Of the fifteen acts listed below, five of them will comprise the Class of 2012 in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Your potential inductees are, in alphabetical order:
- The Beastie Boys
- The Cure
- Donovan
- Eric B. & Rakim
- Guns ‘N Roses
- Heart
- Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
- Freddie King
- Laura Nyro
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Rufus with Chaka Khan
- The Small Faces
- The Spinners
- Donna Summer
- War
Once again, the Rock Hall has left a ton of good artists off the list. Come on, when in the name of all that’s holy are the Moody Blues, the Guess Who, Styx, Boston, Grand Funk Railroad, Joy Division, Slade, The Specials, Depeche Mode, New Order, The Skatalites, Harry Nilsson, Yes and King Crimson going to get their due?
So let me do a little handicapping. Figure that five out of these fifteen will be in the Class of 2012. So how would I handicap this race?
THE BEASTIE BOYS – Classic rap trio that opened rap up to whole new audiences. Took the genre in previously unexplored directions.
PRO – Evolved their craft from “You Gotta Fight For Your Right to Party” to more intricate and detailed rap tracks like “Intergalactic” and “Hey Ladies” and “Check It Out.” They’ve transcended racial barriers and became one of the first truly successful white rap groups with any sort of credibility.
CON – Not too many this time, considering the only other rappers up for nomination this year are Eric B and Rakim.
CHANCES – Pretty sure this is their year.
THE CURE – One of the greatest alternative rock bands ever. Robert Smith is a musical genius.
PRO – Everything from “Friday I’m In Love” to “Let’s Go To Bed” to “The Love Cats.” And as Kyle from South Park once said, “Disintegration is the best album ever!”
CON – Unfairly lumped in as a proponent of “goth rock.” Smarter critics know this is not true.
CHANCES – Sure.
DONOVAN – A massive catalog of psychedelic pop hits. He’s part of the 1960’s British Invasion.
PRO – Most of his songs, including “Mellow Yellow,” “Sunshine Superman,” and “Catch the Wind,” are still getting monster airplay on oldies stations.
CON – He should have gotten into the Rock Hall a few years ago. Unfortunately, he keeps getting overlooked.
CHANCES – Should get in.
ERIC B. AND RAKIM – One of the greatest DJ/MC combos of the 1990’s. If you’re going to elect Run-D.M.C. and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in the Rock Hall, you gotta consider these guys.
PRO – Three albums. Paid in Full, Follow the Leader, Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em.
CON – How many songs can you name right now from these guys? I’ll wait…
CHANCES – Doubtful. They’re up against the Beastie Boys. It’s not their year.
GUNS N’ ROSES – One of the most dynamic hard rock acts of the 1990’s. Axl Rose. Slash. Do I need to say any more?
PRO – They should get in based on the “Appetite for Destruction” album alone.
CON – Hopefully the voters will have forgotten about the “Chinese Democracy” album.
CHANCES – Absolutely.
HEART – Ann and Nancy Wilson. Monster hits throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s. Pioneers in female-led rock bands.
PRO – “Magic Man.” “Barracuda.” The entire Dreamboat Annie album.
CON – They really got schlocky in the mid-1980’s. If I hear “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You” one more time…
CHANCES – Probably split the vote with Guns ‘n Roses, but not this year.
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS – Found a way to mix hard rock anthems with 70’s punk rock.
PRO – One of the greatest rock intros of the 1980’s. “I Love Rock and Roll.” Sing it along with me.
CON – Most of their catalog were covers of other people’s songs. Maybe “I Hate Myself For Loving You” was their only original hit of the bunch.
CHANCES – Maybe not this year, but Joan Jett’s got a stronger chance of getting in with the Blackhearts than she did with the Runaways.
FREDDIE KING – The Texas Cannonball. One of the “Three Kings” of American blues guitar, Albert King and B.B. King. Influenced Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jerry Garcia.
PRO – All those legendary records on the Federal catalog. Listen to “Hide Away” and tell me he doesn’t belong in the Rock Hall.
CON – The only time you hear anything about Freddie King on oldies radio today is when someone plays Grand Funk’s “We’re An American Band” and his name is mentioned in the lyrics.
CHANCES – Strong, if the voters have any brains and any conscience.
LAURA NYRO – prolific songwriter, provided hits for the 5th Dimension, Three Dog Night and Peter Paul & Mary.
PRO – Brill Building songwriters are sorely underrepresented at the Rock Hall.
CON – Known more as a songwriter than as a singer, that may dissuade some voters. It didn’t get her in the Hall last year, and I’m not sure it will work this year.
CHANCES – Not this year. Maybe next year.
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – One of the most exciting live rock acts ever. And some of the greatest rock songs of the 1980’s and 1990’s.
PRO – “Under the Bridge.” “Higher Ground.” “Californication.” The entire Bloodsugarsexmagik album.
CON – Can’t think of any.
CHANCES – Not only do I hope they get in the Rock Hall, I hope they accept their trophies while wearing the white tube socks.
