Hall of Shame

The term "hall of famer" is supposed to be a crowning achievement for a career. Be it sports or music, when one thinks of "hall of fame" the implication is the best of the best, the most influential, or the most deserving is being recognized.

Were that only the case with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If anything, the past two years have shown that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is becoming a parody of itself. For proof, one needs to look no further than the nominees for the 2008 induction class: among the "rock and roll heavyweights" deemed worthy of induction are Chic, Afrika Bambaataa, and the Beastie Boys. Other nominees that are sure-fire winners are Donna Summer, John Mellencamp, Madonna, and the Dave Clark Five.

Let's begin with the DC5. According to Fox.com's Roger Friedman, the Dave Clark Five received enough votes for induction in 2007. However, Friedman's report states that Jann Wenner, publisher/founder of Rolling Stone magazine and head of the organization that nominates (and inducts) people for the Hall of Fame, invalidated votes for the DC5 and instead declared Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five the fifth inductee. Look for the DC5 to be inducted to "make up" for the injustice they received last year. Since DC5 member Denis Peyton died in late 2006, nothing can make it up to him now.

The other issue is who is not nominated. Neil Diamond, for all his 80s MOR muzak (e.g., "Heartlight"), created some of the most energetic rock and roll of the 60s. Even as a songwriter (of songs such as "Red Red Wine," UB40's biggest hit, and "I'm a Believer"), Diamond deserves induction. Certainly, if five-hit wonder disco band Chic (who gave us such "rock" classics as "Le Freak" and "Dance, Dance, Dance [Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah]") can be considered "rock" (well, Frank Zappa did quote "Yowsah, yowsah, yowsah" in his 1978 song "Dancin' Fool"), Diamond's long list of hits before he began singing songs inspired by E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial qualifies him.

Another Neil, Sedaka, is also missing. While he may be dismissed as pop, the same can be said of legendary group the Platters, and they were inducted (in 1990). He was one of the early artists who actually wrote his own hits (and, as a staff writer in the early 60s, wrote songs for many others such as "Stupid Cupid" and "Where the Boys Are").

Sedaka's one-time girlfriend (the subject of "Oh Caorl!"), Carole King, has been inducted, but only as a songwriter with Gerry Goffin and not as a performer. If anyone ever deserved an induction based on one recording, it's King, for the 1971 album Tapestry. Anyone who records an album that can sell well enough to remain on the Billboard album charts for six consecutive years deserves, at the very least, a nomination as a performer.

Linda Ronstadt's career goes back to the late 1960s and has covered rock, pop, Latino, country, Broadway, big band, and opera. She hasn't been nominated in spite of being one of rock's most enduring performers.

Poco, a country-rock band formed in 1967 (long before any of the Eagles had even dreamed of takin' it easy), have not necessarily had the "hits;" however, their influence has been felt throughout rock and roll thanks to their successful marriage of country and rock elements. The Eagles would not have been possible without Poco laying the groundwork (not to mention the fact that both of the Eagles' bass players, Randy Meisner and Timothy B. Schmit, were bassists in Poco). Other acts (e.g., Elvis Costello, the Clash, Talking Heads) have been inducted for their influence on music as much as for their sales (if not more so). This means Poco should also receive consideration.

Other "superstar" acts such as the Moody Blues, Chicago, Genesis, Alice Cooper, and the Steve Miller Band have all sold millions upon millions of albums and influenced the music (Genesis members Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins have enjoyed successful solo careers, Boz Scaggs was a one-time member of the Steve Miller Band, Alice Cooper brought theatrical "shock rock" to the masses). Yet, Donna Summer is nominated and these others are not.

In his most recent article, Roger Friedman is calling for a boycott of Rolling Stone magazine to send a message to Jann Wenner to stop nominating and inducting his "pets" and instead nominate worthy people (despite his personal opinion of their music) for induction. Friedman's call only goes halfway, however, as it is time to boycott not only the magazine but the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. The admission to the Hall of Fame is $20, and that is a lot of money to spend to see gaping holes in the inductees' area in favor of people Jann Wenner and few other people think should be there.