The Mosh Pit 10.12.07: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – Who Should Be Nominated
Posted by Dan Haggerty on 10.12.2007
It’s Part 2 of The Mosh Pit’s look at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and this time we reveal who should be inducted. Did your favorite band make the cut? Find out inside. Also, the darker side of metal invades the set list and Machine Head is in the house tonight!
Well, it's been a crazy week. Lots of research went into today's column to insure that my picks for the Hall of Fame not only deserve the honors, but also to convince you of their importance. And I'm happy to say that each of my nominations does accomplish that. The fact that most of these have not been nominated already proves that Cleveland's favorite tourist trap has lost its way.
If that was not enough to keep me busy, I got to attend one of the more crazy concerts in recent history. Plus I also have the honor of now moderating 411 Music's Fact or Fiction for our readers, to insure that the music news reaches you with real views. That's a great tag line; I'll have to use that next week.
For you traditional metal fans, or those you who are mildly curious about metal but stay on the fringes – Watch out for the set list this week. I've had a hell of a week at work, so that means one thing… My CD player has been pouring out enough darkness and death to wake a graveyard. They are the kind of albums that make Tipper Gore cry and that is very satisfying thing indeed.
Speaking of controversy, I saw Machine Head and Arch Enemy last weekend. DAMN. Expect a review on that this weekend. I never saw so much crowd surfing. Those dudes (and one angry chick) can really go at it. This is a must show for any metal fan. Just a sample of the fun…
Machine Head - Davidian
Actually, the crowd I was in was hotter. Expect a review up this weekend.
Now for tonight's main event! For those who did not catch my analysis of the current nominations, you can read part 1 here.
Tonight's Show
So many great bands who should be nominated, but we could only pick a few. My list combines influence and impact as a totality to choose the few elite who should get in first. This is the best of the best to get the Hall of Fame back on track, but no where exhaustive of the bands that should get in someday. It would take several years at five to seven nominations each year to really get things where they should be. Examples of bands that should be considered in the next couple of years, but not on the level of my esteemed picks would be:
Thin Lizzy
A great band that was very influential in modernizing the duel guitar sound of rock. They didn't make the cut this year because one of the bands they influenced had a greater impact on music as a whole. And my impact I mean the complete evolution of heavy metal and helped to create the 80's hard rock sound. Oh… Foreshadowing – I didn't think this column had that kind of depth in it.
Yes
Progressive art rock legends, these guys were part of the revolution that took music out of the three minute pop formula with long, epic, conceptual, and complex arrangements. This band needs to go it, but I already nominated two other progressive bands that were bigger, so these guys will need to wait. I wouldn't have argued if they were put in though.
Blue Oyster Cult
Oh Boy. B.O.C. really needs to get in – Just not now. They were America's answer to Black Sabbath after all. Complex but elegantly simple melodies combined with lyrical poetry that was awe inspiring, the Cvlt had style and talent you just didn't see in a band. Pick up the lyrics to any song one day to see what I mean. In fact, feel free to pick up any album from their classic black and white period. Or better, just pick up any album and odds are you won't be disappointed.
Cher
No. I haven't lost my marbles. This is on my list for one simple fact. If the fucknuts who run the Hall of Fame are going to nominate Madonna, then they should nominate Cher first. Justice demands it despite the heavy sales difference between the two singers. Why? Well, Cher preceded Madonna by a decade in the whole tough and sexual female schtick – She was doing it when Madonna really was a virgin! Cher not only did this first, but she was the one who took the female singer role and made it the tough girl take no shit attitude that we take for granted today. She had a successful, if short career with Sonny (and a television series no less), then a solo career that was even bigger that stretched four decades. Cher got plenty of hype for controversy, and she did it by just being her, not some educated attempt to self promote. If you look at music, she is the only female to have a hit single in five decades. She also stared in movies, and received an Oscar for such, because she can actually act. Oh. And I would be remiss if I didn't also point out she can do something that Madonna can't… And that is really sing.
Now, personally I would be fine if Cher did not get in. I'm sure Cher could care less if she got in. But if Madonna is going to be nominated, then Cher better damn well get in first. Anything less is total and complete failure.
There are more, but you get the idea. Besides, half the fun will be debating this for next year!
OK. Drum Roll Please!
