glam rock music of the 70’s, a major mistake since the bands of that era became the foundation for many bands in a variety of genres, from New Wave and heavy metal to punk rock and power pop. One of those bands, not often talked about, is the New York Dolls. Why the New York Dolls? Because they were punk rock and glam metal before those terms existed. The New York Dolls are not just the fathers of Aerosmith, Kiss, Def Leppard, Guns N’ Roses and Motley Crue looks but their raw sound, do-it-yourself aesthetics and sloppy but riveting guitar riffs paid the way for punk rock legends such as the Clash, the Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks and the Stooges. It is to the opinion of this writer that the New York Dolls deserve recognition, not only in the Hall of Fame but also in rock n’ roll history. They are not highly regarded due to the fact that they looked and sounded idiosyncratic. But if Queen and the freaking Beastie Boys can be inducted, then so should the Dolls.
2. The Smiths
The Smiths made guitar rock popular in an era of synth-driven New Wave. Bands like Nirvana, Oasis and Radiohead have cited them as an influence.
If the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were never kind to glam rock, they were certainly ignorant towards the British alternative rock music. Just as the Dolls laid the groundwork for 70’s punk and 80’s glam, The Smiths did the same for 90’s alternative and Britpop. At a time when New Wave was all the rage, the Smiths made guitar rock popular again (at least in England), crafting melodies that owed as much as the British Invasion as girl groups, rockabilly, punk and the poetry of Oscar Wilde. But more importantly, they reinforced the popular idea of three-minute rock singles while writing topics that were considered taboo such as homosexuality (“Hand in Glove”), consumerism (“Shoplifters of the World Unite“), suicide (“That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore”) and the music business (“The Boy With The Thorn on His Side”). In England, the Smiths were cultural and commercial giants, paving the way for bands such as Oasis, Blur, Suede, Pulp and Radiohead. But even in America, their ironic-drenched lyrics, pop singles and DIY aesthetics also had a strong influence on the likes of Green Day, Nirvana, My Chemical Romance and Jeff Buckley. Why the Smiths continue to be ignored, despite influencing a generation of rock bands on both sides of the Atlantic, is beyond me? When Morrissey once sang that he’s got 21st century breathing down his neck, he wasn’t kidding.
3.Rush
Despite the Hall of Fame, Rush deserves recognition for its longevity, experimentation, sales success and consistency in their albums.
The omissions in the Hall of Fame are every bit as glaring as the inductees themselves (ABBA?!!). And no omission is more glaring than Rush. Why? The first reason that pops up in your mind is because Rush is a progressive rock band. It is a sweeping damnation, with an element of truth mangled in with unfair generalizing. It is true that Rush started as a progressive rock-trio but then, from album to album, were able to mix contemporary sounds such as synthesizers, New Wave and even, at one point, grunge to become more modern with the changing musical climate. Another reason is that Rush have remained outside the confines of mainstream hard rock and maintain a high level of independence. But that’s ludicrous. In fact, it helps support the notion that rock n’ roll is a self-sufficient, independent art form where anybody can make successful music without conforming to industry standards. Does Hall of Fame realize that by not acknowledging Rush, they are invalidating the foundations of why rock n’ roll came to be?
But I can name a list of reasons why Rush should be in the Hall of Fame. Their longevity (they have been together since 1974), their musicianship and immense work ethic, the fact that they are 3rd place for most consecutive gold and platinum albums (24 gold records and 14 platinum records) behind the Beatles and the Stones, the number of stellar records they have made, that they overcome personal tragedy (the death of Neil Peart’s daughter and wife) and fostered on, their willingness to experiment with other sounds and take chances, many of their songs played on radio and influences they had bands as diverse as Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Metallica, Primus, Rage Against the Machine, Symphony X, the Smashing Pumpkins, Sebastian Bach, Foo Fighters, Catherine Wheel, Manic Street Preachers, Tool, Nirvana and Jane’s Addiction. In fact, maybe it’s a good thing that Rush isn’t in the Hall of Fame. They are too good and honest to be in an organization that is too plastic to be raw.
4. Todd Rundgren
Rundgren's experimentation with pop music never found mass audience but it paved the way for various genres like power pop, noise rock, shoegazing and arena rock.
