OT: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees
The list for this year includes these four:
- Dave Matthews Band
- Foreigner
- Peter Frampton
- Kool & The Gang
I submit for discussion and comparison these bands/performers that are not inductees:
America, The B-52s, Blood Sweat and Tears, ELP, Grand Funk Railroad, The Guess Who, Jethro Tull, Kansas, Marshall Tucker Band, Harry Nilsson, REO Speedwagon, Gerry Rafferty, Supertramp, Three Dog Night, Steve Winwood (solo).
I submit all on this non- inductees list belong, at least, ahead of Frampton (and yes, I'm of the age and headspace that adored that Frampton Comes Alive effort).
In order for me?
- Foreigner
- Frampton
- K&G
- DMB
The only band I'm passionate for of all those listed is the B-52s. But I have zero emotional investment in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, since it's: in Cleveland, for god only knows why; basically a Jann Wenner joint and fuck that guy.
Gotta agree with this. It's not necessarily a bad idea, but it's poorly implemented.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:26 AM ^
It's in Cleveland because of Alan Freed.
Agree completely re B-52's.
Would like to see Marshall Tucker in the Hall if only to honor Toy Caldwell, one of the truly underrated guitarists of his era.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:49 AM ^
Love the B-52's! Private Idaho and Dance This Mess Around FTW
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:41 AM ^
B-52s rule. Them and Pylon are the best bands to ever come out of Athens, GA.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:46 PM ^
Pylon > B-52s
R.E.M., too!
Wenner was removed from their board over his stupid comments.
It’s a blast going though the Hall of Fame - spent hours there. The one hit wonder exhibit - could spend all day listening.
We went and left the same day on our way out east, so the Cleveland part we didn’t have to experience so much …
B-52's are one of my favorite bands.
Grand Funk Railroad, The Guess Who, Blood Sweat and Tears and Three Dog Night not in is nuts. Apparently the 60s and early 70s hit makers had no bearing on rock ‘n’ roll but Jay Z and Madonna did.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:00 AM ^
Romeo50,
You’re absolutely on the money! It’s beyond belief that those four groups are not in. Combined, over 50 top 40 hits and they left an indelible musical imprint.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:28 AM ^
It will never happen, but I would love to see the Guess Who inducted because (a) they deserve it, and (b) Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman are involved in some nasty litigation against Jim Kale and Garry Peterson over who owns the rights to the band name.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:28 AM ^
"You kids don't know Grand Funk? The wild shirtless lyrics of Mark Farner? The bong-rattling bass of Mel Schacher? The competent drumwork of Don Brewer? Oh, man!"
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:52 PM ^
GFR 1972/3 three of their records stacked on top of each other on my record player next to my bed so they would each drop down, and I’d get to listen to those three sides and always played I’m your captain and mean mistreater as I went to sleep.
For three guys, they were all excellent at what they did including two good singers it’s just a shame the rancour.
All of those belong in plus Jethro Tull. Incredible that they're all out. I guess they're left "sitting on a park bench."
So you don't feel like Pete does? I'm cool with that.
The only folks I really need in off the list are Tull, Supertramp and the B-52s.
Supertramp is NOT already in?!?! WTF is the deal with that place?
April 24th, 2024 at 12:37 AM ^
Hey now, watch what you say, they'll be calling you a radical
A liberal, oh, fanatical, criminal.
DMB absolutely belongs. The others...meh.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:19 AM ^
Disagree. I would punt DMB in a heartbeat.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:23 AM ^
I get that there are disagreements over DMB's music, but I don't think there can be disagreement as to their influence in the music industry for literally 30 years. I don't think there could reasonable argument against their resume for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:44 AM ^
Not to be snarky, but what impact have they had on music in the past 30 years? I'm not into their stuff, so I'm honestly curious.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:54 AM ^
I mean, since 1980, they are the second highest live act in terms of tickets sold in the world behind only U2, and the 13th highest grossing band during the same time frame.
People who do not like DMB tend to REALLY not like them and are very vocal about it. But they are actually in the minority by quite a bit. They have been an incredibly successful act for 3 decades.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:25 AM ^
One thing they did is allow fans to record concerts and share them online. It really increased their popularity and seemed somewhat revolutionary. I dated a DMB superfan a little over a decade ago and spent a year traveling around to various concerts. I'm not a huge fan but it was a fun experience.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:40 AM ^
Ever heard of the Grateful Dead? Guess not...
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:57 AM ^
The internet was huge in the 70s
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:55 AM ^
Recognizing that music is a personal taste, and that you may not like DMB, but it is hard to argue the impact and success that they have had over their career. Quick google research show 33m records sold in the US, 7 billboard no. 1 albums and a legacy as one of the top 20 grossing live acts ever. They are 1st ballot HoFers without a doubt.
I've always found DMB to be bland and boring. I tried to figure out why their fans were so devoted to them. Maybe it's their live performances (I've never gone to one of their concerts) but I just can't get very excited about most of their studio stuff, to me, too much elevator or grocery store background music.