The Official List Of Who Needs To Be Inducted…
Rush
OK. Why in the name of God, Mohammad, Buddha, and Tony Iommi is Rush NOT in the Hall of Fame. Seriously. What – The – Hell. If you want sales, then Rush has 23 gold records and 14 platinum records, including the fact that they are one of the top 5 bands to have the most consecutive gold records in a row. You want awards, they have been nominated for 4 Grammy's and have 9 Juno Awards. They are already in the Canadian Rock Hall of Fame, and were the first musicians made officers in the Order of Canada. Of course, to be fair you could say that last part was Canada's way of apologizing for Brian Adams. Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee have won numerous guitar magazine awards (13) plus fan write-ins. Neal Peart, this dude won best rock drummer six years in a row at Modern Drummer Magazine, so in the seventh year they put him on an "Honor Roll" to basically say he was "The Man" and no longer eligible for voting to give everyone else a chance. Despite that he still has won the voting several times despite his ineligibility! Finally, Peart has won best Recorded Performance every year Rush has released an album since 1980.
You want influence, besides Rock and Rolls most noted bass guitarist and drummer, then you need to look no further than the rise of progressive rock they helped spearhead along with Genesis and Yes, or their influence on lyrics and story telling, or epic concept songs. How many bands dedicated a whole side of vinyl to a song before Rush? How many have done that or gone the full album approach since?
The fact Rush is NOT in is insulting. There first 10 albums are certifiable classics, but you don't have to like them to recognize their career or impact.
Genesis
Britain's answer to progressive rock, Genesis was a band with two careers. One is art-rock in the 70's, and the other pop in the 80's. Of course the pop label needs to be used judiciously as even then the band pulled off some progressive rooted deep cuts ("Domino" is the best song on Invisible Touch). It's hard to not see impact out of this band with its combined 150 million in world wide sales. And that is just the band, not including the successful music careers of each of its main five members: Phil Collins (12 solo albums, 5 Soundtracks, and 1 big band album/50+ million in sales total), Mike Rutherford (2 solo albums + 7 more with Mike & The Mechanics), Tony Banks (8 albums including classical and movie scores), Steve Hackett (21 various albums plus the GTR project!), and Peter Gabriel (8 albums plus 4 sountracks/7+ million sales).
Tony Banks is well noted for the new techniques he's introduced, including the synth-percussion technique highlighted on the song "Mama", not to mention his ability to play "cross-handed". Gabriel, while ridiculed at the time, inspired character and conceptual live performances. Rutherford was highly acclaimed for his 12 string guitar and the duel neck to switch between bass and lead. Phil Collins needs no introduction, besides a simple reminder of his first class drum work. Steve Hackett perfected guitar techniques that inspired and were later popularized by Eddie Van Halen and Yngwie Malmsteen.
Kiss
First thing first, I'm not a big Kiss fan. I would explain why, but I don't want to get sued by Gene Simmons…
Anyway, the issue here is the complete impact this band made. And I'm not just talking about them being the fathers of glam, and thus hair metal amongst other things, but that they undoubtedly shaped the entire 80's as a whole. Pop-rock – Check. Big hair and costumes – Check. Over the top production and stage shows – Check. Mass marketing – Check. Stadium anthems – Check. Ballad – Check. You get the idea. They had the first mega-fan club (Kiss Army). They were the first band to merchandise themselves. Hell, Kiss is infamous for its commercialism, with much criticism for it. But the reality is it worked. Games, action figures, lunch boxes, the list goes on and on like some crazy joke. But it was real. How many bands do you know that got to star in their very own comic book or cartoon series?
Their live shows were historic in their own right. Fireballs, special effects, blood: They set the bar on live shows that influenced every future generation. You didn't go to a Kiss concert, you went to a spectacle to be entertained.
Judas Priest
This one is another no-brainer. Priest reinvented metal and hard rock with a single (duel) axe stroke on Sad Wings of Destiny. Black Sabbath may have invented heavy metal, but priest took the chunk of raw iron and forged it into a stainless steel weapon of the ages. But when you discuss Judas Priest, their influence goes beyond metal, but into hard rock and even mainstream rock. Kiss might have been one parent of 80's rock, but Priest was the other. The larger than like hooks and rhythms single-handedly defined the idea of the rock anthem. Then there is the image of tough rock – Leather, chains, spikes, and the overall bad boy motorcycle look was anther invention of the "Metal Gods". No one dressed like that before Priest and many copied it thereafter.
