# The Rock and Roll Nominees are . . . **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2002, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047 "2002-09-12T00:11:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/1 "2002-09-12T00:11:33Z")
Who would you let in Elvis Costello The Clash The Police The Attractions ABBA Chic Kraftwerk Sex Pistols Black Sabbath AC/DC the Dells The MC5 The Righteous Brothers The Patty Smith Group Lynyrd Skynyrd Steve Winwood Me, I pick Elvis Costello, The Clash, The Police, ABBA, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, The Righteous Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Steve Winwood. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/2 "2002-09-12T02:15:29Z")
Whoa, that’s some list. How many can/will they let in? ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/3 "2002-09-12T02:24:37Z")
I don’t think there is a limit on how many people can be named to the R n’ R Hall Of Fame. I do know that Ozzy Osbourne has stated and pleaded numerous times for neither himself nor Black Sabbath to even be considered for nomination, let alone election. And no, it isn’t an ego thing, Ozzy just thinks the whole idea of the R n’ R Hall of Fame is to quote The Prince Of Darkness, “Just fucking insane.” That being said I would vote for The Clash, The Police, The Sex Pistols, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Abba, AC/DC, The Righteous Brothers and maybe Elvis Costello ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/4 "2002-09-12T12:17:10Z")
Sabbath, Skynyrd, Ac/Dc, the Clash. The Sex Pistols were a very influential group, but they weren’t together long enough to get a great body of work together. And Abba was NOT rock and roll, by any stretch of the imagination. Maybe when they open up the disco hall of fame… ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/5 "2002-09-12T12:40:04Z")
And a BIG endorsement here for the Patti Smith Group. Go dig out your copy of “Horses” and listen to it again. Punk owes a huge debt to Patti, and she still rocks! ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/6 "2002-09-12T12:43:31Z")
Elvis Costello The Clash The Police AC/DC Lynyrd Skynyrd I’m sure The Righteous Brothers were great, but I can only think of one song of theirs (“You’ve lost that lovin’ feeling”), although I’m sure they had other hits. And if **WSLer** is right, it would be wrong to vote for Black Sabbath… ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/7 "2002-09-12T14:00:26Z")
Elvis Costello, The Clash, Kraftwerk, Sex Pistols and Patty Smith can all come in my hall of fame. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/8 "2002-09-12T14:35:59Z")
**Elvis Costello** Absolutely. **The Clash** Absolutely. \*\*The Police \*\* Parts of me say yes, parts say no. They certainly were, musically speaking, a damned good band, and Sting has made quite a career, but I don’t think their influence extends enough to merit it. **The Attractions** On their own, divorced from Costello? No. Great musicians, but no. **ABBA** I can see a case for this, but no. **Chic** Yes. Nile Rodgers’ and Bernard Edwards’ influence on rock/dance production and beat was enormous. **Kraftwerk** Hmmmmm . . . have to think about this one. **Sex Pistols** Yes. Blab all you want about only doing one album and one tour, but their influence on the last 20 years of rock music is unmistakeable. Even Motley Freakin’ Crue has covered the Pistols. **Black Sabbath** Yes. **AC/DC** Yes! **the Dells** Not familiar with them. **The MC5** No. They were cool and all, but I don’t feel that they rise to the level. **The Righteous Brothers** Yes. **The Patty Smith Group** Yes. **Lynyrd Skynyrd** No. This will make me unpopular, but despite some great singles off their albums, most of their fame accrues from the disaster. They aren’t even the best practitioners of Southern Rock. They’ll get in, but I don’t think they should. **Steve Winwood** No. Not enough of a distinctive musical identity. The work for which he is best known is spread out among so many groups – Spencer Davis, Traffic, Blind Faith – that it would be irrelevant to induct him on his own. “Arc of a Diver” and “Back in the Highlife” are hardly Hall-Of-Fame-Worthy. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/9 "2002-09-12T14:52:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > \*\ ***Lynyrd Skynyrd** > > No. This will make me unpopular, but despite some great singles off their albums, most of their fame accrues from the disaster. They aren’t even the best practitioners of Southern Rock. They’ll get in, but I don’t think they should. > \*\* I kinda think most of their popularity stems from their songs being played over and over on classic rock stations. 🙂 Oh, and that whole thing about people shouting “FREEEEEEEEEBIRD” while lighting Bics. I bet there’s quite a few people who don’t know much about the plane crash but still think the band rocks. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/10 "2002-09-12T14:59:40Z")
It pisses me off that Yes is probably never going to make it in. Tell me that they’re not as good as the friggin Clash. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/11 "2002-09-12T16:02:14Z")
Yes are not as good as the friggin Clash. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/12 "2002-09-12T17:27:26Z")