RUFUS w/ CHAKA KHAN – A fantastic R&B group, led by one of the most powerful female vocalists of the 1970’s.
PRO – On the strength of their song “Tell Me Something Good,” these guys should get in.
CON – Really, that’s about it for them. Most of the other songs you might associate with Rufus – “I’m Every Woman,” “I Feel For You” – were actually Chaka Khan solo hits.
CHANCES – Maybe Chaka Khan should have gotten the nomination instead of the band.
THE SMALL FACES – Spawned several popular musicians, including Rod Stewart, Ronnie Lane and Ron Wood.
PRO – “Itchykoo Park.”
CON – Quick, name another song besides “Itchykoo Park.”
CHANCES – Rod Stewart’s already in the Rock Hall, I’m just not seeing it for the Small Faces. Not this year.
THE SPINNERS – Their career spanned from Motown to the dance clubs; one of the top R&B groups of the 1970’s.
PRO – You gotta love songs like “It’s A Shame,” or “Just Can’t Stop It (Games People Play),” or “One of A Kind Love Affair.” Heck, I’ll even throw “Rubberband Man” in the mix.
CON – Their later songs were medleys of original tracks with songs like “Cupid” and “Working My Way Back To You.”
CHANCES – Just not seeing it this year.
DONNA SUMMER – Queen of disco music. Consistent chart hits from 1976 to 1991.
PRO – Transcended the vapid disco orchestrations. Fantastic voice. Girl once held a note for 16 solid seconds on the song “Dim All The Lights.” You try doing that.
CON – Again, she’s a disco artist. This is not the DISCO Hall of Fame. And this is a woman who had a song called “Love To Love You Baby,” where she simply sang the song title 30 times in a row!
CHANCES – Please, God, NO!
WAR – 70’s Latin rock band, with a mixture of pop, R&B, salsa and dance hits.
PRO – Fantastic songs like ‘The Cisco Kid,” “Low Rider,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” and “All Day Music.”
CON – Their hitmaking years were short. Currently involved in a controversy about which bandmembers own the rights to the name “War.”
CHANCES – I would love to see it, but I know it won’t happen.
So with that in mind, my vote would include the Beastie Boys, Donovan, the Cure, Freddie King, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Maybe we can add Heart and Small Faces as outside shots. As for Donna Summer… You can’t put the Guess Who or the Moody Blues in, but Donna Summer keeps getting votes? Yikes…
Now let me ask you – who would you vote for from the fifteen names listed above, who do you think should never get a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ticket, let alone an induction – and are there artists / groups / performers that have still received short shrift?
Chuck The Writer 
As 17 year rap radio DJ, I must disagree with you that Eric B & Rakim were “One of the greatest DJ/MC combos of the 1990′s”.
They were the premier combos of the golden era of rap music for certain, but their best 2 album’s (Paid In Full & Follow the Leader) were released in 1987 and 1988. They weren’t together for most of the 1990’s.
Rakim changed the way MC’s approached lyrical content, much more prolific and inventive word play. The burst on the scene with teh groundbreaking single “Eric B Is President” in 1986.
I still remember watching them get into a Mercedes and driving off after the performed on the Def Jam Tour of 1987 at the RPI Fieldhouse.
However this is the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.
Where is Cheap Trick?
Where is Black Sabbath?
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Oates – Black Sabbath got into the Hall in 2006. Cheap Trick… still on the outside looking in.
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Styx, Cheap Trick and GFR not being on a finalists list is wrong
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If War gets in, it’s solely because of how amazing “Slippin’ into Darkness” is.
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that has got to be the lamest list ever, who picks these? they need to lay off the pipe.
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I tried for 10 minutes to name another one besides “Itchycoo Park” … couldn’t do it. Would love to see this be Donovan’s year, and would be extremely happy if it was Heart’s, too.
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The list should read:
T. Rex, the Smiths, Yes, Jethro Tull, Devo, Todd Rundgren, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Roxy Music, Willie Nelson, Warren Zevon, the Replacements, ELO, Chubby Checker, Hall and Oates, Los Lobos, Black Flag, X, the B-52s, Dick Dale, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Nick Drake, Captain Beefheart, Sonic Youth, and the Go-Go’s
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Joy Division not being on the list says all you need to know about this. It makes me not even care enough to speculate who will and won’t get on.
The Hall is nothing but a collection of whitewashing corporate gadflys who celebrate nothing but simple, terminally mediocre music while cynically throwing in the occasional session musicians and older “overlooked” acts to lend themselves a false air of credibility.
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Until Stevie Ray Vaughn is inducted, none of these candidates are worthy.
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What about Chicago, Bon Jovi, Journey… I dont agree with many on the list, many others are more qualified over Chaka Khan, Beastie Boys
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Would really like to see Styx and Cheap Trick on the list – as for this years potential inductees ….. meh.
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#2: Oops, maybe I was with sweet leaf when Sabbath got inducted.
