Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees 2014

We got the nominees list for 2014's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a week or two ago. Let's take a look at who made the grade!

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: A seminal blues band, Butterfield was a hugely influential blues harp player that also dabbled in jazz and psychedelic rock. Good pick, but likely won't be inducted this year.

Chic: This is the second year that Chic has been nominated. Chic, with Nile Rodgers at the helm, were one of the best disco bands. While disco hasn't aged well, Rodgers has kept himself busy in electronic music, having shown up on Daft Punk's Random Access Memories this past year.

Deep Purple: Strange they're not in the Hall already. Stoner rock before it was stoner rock, heavy blues influence on their music. Maybe it's because they're kind of associated with just one song, "Smoke on the Water"?

Peter Gabriel: An early member of Genesis, Gabriel left the band early and went his own weird way. Has worked in prog, psychedelic, new wave, roots and jazz. Amazingly eclectic artist that deserves to be in the Hall.

Hall and Oates: This is my sentimental favourite this year. I apologetically love Hall and Oates blue-eyed soul and vocal harmonies. They'll get in, but probably not this year,

KISS: The first slam dunk of the list, KISS brought theatricality to a new level with their stage shows and their glam-tinged hard rock. Also set the standard for marketing a band's image to death (KISS coffins anyone?). Gene Simmons will be a brilliantly, unsufferable douchebag during the induction too.

LL Cool J: A lot of hip-hop has been inducted in the past few years, LL Cool J looks to be the odds-on favourite for this year. He's one of the biggest names in rap to come out of the New York scene, and also has the crossover R&B appeal too. He'll likely get in.

The Meters: New Orleans based funk and blues masters made several classic albums in the 60s. They've been up for induction before, but I doubt it's their year.

Nirvana: The other shoo-in this year, and in their first year of eligibility. Nirvana set the entire world of music on its ear in 1991 and their short but inspiring career launched the Seattle scene, changed rock radio forever and arguably made indy rock socially acceptable.

NWA: The other hip-hop group in nomination this year, and one of the most influential bands from the Los Angeles gangsta rap style. Very confrontational for the time, but Dre and Ice Cube has both lightened up a lot (Ice Cube does family movies now, hard to believe the guy who rapped "Fuck Tha Police" had that in him). Likely will be skipped over for LL this year.

The Replacements: This is the most interesting pick this year. The Mats were musical chameleons and a stalwart of the 80s scene in Minnesota. Oddly iconoclastic, they were equally at home in punk and in indy rock. They were also famous for their drunken and drug-addled concerts.

Linda Ronstadt: Another sentimental favourite. Ronstadt's work might be dismissed as schmaltzy and poppy. Anyone doubting her range should listen to her version of Warren Zevon's "Carmelita". Due to health problems, this singer now can't sing anymore. She'll likely get it.

Cat Stevens: Strange he's not in either. Cat Stevens is a legend in folk rock circles and in the 60s rock and roll/folk style. "Peace Train" alone should be his ticket in. Maybe he's been delayed to the Yusuf Islam thing back in the 90s?

Link Wray: Consummate surf-rock and instrumental electric guitarist. Likely not his year though.

Yes: Massively influential prog rockers, with a hit career spanning into the mid 80s. Maybe, but not likely this year.

The Zombies: Huge pop-psychedelic band with a massive back catalogue. I like this band for this year's ceremony.

My picks for inductions: KISS, Nirvana, LL Cool J, The Zombies, Cat Stevens, Linda Ronstadt.

2013 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

Today, we got the inductees list for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here's what a predicted, previously:

My picks for the Hall this year are: Donna Summer (she's been nominated the past few years, her death earlier this year should make her a shoo-in), The Marvelettes (there's almost always a 50s and 60s act inducted, this is the best act here), Albert King (trail-blazing bluesman), Rush and Chic. Kraftwerk, PE and NWA will all get in, but probably not this year.

Our inductees are: Rush, Public Enemy, Donna Summer, Albert King, Randy Newman and Heart.

So I got 3 out of the 6. Not bad.

