The face of rock and roll has certainly changed in recent years, and a quick look at the 2011 nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will prove the case. Sure, Metallica is hardly rock and roll if you go by the traditional definition of the term, but they are cataclysmically more deserving than 2007’s inductee Grandmaster Flash or 2008’s Madonna or last year’s ABBA. And KISS, well, rock and roll had a huge influence on their early work, which can be heard on KISS, Hotter Than Hell, and Dressed to Kill, yet they’ve been snubbed again by the elitist preferences and tastes of the small voting board in favor of such acts as Chic, LL Cool J, Darlene Love, and Donna Summers, to name a few.
The Beastie Boys are also nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Yes, they’re good and have roots in punk, but they’re hardly rock and roll. And what’s with LL Cool J being nominated? Yeah, he’s pretty respected within his genre, but again, what does he have to do with rock? The closest he came was with “Mama Said Knock You Out.” Should the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame be renamed the Top 40 Hall of Fame?
Neil Diamond is on the list, and we can see that. He has scope and influence and he kind of bridges that valley between old school Elvis on the road with Johnny Cash and fat, coked-out Vegas Elvis. We also agree with Donovan and Alice Cooper getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There are a few others I like, but I’ll just provide the list and let you tell Yell! who you like. Besides, I’m still pissed KISS has been overlooked again.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2011 Nominees:
Alice Cooper
Beastie Boys
Bon Jovi
Chic
Neil Diamond
Donovan
Dr. John
J. Geils Band
LL Cool J
Darlene Love
Laura Nyro
Donna Summers
Joe Tex
Tom Waits
Chuck Willis
