via yahoo

First, let’s address the most burning question surrounding the 2011 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominations: No, Rush didn’t make the cut, again. Let the annual wailing and gnashing of teeth begin!

But, the great prog blackout notwithstanding, some other traditional oversights did get addressed with this year’s round of 15 nods.

Most gratifyingly, rock’s female pioneers of the mid-‘70s are finally getting a shot at getting their due. It’s sometimes seemed as if the Rock Hall doesn’t believe women did much of anything between Janis’ death and the Madonna nation’s birth. But now they're coming straight on for you! The figures who arguably did the most to advance women in rock in the Me Decade, Heart and Joan Jett, both picked up first-time nominations.

So did Rufus with Chaka Khan. Two previous women nominees associated with the era, Laura Nyro and Donna Summer, are also back among this year’s mix of contenders. (Maybe the nominating committee actually visited the Hall of Fame's new "Women Who Rock" exhibit this summer?)

The other area of obvious emphasis: the late ‘80s dudes who helped make up the second generation of MTV rock stars. Guns N’ Roses and the Cure are up for the first time, joined by second-time nominees the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Surely this town ain’t big enough for all three of ‘em. Will Anthony be telling Axl to put a sock in it? Or will Rose tell Kiedis to put a scarf on it?

And then there’s late ‘80s hip-hop, with first-time nominees Eric B. & Rakim pitted against the Beastie Boys, who are trying for induction a second time. You’ve got to fight for your right to… Parma! (Sorry, a little joke there for the Rock Hall’s hometown, Cleveland.)

The nominee slate is rounded out by the usual potpourri of strange bedfellows that include the Spinners, the Small Faces/Faces, War, Donovan, and Freddy King.

You can expect the usual howls of protest, since there’s no national pastime that brings the nation together quite like carping about the Rock Hall’s choices every year.

Much of it will take the traditional form of “You consider that rock & roll?” — often (but not always) directed at the R&B, rap, or soul performers included on the list. Expect the inclusion of soul favorites Rufus and the Spinners, rappers Erik B. & Rakim, and bluesman King to draw protests from the folks who want to define rock strictly as a genre and not a cross-cultural movement. (For good measure, they might even throw in the folkie Donovan as someone whose yellow is too mellow to be "rock.")

And then there will be the “no Geddy, no peace” contingent. For the record, yes, it is a crime against humanity—resolvable only by a war-crimes tribunal—that none of the following have ever been nominated: T. Rex, the Smiths, Yes, Jethro Tull, Devo, Todd Rundgren, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Roxy Music, Willie Nelson, Warren Zevon, the Replacements, ELO, Chubby Checker, Hall and Oates, Los Lobos, Black Flag, X, the B-52s, Dick Dale, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Nick Drake, Captain Beefheart, Sonic Youth, and the Go-Go’s. Agreed!

Special nods of woe, also, to some deserving acts who were nominated in the past but failed to get in, who the nominating committee has probably given up on trying to sneak past the general voters: Gram Parsons (even the third time wasn’t the charm, back in 2005), Ben E. King (another three-time nominee, though his last turn at bat came in 1988), the Shangri-Las, Ben E. King, Carole King, the MC5, the New York Dolls, Johnny Ace, Kraftwerk, the Sir Douglas Quintet, and Lou Reed.

So who stands the best chances this year?

Voters tend to not pick more than one from each subgenre. And unfortunately, they’ll probably think of “women” as a subgenre. Joan Jett looks like the strongest bet, partly because voters will also be thinking of the Runaways, who’ve never gotten a nomination (possibly because the committee can’t bear to reward Lita Ford). Heart may be viewed, unfairly, as not cool enough, while Nyro will probably still be too cool to get in.

If only one hip-hop act is likely to make it in, that one act is likelier to be the still-active one, the Beastie Boys, even though the general votership denied their rights before.

fter Jett and the Beasties, though, it’s anyone’s guess who might take the other three winning slots. Who knows if the Chili Peppers will benefit from their survivor status or suffer from the somewhat indifferent reaction to their new album?

