I've never written to you before, but I have been in the industry a long time. But, a music fan even longer.
Bad Company is one of my all time favorite bands - forever. If they aren't a slam dunk to be inducted, I am taking it to the streets in protest with a boombox playing Rock Steady.
Cynthia Parsons
___________________________________
What about Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, Dee Murray & Ray Cooper?!?
Dexter
___________________________________
BadCo at last…certainly not least!!!
RIP Sam Aizer!!! He would be so happy to see his boys finally acknowledged…Mick, Boz, Simon and the greatest white blues rocker of all time!!! Nice to see them there!!!
Mitchell Fox
___________________________________
Sykes and the boys got it right this year.
Paul Rogers is absolutely that greatest rock singer of all time!!
From Free to Bad Company to the Firm to Queen, he is the GOAT!!
And Joe Cocker is the definition of Rock and Roll!!
And do you know what Paul Rogers and Joe Cocker have in common ?
One of the greatest record men of all time, Chris Blackwell, who developed real artists and not puppets.
And maximum respect to one of the greatest front men of all time, Chris Robinson.
The Maestro Jimmy Page could have picked any artist on the planet to work with.
But he picked the WICKED Robinson Brothers.
Just listen to the Crowes version of Bob Marley's Time Will Tell from "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion"
And kudos to the haunting voice of Chris Cornell who was the purest voice of the grunge generation.
The Rock n Roll Hall is now in safe hands!!
Native Wayne Jobson
Ocho Rios
Jamaica
___________________________________
Bad Company. It's an insult all members of Mott The Hoople. Think about it. Soundgarden? One good song; the rest is dross. Where is Blue Oyster Cult?
David Ames
___________________________________
Not gonna pimp this guy cuz I know Bob knows….Bill Champlin…one of the greatest… songwriter and vocalists…
Tom Clark
___________________________________
NEW YORK DOLLS
( door slam )
Mark Flores
___________________________________
Phil Collins
Joey Sasson
___________________________________
You nailed it! I agree with including Bad Company, Cindy Lauper & Joe Cocker…and
others.
Russell Dugoni
___________________________________
Richard Thompson and Fairport Convention for that matter.
Harold Love
___________________________________
I don't know Tim Clary but I think he and I could get along just fine. One more shout out for The Replacements!
You know they wouldn't show up. It would be a disaster. They'd come out on the wrong instruments with "Hootenanny" then play "Everything's Coming Up Roses." "I hate music" and walk off stage.
Would Johnny Reznik do the honors of inducting them?
Bobbo
___________________________________
I saw Joe Cocker perform at Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University in April of 1970. It was the most fantastic concert. I read his managers fleeced him and he earned little from that 1970 tour. Cry Me a River, Something, Feelin Alright, Darling Be Home Soon, Space Captain, Just Like a Woman, With a Little Help From My Friends-such fantastic music.
Thank you and stay well,
Mark D. Luther
___________________________________
Love Bad Co. AND Free before!
Jim Guy
___________________________________
Free , Traffic , Little Feat , Procol Harum. Come on already. Pariah Carey?
Alan Childs
___________________________________
No "Grand Funk".....sad.
Marshall Block
___________________________________
As always you are bang on with your insight.
Where is Sting? He’s up there with Phil Collins!
White Stripes nominated….really before Phil and Sting???? That’s messed up.
Best regards,
Juri Raiska
___________________________________
The Smiths! Talk about influential.
Jeez.....
Larry Eisenberg
___________________________________
Here's my list:
The New York Dolls
Thank you,
Marvin Etzioni
___________________________________
Great Takes Bob.
Here are mine:
My Friend John Sykes is truly doing a Great Job that I am sure is as Gratifying as it is Thankless. Keep it Goin’ John!
Omissions:
LITTLE FEAT
THREE DOG NIGHT
STEPPENWOLF
I am GUARANTEEING that all 3 of those bands will get in sooner than later -
especially LITTLE FEAT - easily the most omitted band per Your mailbag.