Before Prince, there was Todd Rundgren. Many people will know him as the guy that made “I Saw the Light”, “Hello It’s Me” and “Bang on the Drum All Day” but to center his career to three or four memorable pop singles is to overlook the extraordinary library of music he made and produced. On Something/Anything?, not only did he play all instruments himself (except for the fourth side) but he also dabbled in a variety of styles such as 60’s pop, soul, psychedelic hard rock, love ballads, gross-out humor bits, progressive rock and bubblegum music which all laid the groundwork for power pop. In Wizard, a True Star and Todd, Rundgren combined pop music with post-psychedelic collages and musical concretes, creating a wall-of-sound that rewarded upon multiple listens. Not only that but he was the producer of blockbusters like Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell, Grand Funk Railroad’s We’re An American Band and Badfinger’s Straight Up as well as classic albums like The Band’s Stage Fright, XTC’s Skylarding, New York Dolls’ New York Dolls and Hall & Oates’ War Babies. But Rundgren’s greatest success was forcing the rock audience to dig deep into his always diverse and experimental music, using an occasional hit single to mislead the audience into thinking that it’s an accurate indication of what the remainder of the album sounds like. It did not grant him a mass audience but it gave him a rabid following and Rundgren has had a sustaining influence on the likes of the Flaming Lips, XTC, Matthew Sweet, Guns N’ Roses, Sonic Youth, Hall & Oates, Kiss, Billy Idol, Def Leppard, King Crimson and the Smashing Pumpkins.
5. Motorhead
Motorhead's combination of Black Sabbath's heavy riffs and the speed of punk rock bands laid the groundwork for heavy metal bands like Slayer, System of a Down and Metallica.
By combining the bike rock elements with the speed of punk rock like the Ramones and the Sex Pistols, Motorhead forged a style that laid the groundwork for what would eventually become the sound of heavy metal in the 1980’s and the 1990‘s: thrash, death, speed, hardcore, punk and alternative metal. There may have been more popular metal bands at the time but Motorhead’s influence on punk and metal is more incalculable and their work more ageless, particularly the period from 1979-1982, which featured its greatest lineup: besides Lemmy’s growling voice and raging bass, there was “Fast” Eddie Clarke’s riveting, adrenaline-drenched guitar and the in-your-face percussions of “Philty Animal” Taylor. The albums of this period (Bomber, Overkill, Ace of Spades, Iron Fist and live album No Sleep Till Hammersmith), as well as songs like “Ace of Spades”, “Jailbait”, “Too Late, Too Late”, “Overkill”, “Stone Cold Forever”, “Stay Clean”, “No Class” and “Dead Men Tell No Tales” are textbook examples of heavy metal at its finest. Motorhead’s raging sound deserves recognition for the influence it had on bands as diverse as Megadeth, Foo Fighters, Pantera, Joan Jett, Guns N’ Roses, Queens of the Stone Age and, the ultimate Motorhead fans, Metallica. Indeed, if Metallica could get into the Hall of Fame, why not Motorhead, who pretty much influenced the San Francisco thrash metal band? Even Metallica said so in their speech, which goes to show that real rock n’ roll fans are not petty journalists and organization bigwigs but people who actually played a guitar in their lives.
6. Kiss
Kiss were never a critic's favorite but none of those critics included members of Nirvana, Guns N' Roses, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and country legend Garth Brooks.
Saying that Kiss belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is like saying that brushing your teeth prevents cavities: it’s obvious, it’s true and it’s necessary. Yet the Hall of Fame refuses to give this legendary glam rock band that respect it actually deserves, even a decade after they became eligible. Meanwhile, “rock” artists like ABBA, Neil Diamond, Leonard Cohen, Donovan and Laura Nyro are in. Understandably, people take Kiss for granted because of their make-up, costumes, theatrical concerts and the flooding of merchandise. But it was because of these aspects that helped bring teenagers and young adults to not only Kiss but also many hard rock bands that Kiss cited as an influence. It also helped that many of these teenagers included the likes of Nirvana, Guns N’ Roses, Weezer, Rage Against the Machine, Motley Crue, Skid Row, Marilyn Manson, Metallica, Lenny Kravitz, NIN, Pearl Jam, Bon Jovi, Soundgarden and Garth Brooks. But even without the theatrics, makeup and merchandise, Kiss were one of the best rock bands of the 1970‘s. Kiss’ music was a near-perfect blend of fist-pumping anthems (“Detroit Rock City“, “Rock and Roll All Nite“), power ballads (“Beth”, “Hard Luck Woman”) and sleazy rockers that recall the Dolls and Alice Cooper. It’s good rock n’ roll that plays well on radio, concert and on the road. Just because a band does not fit the taste of politically correct writers does not mean that they did not have a positive effect on a generation of teenagers who themselves became artists. Even fans who don’t care much about Kiss can’t deny their influence. It’s about time that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame swallowed their pride and finally give Kiss their due.
7. T.Rex
T.Rex were the symbols of glam rock excellence and their sultry grooves and distorted guitar had an influence on bands like Oasis, The Smiths and R.E.M.
