Monday, January 08, 2007
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Class of '07
The announcement's been made: Van Halen, R.E.M., Patti Smith, the Ronettes, and GRANDMASTER FLASH & THE FURIOUS FIVE.
R.E.M. obviously belong in on first ballot. It's about fucking time Patti got in (her 6th or 7th ballot, I believe), and nice that she and her pal Stipey go in together. The Ronettes I've got no issue with - Ronnie Spector really does belong. Van Halen, I guess - but what's most exciting about their impending induction is the news that both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar are included in the induction, not to mention now-on-the-outs bassist Michael Anthony. (Click under "2007 Inductees announced!" here to see exactly who's going in this year.) Won't that be fun for Eddie Van Asshole at the ceremony? (He's a phenomenal guitarist, or at least used to be, but c'mon - making your 16-year-old son the band's new bassist? Dick.) Flash, Melle Mel and company getting in means that the HOF got something right; if Run-DMC had gotten in before Flash, well, that just wouldn't be right. (Run-DMC's eligible next year, and I frankly don't expect 'em in on first ballot.) Absurdly, still not in: John Mellencamp (not a finalist this year), Daryl Hall & John Oates (ditto), and Chic (they were, but I'm starting to lose hope).
R.E.M. obviously belong in on first ballot. It's about fucking time Patti got in (her 6th or 7th ballot, I believe), and nice that she and her pal Stipey go in together. The Ronettes I've got no issue with - Ronnie Spector really does belong. Van Halen, I guess - but what's most exciting about their impending induction is the news that both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar are included in the induction, not to mention now-on-the-outs bassist Michael Anthony. (Click under "2007 Inductees announced!" here to see exactly who's going in this year.) Won't that be fun for Eddie Van Asshole at the ceremony? (He's a phenomenal guitarist, or at least used to be, but c'mon - making your 16-year-old son the band's new bassist? Dick.) Flash, Melle Mel and company getting in means that the HOF got something right; if Run-DMC had gotten in before Flash, well, that just wouldn't be right. (Run-DMC's eligible next year, and I frankly don't expect 'em in on first ballot.) Absurdly, still not in: John Mellencamp (not a finalist this year), Daryl Hall & John Oates (ditto), and Chic (they were, but I'm starting to lose hope).
# posted by Thomas : 9:48 AM