Runner-Up: Iron Maiden
FINALLY - MUSIC is ROCK N ROLL
I have NO PROBLEM with Rap, Pop Divas and even Country Artists allowed entry per Career Impact and Greatness.
Last years induction was really good.
This years will be even better!
Bravo! - Fantastico!
Long Live Rock N Roll!
Terry Anzaldo
TA Entertainment
___________________________________
Apparently a lot of people care about the RRHOF. I don't.
Joseph Barbarotta
___________________________________
Wiser Time and Good Friday by the Crowes always floor me.
Patrick V. Cook
___________________________________
I agree with Paul Flattery. Any hall that includes Cyndi Lauper but not Phil Collins should be burned to the f*cking ground. And I am not even a Phil Collins fan. Don’t own a single one of his albums. Furthermore, the snubs of Jan and Dean, Tommy James, and WARREN effing ZEVON destroy any semblance of credibility the Hall ever had.
Joel Saunders
___________________________________
Lennon,
Jagger,
Cobain,
Fishman.
Rock Gods!
Noah K. Lesser
___________________________________
Thanks Bob, great piece, and yes, Joe Cocker and Chubby Checker should be in. Open that door Hall of Fame for the two of them. They are more than deserving and long overdue.
Jerry Redmond.
___________________________________
Much ado about nothing! The only thing that matters is the hall of fame in your own head, informed solely by your own personal responses to the music you hear. The rest, especially an elaborate marketing trick judged by people you've never met, is bullsh*t. Getting exercised by who's in and who's not is a total waste of time and energy.
Cheers,
Mike
___________________________________
Good to see White Stripes nominated. Jack is such a good ambassador for music and central to the vinyl records revival. Which benifits everybody on the list. Happy for Joe Cocker, too. Saw him with SRV. Bob, thanks for keeping such great discussions going. You bring behind the scenes legends out of the shadows who tell great stories.
John Kauchick
___________________________________
I can't believe you are wasting pixels writing about such a bullsh*t organization. You know there are
years no one is admitted in the Baseball Hall of Fame, because they have standards. It is not a
marketing organization for itself and lame event.
Yours most sincerely,
David Leonard
___________________________________
THE ASSOCIATION got more people laid than joe cock er.
Walter Sabo
___________________________________
OutKast had 5 great albums and 3 of them were massively successful not just 1. Arguably the greatest hip hop group of all time and certainly the most consistent. Way ahead of their time musically with the production by organized noise and put southern hip hop on the map. Certainly deserving
Also, oasis made a huge impact if you were growing up in the 90s. Not what it is over there true but still a big deal as evidenced by there sell out stadium shows here this summer
Best,
Jarred Arfa
___________________________________
You are 100% right. I saw the first tours by Bad Company, The Black Crowes, Billy Idol and Cyndi Lauper, but gotta say, Cyndi’s live vocal performance on Money Changes Everything is maybe the most affecting thing I’ve ever seen/heard.The power of it made me tear up.
Mike Campbell
Programming Director
thecarleton.ca
___________________________________
OUTKAST
"they were innovative and successful, albeit not for that long."
Pretty undermining take on a duo with the rare 4 back-to-back-to-back-to- back classic releases, with each one elevating the artform with one-of-a-kind hit singles.
Capped off year TEN with one of the biggest songs of 21 Century with "hey ya".. and took home a little Grammy for Album of Year in 04. One of only two hiphop albums to get this honor.
In terms of influence, Andre 3000 is considered by many as the greatest lyricists of his generation. In essence, we don't get to Kendrick without Outkast.
In closing, they're legends of the highest order. Put some respeck on their name.
Riggs Morales
___________________________________
Reading CJ Vanston’s reply to your piece is an excellent example of the irrelevancy, and at-times mean-spiritedness, of the RRHOF’s selection process. Do we really need some self-appointed arbiters to keep Joe Cocker crackling through speakers/headphones for the next decades? I think he has done that already (with a little help from his friends).