Musically, Judas Priest offered a lot. Duel lead guitars, while not invented by them, was revolutionized and modernized by them. It's safe to say that many 80's bands that are considered classics would not have sported the twin guitar double barrel attack without Priest. Then there are Halford's vocals. No one has hit the notes that man did. His voice, the delivery, the power, Rob Halford is unarguably at the top of any list where range and power is discussed for rock vocalists. If you disagree with that, then you're a blasphemer and must repent your sins by listing to "Victim of Changes" 20 times in a row.
Eleven gold records in a row, plus 4 that went platinum; that's pretty damn impressive for a metal band.
Metallica
This would be the first year the band is eligible for induction, but the overall impact of this band in unarguable. At a time when hard rock was going commercial, thrash hit the scene like a shrapnel grenade and gave metal its third coming. While not the first thrash band, Metallica was one of four and easily the biggest. Within half a decade the band became a juggernaut that influenced and shaped the direction of metal to this day. Were their better thrash bands, well yes; but the general population that buys albums would disagree with that statement - Every album Metallica has released has gone multi-platinum! Even St Anger with its revolutionary use of trash cans…
OK. That was cheap. But it's funny because it's true.
Back to the point, and before (or despite) the St. Anger debacle, and the cries of selling out for the Load era, Metallica was the face of metal for years. While Metallica can be considered to be in their waning years now, and their core infused sound alienating a lot of hard core metal fans, its undeniable the impact the band has made. And by impact I mean they were the meteor that changed the metal soundscape, and even the way the industry looked at rock as a whole. Five full length releases over 5 times platinum, including the self titled clocking in at 14 times, all is a row!!! – Not one band up nominated this year has done that. Few bands ever have done that.
Yea, this is a must for any institution that claims to catalog and recognize rock and roll.
Deep Purple
Many forget that Deep Purple is also credited with the birth of heavy metal and hard rock. While metal is a name the band distanced themselves from, all you need to do is listen to a few tracks from In Rock (released the same year and Black Sabbath) to realize the truth. Guitar work and soul, Deep Purple was incredibly influential on future bands across genres. 100 million in album sales is nothing to sneeze at either.
You also have to take into account the careers of the band members: Ian Gillian (16 solo albums and plus several side projects, notably the excellent one off with Black Sabbath); Ritchie Blackmore (Rainbow plus Blackmore's Night) – and in a rare case of Rolling Stone Magazine getting it right, they put him in the top 100 guitarists of all time; Jon Lord (8 solo albums plus he played on 7 Whitesnake albums); Roger Glover (4 solo albums, Episode Six, 6 Rainbow albums, plus one collaboration); and lets not forget later lead singer David Coverdale (Solo career plus Whitesnake).
Oh to hell with it. Google them or look it up on Wikipedia to see the insane amount of links and crossovers these guys were associated with. Needless to say, Metal, hard rock, and rock and roll itself would be a completely different creature. The bands these guys went on to form later alone changed music, let alone what they did together. Go get a copy of In Rock or Machine Head today!
I can't believe these guys are not already in. For the record – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame… You fail at life. Seriously. U2 and Talking Heads were nominated before Deep Purple or Rush. You suck. Hard. And don't get a return call in the morning.
OK. I've made my point. I'm done.
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Idiots.
The Set List The albums on my playlist this week; some new, some old, always good :
You were warned…
Arch Enemy - Rise of the Tyrant
Two weeks in a row on the set list, but that's what happens when you see the band live on the weekend. Mix in a bad week at work and here you go. If you like melodic death metal, then this is a treat for the ears. In a time of metal-band-No.58 that is fronted by a chick, its nice to see a group that is beyond that. Why? Angela might be a good death vocalist, but the real show here is the duel leads by the Amott brothers.
Kataklysm - In the Arms of Devastation
The working title for me is: "The Soundtrack To A Really Bad Day" and "Get On My Radar At Your Own Risk". This thing is brutal with an extra helping of vitamin B. It opens up with a nice little intro before it kicks in at the speed of violent. If you are not familiar with death metal, you will need to work up to this one.
Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion
This one needs to introduction to any metalhead worth his salt. Celtic Frost is undoubtedly one of the most experimental metal bands, from hair band hell to proto-black metal. An early classification of metal bands using symphonic elements, this little gem revels in its ambience and complexity while keeping it raw and simple. Confused by that? Look at the cover art for the complete glimpse at the truth in advertising image of the sound. This album is wildly considered to be one of early influential pieces to propagate death and black metal.
Mosh Pit Fodder That which deserves to be trampled under the wall of death!
People who are obviously overweight, which I know something about, but insist on wearing clothes 5 sizes to small. Just because you go to a metal concert and are one of the few chick's there doesn't mean you can wear your kid-sisters shirt. Ugh. Doctor - Get me some Drano for my eyes stat!
Forgotten Classics Time to pull a classic from the collection and give it the attention it deserves!
Amorphis – Privilege of Evil
Amorphis is a band that has been all over the map in its decade and a half run. While a melodic/folk metal with death and other influences now, their first couple of albums are straight up death. This little jewel of an EP is one of my favorite examples of the genre. Its death metal, but all the growls and edge highlight a very stripped down and crunchy riff that could be confused for a doom riff on a death sentence. I always love a good doom riff, and this produces simple but awesome riffs in spades. This is a winning formula that many bands need to learn. Keep it simple, and keep it quick. I'd rather have half a great album then a full one I skip through.
Bits and pieces of this album are smuggled into the bands later sound, but here the growls and methodic axe work just repeatedly remind you why you love metal – because you love a good riff that casts its image and tells its own story. Grimy, tough, a rhythmic finality, but ultimately sensual, this is a must CD for anyone who likes death metal.
This is a little tough to find. For those without the will to hunt it down on eBay, The Karelian Isthmus was reissued in 2003 with this EP as bonus tracks.
Tales from the Pit Reader Feedback, what's on your playlist, and the great gigs you've seen.
Mosh Pit regular Marty check in this week:
"Get out of my head!!! Seriously, I'd have to agree with about 90% of what you said about the HOF nominees. Ventures and DC5 just now getting in? Ridiculous. Summer I can take or leave but her resume does back up that she should be in. Ditto Madonna. Chic have contributed in some ways you didn't mention---they've been sampled God knows how many times by other artists (re: rap) and the bass line for "Good Times" was a primary influence on "Another One Bites The Dust", but I'd have to agree---probably more deserving contenders at this point. Mellencamp would be my only disagreement as I am a fan and he might as well get on in there now as I don't think he's going to do anything else in his career more relevant than what he's already done. Beasties, eh, whatever. I don't really know much about Bambaatta or Cohen to state any valid opinions. I do agree also that there should be a separate HOF for other music genres, otherwise the "rock and roll" aspect of things gets diluted.
Your set list for the week is interesting. I only own Twisted Sister's best of, so I've never heard YCSRnR all the way through. I'm not familiar with Arch Enemy as I don't typically listen to any "death metal" (well, the occasional Slayer, if you count them). I won't disagree with your statement about Metallica's RTL vs MOP, but I actually prefer And Justice For All. "
Many people would agree with your opinion of And Justice For All…. I'm just happy that it's one of the first four. And right on about the Hall of Fame. We'll see if we keep that 90% going after this week!
"Forgotten Classic---now we're talking and if you're going to say they should be in the HOF in your list, ab-so-fuckin-lutely. Any Rush is fine by me but I'd choose A Farewell To Kings over this one (just personal preference)."
I expect you'll like my inclusion of them this week. A Farewell To Kings is indeed a great album, and will get highlighted one day. Then again, I'll eventually highlight almost everything Rush did before the mid-80's.
"Now, as for who needs to be in the HOF and isn't---I'll agree with you on Rush but how about some Blue Oyster Cult? How about some Thin Lizzy? How about some Judas Priest? All influential and all neglected. Hell, I could go on about BOC for several pages alone as to why they should be in."
I fully expect to get my chops busted for not including BOC this time. Not that I blame them, the are a great group.
Final Thoughts
It's been real. Now you be real and go listen to your favorite bands. And while you're at it, keep the love for them high so that they stay recognized. That way you can help keep some elite knobs from denying their greatness just to keep their sad dated vision alive. You're the music fan. You're the voice that matters in the end.
