Next month, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will announce their inductees for the class of 2012.
As a lifelong music fan and a former music critic who attended 120 or so concerts a year and listened to tens of thousands of CDs, here is how I would vote on this year’s nominees:
Beastie Boys: Yes. Pioneering rap group worthy of the hall of fame. Favorite BB story is the Rolling Stone headline on the review of their 1986 License to Ill album: “Three idiots create a masterpiece.”
The Cure: Sorry, never really was much for shoe gazing.
Eric B. and Rakim: Who dey?
Guns n’ Roses: Yes. One of the premier rock bands of their era.
Heart: Sure, why not. “Barracuda” alone should get them in.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: No. I think the Runaways were more important.
Freddie King: Absolutely. One of the 3 Kings — B.B., Albert, and Freddie — who laid the foundation for most British rockers. Eric Clapton virtually copied Freddie’s guitar, note for note, on some of his covers.
Laura Nyro: Seems to me to be a singer whom critics love to fawn over, but nobody else ever listens to.
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Definitely. Flea is one of the greatest rock bassists ever, perhaps THE greatest. I’ll never forget seeing them at the 1994 Woodstock festival where they were dressed up as giant light bulbs.
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan: Nah. Chaka sure could sing but I wouldn’t rate them among the rock pantheon.
The Small Faces/The Faces: No. Solid early British rockers, but their best achievement was launching the careers of Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood.
The Spinners: On the bubble. I had a fraternity brother at Duke who was just gaga for the Spinners. Their music does make you feel good.
Donna Summer: No. She was the queen of disco, but disco was an anti-rock genre. Doesn’t seem to fit. Maybe disco should start its own hall of fame.
War: Yes. Talented and visionary band who meshed soul and rock so seamlessly. Many great songs still hold up today including “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” “Cisco Kid,” “Spill the Wine,” “Lowrider.”
