Rock Hall of Fame, 2012: The Good, The Bad and The Ignored
By Thom Copher
O.K., the votes for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2012 are in. From the pure rockin' angle, congrats go out to
Guns n' Roses, The Small Faces/The Faces, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Beastie Boys. Once again, though, I'm a
bit surprised not only by those who will be inducted but also by the baffling exclusions.
First off, I wanna comment on those who made the cut. The Chili Peppers and The Beasties are, in my opinion,
hands-down no-brainers. Like 'em or not, it's not even open to debate the influence which these bands had on ushering a
once-underground art form - that which was simply called "rap" back in the mid-80s - into the mainstream. More than
anything, the Chili Peppers and Beasties have always vented a very hard-core rock and roll (even punk-like) attitude.
They were and continue to be musicians who do things their way. Music would not be what it is without them.
O.K., the votes for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2012 are in. From the pure rockin' angle, congrats go out to
Guns n' Roses, The Small Faces/The Faces, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Beastie Boys. Once again, though, I'm a
bit surprised not only by those who will be inducted but also by the baffling exclusions.
First off, I wanna comment on those who made the cut. The Chili Peppers and The Beasties are, in my opinion,
hands-down no-brainers. Like 'em or not, it's not even open to debate the influence which these bands had on ushering a
once-underground art form - that which was simply called "rap" back in the mid-80s - into the mainstream. More than
anything, the Chili Peppers and Beasties have always vented a very hard-core rock and roll (even punk-like) attitude.
They were and continue to be musicians who do things their way. Music would not be what it is without them.
The Beastie Boys (above) and The Red Hot Chili
Peppers lead the pack as rock/rap pioneers for the
Hall of Fame Class of 2012.
Peppers lead the pack as rock/rap pioneers for the
Hall of Fame Class of 2012.
The Small Faces, later simply The Faces (featuring Ronnie Wood {l}
and Rod Stewart {c}, are often cited as one of the biggest British
Invasion/Mod bands of the 1960s.
and Rod Stewart {c}, are often cited as one of the biggest British
Invasion/Mod bands of the 1960s.
The Small Faces were possibly the best British behind The Rolling
Stones to embrace a pure American R&B sound... they were also the
best of the Brit batch to not hit it big in America. That's a tough
one to figure... could have been that the U.S. popularity of The
Beatles, The Stones and The Who put up too much of a barrier,
could have been that they were too British, I dunno. The band gets
my nod - if for no other reason - for providing our introductions to
Steve Marriott (Humble Pie), Kenny Jones (The Who, post-Keith
Moon) and Ian McLagan (The Stones, unofficially). Let's not forget
the band's recruitment of Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood for the
rock n' booze "Stay With Me," renaming itself as The Faces for
that later-edition line-up. No matter which version, it's some of
the finest rock you may have never heard.
Stones to embrace a pure American R&B sound... they were also the
best of the Brit batch to not hit it big in America. That's a tough
one to figure... could have been that the U.S. popularity of The
Beatles, The Stones and The Who put up too much of a barrier,
could have been that they were too British, I dunno. The band gets
my nod - if for no other reason - for providing our introductions to
Steve Marriott (Humble Pie), Kenny Jones (The Who, post-Keith
Moon) and Ian McLagan (The Stones, unofficially). Let's not forget
the band's recruitment of Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood for the
rock n' booze "Stay With Me," renaming itself as The Faces for
that later-edition line-up. No matter which version, it's some of
the finest rock you may have never heard.
This brings me to Guns n' Roses. Now, I want to say - first and foremost - that I am NOT a Guns basher
(see my review for Chinese Democracy). The band was, in its original incarnation (Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy
Stradlin, Duff McKagan and Steven Adler), the ONLY mainstream band to wear the "Sex, Drugs, and Rock
and Roll" banner on its sleeve. It hit hard and fast with Appetite For Destruction, a record which will go
down in history as one of the top-5 greatest complete albums ever. Appetite was a friggin' monster that
gave every impression that we were in the midst of immortality. Then, as Steven Adler was dismissed due
to drug use (go figure), the wheels started coming off. Use Your Illusion I & II were good... they had
their moments. The Spaghetti Incident? was forgettable. Seventeen years passed between original albums
(Illusion to Chinese Democracy) as, one by one, the rest of the Gunners flew the coop, leaving only Axl.
