2011 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

After viewing the list of nominees, a number of people have asked "who?" Once again, many worthy candidates have not even been nominated. Jan Wenner needs to go. With that said, here is the list of 2011 Rock Hall nominees...

Alice Cooper: Alice should have been inducted years ago. He pioneered shock rock and theatrical stage shows. Cooper's style has incorporated art rock, glam rock, metal, pop, new wave, industrial, and hard rock. VH 1 named him the 20th most important hard rock artist. Cooper's most important work was 1975's Welcome to My Nightmare.

The Beastie Boys: The Beasties were the first white rap/hip hop act with credibility. They incorporated hard core, punk, rap, hip hop, rock, and alternative into their music. Although not technically rock, other non-rock acts are in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. With Run DMC and Grandmaster Flash already in the hall, the Beasties should probably be inducted as well.

Bon Jovi: Bon Jovi separated themselves from their hair metal contemporaries with Slippery When Wet and New Jersey. When hair metal died, Bon Jovi survived and changed their sound. They are still selling millions of records and have even dabbled in country music. Considering their longevity and success, they belong in the hall.

Chic: Chic was a 70s disco band. They had a series of commercial hits including "Le Freak" and "Good Times." Unlike Abba, their music has not stood up well. Also, their music is uber-plastic. They don't belong.

Neil Diamond: Neil Diamond began his career as a songwriter in the famous Brill Building. The Monkeys covered "I'm a Believer" and "A Little Bit of Me, A Little Bit of You." As a solo artist, Diamond recorded "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" and "Solitary Man." He became a superstar in the seventies and developed a large loyal following. In the eighties, he continued to record iconic hits such as "America" and "Heartlight." As a result of his longevity, talent, and success, Neil Diamond belongs in the Rock Hall.

Donovan: Donovan blended folk with jazz and psychedelia. His hits include "Sunshine Superman" and "Atlantis." He's another artist that should have been inducted years ago.

Dr. John: Dr. John is a jazz/blues legend. His music has crossed over into Zydeco and rock n roll. If this was simply a hall for Rock, then Dr. John would not belong. However, with the expansion to include everything, he belongs.

J. Geils Band: This is one of the great American rock bands. It's a crime that they are not in yet.

LL Cool J: Even with the expansion of rock's definition for the hall, LL does not belong in.

Darlene Love: Who? You've heard her, but don't know it. Remember "He's a Rebel"? She did not record under her own name, but she sang on some major hits including "Da Doo Ron Ron". She's been overlooked, but is nominated for the second straight year.

Laura Nyro: Her work has been covered by the Fifth Dimension, Three Dog Night, and Peter, Paul, and Mary. She probably belongs in the hall under another category.

Donna Summer: Back to disco...she did combine rock with disco.

Joe Tex: Joe Tex was a popular soul singer in the sixties and seventies. He pioneered rap music by speaking over his music. As a result, he is the forefather of modern music.

Tom Waits: Waits work is best known through covers. Rod Stewart did "Downbound Train" and Bruce Springsteen covered "Jersey Girl." Waits is extremely talented and combines roots, blues, and experimental into his own style. His characters are usually seedy and trapped in some bizarre circumstance.

Chuck Willis: Willis died in 1958 at the age of 30. He was known as "the King of Stroll" and has been covered by Eric Clapton, Roy Orbison, Otis Redding, Buddy Holly, Jerry Garcia, and Elvis Presley. His main hit was "The Stroll." If Percy Sledge is in for one hit, then perhaps Willis should be as well.

Top 10 Acts NOT in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame generally does a good job inducting acts. However, it does an even better job ignoring acts. Here are the Top 10 acts not already in the Hall of Fame:

The Clovers: They should have been inducted during the eighties. The Clovers formed in 1946 and were one of the first major vocal groups. They were the mold from which other groups modeled themselves. Their biggest hit, “Love Potion No. 9” came in 1959. It’s likely the voters don’t realize their history beyond that one song.

Your Cash Ain't Nothin' but Trash:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddnDuR8QG-s

Alice Cooper: Cooper was a diverse artist known for his stage shows. He was one of the first to create a rock n roll villain figure and his stage shows were adventures. Cooper’s theatrics and body of work deserve inclusion.

Welcome to My Nightmare:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQE0pfBAYQ8

Deep Purple: Deep Purple is one of the most influential groups ever. They broke with “Hush” which bordered on psychedelic and created perhaps the greatest riff of all time with “Smoke on the Water.” This is a seminal act. Perhaps the billion lineup changes have hurt the band because they did not evolve with a set lineup operating on a single trajectory ala the Rolling Stones or Metallica.

Smoke on the Water (Live with all their lead singers):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WX_4FNoto4


Emerson, Lake, and Palmer: They had a very short-lived mainstream period which undercuts their viability. Additionally, the voters don’t seem to know what to do with Prog rock. It took several tries for Pink Floyd and years for Genesis to make the hall. If the Hall decides to really look at the genre, then ELP (and Rush) will be quick inductees.

Lucky Man:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRFpXPu_7wE

Darlene Love: I have written about her before. Love’s main work was not done under her own name. They need another category to get Darlene elected.

He's a Rebel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOU_uefqeXg

Red Hot Chili Peppers: They have not been eligible for long, so it should not be long before they make it. The early RHCP were innovative and different. They have several seminal albums and a large body of hits. On the other hand, many of their recent hits, all sound alike.

Under the Bridge:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwlogyj7nFE

Rush: Where to start? They are immensely popular, but the band’s personality (mostly) avoids conflict and publicity. So, people forget them. Their musicianship is second to none and Neil Peart is one of the top three drummers of all time (Moon and Bonham). It is a crime Rush is not in the Hall of Fame. Maybe they don’t like Canadians.

Tom Sawyer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7DFsBcVMDA

Ringo Starr: John, Paul, and George are all in as solo artists. Ringo had as many top 10 hits in the seventies as John and George combined. He's had as many #1 hits as John. Ringo probably suffers from his goofy personality and people don’t remember his resume.

It Don't Come Easy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUbntU2N7xY

Tina Turner: Tina is the Queen of Rock n Roll. She is in as part of Ike and Tina Turner, but belongs in as a solo artist which began in the seventies. Her story is compelling, her comeback is legendary, she is well respected and loved, and her hits are still played on the radio today. What gives?

We Don't Need Another Hero:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1FPK5-Rm38

Mary Wells: Wells was Motown’s first solo star. She helped break Motown nationally and crossed racial boundaries. Some consider Mary Wells the originator of the “Motown Sound.“ Her signature hit, “My Guy” is a classic. Unfortunately, she died of cancer in 1992. As a result, she has been forgotten.

My Guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ-qsGe96cw