The biggest question mark is GNR, still viewed as cheeseball by much (but hardly all) of the critical establishment and intelligentsia. Axl’s megalomania doesn’t exactly foster a sentiment-fueled vote, either. But the popular impact is undeniable. And, of course, there’s the reunion curiosity factor: How many of us wouldn’t vote for GNR just to see if Rose and Slash can get back together on stage and make it through a single number without yanking one another's headpieces off?

The idea that induction will force a reunion performance can be a false hope, though... as fans who expected to see Creedence or ABBA getting it together for one night unhappily learned. You can lead the long-busted band to the awards-show trough, but you can’t make ‘em drink through their differences.

If there's no patch-up in store, it would still be pretty wonderful to hear a couple of rock's highest voices in harmony—say, Ann Wilson wailing on "Welcome to the Jungle" and Axl going "Crazy on You." Just saying...

Which nominees would you like to see make it to the final five? And who’s the most egregious ongoing shut-out?

[Edited 9/27/11 11:05am]

My induction class: Red Hot Chilli Peppers, War, Rufus, Beastie Boys and Eric B and Rakim. Thought about voting for the Spinners, but Eric B and Rakim is from my generation and because of Rakim, rappers that came after him like Nas, Eminem, Black Thought, Wu-Tang inspired them to write the music they do. Even if nobody I dig goes in, I hope that it's a good ceremony and the people who are inducted are paid the best tributes.

Donna: will you ever get the recognition you deserve?

Hope so...

Im surprised that the Cure got in so early.

I love this ish more for the coverage then the actual awards.

Rufus & Chaka Khan... WHOA! Am I seeing things?!

Hopefully Donna, Heart and Joan get it. Love the chances of the Cure getting in it too.

Timmy84 said:

Rufus & Chaka Khan... WHOA! Am I seeing things?!

Hopefully Donna, Heart and Joan get it. Love the chances of the Cure getting in it too.

Well its about 10 years late, but thank U for giving HEART a shot, i love the idea of Joan Jett getting in, props to WOMEN this year, get Donna in too finally, as for GNR i think they get in because of the enigma, the delays, the headlines, the lifestyle,the BS, and then for 2 great albums and 2 bloated albums, and some other thing. Dont Hold your breath on a reunion though, knowing AXL it will be billed as a reunion and the dick will pull out and no one will be there to accept the honor, if it was up to me, they wouldnt get in, not while bands like Chicago, Hall and Oates and others arent in yet, and honestly, Bon Jovi would be in long before GnR, Guns would be in the Overrated Hall of Fame with Lauryn Hill. As for the Cure, honestly i respect them, but i cant take them at all, i mean, if you going to put the cure toss The Smiths in there too.

We are however getting VERY close to the year the Jayhawks are eligible, who to me, HAVE To get in, they have had more acclaim than any band i know without selling out or even having a hit, they are deserving, plus they represent a Minneapolis Sound that was an alternative to Prince.

When are the inductees announced? December, right?

lastdecember said:

Timmy84 said:

Rufus & Chaka Khan... WHOA! Am I seeing things?!

Hopefully Donna, Heart and Joan get it. Love the chances of the Cure getting in it too.

Well its about 10 years late, but thank U for giving HEART a shot, i love the idea of Joan Jett getting in, props to WOMEN this year, get Donna in too finally, as for GNR i think they get in because of the enigma, the delays, the headlines, the lifestyle,the BS, and then for 2 great albums and 2 bloated albums, and some other thing. Dont Hold your breath on a reunion though, knowing AXL it will be billed as a reunion and the dick will pull out and no one will be there to accept the honor, if it was up to me, they wouldnt get in, not while bands like Chicago, Hall and Oates and others arent in yet, and honestly, Bon Jovi would be in long before GnR, Guns would be in the Overrated Hall of Fame with Lauryn Hill. As for the Cure, honestly i respect them, but i cant take them at all, i mean, if you going to put the cure toss The Smiths in there too.

We are however getting VERY close to the year the Jayhawks are eligible, who to me, HAVE To get in, they have had more acclaim than any band i know without selling out or even having a hit, they are deserving, plus they represent a Minneapolis Sound that was an alternative to Prince.

The committee LOVES the controversy but I'll be shocked if they don't induct GNR not because I think they need to get in but because they thrive on controversy with whoever they inducted (the Sex Pistols' letter was entertaining ). I do see Joan going in before Heart though but I do hope they get in!