If the Hall of Fame’s refusal to induct Kiss shows their bias and disdain towards what they deemed unfit, then its decision to not recognize T.Rex smacks of ignorance. Like Kiss and the Dolls, T.Rex had an influence on glam rock, punk rock and alternative rock. With its sultry grooves, distorted guitars, love for early rock n’ roll and their idea of a three-minute pop singles, T.Rex created songs whose empowering guitar sound, rich production values and hippie sentiments became not only the basis of ultimate glam rock anthems (“Ride a White Swan”, “Children of the Revolution”, “20th Century Boy”, “Bang a Gong (Get It On)”, “Metal Guru”) but also became foundations for many guitar rock bands like Oasis, the Smiths, Def Leppard, My Chemical Romance, Kiss, David Bowie, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Elton John, Love and Rockets, Cheap Trick, R.E.M., Supergrass and Joan Jett. And with his top hat, curly hair and cool but seductive singing, Marc Bolan became the symbol of glam rock excellence and everything that was good about it. And yet T.Rex continues to be ignored by the prejudice Hall of Fame. One cannot understand why; despite being glam rock, T.Rex was less idiosyncratic and more accessible than the Dolls and they did not have the commercial sheen that made Kiss corporate sellouts in the eyes of prissy rock journalists. Maybe it’s because T.Rex was big in the U.K. but only had moderate success in the U.S. But the fact is T.Rex’s music transcends cultural boundaries.
8. Roxy Music
The quintessential art rock band, Roxy Music were a true "sensation", paving the way for many New Wave and post-punk artists in the late 1970's-mid 1980's.
Roxy Music is the quintessential art-rock band, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. A good thing because Roxy Music, led by Bryan Ferry and temporary keyboardist Brian Eno, successfully encompassed classical music, jazz, soul, glam, avant garde, pop hooks and rock n’ roll together to create a powerfully sophisticated sound that led to many art-rock, post-punk imitators of the 70’s and a 80’s. A bad thing because journalists regard art rock as the work of the devil. So it should come to no surprise that Roxy Music isn’t recognized by the Hall. But these journalists have never written a song or played an instrument in their lives so if their choice of music is heavenly, then I’d rather sell my soul to Lucifer. And Roxy’s music was a devilishly addictive mergence of experimental sound and Beatlesque melodies, with albums like For Your Pleasure, Siren and Avalon being art-rock standards. But their bizarre costumes and Ferry’s taste of the theatrical paved the way for New Wave and punk rock bands like Adam Ant, Blondie, Morrissey, the Cure, Joy Division, Pulp, Scissor Sisters, U2, Suede, the Cars, Depeche Mode, Radiohead, Echo & the Bunnymen and New Order. New Wave would have no style and power without guys like Roxy Music.
And speaking of power…
9.Public Enemy
Public Enemy were the greatest and most influential hip-hop band of all time, influencing not only rap icons like Ice Cube, 2Pac, Beastie Boys and Eminem but also rock acts like Sonic Youth, Manic Street Preachers and Nine Inch Nails.
Yeah, boy. The greatest and most influential hip-hop band of all time should have been in the Hall of Fame the moment they became eligible. Public Enemy rewrote hip-hop forever with their pro-Black stance, reactionary lyrics and dense yet liberating sound. Their first four albums, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Fear of a Black Planet and Apocalypse 91, are classics of the rap genre, powerful records filled with intoxicating beats, sultry grooves, dense funk, inventive scratching tricks and some of the most intelligent rap songs of all time: “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos”, “By The Time I Get to Arizona”, “Rebel Without a Pause”, “Burn Hollywood Burn”, “911 Is a Joke”, “Revolutionary Generation”, “Can’t Truss It” and “You’re Gonna Get Yours” are the kind of songs rappers today wish they could write. And finally, Chuck D has one of the most powerful voices in all of rap while Flavor Flav provides the comic relief: the good cop/bad cop routine brought to perfection. They are a rap band that rock fans love: Kurt Cobain, Trent Reznor, Bjork, Rage Against the Machine, John Mellancamp, Ben Harper, Sonic Youth, Meat Loaf and the Manic Street Preachers have confessed their love and even collaborated with Public Enemy. Their influence on rap, funk, alternative rock and heavy metal are countless. To anyone who thinks rap is just beats and samples, this band will come as a revelation.
10. Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons is the unsung hero in country, bringing that genre to mass audiences and the sound to rock music..
Why has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognized the Byrds but not the creative force behind not just the Byrds but also the Flying Burrito Brothers and International Submarine Band? In addition, Parsons made only two solo albums, yet they were encompassing visions of Southern soul, hard-country weepers, wistful ballads, rollicking dance tunes, horn sections and stabs at rhythm and blues that not only made his reputation but rock bands possible to experiment with country. Parsons not only made the Byrds a viable force; he pretty much pioneered country rock, the idea of a rock band playing country music. Parsons died at the age of 26 but his sound can be traced not just in the work of Garth Brooks, Kid Rock and the Black Crowes but many of the key bands in the Hall of Fame including the Eagles, U2, Elvis Costello and, most particularly, the Rolling Stones. Country music wouldn’t be the same without Parsons.
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