Actually, this year's list of 15 nominees is probably no weaker than last year when, somehow, ABBA was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. Not the Popular Music Hall of Fame. Not the Swedish Husband-Wife Foursome Hall of Fame. The rock hall of fame that houses the bass Paul Simonon smashed on the cover of London Calling.
But, hey, when you're clinging to relevancy with only the most tenuous of grips, as the Rock Hall has been since it opened 15 years ago, it's probably not a bad idea to branch out.
Anyway, the Beastie Boys (rappers), LL Cool J (rapper), Bon Jovi (actual rock band), Alice Cooper (actual rock singer), and Tom Waits (actual rock singer) look to be the favorites with Neil Diamond, Chic, Donovan, Laura Nyro, Dr. John, J. Geils Band, Donna Summer, Darlene Love, Joe Tex and Chuck Willis bringing up the rear.
From here, the 500 oldest and crustiest music journalists, knob-twisting producers and roadies in the nation -- Rolling Stone Managing Tyrannosaurus Jann Wenner picks them if you can believe it -- vote to select the inductees, who will be announced in December. As the final 'fuck you' to the good people of Cleveland who are saddled with the unenviable task of supporting and defending this monstrosity the annual induction ceremony will take place on March 14 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.
Because, you know, Cleveland doesn't have airports or hotels.
Cooper said he's honored in a statement:
"Five guys starting a band, just hoping to meet girls and drink free beer, rehearsing and playing local bars five hours a night for the first few years -- that was us. We came up with the theatrics and made every effort not to sacrifice the music one bit; we thought it was like our job to bring theatrics to rock 'n' roll," he writes. "And then, amazingly enough, we were having a bunch of massive hit records which was proof that theatricality and rock 'n' roll could, in fact, be joined successfully. We've been told that we revolutionized the live concert experience and if that's truly the case and it's led to this nomination for induction into the Hall of Fame, the only thing to say is, of course, "There's no business like show business!"