Timmy84 said:

lastdecember said:

Well its about 10 years late, but thank U for giving HEART a shot, i love the idea of Joan Jett getting in, props to WOMEN this year, get Donna in too finally, as for GNR i think they get in because of the enigma, the delays, the headlines, the lifestyle,the BS, and then for 2 great albums and 2 bloated albums, and some other thing. Dont Hold your breath on a reunion though, knowing AXL it will be billed as a reunion and the dick will pull out and no one will be there to accept the honor, if it was up to me, they wouldnt get in, not while bands like Chicago, Hall and Oates and others arent in yet, and honestly, Bon Jovi would be in long before GnR, Guns would be in the Overrated Hall of Fame with Lauryn Hill. As for the Cure, honestly i respect them, but i cant take them at all, i mean, if you going to put the cure toss The Smiths in there too.

We are however getting VERY close to the year the Jayhawks are eligible, who to me, HAVE To get in, they have had more acclaim than any band i know without selling out or even having a hit, they are deserving, plus they represent a Minneapolis Sound that was an alternative to Prince.

The committee LOVES the controversy but I'll be shocked if they don't induct GNR not because I think they need to get in but because they thrive on controversy with whoever they inducted (the Sex Pistols' letter was entertaining ). I do see Joan going in before Heart though but I do hope they get in!

I think they will "punish" Heart for the "80's" just like they punish Chicago for the "ballads" and Bon Jovi for the "hits" and Hall and Oates and Pat Benatar for all the same reasons. I like Joan but she has nothing on Heart and to me Ann Wilson is the greatest female rock voice ever, and still no one comes close.

lastdecember said:

Timmy84 said:

The committee LOVES the controversy but I'll be shocked if they don't induct GNR not because I think they need to get in but because they thrive on controversy with whoever they inducted (the Sex Pistols' letter was entertaining ). I do see Joan going in before Heart though but I do hope they get in!

I think they will "punish" Heart for the "80's" just like they punish Chicago for the "ballads" and Bon Jovi for the "hits" and Hall and Oates and Pat Benatar for all the same reasons. I like Joan but she has nothing on Heart and to me Ann Wilson is the greatest female rock voice ever, and still no one comes close.

Ugh... yeah I can see them doing that. Joan would definitely get in before Heart does. I can see it.

lastdecember said:

Timmy84 said:

Rufus & Chaka Khan... WHOA! Am I seeing things?!

Hopefully Donna, Heart and Joan get it. Love the chances of the Cure getting in it too.

Well its about 10 years late, but thank U for giving HEART a shot, i love the idea of Joan Jett getting in, props to WOMEN this year, get Donna in too finally, as for GNR i think they get in because of the enigma, the delays, the headlines, the lifestyle,the BS, and then for 2 great albums and 2 bloated albums, and some other thing. Dont Hold your breath on a reunion though, knowing AXL it will be billed as a reunion and the dick will pull out and no one will be there to accept the honor, if it was up to me, they wouldnt get in, not while bands like Chicago, Hall and Oates and others arent in yet, and honestly, Bon Jovi would be in long before GnR, Guns would be in the Overrated Hall of Fame with Lauryn Hill. As for the Cure, honestly i respect them, but i cant take them at all, i mean, if you going to put the cure toss The Smiths in there too.

We are however getting VERY close to the year the Jayhawks are eligible, who to me, HAVE To get in, they have had more acclaim than any band i know without selling out or even having a hit, they are deserving, plus they represent a Minneapolis Sound that was an alternative to Prince.

Geez! It's called "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame"... so yes, GNR should get in before all the bands you mentioned! And it's 3 great albums!

^ You think they honestly care about "preserving" rock and roll? The induction for GNR would be well deserved but there's always something up their sleeves whenever they induct a band whose members don't get along at all. If there's a chance GNR will get inducted next year, don't count AXL on being there with Slash, Steven, Izzy and Duff, especially Slash and Duff.

