Eddie Trunk to interview Rock and Roll Hall of Fame CEO on his radio show

Twiddlenutz



Why is this an unanswerable question?  Clearly people make these decisions, can't they describe why they have decided the way that they've decided? 

They should, but it comes down to human nature.  It's not "unanswerable" in the literal sense, but in the practical sense.  With that question, you are asking a person to essentially admit they made a mistake and admit their taste is not indicative of the general perception of "good" and "bad".   So they will give you the answer that justifies their decision.
 
In my opinion, what we have to do is not continually ridicule their decisions and choices - very few human beings respond positively to ridicule in that way - but try to get them to see that the same reasons they applied to Eric B and Rakim and Blondie also apply to King Crimson and Deep Purple. 
 
Kiss amazes me, because Dave Marsh edited Creem and Kiss was like the poster kids for Creem magazine in the 70's; Gene Simmons must've banged Marsh's girlfriend or something to create that kind of animosity, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if a random nominator couldn't name the guitar player for Crimson (either of them) or one other artist they've worked with.  And yes, I know of Fripp's longtime association with rock cogniscenti darlings David Bowie and Brian Eno.

Stadler


Anyway, I think it's going to be a lot of wishy washy, non-committal bull**** totally in keeping with the rhetoric so far.  "Sure, Ed, we all know [Rush, Deep Purple, Kiss, etc.] are excellent musicians who are deserving, but we've got to have a line somewhere. . . ."  

The response to that is, of course, why does there need to be a line?  Why not put in everyone who is deserving?  If the answer is because there's only room for X number of artists at the induction ceremony, then at least be open about it.
 

Stadler


EB&R is actually what I consider to be the paradigm of who SHOULD be in there.  They WERE influential, and they WERE critical to a burgeoning genre... as was Deep Purple.  

But the difference is that DP was a rock & roll act, and the "burgeoning genre" to which EB&R were important was not rock & roll or any sub-genre thereof.  So, I think the better question would be why the so called Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has so many non-rock acts when there are so many deserving rock acts who are not in.

pg1067


The response to that is, of course, why does there need to be a line?  Why not put in everyone who is deserving?  If the answer is because there's only room for X number of artists at the induction ceremony, then at least be open about it.

 
They've been quite open about it.  Five per year.  I don't think they've varied from that more than once or twice. 

But the difference is that DP was a rock & roll act, and the "burgeoning genre" to which EB&R were important was not rock & roll or any sub-genre thereof.  So, I think the better question would be why the so called Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has so many non-rock acts when there are so many deserving rock acts who are not in.

Well, I can't really answer that, but I think an inclusive definition of "Rock and roll" is better than an exclusive definition.  I personally don't have the heartburn about rap being in there.  There is enough crossover, and certainly with sampling, there is a lot of interaction with rap.  I think that is another argument that's bound to lose. 
 
 But here's the thing:  if we accept that EB&R are worthy, then we can make a far more credible argument that Kiss should be there.   The impact on later generations is the same.  For every kid that started rapping because of EB&R, or every navel-gazer that started a band because of hearing the Velvet Underground (another band that has made its bones not on its own output but on its influence of others) there is a kid that learned Alive! note for note, and had Ace's face tattooed on his ass.  Kiss - worthy as they may be - is not getting in on the strength of "Plaster Caster" or "Domino".   They are getting in on the indelible changes they've wrought in rock and roll since their inception. 

Stadler

Twiddlenutz

Why is this an unanswerable question?  Clearly people make these decisions, can't they describe why they have decided the way that they've decided? 

They should, but it comes down to human nature.  It's not "unanswerable" in the literal sense, but in the practical sense.  With that question, you are asking a person to essentially admit they made a mistake and admit their taste is not indicative of the general perception of "good" and "bad".   So they will give you the answer that justifies their decision.

 
Hey, that's good enough for me.  If you're going to put your opinion out there you should be prepared to explain why/ how you came to believe those things.  And I think that's what some people want: the justification that sounds ridiculous, coming right from the horse's mouth.

Stadler

Kiss amazes me, because Dave Marsh edited Creem and Kiss was like the poster kids for Creem magazine in the 70's; Gene Simmons must've banged Marsh's girlfriend or something to create that kind of animosity

Ha, this reminds me of a letter I wrote ( I know, who bothers to do that? ) back in the day to Spin Magazine.  I wrote something to the effect of "the way you guys are always talking crap makes me think progressive rock must have banged your girlfriend once."

Stadler
In my opinion, what we have to do is not continually ridicule their decisions and choices - very few human beings respond positively to ridicule in that way - but try to get them to see that the same reasons they applied to Eric B and Rakim and Blondie also apply to King Crimson and Deep Purple.

 
Again, I have to chime in agreement with this sentiment. One thing they do right is inducting some acts who aren't exactly household names or played on the radio constantly. Traffic, for example, is a GREAT band that other than a few radio hits, stayed under the radar and mostly on FM radio during the 60's and 70's. And they were inducted. I'm glad the Faces are getting in this year, as I've only discovered recently how great a band they were. Donovan getting in is cool too, if only for the use of "Hurdy Gurdy Man" in Zodiac.