Hall of lame
Our resident Kiss92 DJ/journo thinks having Hall of Fame for rock stars against true spirit of rock
COMMENTARY
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame held its induction ceremony over the weekend.
As per usual, a few acts I happen to like got in: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Green Day, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
A few acts that don't mean much to me personally got in: Lou Reed, Ringo Starr and Bill Withers.
Finally, a couple of acts I've never heard of got in: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and The "5" Royales.
A lot of big names - Miley Cyrus, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney - showed up to honour the new inductees, and the ceremony ended up dragging on for five hours.
Frankly, I don't see the point.
The whole idea of having an important-sounding institution created for such an anarchic art form - rawk! - seems weird to me.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was set up in the mid 80s by Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, Rolling Stone magazine publisher Jann S Wenner and a smattering of record executives.
They started inducting artists into their "Hall" based on their personal preferences, before they even had a hall.
The actual, physical Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum finally opened its doors in 1995 in Cleveland, Ohio.
There are exhibits and events and stuff, as well as a library and an archive.
If I were ever to find myself in Cleveland, I would definitely go there, because what else are you going to do in Cleveland?
As for making a special trip, I don't think so.
I believe in my heart that I love rawk as much as any person alive, but it's absolutely on my own terms.
I don't need or want some self-appointed experts telling me what's in the canon and what's not.
Nor should you. Nor should anyone.
MUTUALLY INCOMPATIBLE
I mean, it's insane that one even needs to point out that such an institution is antithetical to the spirit of the songs.
It's their hall, not my hall.
I have my own damn hall; it's in my iTunes.
Unlike their hall, mine includes The Cure, Kate Bush, The Sisters Of Mercy, Duran Duran, The Pixies, INXS, Billy Idol, KC and the Sunshine Band, Roxy Music, Cheap Trick, Nazareth... the list continues.
Of course, not everyone can be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, because then it wouldn't mean anything, would it?
The anointed are ushered past the velvet rope while the losers are kicked to the kerb.
Yeah, that's the true spirit of rawk all right.
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