The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Still What a Shame

HBO is running this years Rock n Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and I must say Heart has not lost a thing with the passage of the years, Ann’s voice and Nancy’s guitar work are as good as ever. But as I watch the induction, I’m reminded once again of who should be there and is not. That would be Bon Jovi.

FROM 1986—1995, Bon Jovi had 13 U.S. Top 40 hits, including four number-one songs on the Billboard Hot 100: "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Livin' on a Prayer", "Bad Medicine", and "I'll Be There for You".

Thus far, Bon Jovi has released 12 studio albums, plus three compilations and two live albums. They are one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time, having sold more than 100 million records, and performed more than 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 35 million fans.Bon Jovi was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006.^[6] The band was also honored with the Award of Merit at the American Music Awards in 2004,^[7] and as songwriters and collaborators, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora have also been inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009.^[8][9]

As far as performance, record sales, and public popularity goes, you cannot deny that band their rightful place with the bands who sit atop the rock n roll industry, not to mention, Kiss, Deep Purple and Jethro Tull.

In fact, Paul Stanley, the lead singer of KISS tells the Huffington Post that he doesn’t need the Hall of Fame

If anything, Stanley said, he'd like to see KISS recognized for the sake of the fans. "I would certainly accept on their behalf because it seems to be a major sore spot for them," he said. "But I don't need the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

As for Bon Jovi’s feelings on being inducted, not only are they eligible but were off the “Because We Can” tour the night of the inductions.Guitarist Richie Sambora says that "I'd like to see us make it in there before we're dead," he quickly adds that, "I don't think anybody's dwelling on it."

"It's an ongoing thing," drummer Torres adds. "There's a long list of great bands that need to go in there, and only a few can go in every year. It's something that even being nominated is an honor. It's nice to be in that company. There's such a long list of great, great musicians and some that are still alive that are eligible. You don't lose sleep over it."

Well they shouldn’t lose sleep over it, not when you look at some  of these nominees.

Please explain to me what Donna Summer the “disco queen” has to do with Rock n Roll? Back in the day, wasn’t disco the sworn enemy of rock n roll? So much so that a Chicago disc jockey named Steve Dahl, once blew up a pile of disco records at Comiskey Park?

Donna Summer was a great singer and performer but doesn’t belong in the Rock n Roll Hall simply because she wasn’t singing rock n roll.  Randy Newman??  Ask yourself how many rockers you have to name before you get to Donna Summer or Randy Newman. Now of all those that you named, see how many are in the Hall of Fame. I bet you’d be surprised.

My point is, a Hall of Fame, any Hall of Fame, should be based on performance, sales, and achievement, not popularity within the voting. If I’m a singer who aspires to make the Hall grade, not only do I have to be at or near the top of my profession, but I must also please a select group of voters who hold my fate in their hands.

The contributions made by Bon Jovi, Kiss, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, and Yes among countless others to rock n roll far outweigh many of the other Hall members, but they stay on the outside looking in. If you’re selling out major arenas, years after your peak, you should b in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

Those ticket buyers are obviously getting the message of your music and enjoying it to the point where they are shelling out big bucks to hear it performed live. Isn’t that what rock and roll is all about?

Let’s remember that rock and roll started as music on the outside looking in. A rebellion against the so called “establishment,” which is pretty much what they have become today. Long Live Rock!