A space to celebrate rock&roll, its antecedents and the next waves, is a wonderful pursuit. As time passes, however, the more I think Alex Lifeson’s acceptance speech expresses the true value of the RRHOF process. Those who can’t talk; those who can rock!
Vikas Sharma
Ottawa, Canada
___________________________________
There’s so much love for Bad Company and never a mention of Mott
I find that strange,and, unfortunate
JB
Bronx NYC
___________________________________
I think the Hall is overdue for a year of "reckoning" where they can expand the number of inductees to clean up some of these longstanding omissions.
Vinny Malvarosa
___________________________________
Good list, but why is the greatest guitarist of the 20th century is not nominated-Derek Trucks-First album 1997
James Johnson
___________________________________
"Why are we still waiting on Little Feat?" -
Good question, I still miss Lowell and he’s been dead for 46 years. Hell, Inara’s 50.
Liz’s property at the peak of Topanga with views down both sides, one to the valley, the other to the Ocean is a special place. Liz buried Lowell’s ashes in the winding garden. So we can eat “Lowell Vegetables.”
"Why are we still waiting on Los Lobos?"
Not worthy
"Why are we still waiting on The Meters?"
Another good question. The first time I saw The Meters and The Neville Brothers at Tipitinas I was in heaven.
Rob - vrpmusic
___________________________________
If the R&R HOF was similar to sports HOF only one of these bands would be nominated...Bad Company. But that's not the case...I love these acts to...however, it seems that anyone that has more than one hit is eligible...well even one hit wonders are now eligible, I understand they now allow single songs a place in the R&R HOF.
Reminds me of the quote from Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles.
- All right! We'll give some land to the *blacks* and the * chinese*... but we don't want the Irish!
- No deal.
- Ah, prairie sh*t! Everybody!
Ed Kelly
P.S. Your readers got it right...I didn't know some of these acts were not in...given they let everyone in...
Bule Oyster Cult
The Guess Who
Smashing Pumpkins
Supertramp
ELP
Jethro Tull
Phil Collins (solo)
I suspect their day will come...
___________________________________
Rock n Roll Hootchie coo! The one common thread through all the comments about the RRHF is people really give a damn. Music is the driving force in the universe! If only we had such passion about our country we wouldn't be in the mess we are today..... Oh, and
f@ck Jan Wenner.
Rick Klufas
___________________________________
and still no mention of Doug Sahm.......
Frank Brandon
___________________________________
Although the RNRHOF finally has a list worth looking at they lost their relevance years ago. Far too many omissions over the years and they did little to rectify anything this year. Stopped paying dues years ago.
R W Tussey
___________________________________
I’m joining in on the Warren Zevon omission being a crime. Incredible body of work, influential, with iconic songs that many out there don't even know he wrote. A true original artist. Excitable Boy is among the best albums the late 70’s had to offer.
Richard B. Levy
___________________________________
Johnny Rivers
Walter Stewart
___________________________________
I totally agree about Joe. I have the Mad Dogs set with all live concert nights and I listen to it all the time noting the nuances among the shows. The original Mad Dogs.. album probably my favorite of all time starting in high school. Almost makes me cry when i listen to it. Also agree about Oasis. Still quoting “please don’t put your life in the hands of a rock and roll band” to my 30-something daughters. Also agree about the Super Bowl. I would have liked to see the Turnpike Troubadours alongside Chris Stapleton. As a Chiefs fan that might have redeemed the night. Otherwise it was so depressing I had nightmares.
Best,
Barbara B. Chapman
___________________________________
Yeah, Eyes Without a Face is the best Billy Idol song. . . . at the change or course. And I love every White Stripes song, and fortunately saw them live twice.
Chris Flesher
___________________________________
Ridiculous the little ol band from east LA -Los Lobos- isn’t in
-Bill Tibbs Canada
___________________________________
a merely perfunctory scan of this piece compels me to wonder if it was written in exchange for an all-access press pass to the main event!?!?
DOUG COLLETTE
___________________________________
Mr. Lefsetz:
While we’re on the subject - for your amusement - something I posted to social media a couple of days before the ’25 nominees were announced:
I was looking over the list of Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees the other night - so many great names, so many conspicuous omissions.