Alrighty then... if The Rock Hall were to give the nod to an artist whose moment in the sun had a major
impact, then yes, Guns n' Roses is deserving. If Gn'R had simply released only Appetite For Destruction
and burned out hard, we might have a case like The Sex Pistols (whose only official album was Never Mind
the Bollocks) where the punch was quick but everlasting. We could have been left to speculate "What if?".
(see my review for Chinese Democracy). The band was, in its original incarnation (Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy
Stradlin, Duff McKagan and Steven Adler), the ONLY mainstream band to wear the "Sex, Drugs, and Rock
and Roll" banner on its sleeve. It hit hard and fast with Appetite For Destruction, a record which will go
down in history as one of the top-5 greatest complete albums ever. Appetite was a friggin' monster that
gave every impression that we were in the midst of immortality. Then, as Steven Adler was dismissed due
to drug use (go figure), the wheels started coming off. Use Your Illusion I & II were good... they had
their moments. The Spaghetti Incident? was forgettable. Seventeen years passed between original albums
(Illusion to Chinese Democracy) as, one by one, the rest of the Gunners flew the coop, leaving only Axl.
Alrighty then... if The Rock Hall were to give the nod to an artist whose moment in the sun had a major
impact, then yes, Guns n' Roses is deserving. If Gn'R had simply released only Appetite For Destruction
and burned out hard, we might have a case like The Sex Pistols (whose only official album was Never Mind
the Bollocks) where the punch was quick but everlasting. We could have been left to speculate "What if?".
Guns n' Roses make it in as a first ballot inductee. The biggest question
is whether Axl Rose (c) will accept on his own or whether Duff
McKagan, Slash (from left), Steven Adler and Izzy Stradlin (right
flank) will make appearances, thus strengthening reunion rumors.
is whether Axl Rose (c) will accept on his own or whether Duff
McKagan, Slash (from left), Steven Adler and Izzy Stradlin (right
flank) will make appearances, thus strengthening reunion rumors.
The fact of the matter is that since Appetite, Guns n' Roses has gone from good to mediocre to (by all definitions) a cover band backing the original singer. The
most notable things to come from the band in the past 20 years has been little more than tabloid fodder. Should Guns n' Roses be in the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame? Hell yes, if we were stuck in 1987-90. Think about it this way: How many NFL quarterbacks had a brilliant rookie year and then faded to average and
THEN made it to The Pro Football Hall? Name one. Well... we're waiting!! I'll just leave that as it is.
One final thought on Gn'R: Who the heck will accept the award? Yeah, it would be nice to see the original band up there jamming on "Welcome to the Jungle" and
"Sweet Child 'o Mine," but I'm not holding my breath. I think there's still too much baggage, especially when considering Adler's comments of late toward Axl.
My money is on Duff making an appearance, possibly Izzy, remotely possible on Slash. I guess Matt Sorum could fill in on drums for the semi-reunion. However,
any of the above would only add fuel to the reunion rumor-mill... personally, I can live without that.
most notable things to come from the band in the past 20 years has been little more than tabloid fodder. Should Guns n' Roses be in the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame? Hell yes, if we were stuck in 1987-90. Think about it this way: How many NFL quarterbacks had a brilliant rookie year and then faded to average and
THEN made it to The Pro Football Hall? Name one. Well... we're waiting!! I'll just leave that as it is.
One final thought on Gn'R: Who the heck will accept the award? Yeah, it would be nice to see the original band up there jamming on "Welcome to the Jungle" and
"Sweet Child 'o Mine," but I'm not holding my breath. I think there's still too much baggage, especially when considering Adler's comments of late toward Axl.
