More Class of 2015 Rockhall Thoughts

Upon further reflection, I have some additional comments regarding the 2015 crop of nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You should first read the previous post (below) if you haven't already, wherein I discuss each nominee and give my personal vote and prediction. Also, JMW and I have a lively discussion regarding Joan Jett and women in the Rockhall in general in the comments.

These more recent classes are by their nature more controversial and more open to debate than the earliest ones. I mean, who is going to argue that Elvis Presley should not be in? "You know, I don't know about them Beatles." The first four or five classes were givens. But the fun stuff comes in more recent times.

More on Sting. I cannot forgive 1993 forward. As much as I love 1985-91, there is just too much badness for too long after. It is inexcusable for a man of his talents. He traded integrity for chart success, dumbing down his lyrics and his sound. And since The Police have already been separately inducted, I must say "no" to Sting.

One of the things that I always enjoy about the announcement of the nominees (even moreso than the announcement for the actual inductees, actually) is that it gives me an opportunity (or excuse) to explore the music of some artists that I may have overlooked in my music listening career. That hasn't happened much this time around (although perhaps I should listen to Nine Inch Nails a little more than I have), but there are some repeat nominees here whom I did explore when they were nominated previously. Two in particular. I am now a pretty big fan and admirer of Kraftwerk, and the first time that I delved into their music was due to a previous nomination.

Also The Marvelettes. They get a little lost in the Motown shadow of The Supremes and Martha and the Vandellas. A few years back when they were nominated I downloaded a hits collection. I love it. A little grittier and sultrier than the shimmering Supremes or sunny Martha and the Vandellas. The early hits are vintage Motown girl group stuff, but their later songs are more sophisticated soul. If you haven't, I highly recommend checking out The Marvelettes. (The record was The Ultimate Collection by the way, a generous 25 track collection that is wonderful from start to finish). I prefer them over Supremes or Martha and the Vandellas.

I always feel that I have to defend Paul Butterfield Blues Band when they get nominated. Many people haven't even heard of them or they are dismissed. They shouldn't be. Rarely are they in the top 5 or 6 of any nominating class, but they are still important and great. East-West is a brilliant album, and especially the title track is hugely influential on jam bands to come. Butterfield and Bloomfield were also brilliant musicians.

Finally, a discussion of each crop of nominees would not be complete without whining about who is still not in the Hall. So here is my list of snubs, the asterick means that they have been nominated before, but not inducted. I do not necessarily like all of these artists, but they have good arguments. Notice the Hall's disdain especially for metal, prog and the 80's in general. Like them or not, some of these snubs are inexcusable when Percy Sledge and Linda Ronstadt have been enshrined.

CLASSIC ROCK/60’s and 70’s: Chicago; Lou Reed*; Love; MC5*; Steve Miller Band; Steve Winwood*; Big Star; Blue Oyster Cult; Canned Heat; Capt. Beefheart; Cheap Trick; Doobie Brothers; JJ Cale; Jimmy Buffett; Joe Cocker; Meatloaf; Monkees; Nick Drake; Paul Butterfield Blues Band*; Richard Thompson; Richie Havens; 13th Floor Elevators; Roxy Music; Steppenwolf; T. Rex; Zombies*...

EARLY ROCK AND ROLL/R&B/BLUES/SOUL: SRV*; Kool & the Gang; Bill Withers*; Chic*; Commodores; Dick Dale; Johnny Burnette and the R&R Trio; Lightnin’ Hopkins; Neville Brothers; Rick James; Sonny Boy Williamson; War*; The Spinners*; Marvelettes*; Barry White; Link Wray*...

PROG: King Crimson; Yes*; ELO; ELP; Jethro Tull; Moody Blues...

METAL/HARD ROCK: Deep Purple*; Judas Priest; Motorhead; Ozzy Osbourne; Iron Maiden; Thin Lizzy; Megadeath; Motley Crue; Pantera...

NEW WAVE/80’s/80’s ALTERNATIVE: Cars; Devo; Duran Duran; Journey; Cure*; Joy Division/New Order; Replacements*; Pixies; Smiths*; Sting*; Bon Jovi*; Church; Def Leppard; Depeche Mode; Dire Straits; Echo & the Bunnymen; Eurythmics; INXS; Janet Jackson; Los Lobos; Misfits; Television; Tina Turner (solo); Whitney Houston; Sonic Youth; Morrissey; Bjork; Black Flag; Husker Du; Kate Bush; New York Dolls*...

RAP: Ice T; NWA*; Erik B. and Rakim*; LL Cool J*; Africa Bambaataa*...

OTHER: Kraftwerk*; Willie Nelson (if Johnny Cash and Hank Williams are in, then where is Willie?); Can; Fela Kuti; Flying Burrito Brothers; Frank Sinatra; Gram Parsons*; John Coltrane (Miles is in); King Sunny Ade; Merle Haggard; Tom Jones; Townes Van Zandt; Brian Eno; Count Basie; Duke Ellington; Silver Apples; Weird Al Yankovic (there is actually a good case to be made here); Django Reinhardt; Ella Fitzgerald...

90’s AND FORWARD: Flaming Lips; Jane’s Addiction; Soundgarden; Stone Roses; Green Day*; NIN*...

BACKING GROUPS(leaders are in or have been nominated, but these crucial backing groups for them have not): Wailers (Bob Marley), Belmonts (Dion), Mothers of Invention (Frank Zappa), Double Trouble (Stevie Ray Vaughan, who is nominated this year)