The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just announced an electric group of nominees for the 2010 class, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, punk godfathers The Stooges and the internationally-loved pop group ABBA. Less-represented genres such as progressive rock and hard rock also made the list with the nominations of Genesis and Kiss, signaling a possible shift in the tastes of the Hall of Fame.
The nominees also included British rockers The Hollies, Disco queen Donna Summers, Darlene Love, Jimmy Cliff, Laura Nyro, the Chantels and hip hop icon LL Cool J. With a variety of veterans possibly up for induction, the Hall of Fame has a chance to correct some of its past errors while shaping induction classes for years to come.
Snubbing the Stooges would have been inexcusable, as their influence extends to punk rockers already in the Hall of Fame. The institution’s failure to induct them the past seven times they were nominated, particularly last year after the death of guitarist Ron Asheton, has been a slap in the face of the band that has given us Iggy Pop and classics such as “Search and Destroy” and “No Fun.” Their roaring guitars and wild on-stage antics largely defined great rock and roll, and their long-awaited induction is almost guaranteed this year.
Besides finally acknowledging the work of the one of the most influential bands, the induction of The Stooges would open the door for other grungier artists to be discussed in future years. Edgier 80s underground bands like Sonic Youth and the Replacements have been eligible for induction, and the Stooges might be the first step towards the recognition of these highly deserving acts. While these bands often rebelled against institutions like the Hall of Fame, the gesture of an induction ensures the preservation of their legacy in rock history.
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises was nomination of the long-ignored Genesis, Phil Collins’ band before he started recording atrocious pop music and Disney songs. Progressive rock has been long-maligned by many rock critics and fans for its excess and sometimes campy tactics. The high musicianship and theatricality sometimes reflects the grace of classical music more than the rock and roll spirit of founders like Chuck Berry and Little Richard. The induction of Genesis might be a sign of the hall’s recognition of prog-rock. After all, King Crimson, Yes and Rush have some of the most talented musicians in all of rock music. Something is not quite right when Bob Seger is representing rock and roll before Rush’s Neil Peart.
LL Cool J’s nomination continues the debate over whether or not hip hop deserves to be considered as rock and roll. Although most expected this discussion to continue, we expected the Beastie Boys to be the rap representatives in the nomination clash. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Run-DMC have already been inducted, proving that hip hop has a place in the Hall of Fame, but they were obvious selections. “The Message” was 51 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and Run-DMC brought hip hop to the mainstream by breaking down the wall between rap and rock. On the other hand, LL Cool J is not as popular in rock circles. He is, however, an essential figure in the hip hop community with the masterpiece “Mama Said You Knock You Out,” once compared by Chris Rock in Rolling Stone Magazine to “the Secret deodorant: strong enough for a man, but made for a woman.” An induction, unlikely this year considering this is the first year he was eligible, would show that the Hall of Fame is not merely recognizing the obvious giants in hip hop. It would be recognizing rap music as an essential part of rock and roll culture.
While future inductions of alternative, progressive and hip hop acts lie in the balance this year, another genre proves to be the most important of all. I am, of course, talking about disco. After all, pop music is largely getting up out of your seat and moving to the beat, and the possible induction of either ABBA or Donna Summer would be a liberating experience for the cultural phenomenon that defined much of the 70s — for better or worse. Mamma Mia! might have been a horrible, horrible movie, but no one can deny the power of ABBA songs. When describing the ABBA compilation Gold for his list of his 500 favorite albums, Elvis Costello said the fast songs are “for nights entertaining your Australian friend” while the slow songs are “a pop-music version of Bergman’s Scenes from a Marriage.” Some in the rock community have long been embarrassed to admit the place of ABBA in rock history, and this might be the moment when the greatest group of the disco era receives formal recognition from a community that often rejects its kind. ABBA is not and should never be considered a “guilty pleasure.”
Still, there were painful omissions for those of us keeping track. As long as Tom Waits, Television and Roxy Music are excluded, the Hall of Fame is far from complete. But efforts are continuing in its much-appreciated attempts to diversify the Hall of Fame, seen with last year’s induction class. The hall of fame’s nomination and induction decisions always end up stirring conversation about great artists like The Stooges and The Hollies, and that is ultimately what the Hall of Fame is about.