Hall of Fame Inductees announced

Here they are: Elvis Costello etc...
HOF

 

Can't argue with any of those inductees, specially the Righteous Bros., who deserved to get in long, long ago...

ED

 

For those who don't feel like clicking.

THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES THE INDUCTEES FOR THE
EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL INDUCTION CEREMONY

CEREMONY WILL BE HELD MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2003 IN NEW YORK

AC/DC (Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson, Cliff Williams, Phil
Rudd, Bon Scott, Mark Evans) -- Australia's best loved hard rock export,
AC/DC is characterized by the bluesy guitar of perennial schoolboy Angus
Young and the screeching vocals of Brian Johnson who replaced original
member Bon Scott after his death in1980). Angus and older brother Malcolm
(guitar) are the siblings of GeorgeYoung who, along with Harry Vanda (both
of the Easybeats) produced AC/DC's first recordings. From the opening
crash of "Baby Please Don't Go" a lifetime ago, up through 2000's "Stiff
Upper Lip", AC/DC's power chords have nurtured at least three generations
of heavy metal boogie fans.

The Clash (Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Nicky "Topper" Headon, Joe Strummer,
Tory Crimes) -- At the confrontational dawn of British punk, the overtly
political Clash railed out against war, racism, a dead-end economy and
true romance to earn the title of "the only band that really
mattered....the last great British rock n' roll band." From 1977 to '82,
core members Joe Strummer and Mick Jones on guitars, bassist Paul Simonon,
and drummer Topper Headon issued 18 singles, five LP manifestos, and one
enlightening documentary (1980's Rude Boy) that gave no quarter. Indebted
to rockabilly, reggae, Memphis soul, cowboy justice, and 60's protest, the
Clash imparted a conscience to punk and a jolly wink at rock's corporate
bluster in those first heady days of MTV. Well into the 90's, long after
their break up, the Clash's fans on both sides of the turntable kept the
faith, culminating in 1998's Burning London tribute CD.

Elvis Costello and the Attractions (Elvis Costello, Steve Nieve, Pete
Thomas, Bruce Thomas) -- In the late 1970's Elvis Costello emerged as part
of the new wave of next generation singer/songwriters with the raw energy
of punk rock. After his UK debut of early 1977 ("Less Than Zero",
"Allison," "My Aim Is True"), EC hooked up in July with keyboardist Steve
Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas, and drummer Pete Thomas, henceforth known as
the Attractions. Costello's impact as one of New Music's emblematic
figureheads was writ large on the memorable tours with the Attractions
during 1978-79. Their 80's forays into C&W northern soul, power pop and
movie soundtracks prompted a sabbatical from each other after 1985. El's
restless creativity surfaced throughout the 90's in a dozen musical
settings from jazz and classical to Bacharach and the avant garde.
Costello's current album of his first new compositions in seven years also
marks a reunion with Nieve and Pete Thomas, who both signed on for 2002
tour duty in the Impostors.

The Police (Stewart Copeland, Sting, Andy Summers) -- The Police broke
through in the late 1970's with some of the most influential music since
the advent of punk. The typical power trio formula in which the guitar
provides the main focus was inverted - letting drummer Stewart Copeland's
intricate, polyrhythms steer the helm while Sting's bass grounds the beat
and Andy Summers' phased guitar effects add texture. All members were
highly accomplished musicians from the prog rock and fusion traditions:
Summers played with Soft Machine and Kevin Ayers, Copeland was a member of
Curved Air and Sting had played in various jazz fusion groups. The band
took a pass on histrionics, and instead forged an understated virtuosity,
burying their chops inside reggae grooves and intricate arrangements.
Between 1977 and 1983, the Police released five critically acclaimed
albums and had numerous Top 10 hits. By 1985, they'd gone their separate
ways with each member pursuing a solo career.

The Righteous Brothers (Bill Medley, Bobby Hatfield) -- 'Blue eyed soul'
was coined to categorize the music of southern California's Bill Medley
and Bobby Hatfield, doo wop crooners at heart. Their string of hits began
with the Phil Spector-produced "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"
(co-written by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil) and "Just Once In My Life" (from
Gerry Goffin & Carole King). Hullabaloo and Shindig's favorite duo left
Philles for Verve Records in 1966, but the Brill Building tunesmiths
continued to supply hits like "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" (with
Darlene Love on background vocals). Split up in 1968 as solo artists, it
took six years for the right song ("Rock and Roll Heaven") to re-unite
them. Since "Unchained Melody" surfaced as a #1 AC hit in 1990 (in the
Ghost movie soundtrack), occasional reunions have kept the Righteous
Brothers up front.

Inductees in the "Sidemen" and "Non performer" categories will be
announced shortly.

www.rockhall.com/

 

I don't dispute that AC/DC belongs in the RNR Hall of Fame, but where are Deep Purple and Black Sabbath? They are definitely two of the most influential hard rock groups that ever existed. Every guitarist that I know were great fans of Ritchie Blackmore and Tony Iommi, who each ifluenced a legion of hard rock guitarists.





Ed Hurdle
HeavyDistortion

 

Unfortunately, the voters for the Hall tend to skew older and don't seem very enthusiastic about metal bands in general. It's also possible they remember the later, lesser incarnations of DP and BS than the earlier versions that made the best music. But if you're gonna get generous and let in AC/DC, then those two should be in as well.

ED

 

If I remember right, hasn't Ozzy sent a letter of protest in the past, requesting that Black Sabbath not be inducted.

Maybe I'm imagining things again.

 

No, you're not imagining.

 

He might have, but the voters would have ignored it anyway; no more relevant than somebody 'refusing' an Oscar nomination. You don't get to refuse; you can ignore it if you want, refuse it if you win, but you're still the winner.