I came up with my own list of nominees that in a perfect rock ’n’ roll world would make it into The Hall.
I planned to limit it to 50 but you can see how well that worked out. I could make a compelling argument for each of these choices:
1. Albhy Galuten
2. Mike Nesmith
3. Dick Dale
4. Jackie DeShannon (Songwriter)
5. Mick Ronson (Musical Excellence)
6. Free/Bad Company
7. Little Feat
8. Buck Owens & His Buckaroos
9. Connie Francis
10. Teo Macero (Producer, Influence)
11. Johnny Burnette & The Rock ’N’ Roll Trio
12. Squeeze
13. Fairport Convention
14. Tom Wilson (Producer)
15. The Clovers
16. Spirit
17. Doug Sahm/Sir Douglas Quintet/Texas Tornados
18. Carpenters
19. Iron Maiden
20. De La Soul
21. George Goldner (Ahmet Ertegun Award)
22. .38 Special
23. Captain Beefheart
24. Outkast
25. Mott The Hoople/Ian Hunter
26. Jim Peterik (Songwriter)
27. Wolfman Jack (Ahmet Ertegun Award)
28. Bryan Adams (Artist, Songwriter)
29. J.J. Cale
30. Bjork
31. Big Star
32. Marianne Faithfull
33. Thin Lizzy
34. The Stranglers
35. Ted Templeman (Producer)
36. Roberta Flack
37. Tommy James & The Shondells
38. Nick Lowe
39. Darian Sahanaja (Musical Excellence)
40. Joe Osborn (Musical Excellence)
41. Joan Armatrading
42. Paul Revere & The Raiders
43. Carole Kaye (Musical Excellence)
44. Grace Jones
45. Three Dog Night
46. Bill Szymczyk (Producer)
47. Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks
48. Waylon Jennings
49. Cozy Powell (Musical Excellence)
50. Esther Phillips
51. Culture Club
52. Eddie Kramer (Engineer, Producer)
53. Cyndi Lauper
54. Siouxsie & The Banshees
55. Larry Norman
56. Los Lobos
57. Patti LaBelle/The Bluebelles/Labelle
58. Arthur Lee/Love
59. Kenny Loggins
60. Joy Division/New Order
61. Joe Jackson
62. Norman Petty (Producer)
63. Leslie Gore
64. David Foster (Producer, Songwriter)
65. Anthrax
66. Joan Osborne
67. Morris Levy (Ahmet Ertegun Award)
68. Mose Allison (Influence)
69. Paul Kelly
70. Miriam Makeba
71. Wu-Tang Clan
72. Curt Boettcher (Producer)
73. Judee Sill
74. J.M. Van Eaton (Musical Excellence)
75. Rick Rubin (Producer)
76. Jesse Ed Davis (Musical Excellence)
77. Ry Cooder (Musical Excellence, Musicologist)
78. Fanny
79. John Coltrane (Influence)
80. Crowded House
81. Fela Kuti
82. Tom Jones
83. David Lindley (Musical Excellence)
84. Opeth
85. Shemekia Copeland
86. Toto/Steve Lukather, Jeff Porcaro and David Paich (Performers, Musical Excellence - take your pick)
87. Foghat
88. Rory Gallagher
89. Herb Abramson (Ahmet Ertegun Award)
90. The J. Geils Band
91. Gordon Lightfoot
92. The Robert Cray Band
93. Hugh Masekela
94. Ravi Shankar (Influence)
95. Johnny Pacheco & Jerry Masucci (Ahmet Ertegun Award)
96. Paul Weller/The Jam
97. The Flatlanders
98. Kim Wilson (Musical Excellence)
99. David Van De Pitte (Arranger)
100. Johnny Maestro/The Crests/The Brooklyn Bridge
101. Rick James
102. King Crimson
103. Danny Korchmar (Producer, Songwriter)
104. Flo & Eddie/The Turtles (Performers or Musical Excellence - take your pick)
105. Jimmy Webb (Songwriter)
106. Warren Zevon
107. The Scorpions
108. Patsy Cline
109. Lucinda Williams
110. Beck
111. Slayer
112. The Pixies
113. The Dead Kennedys
