Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

I've never paid much attention to the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame. In a way, the very concept seems
just too removed from the music, which is more
about the common experience of youth.

Still, I've heard several radio DJays complain about
how the people inducted did not reflect the
market. That the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
reflected the tastes of elitist rock reviewers, not
the audience.

So, I decided to do a little research. Since
the next induction takes place Monday, March
13, 2006 -- this a timely blog entry.

The 2006 inductees will be:

Black Sabbath
Blondie
Miles Davis
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sex Pistols
Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss

Black Sabbath and Lynryd Skynyrd
are popular rock artists.

Blondie is not so well known. They (the
group, not just Deborah Harry) came out during
the 1970s and were considered part of the
punk music, although their music is really
more eclectic and somewhat 80s pop. I
hear a few of their songs on the radio occassionally.

Sex Pistols were geniune punks -- I don't recall
that they were ever big hits, but they got a lot of
pulicity and their one album was big in an
underground way.

So I think both Blondie and Sex Pistols do reflect
influence of elitist rock reviewers rather than
record sales -- but can't really argue with these
choices.

I'd hate anyone to think I'm putting down someone
else born in Alton, IL -- but I can't see why Miles
Davis is going into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

JAZZ Hall of Fame -- by all means. Miles was a
great trumpet player who was hugely influential
and who left behind a large and terrific body of
work.

I would assume he's already in the Jazz Hall of
Fame, assuming they have one! He absolutely
deserves that. I don't think any jazz fan would
disagree with that.

But rock and roll? I don't see it.

If you want to look at the entire list, it's here:

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

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