It was pure dumb luck, I had just finished something at work and opened the SDMB automatically.
Only because Run DMC and Grandmaster Flash didn’t make the cut. I was traveling last week and didn’t have time to properly discuss the impact Run DMC had on rock, and on white awareness, if not acceptance, of genres other than traditional rock. It’s a travesty they are left out.
And even still, I don’t see this as a particularly weak field. We can have endless debates about if ABBA is rock, but they are plenty rock enough for me. If you’re big enough to inspire musicals and multiple movies, you should be in.
I’m voting for Genesis mostly because I think Peter Gabriel is a god. Genesis in his era was bizarre, innovative, and influential. The Phil Collins era was great music that doesn’t rise to HoF level, but they deserve to be in for their early stuff.
The Stooges gets my third vote as pioneers in punk and leading into alt-rock. Nirvana and grunge would be different if the Stooges hadn’t started it all.
I’d really like to vote for Jimmy Cliff too. He absolutely deserves to be in.
24
ABBA
Genesis
The Stooges
I switched my vote at the last minute to keep the Stooges out of a runoff; sorry, Weird Al.
As mentioned in post 235, this week we start a new rule in which anyone who got at least 15% of the vote when they first appeared 25 years ago, but did not ultimately get elected, returns to the ballot for a second chance. Hence the appearance of Ray Charles on this week’s ballot, along with the 2011 inductees and various returning candidates.
Vote for three.
- Ray Charles
- Alice Cooper
- Neil Diamond
- Buddy Guy
- The Hollies
- Dr. John
- Darlene Love
- John Mellencamp
- The Ventures
- Tom Waits
- “Weird Al” Yankovic
0
voters
I voted for Alice Cooper because I like his music, but mostly because he’s just a nice guy.
Seems like we’re now electing 2nd tier Hall of Famers instead of 1st tier.
I don’t disagree with you on this round. I’d put Ray Charles as the only true 1st tier. Weird Al, Alice Cooper, Buddy Guy, Neil Diamond, Tom Waits – all very good and somewhat important artists, but none where it would be a travesty if they were left out.
We’re on the same page.
I’m curious what acts are left at this point. This might be done.
Please welcome our latest inductees, including our first write-in inductee!
25
Ray Charles
Alice Cooper
“Weird Al” Yankovic
Well, this week we certainly have a very interesting and diverse ballot! I will be curious to see how this goes. Vote for three.
- Beastie Boys
- Neil Diamond
- Donovan
- Marvin Gaye
- Guns N’ Roses
- Buddy Guy
- Bill Haley and The Comets
- BB King
- Darlene Love
- Laura Nyro
- Roy Orbison
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Smokey Robinson
- The Small Faces (aka The Faces)
- The Ventures
- Tom Waits
0
voters
Marvin Gaye was already inducted in our 5th poll. The SDMB Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! {Latest Poll in post 268} - #108 by Thing.Fish
I switched my vote to Donovan, thanks for that.
And for my votes, Ray Charles was the only previously eliminated entry that I really wanted to see back, and we took care of him last week. None of the other returnees are jumping out at me.
So I’ll get the easy one out the way first: the Beastie Boys are absolute kings. Paul’s Boutique changed music with its sampling. They were excellent lyricists and true instrumental musicians. No brainer.
The other easy one for me is NOT voting for the Chili Peppers. I hate everything about them. I hate their music, I hate the 14-year old boy antics, I hate Flea and his bass playing. Ugh.
I’m sticking with Neil Diamond again this round. He has too many hits to ignore, and I think when you have hundreds (thousands?) of impersonators, it speaks to your influence.
And I guess Guns N’ Roses for my last vote. They get lumped in with the other 80s hair bands like Ratt and Motley Crue, but they were always a bit more. Not every song was about getting laid.
A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame without Bill Haley and The Comets would just be embarassing.
Agreed. In many ways Rock Around the Clock is the defining moment of the start of Rock & Roll.
BTW, it’s actually Bill Haley and His Comets
Boy, I love most of the returning acts - but I guess I already revealed my biases earlier.
I agree that the Beasties deserve to make it, but maybe not first ballot?
I’m pulling for BB King and Roy Orbison to get in, and then will change my third vote to see if I can keep anybody else on the ballot that I like - right now that’s Smokey Robinson, but he may end up doomed.
On this ballot I actually think I’d want 10 of these acts to make it, even in a small hall: GNR, BB King, Roy Orbison, Neil Diamond, Beastie Boys, Bill Haley and His Comets, Buddy Guy (although if BB King makes it I can probably let Buddy go), Donovan, Marvin Gaye, and Smokey Robinson (although if Marvin Gaye makes it I can let Smokey go).
I’d actually put all 10 of those above Patti Smith and ZZ Top (and I like both of them!).
26
Guns N’Roses
BB King
Because I didn’t get up in time to move a vote, Neil Diamond and Roy Orbison will be matched in a runoff poll this week. Otherwise, we have no new old timers on the ballot, every significant vote getter on the 1989 ballot is already in. So we welcome the five candidates who just barely scraped through last week, plus the 2013 inductees.
Special runoff poll: Vote for one only, and make sure it is Roy Orbison.
- Neil Diamond
- Roy Orbison
0
voters
This week’s main event:
- Beastie Boys
- Donovan
- Buddy Guy
- Bill Haley & His Comets
- Heart
- Albert King
- Randy Newman
- Public Enemy
- Rush
- Donna Summer
- The Ventures
0
voters
As much as I like Diamond, there’s no denying that Orbison was one of the Absolute Greats.
Not only was he a member of The Traveling Wilburys, the other Wilburys were fan-boying over him joining the group.
27
Bill Haley and His Comets
Heart
Roy Orbison
Rush
Kind of surprised to see Heart getting in so easily. Anyway, congratulations to our winners. This week we have a very interesting, diverse and lengthy ballot and I will be interested in seeing how the voting goes.
- Beastie Boys
- Neil Diamond
- Donovan
- The Four Seasons
- Peter Gabriel
- Buddy Guy
- Hall & Oates
- KISS
- Randy Newman
- Nirvana
- Public Enemy
- Linda Ronstadt
- Cat Stevens
- The Temptations
- The Ventures
0
voters
There should be three automatic entries (Nirvana, Beasties, and Public Enemy) and one almost automatic (Peter Gabriel).
Those first three are in the top 10 of artists who changed music. I don’t know if Peter Gabriel changed it as much, but he had an amazing and enduring output.
I’ll save my PG vote for next round unless he’s somehow in trouble this one.
Top 10 is a high bar to clear, but I certainly agree that these are the three best candidates this week.
I came very close to choosing Public Enemy. As for Peter Gabriel, I almost chose him as well, because he’s had three impacts: as the early leader of the early prog rock band Genesis; as a successful 80s solo act, with pioneering videos; and, maybe most importantly, as a tireless advocate for “world music” among English speakers (a role he shared with David Byrne and a few others).
Okay, I’ve talked my way into changing my Linda Ronstadt vote to Peter Gabriel. I’m still on the fence about my Buddy Guy vote (vs Public Enemy). What the heck - Public Enemy it is. 