# 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 20, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281 "2008-01-20T18:39:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![8675309](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ea5d25/32.png) [@8675309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/8675309)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/1 "2008-01-20T18:39:49Z")
This year the list of inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame include [ul] [li]Leonard Cohen[/li][li]Dave Clark Five[/li][li]Madonna[/li][li]John Mellencamp[/li][li]The Ventures[/li][/ul] As I understand it, every year five performers are inducted out of a list that is established by a group of music historians. The nominees are eligible after 25 years in the music business. The primary criteria is “the influence and significance of the artist’s contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll.” The problem I have is that five acts are inducted EVERY year. Doesn’t it seem like it should be more like the Baseball Hall of Fame, in which an inductee must get a certain percentage (75% for baseball, not sure what it would be for R&R) to become inducted? Look at the list of artists that will become eligible in [2010](http://www.futurerockhall.com/year.php?eligible_year=2010) . It seems like way too many second and third-rate acts are making it in every year. Also, as a sidenote… the acts that are inducted are allowed to choose who will induct them, correct? It seems like Eddie Vedder, Bono, and Springsteen are some of the most commonly chosen to induct others. Who will Madonna choose to induct her? I would have gone with Britney a few years back, but have no idea now. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/2 "2008-01-20T19:59:02Z")
[QUOTE=8675309] The problem I have is that five acts are inducted EVERY year. Doesn’t it seem like it should be more like the Baseball Hall of Fame, in which an inductee must get a certain percentage (75% for baseball, not sure what it would be for R&R) to become inducted? [/QUOTE] From [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame): > [@](#): > > Performers receiving the highest number of votes greater than 50% of the votes received are selected for induction; each year, about five to seven nominees make the cut. Want to try your rant over again? ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_Clock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Shot\_Clock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_Clock)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/3 "2008-01-20T20:10:08Z")
I, for one, think it’s about damned time that **The Ventures** were inducted. They should have been inducted about 30 seconds after the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was founded, and it’s a shame that Mel Taylor isn’t alive to see the band get its due. I hope they play Apache at the induction ceremony. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/4 "2008-01-20T21:24:14Z")
Hopefully Clark’s inclusion will inspire a change of heart regarding his hoarding of the \*“Ready, Steady, Go!” \* archives. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/5 "2008-01-20T21:34:17Z")
Good Lord. I’m not sure there’s one band in the 2010 list that I’d put in. And, again, with Rush sitting out there not inducted when bands like this are: Blondie The Dells Brenda Lee The Flamingos Ritchie Valens Steely Dan The Mamas and the Papas Buffalo Springfield (one album!) I could go on… Look, most of the inductees and good bands and performers. Even the ones not remotely connected to mainstream rock can get my blessing. But leaving Rush out of the mix is some sort of snobbish elitism that’s just damn silly. FREE THE TORONTO THREE! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/6 "2008-01-20T22:39:41Z")
But I find Rush unlistenable and Steely Dan up close to the Beatles as the best group in history. That’s why you don’t need a unanimous vote. Buffalo Springfield did three albums, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/7 "2008-01-21T01:07:50Z")
[QUOTE=Jonathan Chance] Good Lord. I’m not sure there’s one band in the 2010 list that I’d put in. And, again, with Rush sitting out there not inducted when bands like this are: Blondie The Dells Brenda Lee The Flamingos Ritchie Valens Steely Dan The Mamas and the Papas Buffalo Springfield (one album!) I could go on… Look, most of the inductees and good bands and performers. Even the ones not remotely connected to mainstream rock can get my blessing. But leaving Rush out of the mix is some sort of snobbish elitism that’s just damn silly. FREE THE TORONTO THREE! [/QUOTE] Indeed. That’s why I will never visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or buy an issue of Rolling Stone. The Hall of Fame is a joke anyway. Look at some of the artists who are eligible but who have never been inducted: The above mentioned Rush, Genesis/Peter Gabriel, Deep Purple/Rainbow, Jethro Tull, Yes, Moody Blues, Steve Miller Band, Alice Cooper, The Hollies, KISS, Cheap Trick, Chicago, Dire Straits, BTO, The Guess Who, Duran Duran, The Cars, The Doobie Brothers, Boston, ELO, Three Dog Night, Styx, Donovan, Hall and Oats, Cat Stevens, The Smiths, Roxy Music, Def Leppard, Jim Croce, The Zombies, Iggy Pop, The Cure, Foreigner, Journey, Warren Zevon, Steve Winwood/Blind Faith/Spencer Davis Group, Grand Funk, Jeff Beck, The Replacements, The Spinners, Billy Idol, Steppenwolf, ELP, MC5, Blue Oyster Cult, Bad Company, Joe Jackson, Depeche Mode, The Carpenters, Kansas, Peter Frampton, Ted Nugent, Bryan Adams, Tom Waits, The Commodores, REO Speedwagon, Devo, Peter Paul and Mary, America, The Turtles, The Alan Parsons Project, Billy Squier… I understand they can only induct so many each year, but come on…look at some of those artists. Those are some pretty big names. Well, until they get their act together, I’m officially boycotting them. ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/8 "2008-01-21T02:34:10Z")