My money is on Duff making an appearance, possibly Izzy, remotely possible on Slash. I guess Matt Sorum could fill in on drums for the semi-reunion. However,
any of the above would only add fuel to the reunion rumor-mill... personally, I can live without that.
Snubbed again: Canadian rockers Rush has, once again,
been overlooked...
been overlooked...
One band which will not be collecting a trophy is Rush... AGAIN, for, like
the fourteenth year! If we're talking a popularity contest, here's the
facts, Jack: the Canadian trio has sold more than 40 million records and
has more consecutive gold and platinum records than everyone except the
Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Too, long after most of their peers have
quit performing, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart continue to embark
on huge sold-out tours globally. This all goes without mentioning that every
musician over the past three decades points to Rush as an influence. Could
be that they're either too nerdy or not nerdy enough... or just Canadian!
No matter how you slice it, this one's becoming comical.
Ah, yes... we also have the other yearly exclusion: KISS. If you could
the fourteenth year! If we're talking a popularity contest, here's the
facts, Jack: the Canadian trio has sold more than 40 million records and
has more consecutive gold and platinum records than everyone except the
Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Too, long after most of their peers have
quit performing, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart continue to embark
on huge sold-out tours globally. This all goes without mentioning that every
musician over the past three decades points to Rush as an influence. Could
be that they're either too nerdy or not nerdy enough... or just Canadian!
No matter how you slice it, this one's becoming comical.
Ah, yes... we also have the other yearly exclusion: KISS. If you could
... as has been "the hottest band in the world," KISS.
Both have been eligible since 1999.
Both have been eligible since 1999.
have a one-hit wonder that defines the spirit for all time, "Rock and Roll All Nite" gets 'em in all by itself. But,
KISS ain't no one-hit wonder, as (in the neighborhood of) 200 million in album and DVD sales will attest... let's not
forget 30 million in concert ticket sales. But KISS took rock and roll to new heights through marketing. The idea of
KISS ain't no one-hit wonder, as (in the neighborhood of) 200 million in album and DVD sales will attest... let's not
forget 30 million in concert ticket sales. But KISS took rock and roll to new heights through marketing. The idea of
fan-club, which was unheard of in rock-and-roll terms in the mid-70s, was taken to unprecedented heights with The KISS ARMY - which I am a first-generation,
card-carrying member. Lunch boxes, posters, action figures, condoms, caskets... the list goes on. The modern-day concert t-shirt would be tomorrow's dust rag
without the vision of KISS! KISS ARMY alum or not, there's no denying the impact on the entertainment empire (forget rock and roll) which KISS has pioneered.
Rush and KISS are the glaring omissions, but what about these notables: Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Motorhead, Roxy Music, Cheap Trick, New York
Dolls, Peter Gabriel, Thin Lizzy, Bon Jovi, Electric Light Orchestra, Randy Newman, Black Flag, Journey, T-Rex, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hall and Oates... hell, even
The Monkees (don't laugh, The Other Fab-Four had some killer tunes)!
All's fair in love and war... but, apparently, not in rock and roll. Again, congrats to the inductees. For the rest, there's always next year!
card-carrying member. Lunch boxes, posters, action figures, condoms, caskets... the list goes on. The modern-day concert t-shirt would be tomorrow's dust rag
without the vision of KISS! KISS ARMY alum or not, there's no denying the impact on the entertainment empire (forget rock and roll) which KISS has pioneered.
Rush and KISS are the glaring omissions, but what about these notables: Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Motorhead, Roxy Music, Cheap Trick, New York
Dolls, Peter Gabriel, Thin Lizzy, Bon Jovi, Electric Light Orchestra, Randy Newman, Black Flag, Journey, T-Rex, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hall and Oates... hell, even
The Monkees (don't laugh, The Other Fab-Four had some killer tunes)!
All's fair in love and war... but, apparently, not in rock and roll. Again, congrats to the inductees. For the rest, there's always next year!