114. Phil Collins (Performer, Producer, Songwriter)
115. Harry Nilsson
116. Tears For Fears
117. Procol Harum
118. Tim Buckley
119. The Monkees
120. Stan Ridgeway
121. Blue Oyster Cult
122. Rodney Crowell
123. Olivia Newton-John
124. Emerson, Lake & Palmer
125. The Smithereens
126. Margo Price
127. X
128. John Hiatt (Songwriter)
129. Poco
130. Louis Prima (Influence)
131. Barry White
132. INXS
133. Dwight Yoakam
134. Daft Punk
135. Tom Werman (Producer)
136. NRBQ
137. Little Steven (Musicologist)
138. The White Stripes
139. Peter Guralnick (Music Historian)
140. Carmine Appice (Musical Excellence)
141. Pantera
142. The Meters
143. King’s X
144. Faith No More
145. Elliott Smith
146. The Replacements
147. Fiona Apple
148. Nick Cave
149. The Smiths
150. Eric B & Rakim
151. Scott Walker
152. Husker Du/Bob Mould
153. Television
154. Sade
155. Taj Mahal
156. Canned Heat
157. The Neville Brothers
158. Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
159. Neil Sedaka & Howard Greenfield (Songwriters)
160. Jr. Walker & The All-Stars
161. The Pointer Sisters
162. Pet Shop Boys
163. The Memphis Horns (Musical Excellence)
164. Weird Al Yankovic
165. Sam “The Man” Taylor (Musical Excellence)
166. Donnie Hathaway
167. Ashford & Simpson (Songwriters)
168. John Cale
169. James Guercio (Producer)
170. Micky Most (Producer)
171. The Searchers
172. 10cc
173. Burt Bacharach and Hal David (Songwriters)
174. Lee Hazlewood (Producer)
175. Bob Ezrin (Producer)
176. Elton John’s Band: Nigel Olsson, Davey Johnstone, Ray Cooper, Dee Murray
177. Hank Garland (Musical Excellence)
178. Johnny “Guitar” Watson
179. Air
180. Bert Jansch
181. Miriam Abramson (Ahmet Ertegun Award)
182. Alice In Chains
183. Herbie Flowers (Musical Excellence)
184. War
185. Tommy Bolin (Musical Excellence)
186. Status Quo
187. Mickey Baker (Musical Excellence)
188. Joe Lala (Musical Excellence)
189. Patrick Cowley
190. Rick Derringer (Musical Excellence)
191. Charles Connor (Musical Excellence)
192. Richard Thompson
193. Jeffrey Foskett (Musical Excellence)
194. Waddy Wachtel (Musical Excellence)
195. The Section: Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel, Craig Doerge, Danny Korchmar (Musical Excellence)
196. Jim Keltner (Musical Excellence)
197. Bootsy Collins (Musical Excellence)
198. Buddy Miles (Musical Excellence)
199. Scott Thurston (Musical Excellence)
200. J.D. Souther (Songwriter)
201. Paul Williams (Songwriter)
202. Kenny Aranoff (Musical Excellence)
203. Art Laboe (Ahmet Ertegun Award)
204. Philip and Raymond Kives (Ahmet Ertegun Award)
205. Jim Ladd (Ahmet Ertegun Award)
206. Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman (Musical Excellence)
We All Live In A Yellow Snubmarine: While we’re at it, let’s go back and right some Rock ’N’ Roll wrongs: Bob Welch, Nick Simper, Ronnie James Dio, Anthony Phillips, Billy Cox, Dave Navarro, Peter Banks, Doug Yule, Eric Carr, Steve Morse, Warren Haynes, Patrick Moraz and all the other founding or key members of inducted bands who somehow got the shaft and didn’t make it in the first time around.
Vince Welsh
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