[QUOTE=Justin Credible] … Rush, Genesis/Peter Gabriel, Deep Purple/Rainbow, Jethro Tull, Yes, Moody Blues, Steve Miller Band, Alice Cooper, The Hollies, KISS, Cheap Trick, Chicago, Dire Straits, BTO, The Guess Who, Duran Duran, The Cars, The Doobie Brothers, Boston, ELO, Three Dog Night, Styx, Donovan, Hall and Oats, Cat Stevens, The Smiths, Roxy Music, Def Leppard, Jim Croce, The Zombies, Iggy Pop, The Cure, Foreigner, Journey, Warren Zevon, Steve Winwood/Blind Faith/Spencer Davis Group, Grand Funk, Jeff Beck, The Replacements, The Spinners, Billy Idol, Steppenwolf, ELP, MC5, Blue Oyster Cult, Bad Company, Joe Jackson, Depeche Mode, The Carpenters, Kansas, Peter Frampton, Ted Nugent, Bryan Adams, Tom Waits, The Commodores, REO Speedwagon, Devo, Peter Paul and Mary, America, The Turtles, The Alan Parsons Project, Billy Squier… [/QUOTE] Yeah. And King Crimson, which opened the door for about 1/4 of your list. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/9 "2008-01-21T03:11:14Z")
[QUOTE=Justin Credible] I understand they can only induct so many each year, but come on…look at some of those artists. Those are some pretty big names. Well, until they get their act together, I’m officially boycotting them. [/QUOTE] Of course the fact that the nominating committee just keep nominating the same acts until they get in makes it harder. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/10 "2008-01-21T03:12:50Z")
Leonard Cohen? What’s the closest thing he’s done to rock? ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/11 "2008-01-21T04:11:26Z")
It may not be rock and roll, but Leonard Cohen would get my vote for writing this beautiful song: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf36v0epfmI) ---
**Author:** ![8675309](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ea5d25/32.png) [@8675309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/8675309)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/12 "2008-01-21T04:56:15Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] From [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame): Want to try your rant over again? [/QUOTE] Okay… how is this. Shouldn’t the 50% minimum percentage be raised to a higher number? It seems like some rather mediocre acts are getting in. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/13 "2008-01-21T06:12:23Z")
I find it odd that the Rock Hall of Fame has a large “art rock” exhibit section (Robert Fripp famously told them to go to hell when they asked for some contributions), but hasn’t seen fit to induct any art rock bands! Whatever you may think of, Yes or the Moody Blues, for instance, they were innovative, they were influential, they sold tens of millions of records, and have sold out arenas all over the world for decades. Why they aren’t in the Hall of Fame (while Frankie Freaking Valli and the 4 Seasons are!) is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/14 "2008-01-21T06:24:42Z")
Up until now, I’ve generally felt that the inductees that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame selects each year have at least some reason for being there. However, I cannot for the life of me figure out why they would ever select the Dave Clark Five for induction. What kind of influence did they ever have on rock and roll music? Did the Dave Clark Five ever innovate anything? Do you know of anyone who learned guitar, drums, bass or keyboards because they were inspired by the Dave Clark Five? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/15 "2008-01-21T06:37:01Z")
Years ago, I was flipping through a book called _The 100 Greatest Rock and Roll Albums of All Time_ (or something like that). I quickly noticed that there was something “odd” about their listings, then when I saw their winner for the top spot (Rod Stewart’s Every Picture Tells a Story), I did some further reading in the introduction. It seems that they felt that the _only_ albums which qualified were those where you had a vocalist, guitarist, bassist, and drummer. Keyboards of any kind were right out, and God forbid that you actually used a synthesizer! (All of which makes me wonder if Jerry Lee Lewis _wasn’t_ playing rock and roll, what _was_ he playing?) It seems that the judges at the HoF subscribe to a similar theory. Fuckwits. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/16 "2008-01-21T11:09:44Z")
[QUOTE=Talon Karrde] Leonard Cohen? What’s the closest thing he’s done to rock? [/QUOTE] His totally not being rock is totally rock. Ole Laughing lenny - you gotta love him! ---
**Author:** ![8675309](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ea5d25/32.png) [@8675309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/8675309)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/434281/17 "2008-03-11T11:37:15Z")
Am I the only one who watched this last night? Madonna’s face looked scarily immobile!