# RUSH wasn't inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame until 2013. Why so late?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** music
**Created:** [September 13, 2020, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489 "2020-09-13T14:37:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2020, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/61 "2020-09-15T05:50:18Z")
Nice name, although we did get Hootie here.
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### Author:  [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2020, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/62 "2020-09-15T13:29:59Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#):
>
> I’m only slightly younger (52), but I was watching MTV and listening to mainstream rock radio during the 80s and I don’t recall ever hearing/seeing a single song by Rush…
IIRC, _Subdivisions_ received pretty heavy airplay on MTV. **Rush** peaked commercially before MTV debuted, really. Songs like _Closer to the Heart,_ _Spirit of the Radio,_ _LImelight_ and _Tom Sawyer_ may have fared better if they came along a few years later.
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### Author:  [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/63 "2020-09-15T18:09:51Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#):
>
> I’m only slightly younger (52), but I was watching MTV and listening to mainstream rock radio during the 80s and I don’t recall ever hearing/seeing a single song by Rush, unless you count “Take Off,” until quite recently.
I’m slightly older (54), and found them utterly inescapable on album rock stations during high school, which coincided with their 1980-1982 commercial peak (Permanent Waves/Moving Pictures/Signals). However, I never saw them on MTV and other than “Spirit of Radio” don’t recall ever hearing them on a Top 40 station.
Rush was probably my first encounter with what would now be called a toxic fandom. If you didn’t care for Rush (my personal opinion was they were phenomenally talented musicians, but other than “Spirit of Radio” and “Subdivisions”, couldn’t write a song I wanted to listen to more than once), you didn’t have different taste. No, you couldn’t appreciate them because you were an musically stunted brain dead loser who probably liked REO Shitwagon or one of those new-wave f\*g bands or still listened to disco. I was meh on Rush, but man did I hate Rush fans.
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### Author:  [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/64 "2020-09-15T19:07:54Z")
I remember seeing this version of Limelight on MTV, I dunno, “reasonably frequently?” Would have been early on though, '83 - '85-ish.
…[Rush ~ LimeLight ~ Exit Stage Left [1981] - YouTube](https://youtu.be/7nIV2EIVH9o) (embed blocked)
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### Author:  [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/65 "2020-09-15T19:41:12Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#):
>
> The Hall of fame is also supposed to be about influence on music. I would argue that Rush was a very influential band. A lot of kodern prog and rock musicians will tell you that Rush was a major influence. Among musicians they were well known for their skill and songcraft.
I get that, and I do think it’s appropriate for Rush to be included in the HoF.
I just don’t necessarily share the OP’s incredulity that it wasn’t a slam-dunk, no-doubt, first-year-of-eligibility gimme.
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### Author:  [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/66 "2020-09-15T19:45:45Z")
The only Rush video I remember seeing on MTV was “Time Stand Still” (featuring Aimee Mann), with some of the cheapest greenscreen effects you will ever see! The only songs of theirs I ever heard on the radio were “Tom Sawyer,” and occasionally “Closer to the Heart,” and those were quite rare. I knew about them largely because one of my college friends was HUGE fan. I find some of their songs enjoyable enough, and some of them dull, over-long, and self-indulgent. But I don’t find it at all surprising that some people are unfamiliar with them. It’s not like they had a string of top ten hits that you couldn’t get away from.
I remember an early episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 in which Joel Hodgson responded to a fan letter with a rather derisive, “I bet you listen to Rush!”, which kind of amused me. I don’t remember what he was responding to, exactly–maybe he detected some of that toxic fandom, or maybe it was just a random wisecrack. But I thought it was weird to hear them mentioned in that context.
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### Author:  [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2020, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/67 "2020-09-15T19:50:15Z")
I’m 53, grew up in NJ, and was very familiar with Rush. Back in middle school, doodling the Rush logo (all block letters) on your notebook cover was very common. I guess I don’t get the disdain. I’m not a prog rock fan (honestly do not enjoy Yes, ELP, etc.) but always liked the Rush songs I heard. Red Barchetta, Limelight, Tom Sawyer. I found them to be a little more highbrow than much of the other stuff I heard (and liked) on the radio then. When I went to college (also in NJ) in the mid-80s there were a number of die-hard Rush fans in my circle of friends. I never found Geddy Lee’s voice grating (but then again, I am a big fan of Bob Dylan and Lucinda Williams, so…)
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2020, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/68 "2020-09-15T20:02:25Z")
You don’t have to like Rush, but if there has to be a RnR hall of fame, they definitely belong in it, and should have been in earlier. There just isn’t any denying their talent or influence. How many drummers idolized Neal Peart? They are not my fave band–for prog I prefer King Crimson or Porcupine Tree–but they have some really well done songs.
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### Author:  [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2020, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/69 "2020-09-16T01:48:26Z")
> [@Wheelz](#):
>
> I just don’t necessarily share the OP’s incredulity that it wasn’t a slam-dunk, no-doubt, first-year-of-eligibility gimme.
Point well taken.
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### Author:  [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2020, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/70 "2020-09-16T03:18:21Z")
I think Rush might have had more cache post-90s with younger people due to both South Park and Guitar Hero having pretty memorable appearances by them. It’s the only reason I know them.
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### Author:  [@Dr.Conrad\_Shadowdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Conrad_Shadowdale)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2020, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/71 "2020-09-17T02:16:29Z")
Again, Jann is a prick, especially when it comes to induction into his HOF.
