Is it time to close down the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

I was a rock critic in a past life, so every year around this time, I still get a ballot allowing me to vote for my favorite nominees in the annual election at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Actually, I don't get to choose my favorite bands at all. The Hall of Fame is a notoriously top-down institution, with an elite group of insiders making up a nominating committee that pre-selects their own idiosyncratic idea of the worthy candidates. So all of us lowly peons are only allowed to vote for 5 out of 12 possible candidates, which judging from this year's nominees makes for slim pickings.

The list (read it and weep): ABBA, the Chantels, Jimmy Cliff, Genesis, the Hollies, KISS, LL Cool J, Darlene Love, Laura Nyro, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Stooges and Donna Summer.

It's pretty pathetic when you consider that you can vote for the Chantels and Darlene Love, but not for Linda Ronstadt, Steve Miller, Chicago, Rush, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Journey, Dire Straits or Stevie Ray Vaughan, just to name a few of the ineligible worthies. It's no wonder that Joel Selvin, the veteran San Francisco critic (and former member of the hall's nominating committee), has blasted the hall for its insular decision-making. He heaps most of the blame on Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner, the hall's co-founder and dominant force, who is believed to be behind the mysterious last-minute selection of Grandmaster Flash over the Dave Clark 5, with Wenner apparently pushing aside the DC5 (finally inducted in 2008) so the hall could have a hip-hop group in the fold. 

"This thing has sunk to a shameless level of manipulation and behind-the-scenes chicanery," Selvin told the Detroit News in 2007. "If it were a public institution--which it is--it would be held up for public ridicule."

Despite my own shared concerns--I think it would a perfectly appropriate idea to close down the hall for repairs for a few years, until a few more deserving bands become eligible--I still feel obligated to vote. But I'd like some help. Take a second look at the names of the 2010 nominees above and let me know who you'd vote for--and why. Those of us who are actual voters are asked to choose a maximum of five nominees, using numbers (1-2-3-4-5) to signify our preferences. You can do the same. Here's how I'd make my choices as of now, but I'm open to being swayed by any especially passionate or persuasive arguments:

1) The Stooges. (They were short-lived, but had an indelible impact on my teen psyche. Any band that had the one-and-only Iggy Pop on board makes the cut for me.)

2) The Red Hot Chili Peppers. (Local L.A. boys made good, they capture the tumultuous spirit of rock and have made some terrific records along the way.) 

3) Laura Nyro. (Nearly forgotten today, she was a seminal influence on Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Rosanne Cash and untold other singer-songwriters.)

4) LL Cool J. (Probably not a major artist, but in his day, he was the epitome of cool.)

5) KISS. (I'm not a member of the Army and I think Gene Simmons is pretty obnoxious, but they were the voice of a generation--no one can forget their first KISS concert.)

Photo: The Rock and Roll Hall Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Credit: Reuters

Comments

[TORRENCE5]

Donna Summers deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. She dominated radio & record sales at the end of the '70's and also has Grammy awards in Pop, Rock, Dance, & R&B -- she is very multi-faceted in her music. Look beyound the "Queen of Disco" label - though there is nothing wrong with dance music - and acknowledge a woman who crossed over many genres.

[StuartW]

My five: Darlene Love, the Hollies (let's get caught up on some of the 60's greats they keep passing over), Jimmy Cliff (more recognition of reggae, please), Genesis (let's end the snobbery against progressive-rock and FM-Rock radio), and Donna Summer (just for "Hot Stuff" alone!). Future five: Alice Cooper, Bill Withers, Badfinger, Chicago, Dire Straits.

[Sebmaster]

Donna Summer deserves it! In the 70s her hits singles and albums (LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY, I FEEL LOVE, BAD GIRLS) were groundbreaking; today her music is still relevant and influential. She could sing anything... and she can do it today, better than ever. She's recorded quite a few AMAZING rock & roll songs, including HOT STUFF (which won her a Grammy in the Rock Vocal category), THE WANDERER, COLD LOVE, (the whole Grammy-nominated WANDERER album actually), Springsteen's PROTECTION, HE'S A REBEL (on her SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY hit album), OH BILLY PLEASE and EYES (from CATS WITHOUT CLAWS)... She's the ONLY artist to have 5 Grammys in 4 different categories (Rock, R&B, Inspoirational and Dance). Shes' much more than the Queen of Disco: she's the Queen of Music. Just see her in concert and you'll understand.

[Rugratz2222]

What? That place is still open? Isn't that where old music wannabe's go for their last visit before they die? Or one-hit-wonders go and visit before going to work for wal-mart? Absolute power corrupts absolutely and money changes minds. 'nuff said.

[Rick]

Patrick, you are spot on with your assessment of the alleged Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I've been saying for years it is absurd that Deep Purple aren't in there. The fact is, anyone who picked up a guitar to learn rock, likely played "Smoke on the Water" as their first song. It's simplicity and indelible impact on rock is why whenever someone tries to break the Largest Guitar Ensemble World Record, they choose "Smoke" as the song to play. As for your five votes, I would say you are spot on. I might push KISS higher in the list, but since this is all subjective any way, these are the five who are most deserving from the list you can select from.

[NathaN]

KISS! KISS! KISS! KISS! KISS!

[frank]

Donna Summer should be inducted. She has outlived many of her contemporaries from the 70's & 80's and still produces current music and continues to put on sold out shows around the world. Her songs have been covered and sampled sooooo many times! She has been nominated about two other times now. She has won Grammys in four different categories (including Rock & R&B) How long does it have to be before she is appreciated!!!

[Amy]

How could the Hollies not be no. 1 on your list? Their superior song-writing skills and influence alone lift them above anyone (except Laura Nyro) on the list. Why support the cynical comercialism of the New Jersey bar band made good (KISS) and the tedious Chili Peppers? We are to vote for LL Cool J because .. he was cool!!????

I would agree that the whole concept of induction into the Hall of Fame's time has passed, the choices of "critics" - ex- or current - can no more defend their choices than they can the criteria upon which such choices are made.

I fail to see why I should "weep" of the inclusion of the brilliant pop production of ABBA, the artistry of the Chantels, Mr. "Harder They Fall" Jimmy Cliff, et. al.

Yes, please, just shut the whole thing down already. Open it back up when everyone on the "list" has read and listened to everything in Continuum book's 33 1/3rd series.

[Geo]

The Hollies would absolutely be my first pick. They were one of the best of the British Invasion bands, with great songs such as Bus Stop, Carrie Ann, The Air That I Breathe and others. I'm surprised that they aren't already in the Hall! I've never been a Kiss fan - they strike me as a bunch of jerks - but acknowledge that they should be in there too.
1) The Hollies
2) Abba
3) Red Hot Chili Peppers
4) Donna Summers
5) Kiss

[Sue]

I don't think its time to close down The Hall Of Fame. But I do think its time to do some housecleaning, and the TPB need to start in the office of Jann Wenner.