Yes are way better than the friggin Clash. I like both. But, does anyone think if the Police gets in the R/R HOF the entire band would play, Sting - Andy Summers - Stewart Copeland, or would Sting just play with his band - ALA John Fogerty, when Credence Clearwater Revival was inducted. I like Sting, but the animosity from Sting against the other guys, WOW. I think Steve Winwood merits induction for his solo work. ABBA - I just thought with the others it would make the concert more eclectic. Give the Righteous Brothers for the Classic entry. Lynyrd Skynyrd should get in for sheer survival. Maybe Ozzy doesn’t think, but I think Back Sabbath should be in. I hope AC/DC gets in - I’d like to here them rock that joint. Whoever gets in it should be a good show. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/13 "2002-09-12T20:00:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Yes are not as good as the friggin Clash. That’s exactly the problem, people who think that in order for music to be good, it hasta _suck_. ---
**Author:** ![7string](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/8baadc/32.png) [@7string](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7string)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/14 "2002-09-12T20:51:29Z")
Why is it that I can’t find out any thing about the band “Rush” on the RRHF official web site? Could it really be that they haven’t been inducted yet? Havent they influenced a few generations of young aspiring rock virtuosoes? I’m with sqweels when it comes to Yes. Sting said he would NEVER, under any circumstances, play with the Police again. When Steve Winwood played in those bands he added his own distinct style to those bands. QED if you liked those bands it had something to do with his influence. His work spans decades. How many other musicians can you say that about? I think he deserves it. ---
**Author:** ![Dryga\_Yes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Dryga\_Yes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dryga_Yes)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/15 "2002-09-12T22:25:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sqweels \* > \*\*It pisses me off that Yes is probably never going to make it in. Tell me that they’re not as good as the friggin Clash. \*\* Why? Because “punk sux lol!”? The Clash are IMO the most innovative punk band EVER, and were the first to really fuse together the pure driving energy of punk with… well, other stuff. They’ve got songs that incorporate rockabilly, ska, r&b or sometimes just really really good pop, but they don’t stop being punk rockers for a second. And they pull it off without ever sounding like they’re really trying. Shit, listen to the first seconds of London Calling. You can’t do that with your fance keyboards and mellotrons, you know? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Semp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Semp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Semp)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/16 "2002-09-12T23:18:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > **Chic** > > Yes. Nile Rodgers’ and Bernard Edwards’ influence on rock/dance production and beat was enormous. > > **Kraftwerk** > > Hmmmmm . . . have to think about this one. I willing to bet that Rodgers & Hamm… um, Edwards were influenced by Kraftwerk. They had a big influence on 80’s hip hop and modern electronic music would not be what it is today without them. Chances are likely, though, that most Americans couldn’t tell you much about 'em, unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![krazy\_kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b2d939/32.png) [@krazy\_kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krazy_kat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/17 "2002-09-12T23:26:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 7string \* > **Why is it that I can’t find out any thing about the band “Rush” on the RRHF official web site? Could it really be that they haven’t been inducted yet?** There you go, Ozzy, the Hall can’t be _that_ terrible. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/18 "2002-09-12T23:27:40Z")
No question about it – The Clash The Police AC/DC Black Sabbeth (even though he thinks it’s insane, if you are going to have a HoF, they really should be included) Sex Pistols The Patty Smith Group The jury is still out – Steve Winwood Lynyrd Skynyrd The Righteous Brothers From the Rock and Roll has many forms maybe vote – ABBA Chic The Dells ---
**Author:** ![krazy\_kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b2d939/32.png) [@krazy\_kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krazy_kat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/19 "2002-09-12T23:31:55Z")
I don’t think the jury is out on Winwood, I’m not his biggest fan, but Traffic, Blind Faith, his solo work, and damn, “Gimme Some Lovin’” alone should be sufficient for induction. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047/20 "2002-09-12T23:38:56Z")
Actually, his solo work should keep him _out_. That was some of the smarmiest, crappiest pseudomusic I’ve ever heard. It drove cats to suicide. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rock-and-roll-nominees-are/128047.md?page=2)