Who Really Needs to Be In the Hall
We recently received word of who is the 2015 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Agree, disagree or indifferent, every year certain people/bands don't make the cut, which mystifies everyone. We all have our favorites, but I would like to mention a few that in my mind are criminally dismissed without reason.
Here's my picks for a few people who should be there:
1. Deep Purple. The Deep Purple sound was one of the templates for future heavy metal. Black Sabbath opened to them in 1974. What does that tell you about how big they were?
2. King Crimson. They were one of the "big three" that created and popularized progressive rock. Their influence on rock music after 1969 was huge.
3. Yes. Like King Crimson, they were also one of the "big three" who created progressive rock. Yes eclipsed King Crimson in popularity, and brought true prog-rock to the masses. Their use of keyboards/synthesizers (courtesy of Rick Wakeman) changed the game in popular music in general. Chris Squire's unorthodox technique changed how bass guitar would be played.
4. Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf put the heavy organ & guitar sound on AM radio more than once. In "Born To Be Wild" they created the ultimate rock/rebellion/freedom anthem.
5. Todd Rundgren. Producer, performer, songwriter. Todd has it all. As producer of Meatloaf, New York Dolls, Hall and Oats, Sparks and many others, he should be induced as a producer alone.
6. "Weird Al" Yankovic. Al's genius is taking someone else's already good song, and upping it up a few notches by parodying the artist AND adding social commentary. Al is still around and still performing, and as VH1 once said, is outlasting many of the artists he parodied.
7. Journey. Journey was a major player in the soundtrack to the 70s. Not simply prepackaged pop, their members were serious musicians originally from very influential 60s bands (Santana, John Mayhall's Bluesbreakers and others). Insanely popular both on record, radio and in concert, they were a force to be recon with in the 70s and 80s. I have never understood the backlash against Journey.
Do you agree with my list? I have no doubt that there should be many more to the list I missed. That is one of the cool things about rock and roll - the list goes on!
Here's my picks for a few people who should be there:
1. Deep Purple. The Deep Purple sound was one of the templates for future heavy metal. Black Sabbath opened to them in 1974. What does that tell you about how big they were?
2. King Crimson. They were one of the "big three" that created and popularized progressive rock. Their influence on rock music after 1969 was huge.
3. Yes. Like King Crimson, they were also one of the "big three" who created progressive rock. Yes eclipsed King Crimson in popularity, and brought true prog-rock to the masses. Their use of keyboards/synthesizers (courtesy of Rick Wakeman) changed the game in popular music in general. Chris Squire's unorthodox technique changed how bass guitar would be played.
4. Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf put the heavy organ & guitar sound on AM radio more than once. In "Born To Be Wild" they created the ultimate rock/rebellion/freedom anthem.
5. Todd Rundgren. Producer, performer, songwriter. Todd has it all. As producer of Meatloaf, New York Dolls, Hall and Oats, Sparks and many others, he should be induced as a producer alone.
6. "Weird Al" Yankovic. Al's genius is taking someone else's already good song, and upping it up a few notches by parodying the artist AND adding social commentary. Al is still around and still performing, and as VH1 once said, is outlasting many of the artists he parodied.
7. Journey. Journey was a major player in the soundtrack to the 70s. Not simply prepackaged pop, their members were serious musicians originally from very influential 60s bands (Santana, John Mayhall's Bluesbreakers and others). Insanely popular both on record, radio and in concert, they were a force to be recon with in the 70s and 80s. I have never understood the backlash against Journey.
Do you agree with my list? I have no doubt that there should be many more to the list I missed. That is one of the cool things about rock and roll - the list goes on!
posted by Rock'n'Roll Kid at 7:32 PM
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