# Why Rush Won't Get In to the Rock Hall **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 1, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612 "2009-04-01T19:15:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/21 "2009-04-01T21:42:46Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > It’s actually that he’s far too handsome. When you can play as well as Geddy Lee you can afford to look a little frumpy. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/22 "2009-04-01T21:54:14Z")
RUSH is entirely too cool for the RRHOF. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/23 "2009-04-01T21:55:45Z")
I think Geddy Lee’s voice is like fingernails raked along a chalkboard but yeah, Rush probably deserves to be in as much as anyone else. And John Mellencamp, too. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/24 "2009-04-01T22:07:33Z")
Why Mellencamp? I know you can’t account for taste and I know my opinion about his worthiness is certainly colored by that, but he’s basically just a second-rate Springsteen, right? ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/25 "2009-04-01T23:42:37Z")
I remember visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and being just utterly depressed. There was just so much of it about nostalgia over dead people, and very little of it that gave me any hope for the future. There was a special edition of Rolling Stone about 5 years ago which listed the top 500 albums of all time. Sgt. Pepper’s was number one, but from there it said more about the biases of Jan Wenner and Rolling Stone than it did about rock and roll. I find exactly the same kind of attitude at the Hall of Fame. Genesis is actually the one that I find the strangest - the fact that it’s actually two different bands - the Peter Gabriel prog rock period and the Phil Collins million-sellout, I mean, million-seller period. It’s very odd to have such an ‘establishment’ celebration of an anti-establishment art form. And am I the only one who’s amazed that Rush are still together after all this time? Shouldn’t the drummer have exploded by now or something? ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/26 "2009-04-01T23:47:31Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > And am I the only one who’s amazed that Rush are still together after all this time? Shouldn’t the drummer have exploded by now or something? I have long believed Neil Pert is an android. I defy you to prove me wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Chase\_Ransom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@Chase\_Ransom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chase_Ransom)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/27 "2009-04-01T23:48:06Z")
The list is full of “WTF” for an institution called \*\*Rock and Roll \*\*Hall of Fame. Bee Gees? Jackson 5? Madonna? I think if you read the article Wiki has on the institution, you quickly realize there is no legitimate merit to being inducted. The question is: Does Rush give a crap about the RRHOF? I dont ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/28 "2009-04-01T23:57:34Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > I have long believed Neil Pert is an android. I defy you to prove me wrong. I thought something similar about Geddy Lee when I first saw Rush on the ‘Caress of Steel’ tour - he’s playing pedals, keyboards, bass and singing at the same time? What planet did he grow up on? ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/29 "2009-04-02T00:00:42Z")
**Chase** : I’ve begun to expect nobody does. I mean, do you think the Ramones were thinking “Man. Launching an entire genre was good, but being in here with Steely Dan and Elton and Billy Joel? This puts everything it all in perspective.” ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/30 "2009-04-02T00:08:14Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > I thought something similar about Geddy Lee when I first saw Rush on the ‘Caress of Steel’ tour - he’s playing pedals, keyboards, bass and singing at the same time? What planet did he grow up on? If that impresses you, check out this video of an 11-year-old girl playing all the parts of YYZ at the same time, except for the drums. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4XsYuHbXZUk/hqdefault.jpg "YYZ-RUSH-") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XsYuHbXZUk) ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/31 "2009-04-02T00:16:53Z")
> [@riker1384](#): > > If that impresses you, check out this video of an 11-year-old girl playing all the parts of YYZ at the same time, except for the drums. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XsYuHbXZUk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XsYuHbXZUk) Well, yeah, it does impress me because I’ve been experimenting with laying one guitar across the top of the keyboard while playing another guitar that’s strapped really tight to my chest and playing piano at the same time. Sometimes it works; most of the time, I just get confused and screw up. I have quite a lot of respect for anyone who can keep simultaneous multiple instruments straight in their heads for any length of time. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/32 "2009-04-02T00:18:07Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29903313/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29903313/) > Ah - the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame - bringing music lovers together for 30 years. > > I still can’t believe Jefferson Airplane lobbied their way into the Hall… The Airplane would be worthy of fame for any of _White Rabbit, Somebody to Love or Crown of Creation_, each separately or in combo. A RRHOA is a stupid idea anyway. A remembrance museum for those instantly called to memory? Sounds like a place for tourists to drop bucks. > [@Birdmonster](#): > > Why Mellencamp? I know you can’t account for taste and I know my opinion about his worthiness is certainly colored by that, but he’s basically just a second-rate Springsteen, right? Pick up the _Big Daddy_ album. Mellencamp at his best is every bit as good as Springsteen at his best. \*Big Daddy \*is as good as _Tunnel of Love_. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/33 "2009-04-02T00:35:04Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Pick up the _Big Daddy_ album. Mellencamp at his best is every bit as good as Springsteen at his best. \*Big Daddy \*is as good as _Tunnel of Love_. “Tunnel of Love” kinda stinks, IMHO. If you’re gonna compare Mellencamp to “Greetings from Asbury Park” or “Born to Run” or “The River” (disc one) or “Nebraska” or any pretty much any of the others (before “The Rising”), I’d be on board. And YYZ girl? Mediocre. Just kidding. I love when 11 year olds can make me feel like a paltry hack. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/34 "2009-04-02T00:37:51Z")
