Do petitions help get bands into the Rock Hall?

[HARD ROCK UNIVERSE]

There are legions of fans out there who are upset that their favorite band hasn't been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yet. Fans of artists such as Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Journey, and even "Weird" Al Yankovic have all started petitions and websites urging the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation to induct them. But does it actually do any good? This anecdote from a former Rock Hall board member is discouraging:

During my second year on the committee, I received a petition signed by 5000 fans of the Moody Blues requesting that the group be considered for nomination. Personally I am not much of a fan, and neither, apparently, was anyone else on the committee (at least no one who would admit it). Still, I felt they were a legitimate contender for the nomination and that it was my duty to present the petition since so many people had taken a lot of time to put it together. I plunked it down on the conference table to a great roar of laughter from the assembled bigshots.

Jon Landau, Springsteen's manager, asked me if I personally was a fan of theirs. 'Not really,' I said. 'End of discussion,' he said.

On the other hand, I saw how Atlantic Records artists were routinely placed into nomination with no discussion at all, due to the large concentration of Atlantic executives on the committee. I saw how so-called critical favorites were placed into nomination while artists that were massively popular in their time were brushed off. I saw how certain pioneering artists of the 50s and early 60s were shunned because there needed to be more name power on the list, resulting in 70s superstars getting in before the people who made it possible for them. Some of those pioneers still aren't in today — but Queen is.

I was finally kicked off the committee after writing a guest editorial for Billboard in which I criticized the Hall for its insider ways.

Almost ten years later nothing has changed.

But not all hope is lost. There's a new Rock Hall Foundation head, Joel Peresman, who recently said, "I think it would be interesting to have the fans participate [in the induction ceremony] somehow," so he may be open new ideas about the induction process.

In the meantime, if you're a huge fan of Neil Sedaka, the Cowsills, Donny Osmond, or countless other artists, it's good to know that there are other people out there who share your passion.

[Jesse]

One of those things, I think, we all knew, but it's nice to have an insider confirm it.

[HARD ROCK UNIVERSE]

Also, I was reading that ONE of the reasons a band like Deep Purple isn't in is due to the fact that they've had so many members and it confused the voting committee which ones to induct, and which ones not to. I say throw em all in, and if these soon to be Alzheimer's patients can't get a grasp on who to put in there, they should step down and let some who still have possession of their mental faculties and other bodily functions make the decisions.

[HARD ROCK UNIVERSE]

By the way, in case you were wondering about someone like Cooper or Kiss getting in there, they've never even been considered yet. Alice has been eligible since 1993 by the way, and as of this year, here's a partial list of artists who have never even been NOMINATED...yet Madonna and The Beastie Boys have either been voted in now, or will be soon...

"Stars who have never even made the ballot include Neil Diamond, Kiss, the Moody Blues, the Doobie Brothers, Hall & Oates, Journey, Steve Miller Band, Genesis, Linda Ronstadt, Rush, Yes, Heart, Peter Frampton, Jimmy Buffett and Alice Cooper. That sounds like a Classic Rock Hall of Fame right there."

[Jesse]

nightwatcher said:

Also, I was reading that ONE of the reasons a band like Deep Purple isn't in is due to the fact that they've had so many members and it confused the voting committee which ones to induct, and which ones not to. I say throw em all in, and if these soon to be Alzheimer's patients can't get a grasp on who to put in there, they should step down and let some who still have possession of their mental faculties and other bodily functions make the decisions.

Yeah, there's been a petition to get Molly Hatchet into the Hall, Dave Hlubek addressed it one time by saying pretty much the same thing: which lineup do you induct? The original? Even he conceded that if not for Bobby Ingram and Phil McCormack carrying on the name, most folks would've forgotten about the original band by now (at the time Hlubek had yet to rejoin the band). Hlubek's idea was to induct the original band plus Ingram and McCormack, but I prefer your (Nightwatcher's) idea of inducting everyone who's ever been in the band or at least everyone who's played on a record (CD) by the group. It's not THAT hard to do. How many people were included in the induction of Lynyrd Skynyrd? Quite a few if I recall correctly. It's really just a matter of how bad do they (Hall committee) want to induct said artists.

[Jesse]

nightwatcher said:

By the way, in case you were wondering about someone like Cooper or Kiss getting in there, they've never even been considered yet. Alice has been eligible since 1993 by the way, and as of this year, here's a partial list of artists who have never even been NOMINATED...yet Madonna and The Beastie Boys have either been voted in now, or will be soon...

"Stars who have never even made the ballot include Neil Diamond, Kiss, the Moody Blues, the Doobie Brothers, Hall & Oates, Journey, Steve Miller Band, Genesis, Linda Ronstadt, Rush, Yes, Heart, Peter Frampton, Jimmy Buffett and Alice Cooper. That sounds like a Classic Rock Hall of Fame right there."

Of those, even with ridiculously high standards, I see no reason why Alice Cooper, Heart, Jimmy Buffet, Kiss and, maybe Neil Diamond shouldn't be in by now. The others, if standards are high, I can see them not being in yet, but with the likes of Madonna, Beastie Boys, Grandmaster Flash, Patti Smith Group and others already being in, they certainly deserve, at least nomination.

[axisboldaslove]

Regarding who to induct when there has been member changes, it HAS to be on a case-by-case basis. EVERY situation is unique and must be evaluated as there are countless factors that need to be weighed. If the committee were unsure who to conduct, why wouldn’t they do a little research?

I disagree with the notion that they should just throw everyone in – that would result in way too many inconsequential people in the Hall of Fame. Some examples:

Motorhead – why should Brian Robertson be included? He did one album and one tour.

Rush – is it really necessary to put John Rutsey in?

Alice Cooper – first of all, the entire original band need to go in, NOT just Alice the singer. I would bet, that IF they actually did vote Alice in, it would be Alice Cooper the singer, not Alice Cooper the band. As I’ve referenced above, this is a very unique situation. But, who do you include after the original group broke up? Dick Wagner definitely should go in, but what about the countless number of others Alice has had in his band?

Kiss – does Vinnie Vincent belong? No way.

Etc…..

[HARD ROCK UNIVERSE]

axisboldaslove said:

Regarding who to induct when there has been member changes, it HAS to be on a case-by-case basis. EVERY situation is unique and must be evaluated as there are countless factors that need to be weighed. If the committee were unsure who to conduct, why wouldn’t they do a little research?

I disagree with the notion that they should just throw everyone in – that would result in way too many inconsequential people in the Hall of Fame. Some examples:

Motorhead – why should Brian Robertson be included? He did one album and one tour.

Rush – is it really necessary to put John Rutsey in?

Alice Cooper – first of all, the entire original band need to go in, NOT just Alice the singer. I would bet, that IF they actually did vote Alice in, it would be Alice Cooper the singer, not Alice Cooper the band. As I’ve referenced above, this is a very unique situation. But, who do you include after the original group broke up? Dick Wagner definitely should go in, but what about the countless number of others Alice has had in his band?

Kiss – does Vinnie Vincent belong? No way.

Etc…..

I understand what you're saying Axis. That's why they need people voting on that committee who actually KNOW music. The Mark II Purple should certainly be in there though, but do you exclude Coverdale, Hughes or even Steve Morse? I suppose they'd put in, if they ever get in, Blackmore, Gillan, Glover Lord and Paice. They'd probably stand a better chance if they got back together and toured like Sabbath has. That's why they took the east route and inducted them finally, but not Dio.

And if Alice Cooper gets in without the rest of the original BAND, and accepts, I'll lose all respect for him.