ED

 

Now that the Police have been inducted to the hall of fame does this mean a possible reunion concert for the ceremony? I've never believed that that could happen due to their indifferences in the past.

It would be cool though...especially iff followed up with a new album and tour!

 

Right on, Magic. What I don't understand is how people who made their fame and fortune together can still hold grudges so long after the breakup. Every family has its problems, but they usually get worked out; life's too short to become estranged from people who should be the closest of friends. The band had to end; they'd pushed it to the limit.
Would be nice just to see them reunited on stage, having a little fun and basking in the honor. The Hall of Fame has some dubious inductees; the Police are not one of them.
I'm waiting for the eventual Police DVD video collection. Some of the earliest ones look like they spent, maybe, $50 for the cameraman...and nothing else! Funny as hell. Got a little too elaborate later on, but that's what selling millions of albums will do to ya.

ED

 

Iggy and the Stooges were nominated one year, then never again.

 

Where is Bob Seger along with the Silver Bullet Band?

 

How about George Harrison? Maybe it is too soon after his untimely death...

 

My prediction is that Sting will play with Copeland and Summers at the ceremony, but don't expect anything after that. His ego won't allow it. And do you really want to hear the Police playing the kind of junk Sting has been putting out for the last decade?

Same as it ever was, George and Ringo will now, and forever, be ignored when it comes to honors like this. It's as if John and Paul could have done it by themselves...


I'm delighted at the inductions of Costello AND the Attractions and The Clash (nice of 'em to include Tory Crimes/Terry Chimes, too.).

 

I do think George will get in fairly soon; Ringo's more of a longshot, though of course they're all in with the band; never could figure out the need to induct John and Paul separately, but then I still haven't figured out how Bill Haley(among others)got in, either. "Rock Around The Clock"? Sure; some of the great singles should have their own little wing. But Haley just doesn't make it for me as a Hall of Fame performer.

ED

 

Sorry Reechie but I kinda like Sting so I would give a vote of "yes" to your question. He wrote most of their songs anyway...

As far as Elvis and the Attractions go...wonder if that'll be a friendly reunion as well?

Must be the year for "negative break-up bands", huh?

 

Can't explain Black Sabbath; they've been on the ballot the past couple years; I voted for 'em; they aren't in yet. I'm not a big fan, but I recognize their importance.

Deep Purple has never been on the ballot, to the best of my knowledge. You can't get voted in if you aren't on the ballot.

Only five artists were voted in this year, and that could be a good thing. Maybe the nominating committee will see past some of its biases that keep certain artists from getting onto the ballot. (For example, the Moody Blues, the Hollies, Genesis, Peter Gabriel solo, and George Harrison solo have never even been on the ballot!)

 

Both The Stooges and Black Sabbath should be shoe ins. Hmm... let's see here, you have bands who founded entire sub-genres of rock n' roll, and they're not in the hall?

This year's line up is very strong though. I'm not the biggest AC/DC fan, but they are deservedly in.

Maybe the nominators will realize that if AC/DC is in, then Sabbath should be in the HOF as well. As for The Stooges, they never had much respect during their career, so why should now be any different.

 

The Modern Lovers, the Stooges, the New York Dolls, and the MC5...all important artists, though they all had relatively brief careers.

 

I remember hearing a story (I think Sting was telling it during a televised interview) concerning a Police reunion at a private affair (wedding?) which was attended by all 3. They played 3 songs and got into a "friendly dis-agreement" over a few flubbed notes. Not that they were at each others throats, but they were fairly convinced (and glad) that they really couldn't WORK with each other anymore - they just took themselves to SERIOUSLY.

I predict that they will perform at the ceremony, but any vision of a continuous relationship will disappear after their set. The hall has managed more difficult reunions in my opinion - Page, Plant and Jones, Cream, Mama's and Papa's, jeez, they even got the Talking Heads last year.

I really want to see if Costello will play with (Which?) Thomas on bass - I think that's the one that won't happen. The hall never did get CCR to step on the same stage.... that's REAL animosity!

 

I think the problem is we envision our favorite acts to be the best of friends, and they may have even started out that way, but they ended up as co-workers. Now, many of us may think fondly of re-uniting on a project with people we've worked together with in the past - - but imagine reassembling the entire TEAM that existed again. That guy was always complaining, that one was always late, this one tended to over look minor details, that one was overly critical and never satisfied......

Can they knock off a few songs? - - SURE. Do they relish spending six months in the studio and a year and a half on the road in each others faces? Probably not. Maybe that's why Page and Plant snubbed Jones, they just couldn't put that whole package together again, and live with it daily for three years.

 

Now I know I'm old! The Clash and Elvis Costello and the Attractions? Bands that I listened to in high school?

And one act -- AC/DC -- I specifically avoided, if only because I heard more than enough blasting out of head shops, muscle cars, and hard rock radio. I'll give 'em credit for never getting Spinal Tap/Metallica-pretentious. Never saw 'em play with the Melbourne Symphony, go unplugged or do a concept album, bless their hearts.

And pretty soon the first big rap acts will qualify, too, if they haven't already. I'm thinking of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five and the other pioneers, like Sugar Hill Gang, etc.

 

I still don't understand why The Moody Blues get overlooked every year. If you look at list of everyone who has been inducted since 1986, you will see some very suspect names on there. The Moody Blues are a great band with a quality body of work--they have certainly made an important contribution to rock. I used to think that TRARHOF was a cool thing but it seems to be getting more phony and meaningless.

 

And maybe I'm alone on this, but I can't believe the Talking Heads were inducted before all of these other great classic bands - I think they are absolute ****e! Never liked 'em - totally mediocre... Last years ceremonies were very disappointing.