Their live shows are not anything like their albums. It is difficult to tell they are the same band.
I guess it's different categories, but 2024 inductees also include Cher, Mary J. Blige, Ozzy Osbourne and A Tribe Called Quest. I'm surprised REO hasn't made it in. All of the bands / solo acts you list are also good - but what's the admissions criteria for this? Longevity? Number of hits? Albums sold? It just seems so random to me every year.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:21 AM ^
I'd put REO and The Guess Who in before DMB, Frampton, and probably half the other inductees. I have no idea what the 'requirement' is for the so-called HoF...
We're here on a Michigan message board and the OP just casually leaves off the MC5 as one of this year's inductees?
Long overdue, just wish it could have come before Brother Wayne and John Sinclair passed.
Not an intentional omission - was more struck by comparing the particular 4 I listed vs those I listed that aren't in. Whatever the nebulous criteria is...it just seems like those I listed on the non-inductee list would fit as 'ins' on a list that also includes those four.
You could include the MC5 and Peter Frampton in a "major influence on punk" exhibit, too, just in very different ways.
I would probably take out Harry Nilsson and Steve Winwood solo (just not big enough bodies of work), If Foreigner made it in so should Kansas. I'm also lukewarm on REO and Supertramp. They're essentially the same band from opposite sides of the pond. Three Dog Night, Blood, Sweat, & Tears, Grand Funk, and America are maybe's for me. I like them all but I don't know how big their catalogues are, especially Blood, Sweat, & Tears and Grand Funk. How many popular albums did they have? Yes to B 52's. They were groundbreaking. Gerry Rafferty no (just didn't break through enough). I abstaining on Marshall Tucker since I don't know enough about what they did in entirety.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:00 AM ^
Claiming that REO Speedwagon and Supertramp are 'essentially the same band from opposite sides of the pond' is WILD to me. Supertramp is such an original sounding band, with a LOT of prog rock influence (see 'Crime of the Century'). And even their biggest album, 'Breakfast in America', for example. I love REO speedwagon but I don't think they were out here putting tuba and clarinet on smash hit songs.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:09 AM ^
I think both should be in though, if you look at some of the bands that are already in. Supertramp for sure deserves it, and I think REO does too.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:23 AM ^
Watching REO live was a treat. Kevin Cronin is probably the best story-teller as a lead singer that I've ever witnessed. Dude had a lead in for every song that was fantastic!
Still a no from me on REO. There's only one album of theirs that I really love (REO TWO), after that I found them to be a lot like the band Boston, too repetitive and never growing/evolving. But hell yeah on Supertramp!
Supertramp is so fricken good.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:35 AM ^
I personally look at Supertramp with the same ProgRock light I look at Rush and Yes with. Should have been in ages ago.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:36 AM ^
Absolutely
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:56 AM ^
I don't think the criteria to get into the HOF is only about a band's music (and I'm not saying I either agree or disagree with their criteria). It's more about what place they had in Rock n Roll history. So when I say the bands are the same, I don't mean musically. I think about their vibe and genre, who was their audience, when did they play, how popular were they, how did they distinguish themselves in the era they played. I think Three Dog Night and Blood, Sweat, and Tears are in the same boat. Kansas and Foreigner are the same deal. They don't have the same sound at all but they occupied a similar place in R n R history. The B52's are different - I can't think of a comparable band. Maybe The Talking Heads?
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:42 AM ^
Who knows what the criteria are. Seems like when it comes down to it, it ends up being pretty arbitrary. Although we DO know that they have quite a bias against prog rock, hence why it took so long for genesis, yes, and rush to get in, and why supertramp, kansas, ELP, and Jethro Tull still aren't in (ridiculous).
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:52 AM ^
We were comparing it to the Baseball HOF. There are people who were clearly in the top (Babe Ruth, Cy Young, Lou Gehrig, etc...) but then there are players like Ron Santo who really didn't differentiate themselves in the same way, and so the criteria there is murky. Bands like The Stones are obvious, but then bands like Kansas, Foreigner, and ELP were good but not in the same stratosphere as The Stones. It's so subjective. At least baseball players have stats you can point to.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:53 PM ^
I don't know who the 'we' is referring to, and I don't see any prior discussion about the baseball HOF, but your points are all pretty much 'on point'.
It's about Rolling Stone magazines opinion. That place is a sham.
Ok, I'm taking back my comment about Supertramp and REO being the same band. I listened to Supertramp a lot back then (and went back and listened to Crime of the Century just now). I think my initial reaction was that these bands, along with Foreigner, Styx, Kansas, Boston, and then some smaller bands like Foghat, all got played together and crossed over each other all the time, at least where I lived. They were all kind of glommed together. Supertramp is more in line with ELP and Yes and has vestiges of Jethro Tull. They sound dated, though. They're of a very certain time and sound like it. I feel the same way about The Who, my favorite band in high school. I listen now and their music doesn't sound nearly as transformative as it was for me at the time.