Donna Summer, I think, was the only shoo-in. Her death earlier this year and her previous nominations made it a no-brainer. I suspected Rush would get in, but I also could see an anti-prog rock backlash there. I'm a bit surprised that Public Enemy got in, but there has been a run in present years on hip-hop, with the Beastie Boys getting in last year, and Run DMC and Grandmaster Flash going before them. The rest are all solid picks.

Kraftwerk next year!

The 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

Just announced today, the nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2013:

Albert King, Chic, Deep Purple, Donna Summer, Heart, Joan Jett and Blackhearts, Kraftwerk, The Marvelettes, The Meters, NWA, Paul Butterfield, Procol Harum, Public Enemy, Randy Newman, Rush.

The last few years of nominees have been an interesting batch, with punk bands, disco acts and hip-hop finally coming of age to be considered for the Hall. And, there's still many classic pop and rock bands from the 50s and 60s that deserve to be inducted.

The one nominee on everyone's lips is Rush, finally nominated after being eligible for the last 12 years. As one of prog rock's giants and one of the most successful bands from Canada ever, their exclusion has been noted by many music critics.

For me, the most interesting nominees are Kraftwerk and the dual punch of NWA and Public Enemy. Kraftwerk are easily one of the most influential bands ever to exist. Without Kraftwerk, there would be no electronic music and no experimentation into adding electronic instruments into popular music. Kraftwerk's experiments with pop-melodies from a pure electronic standpoint, and their concept of being able to pack up their studio and take it with them on tour, pioneered the way for many electronic bands today.

If there was every a band that would stand up the Hall, it would likely be Public Enemy. Chuck D remains an iconoclast, fearlessly calling out any hypocrite he sees and expousing an aggressive style of politically conscious hip-hop. NWA, on the other hand, were pure anger and hedonism. Their style of hip-hop was aggressive, but in a more violent and anti-social way, paving the way for gangsta rap and most modern rap styles.

My picks for the Hall this year are: Donna Summer (she's been nominated the past few years, her death earlier this year should make her a shoo-in), The Marvelettes (there's almost always a 50s and 60s act inducted, this is the best act here), Albert King (trail-blazing bluesman), Rush and Chic. Kraftwerk, PE and NWA will all get in, but probably not this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzXUmbU58ME

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees 2012

Yes, it's that time again. Last week, the nominees for this years Hall of Fame class were announced. Let's look at em shall we? (And celebrate that I started this blog with a similar post just last year!)

Guns 'n Roses: Probably a shoo in for this year's class. Guns 'n Roses defined the gritty edge of loud guitar rock in the late 80s, with "Appetite for Destruction" being one of the biggest selling albums of all time. The band's fortune's lately have been pretty sad lately, but their early work is career and genre defining. The drama behind the band should make an interesting induction speech too.

The Beastie Boys: They were nominated last year and missed out, but this year should be their year to get in. The Beastie Boys had a unique style that combined rock and hip-hop, then moved away from that formula and created some of the most innovative hip hop albums through the 90s. Someone from the rap field is going in this year, it should be the Beasties.

The Cure: A fascinating choice for the Hall. The Cure were part of the second big British Invasion during the 80s and had a unique style to their music, combining synth pop, new romanticism and, yes, goth into their sound. The Cure deserve to be in the Hall, but I think will be passed over this year.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: Interestingly, Joan Jett's first band, The Runaways, aren't in the Hall. Joan Jett's work with her second band, The Blackhearts, was gritty, biker bar style rock and roll. They were undoubtedly influential, but The Runaways deserve to be in the Hall before the Blackhearts. Without the Runaways, there would be no Blackhearts.

Heart: Seattle mainstream rock mainstays Heart are still recording today and have been a very successful band, stringing together hits since the late 70s into the early 90s. Nancy Wilson's skill as a guitarist is notable as well. I think they'll get in this year.

Donna Summer: Re-nominated this year, Donna Summer was a huge star in the late 70s as a disco singer, then had a few hits in the 80s as a pop singer. Her work is genre defining for disco. She's a dark horse in my books, but may get in this year.