Count me in the “Rush should be in” vote. Their virtuosity is unquestionable and yes I do think Geddy Lee’s voice is a major stumbling block for many people, myself included. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/35 "2009-04-02T01:09:25Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > “Tunnel of Love” kinda stinks, IMHO. If you’re gonna compare Mellencamp to “Greetings from Asbury Park” or “Born to Run” or “The River” (disc one) or “Nebraska” or any pretty much any of the others (before “The Rising”), I’d be on board. > > And YYZ girl? Mediocre. > > Just kidding. I love when 11 year olds can make me feel like a paltry hack. Springsteen’s early stuff has more high energy rock, but Tunnel of Love or The River is mature, sophisticated and great stuff. Asbury or Darkness are still good for me, but I cannot listen to an early Springsteen album anymore without thinking that he has done much better stuff. If you don’t like the quieter Springsteen, you won’t like quieter Mellencamp. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/36 "2009-04-02T01:15:55Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Springsteen’s early stuff has more high energy rock, but Tunnel of Love or The River is mature, sophisticated and great stuff. Asbury or Darkness are still good for me, but I cannot listen to an early Springsteen album anymore without thinking that he has done much better stuff. If you don’t like the quieter Springsteen, you won’t like quieter Mellencamp. It’s not that I don’t like quieter Springsteen—“Nebraska” is phenomenal and I have big soft spots for “Devils and Dust” and “Ghost of Tom Joad.” I guess “Tunnel of Love” just doesn’t do it for me, for whatever reason. The production is definitely part of it. Knowing that you suggested a quieter 'Camp album, I’m gonna give it a rotation in the next few days. Anything a bit more to check out on the other side of the aisle? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/37 "2009-04-02T01:35:33Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > It’s not that I don’t like quieter Springsteen—“Nebraska” is phenomenal and I have big soft spots for “Devils and Dust” and “Ghost of Tom Joad.” I guess “Tunnel of Love” just doesn’t do it for me, for whatever reason. The production is definitely part of it. > > Knowing that you suggested a quieter 'Camp album, I’m gonna give it a rotation in the next few days. Anything a bit more to check out on the other side of the aisle? Lonesome Jubilee is about one album prior to Big Daddy, and it is really where he starts getting in the more oblique form of story telling. But he is still using anthems there. Move on to Big Daddy, where he has Theo and Henry, Jackie Brown and Mansions in Heaven and he is really getting into the despair of the blues, but finding a silver lining of redemption in faith and community. The end of the 80s was the end of following new music for me (for the most part). I’ve got a thousand albums and don’t really need any new rock and roll music, although I occasionally hear something good. I going back to the broad category of classical to get new stuff for me now. It really is quite rich. But it’s not kid stuff. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/38 "2009-04-02T01:59:57Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > The RRHOF is as irrelevant as the Grammys, IMHO. If I was in one of those deserving-but-not-in bands, I’d wear it as a badge of honor. Thirded. I _am_ a Rush fan and I like it that they are not in the HoF. My perspective is that the HoF insiders have a vision of what is Rock and Roll. This is completely acceptable, admirable even, but I don’t share this vision. The roadblock that the HoF faces is that it realized this vision several years ago. Now they are spinning their wheels try to redefine it in order to keep the money rolling (and rocking) in. I don’t find this particularly admirable and would prefer not to have Rush, or really anyone, a part of it. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/39 "2009-04-02T02:03:59Z")
Dare I suggest there is a certain prejudice against Canadian bands that did not form or do most of their work in the US? The Band, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen are all Canadian, yes, but I would venture to say they had their biggest success and influence after they went to the states. Whereas The Guess Who, Lighthouse, The Stampeders, Rush and Max Webster/Kim Mitchell, among many others, have not really ‘cracked’ the US market nor consciousness in quite the same way. Sort of along the same lines as why The Tragically Hip are huge in Canada but largely unknown or ignored in the States. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612/40 "2009-04-02T02:09:59Z")
If I were in a band like Rush, I’d know that we reached out to millions of fans, made some good music, and were a major influence. The snotty opinions of a few people who have nothing better to do than compile lists of “the greatest _x_ of all time” wouldn’t and shouldn’t mean anything. The fans know, the band knows, and nothing else matters. - Not a huge Rush fan, although I like some of their stuff. This could really apply to almost any band. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is as meaningless as all the “Greatest x of all time” shows put out by VH1, or a similar list put out by any magazine. There’s no definitive “greatest” list of anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-rush-wont-get-in-to-the-rock-hall/491612.md?page=3)