Two wonderful artists, neither of whom can remotely be called Rock & Roll are Randy Newman and Laura Nyro. Both have been in for years.
No Monkees. 🤬
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### Author:  [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2020, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/72 "2020-09-20T01:02:51Z")
> [@Pantastic](#):
>
> I’ve never really gotten what the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is meant to be hosting in it’s hall. Some of the entries make sense even if I’ve never heard of them (like a lot of the breakthrough rock bands from the 50s). But some of them just seem to be not Rock and Roll at all - Janet Jackson, Madonna, and Whitney Houston are good performers but don’t exactly come to mind when I think of rocking out, and neither do rap acts like NWA, Notorious BIG, Public Enemy, and Tupac. …
>
> It doesn’t seem to have a real ‘who belongs here’ philosophy beyond ‘who do the people running it want to put in’,
The Hall has embraced a wide range of genres of popular music. I’d say one notable omission is country. There are 11 musicians who have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame: Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Bill Monroe, Bob Wills, Brenda Lee, Floyd Cramer, and Sam Phillips. I think pretty much all of them fall into a category of pre-1960s early influences. (Elvis is a category all unto himself. I’d argue he is a rocker with many influences, including country.)
So, as you indicated, the RNRHOF is whatever TPTB want to include. Looking for consistency in what they are doing is probably pointless. Many have declared the Hall a joke. But their annual pronouncements of finalists, fan voting, and inductees - and then the annual induction ceremony itself - generates a ton of media attention and commentary. That’s probably the whole point at this point in time.
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### Author:  [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/73 "2020-09-21T23:34:17Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#):
>
> The Hall of fame is also supposed to be about influence on music. I would argue that Rush was a very influential band. A lot of kodern prog and rock musicians will tell you that Rush was a major influence. Among musicians they were well known for their skill and songcraft.
I think that may be part of what finally tipped things in their favor. The generation of musicians who grew up listening to and being inspired by Rush started getting into the HoF, and upon induction started questioning why their own heroes, Rush, weren’t in yet. Dave Grohl/Foo Fighters are a good example. There are a ton of other, younger musicians who were inspired by Rush, guys who are around my age (mid-50s).
As far as “outside North America”, Rush themselves were completely astonished to discover they had a massive fanbase in South America. They had no idea until the decided to play in Rio, and found out that fans were traveling there from all over South America to see them. And they knew the words and music to every song.
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### Author:  [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/74 "2020-10-04T01:29:38Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#):
>
> As far as “outside North America”, Rush themselves were completely astonished to discover they had a massive fanbase in South America. They had no idea until the decided to play in Rio, and found out that fans were traveling there from all over South America to see them. And they knew the words and music to every song.
If they came from all over the continent, then surely they didn’t have a big fan base compared to those who were able to sell out a concert just from local fans? It says more about the rabidity of their fans that they will go to any concert anywhere near them, not about how many there are.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2020, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/75 "2020-10-05T14:05:52Z")
> [@LLCoolL](#):
>
> The Hall has embraced a wide range of genres of popular music. I’d say one notable omission is country.
Country has, for a variety of cultural and marketing reasons, clearly established itself as an musical industry of its own, more separate from rock/pop/hip-hip/metal/disco than any of those things are separate from one another. Country has its own Hall of Fame - in Nashville, of course - and those folks really don’t need to be in Cleveland.
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### Author:  [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/76 "2020-10-05T14:41:37Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> those folks really don’t need to be in Cleveland
Uh, nobody _needs_ to be in Cleveland.
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### Author:  [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2020, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/77 "2020-10-06T12:19:10Z")
> [@glowacks](#):
>
> If they came from all over the continent, then surely they didn’t have a big fan base compared to those who were able to sell out a concert just from local fans? It says more about the rabidity of their fans that they will go to any concert anywhere near them, not about how many there are.
Maybe it would have been more accurate to say that Rush has a broad fan base throughout South America.
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### Author:  [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2020, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/78 "2020-10-06T12:21:54Z")
Maybe Darius Rucker has a chance to get into a HOF after all…
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### Author:  [@bmoak1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak1)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/79 "2020-10-09T01:57:49Z")
Here are some other bands that did not get into the RRHOF in their first year of eligibility:
The Who, The Kinks, Cream, and Led Zeppelin.
Not getting in on the first ballot isn’t some sort of slap in the face. The Hall didn’t start until the late 80s, and there was such a backlog of acts to be inducted that groups that didn’t get started until the mid-60s or later ofter had to wait a while. Granted, Rush’s first year of eligibility was a little later, after the backlog had thinned out a bit, but I’ve heard the same argument made bay fans of prog-rock bans that got started earlier like the Moody Blues and Yes.
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### Author:  [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2020, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-wasnt-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-until-2013-why-so-late/920489/80 "2020-10-09T04:45:22Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> Geddy’s voice is probably the single biggest complaint about Rush that I hear from non-fans. He was definitely screechy on their first few albums; I think that, either he became a somewhat more competent singer as he got older, or he started singing more in his natural range. Either way, “acquired taste” is, I think, accurate.
Once described as “the whitest sounding voice in rock”. Rik Emmett & Triumph were much the same, and a distinct derivative of Rush. I’ve always liked Geddy’s voice for the exact reason it doesn’t sound like every other band out there. Jon Anderson of Yes sang in much the same vein, although a bit more nasally. Still like 'em, though.
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