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Starting as a goofy punk/funk band, RHCP have come to represent mainstream radio rock in their later years. While their earlier work was sometimes laughably bad, the band hit their stride in the late 80s and never looked back. I think it's a bit too soon to put them into the Hall, maybe next year.

Rufus and Chaka Khan: Most of you might think of Chaka Khan for the mid 80s hit "I Feel for You", but Rufus and Chaka Khan were a huge band in the soul/disco scene of the 70s. I figure some disco band will go in this year. I think Donna Summer has a better shot.

The Spinners: There's always a classic band that's been overlooked that gets into the Hall and there's usually three or four candidates. You can't go wrong with inducting The Spinners.

Laura Nyro: She was nominated last year and is still an intriguing pick for the Hall. Nyro's work isn't well known, but her influence to other musicians is huge, especially in folk, singer/songwriter and jazz. I'd love to see her in the Hall, but it likely won't happen for a while.

Eric B. and Rakim: If the Beasties don't get in, then Eric B and Rakim will. Rakim was one of the smoothest lyricists in rap and widely held up as a true poet. Eric B, his DJ, was a groundbreaking DJ, using samples from all over the world to use as backdrops for Rakim's rhymes. Check this out:

http://youtu.be/E7t8eoA_1jQ



Freddie King: The late Freddie King was one of the best blues guitarists of all time, mentioned in the same breath as B.B. King and Albert King. He's also known for his soulful vocals. Probably get bumped aside for the Spinners, but he'll get in someday.

Donovan Leitch: Donovan defined the folk and hippie music scene of the 60s. His clear tones while singing were breathtaking. He had a string of hits through the 60s and 70s, then disappeared as the folk style's popularity wound done. This won't be his year, but he'll get into the Hall eventually.

The Faces: Formed out of the ashes of seminal UK band The Small Faces, The Faces kickstarted the careers of vocalist Rod Steward and guitarist Ronnie Wood, both formerly of Jeff Beck's band. The band will probably be best known as a footnote in musical history rather than a Hall of Fame entrant.

War: California's War made some great funk and soul based rock through the 70s, and are best known for the tracks "Why Can't We Be Friends" and "Low Rider". They deserve to be in the Hall, might be an outside chance of that happening this year.

Predictions to get into the Hall: Guns 'n Roses, The Beastie Boys, The Spinners, Donna Summer, Heart.

Your Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2010 Inductees

And the winners are...

Tom Waits
Neil Diamond
Alice Cooper
Darlene Love
Dr. John
Leon Russell (musical excellence)

Here's Tom Waits saying emphatically, "Rod Steward who?":

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2010 Nominees out.

The first round of nominees have been announced, and they'll be pared down in December to the inductees, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in March 2011. Let's take a look at the nominees:

Bon Jovi: Seminal arena rockers from New Jersey with a slew of Top 40 hits. Their influence on rock and roll is pretty evident when looking at modern rock radio and the parade of hair-metallers that came after them. I can see inducting them eventually, but this isn't their year. Give them a couple of years.

Beastie Boys: The trio from New York broke hip-hop into white culture and into the mainstream. They merged rock and rap long before many other bands started to do it (though previous Hall inductees Run DMC did it before they did). Their subject matter was often controversial and thought-proviking, and their use of sampling was groundbreaking. They'll get in this year, they definitely deserve it.

Neil Diamond: One of the kings of AM radio in the 70s and pop crooner/writer without peer, Diamond dominated pop music for more than a decade. His work is still covered by lounge singers, rock bands and jazz acts alike. Not exactly a rock icon, but his work in songwriting and pop music is worthy of recognition. He gets in this year.

Alice Cooper: Interesting Alice Cooper gets nominated and Kiss is nowhere to be found, though, in my opinion, Alice makes much better music. Merging metal with on stage theatrics, Alice Cooper and his band of the same name shocked audiences through the 70s and scared parents into taking his albums away from their kids. Cooper understood that rock music is a spectacle and should be treated as such. Still making music too, though nothing like his early work. He's in for sure this year.