Cheap Trick
SRV
Boston
Deep Purple
KISS
The Meters
Public Enemy (next year!)
The Jam
Thin Lizzy
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Yes, King Crimson, Deep Purple, The Jam, The Buzzcocks, Todd Rundgren, Grand Funk, ELP, Television, Cheap Trick, X, Mike Oldfield, Steve Ray Vaughan, The Soft Boys (Robin Hitchcock, Kimberley Rew), The Minutemen
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Name another Small Faces song besides “Itchicoo Park?” How much space have we got? “Tin Soldier” is the most played song in my iTunes, their cover of “If I Was a Carpenter” might not be far behind. “Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake,” “I Feel Much Better,” “Lazy Sunday,” “What ‘Cha Gonna Do About It,” “Here Come the Nice,” “Every Little Bit Hurts,” “Sha La La La Lee,” and then there’s the session work where it’s basically the Small Faces with a different singer – P.P Arnold’s “If You Think You’re Groovy,” Johnny Hallyday’s “Riviere Ouvre Ton Lit” album, Billy Nichol’s “Would You Believe” album. All of that said, they’ll never win. Too English, just like Roxy Music and T. Rex.
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I do not think the Beastie Boys should be in here as well as Donna Summer,The Spinners,and some others. They overlook alot. They should just make a huge huge giving and hand these awards out. They need to go and read some good Rock and Roll dictionary books that start with the years….They are smoking crack period! I just don’t understand how Madonna,LL Cool J and other non-Rock musicians get in. It’s like a stupid party for the rich jerks who run it all. Johnny Rotten told them like it is….That’s Johnny…Your a scumbag,but you got it right…
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The Beastie Boys – will get in
The Cure – not yet
Donovan – I want to get in, badly; on my ballot
Eric B. & Rakim – won’t
Guns ‘N Roses – mortal lock, tho, like others, there are unnominated artists who started earlier I’d like to see first
Heart – eventually, not this year
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts – maybe
Freddie King – doubt he’ll make it, tho he should
Laura Nyro – doubt she’ll EVER get in as a performer; as you implied, she OUGHT to get in as songwriter. She’d be on my ballot.
Red Hot Chili Peppers – I wish others had gotten in before them.
Rufus with Chaka Khan – Chaka should; Rufus, not so much
The Small Faces – probably will get in
The Spinners – I have an irrational affection; they’d be on my ballot, but they probably won’t get in
Donna Summer – nah
War – nah
I vote for Donovan, Jett, King, Nyro, Spinners.
Winners will be Beastie Boys, GnR, Chili Peppers, and I don’t know. Donovan? King?
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http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/listoftheday/141515/the-twenty-five-worst-album-covers-of-all-time/
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I can not take the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame seriously until they induct King Diamond and Mercyful Fate.
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Hey, where the Hell is The Smiths?
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This list is an abortion. I do not dispute that some of these bands are certainly deserving but the fact that there are so many older bands that have EARNED their right to be inducted speaks volumes about the R&R HOF farce. Its not a hall of fame at all. Look at the bands some of the other posters have listed including the OP. Where are the moody blues or the smiths, or rush, or chicago? I love the chili peppers but seriously, how do they get in before any of the bands i just mentioned? I’ve given up on considering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame anything other than a joke. Half of the people in there aren’t rock and roll!
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Just because Donna Summer has the disco tag sho,uld not keep her out.Bill Haley and the Comets was also dance music.Rock has several genres(including rap).There was no heavy metal in the early days should they be kept out?
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The WHITE BOY ROCK HALL OF FAME, It’s time to That Jann Werner and crew crew developed a BLACK MUSIC HALL OF FAME because the White Rockers don’t think Rock-n-Roll is Black American/Jump Blues/ Rockabilly/Folk/Country Western/ Rhythm and Blues and think that “ROCK” was invented in 1964 by The Beatles and the British Invasion. This year’s class of inductees are more musically diverse of the term Rock- N- Roll, here are my nominees and favs but it will be the typical 5 White Boy acts.
The 5 who I think should get in on artistic merit..
Rufus and Chaka Khan (simply one of the best bands of the 70’s regardless of genre)
Laura Nyro (singer- songwriter par excellence)
WAR – (influential on the Jam- Band, R&B, Rap & Black Alternative music scenes)
The Spinners – The Temptations of the 70’s
Freddie King – should have been in years ago, a guitar monster
Who will get in..
Guns-n- Roses (even though musically they haven’t done enough musically to merit the pick)
Red Hot Chili Peppers ( have sucked since Fruiscante came back)
The Cure ( Musically inept since the mid -90’s)
Donovan (British Invasion is always a favorite)
The Small Faces ( They just want to see Rod Stewart and Ron Wood playing again in their former bands)
Beastie Boys ( the wild card in all this critics love em)
and
Freddie King as the token dead “Black Minority” inductee
Joan Jett, Heart, Donna Summer, Eric B and Rakim, thanks for playing the fix is in for the 5 White Boy acts.
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