Why are there certain people that consider the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame a total sham?

I mean sure there have been many acts that have nothing to do with Rock music that have gotten inducted, but I still can't really understand why certain people believe that the votes are somehow rigged against their favorite Rock acts.

 

Jethro Tull is not in. You can't tell the story of rock and roll from the late sixties to the late seventies without them.
And even the Hall of Fame voters think the other voters are stupid.

 

I wouldn't call it a total or even partial sham. The founders and caretakers are people who care about rock and roll. I just don't happen to share their taste, and I think they put too much value on inclusivity when a hall of fame is by definition exclusive.

 

In my case, it’s because music isn’t a contest.

 

well said

 

It doesn't have any bearing on the music... If one is in, or not in - so what?

I'm sure people can decide for themselves what is great and what is trendy non-rock.

 

Johnny Winter isn't in. It's not just about who HASN'T been allowed in, it's also about who HAS. I follow Winter on FB so that's how I know he hasn't been inducted, because truthfully the RRHOF is a joke!

 

A lot of people have trouble telling the difference between the things they enjoy and the things that have major historic, social, and aesthetic significance.

They also have trouble accepting the idea that other people's tastes (ANY other people's) are just as valid as their own.

 

This was the first name that popped to mind, and here are some of the acts somehow worthy of inclusion before JT:

The Go-Gos (I mean, come on)
LL Cool-J ("rock" hall of fame)
Depeche Mode (whom I like, but not before JT)
Nine Inch Nails
Notorious B.I.G.
T. Rex
The Cure
The Zombies
Bon Jovi (seriously)

That's just the last 5 years, and that's WHY we don't take the Hall seriously (plus how long it took to induct Yes, ELO, Rush (!). And when does Kansas get in?

 

I never thought RRHOF was a sham.
I do however think it is a Joke.

 

Natural Born Conspiracists.

 

You're mixing up two different types of exclusion.

A hall of fame is supposed to be exclusive, yes, in the sense that it should only contain excellence.

To say that the type of "inclusion" that the RRHOF has been emphasizing in recent years runs contrary to a mission of excellence is to imply that women and people of color are less intrinsically capable (or have been less historically representative) of excellence in rock and roll.

And that's dumb and wrong.

It's not the AOR Hall of Fame. It's not the Prog Opus Hall of Fame. It's not the Boomer Bends Hall of Fame. It's the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Rock and Roll has always been Black and female.

 

**** rock and roll hall of fame

they completely ignored John Coltrane, not even a single nomination

 

They let too many subpar artists and bands in it..

I'm being serious too...

 

Coltrane ? Rock?
you are joking, right?
J.S.Bach then ?

 

Nothing's perfect, but Johnny Rivers should be in.

 

It shows the imperfect nature of labels. Rock'n'roll as a term covers so many different approaches to music. Then people can't resist arguing about who fits the pretty arbitrary label and who doesn't. On top of that, the whole idea of an exclusive club of elites isn't exactly "rock'n'roll" in it's spirit. It's nice to honor artists who've brought a lot of joy to the world. But the way this is set up, gag me with a spoon.

 

Define excellence in relation to "Rock "n" Roll"?

 

Off the top of my head, "Maybellene."

 

One of the really stupid aspects is the "fan vote to give the illusion that we take public input seriously, but it's really 100% up to us."

 

John Coltrane literally said he hated rock and roll (in 1964 I believe). It was the only type of music he ever said he disliked.

 

Hear here!

 

Why the comment re: the Go-Gos? They were trailblazers, had hit songs, and influenced generations of people.

NIN and the Cure have decades-long, highly acclaimed careers. They’ve also influenced multiple generations of artists at this point.

 

Imperfectly aligned with my personal musical tastes - Yes
Subject to the whims of those in charge and somewhat political- Yes
A sham - No

Unless The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame wishes to become the moth ball fleet of the rock & roll music of yesteryear, it must change with evolution of rock/pop. Madonna isn't really rock & roll, but neither is Metallica. The rock & roll of boomer youth hardly exists anymore and that which does exist is mostly derivative and inconsequential. Time moves on.