Donovan: Hippy folk singer from the 70s. His work was synonymous with the psychedelic movement and he wound spacy rhythms with traditional folk. Best known for the sublime tunes "Sunshine Superman", "Mellow Yellow" and "Hurdy Gurdy Man". Donovan's work is still influencing today's indy rockers and folk balladeers. He deserves to be inducted this year.

Tom Waits: This guy's a shoe-in. Not only is he an amazing songwriter and organizer, he's also one of the most original musicians every to exist. Taking a bourbon-damaged voice and combining it with a junkyard style approach to making music, Waits is almost uncategorizable. Part Frank Sinatra, part Jack Kerouac, part Residents. Induct him this year for sure.

LL Cool J: This is an interesting nomination. I've heard some rumblings that LL Cool J shouldn't be nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because he's firmly entrenched in rap and didn't influence rock at all. Well, Run DMC and Grandmaster Flash are already in the Hall and their influence on rock is undeniable. Listen to "Rock the Bells" and tell me LL isn't straddling rock and rap. The lines between rock and urban music are more blurred than ever today. LL deserves to be in the Hall, but he'll probably get skipped over this year.

Chic: Fronted by producer/musician Nile Rodgers, Chic were a pioneering band in disco, merging dance and funk into a highly enjoyable product. Chic transcended disco. While the focus on the groove was at the forefront, Chic refused to be a cookie-cutter dance band. Check out their single "Le Freak" if you want to hear some bone-rattling disco-funk. Chic have been nominated before, but I think they'll be passed over again this year.

Dr. John: This is the only other shoo-in I see on the list. Dr. John's name is synonymous with the sound of New Orleans. His work runs the gamut from rock to folk to blues to cajun to jazz. He's a master of his form and his influence on New Orleans and cajun music is undeniable. Everyone from Harry Connick to Buckwheat Zydeco owe something to Dr. John. He should be at the top of the list for this years inductees.

J. Geils Band: This one may raise some eyebrows. I think most people write off J. Giels Band as a corny one or two hit wonder from the early 80s. The band started as a blues rock band in the 70s (J. Giels is the guitarist, not the lead singer) and made some very enjoyable albums in the 70s rock/Fleetwood Mac style. In the 80s, with Peter Wolf at the helm, they were well known for "Freeze Frame", "Love Stinks" and "Centerfold". Good band, but I don't think they belong in the Hall of Fame yet.

Darlene Love: Her name might not ring a bell as a solo artist, but Love was the front-line vocalist for The Blossoms, a seminal Motown style band, recorded for Phil Spector and sang lead vocals for Bob B. Soxx for the single "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" and The Crystals for the legendary single "He's a Rebel". I'd love to see her inducted but I don't think this will be her year.

Laura Nyro: I love this nominee as a dark horse. I could see Laura Nyro squeaking in under the wire. Nyro is a wonderful singer/songwriter that ranges from folk to pop to jazz to classical. Elton John called her one of his influences, as has Elvis Costello. She started recording in the late 60s with folk influenced albums similar to Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell's work. Her music has been covered by the Fifth Dimension and Blood, Sweat and Tears among others. She's got an outside shot of getting in this year.

Donna Summer: You can't mention disco without thinking of Donna Summer's work. She had a long string of hits in the late 70s and survived the anti-disco backlash and continued to score hits well into the 80s. She made a nice transition into an AM radio mainstay, acting like a more sophisticated version of Whitney Houston at the time. Her influence on modern soul music is obvious. She deserves to be in the Hall.

Joe Tex: Joe Tex has been nominated before. He's a rough-voiced southern soul singer who is sometimes cited as an early influence to hip-hop. He's worth mentioning just for his smash single "Hold What You've Got". Doubtful he'll make it in this year.

Chuck Willis: A notable pioneer of rock music, Willis was a blues player who's work inspired artists like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Otis Redding. He's best known for his version of "C.C. Rider". The Hall usually inducts one important pioneer each year, if it's not Love, it'll be Chuck Willis.

My predictions for induction, in order: Dr. John, Tom Waits, Beastie Boys, Neil Diamond, Donna Summer, Alice Cooper, Donovan, Chuck Willis