Did they get it right this year?
Nothing says October like the great American past time, so get out your baseball bat and take a few practice swings. It’s time to beat on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination list.
This year’s sentimental favorite is Linda Ronstadt, whose battle with Parkinson’s has left her unable to sing. Ronstadt was unbelievably huge during the 1970s, and not thanks to Auto-Tune. She had the pipes to back it up, which makes her disease particularly cruel.
Both KISS and Deep Purple are on the ballot, which offers their devoted fans the slight glimmer of hope that this might be the year. The Hall of Fame has long been criticized for overlooking each band.
Nirvana and the Replacements are on the list, too: Two bands that music geeks of my age would love to see make the Hall on one hand and would hate to see pinned under glass like butterflies on the other. We may be balding and pot-bellied, but we still like our heroes on the fringe.
LL Cool J, Chic, and N.W.A. likely will cause the most conversation among rock purists, who annually voice their displeasure that rap and R&B acts bump “deserving” rock bands off the roster.
Here is the complete list of this year’s nominees. Who are your picks?
- Linda Ronstadt
- KISS
- Deep Purple
- Nirvana
- The Replacements
- LL Cool J
- Chic
- N.W.A.
- Peter Gabriel
- Cat Stevens
- Yes
- Paul Butterfield Blues Band
- Hall and Oates
- The Meters
- Link Wray
- The Zombies
photo Jeramey Jannene / Flickr
As a Pennsylvanian and a big fan of the musical montage in Stepbrothers scored to “You Make My Dreams Come True,” a big yes to Hall & Oates.
ok kinda twitch at a country singer being on there, (Rondstadt) but if it weren’t for her we wouldn’t have the eagles, as much as i despise them Nirvana deserves to be in the mix, but L.L. Cool J, and N.W.A.? is this the rock roll hall of fame or the popular music hall of fame? it asks the question is ALL modern pop rock and roll? What Is rock and roll, or is the hall of fame more about modern secular music?
I would absolutely love to see the Replacements get the recognition they deserve.
Oh yeah. Long time Mats fan. Would love to see them in the hall, but that would be really weird.
Hmm, in terms of importance (for the development of rock’n’roll), Link Wray and Nirvana would be the top picks from this list. Deep Purple and Paul Butterfield also come with quite an impact.
If the key is artistic merit, I’d probably pick Peter Gabriel first (for his first four solo albums)-
Absolutely. Link Wray’s importance cannot be overstated. Great comment, Lars.