[Edited 9/27/11 15:49pm]

^^No, not really, but since the RnR is in their name, they may as well give it to a RnR band... besides, I guess they won't pass up the chance to see what happens if GNR gets inducted. So I'm pretty much sure GNR will be among the inductees! Induct

PatrickS77 said:

lastdecember said:

Well its about 10 years late, but thank U for giving HEART a shot, i love the idea of Joan Jett getting in, props to WOMEN this year, get Donna in too finally, as for GNR i think they get in because of the enigma, the delays, the headlines, the lifestyle,the BS, and then for 2 great albums and 2 bloated albums, and some other thing. Dont Hold your breath on a reunion though, knowing AXL it will be billed as a reunion and the dick will pull out and no one will be there to accept the honor, if it was up to me, they wouldnt get in, not while bands like Chicago, Hall and Oates and others arent in yet, and honestly, Bon Jovi would be in long before GnR, Guns would be in the Overrated Hall of Fame with Lauryn Hill. As for the Cure, honestly i respect them, but i cant take them at all, i mean, if you going to put the cure toss The Smiths in there too.

We are however getting VERY close to the year the Jayhawks are eligible, who to me, HAVE To get in, they have had more acclaim than any band i know without selling out or even having a hit, they are deserving, plus they represent a Minneapolis Sound that was an alternative to Prince.

Geez! It's called "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame"... so yes, GNR should get in before all the bands you mentioned! And it's 3 great albums!

Sorry but there are alot of artists in the RNR hof that arent ROCK, so thats BS. Guns will get the honor for what they did off stage than on, no one can deny that, yes they had a 2 great albums and were a rock band, but lets be real Use Your Illusion's had a great deal of non-rockers, i can remember some power ballads on there that they themselves were totally against a few years prior.

I mean all of a sudden because Guns is up the Hall of Fame has cred? come on, Percy Sledge got in for one freaking song, that had nothing to do with rock! while Queen almost fell off the ballot? I mean come on, Queen is miles ahead of anyone in the Hall of Fame, and they almost missed it

lastdecember said:

PatrickS77 said:

Geez! It's called "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame"... so yes, GNR should get in before all the bands you mentioned! And it's 3 great albums!

Sorry but there are alot of artists in the RNR hof that arent ROCK, so thats BS. Guns will get the honor for what they did off stage than on, no one can deny that, yes they had a 2 great albums and were a rock band, but lets be real Use Your Illusion's had a great deal of non-rockers, i can remember some power ballads on there that they themselves were totally against a few years prior.

I mean all of a sudden because Guns is up the Hall of Fame has cred? come on, Percy Sledge got in for one freaking song, that had nothing to do with rock! while Queen almost fell off the ballot? I mean come on, Queen is miles ahead of anyone in the Hall of Fame, and they almost missed it

I'm still @ Percy's induction. Now that one I don't think was deserved... at all! If anything GNR are like the '80s Sex Pistols: revered for one album (UYI got a lot of mixed reviews upon its release) so I could see them getting in since both of them were credited with "changing rock music" with one particular album. In the Pistols' case it was Nevermind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, with GNR, it was Appetite for Destruction and that was a 3-year run.

Timmy84 said:

^ You think they honestly care about "preserving" rock and roll? The induction for GNR would be well deserved but there's always something up their sleeves whenever they induct a band whose members don't get along at all. If there's a chance GNR will get inducted next year, don't count AXL on being there with Slash, Steven, Izzy and Duff, especially Slash and Duff.

[Edited 9/27/11 15:49pm]

The same thing is going to happen that happend with the Van Halen induction, the only ones that showed CLASS were Hagar and Anthony, the original guys like Eddie and ALex and Dave were creeps and in the end showed they really didnt deserve it, by making it a point of not being there as a stunt that Eddie has grown famous for. Props to HAGAR for having class and thanking Gary Cherone who was another victim of Eddie the dick halen. My guess is Alex and Slash will have a rumoured renuion and neither will show, leaving Buckethead or whoever is in that band now to go get it.

Timmy84 said:

lastdecember said:

Sorry but there are alot of artists in the RNR hof that arent ROCK, so thats BS. Guns will get the honor for what they did off stage than on, no one can deny that, yes they had a 2 great albums and were a rock band, but lets be real Use Your Illusion's had a great deal of non-rockers, i can remember some power ballads on there that they themselves were totally against a few years prior.

I mean all of a sudden because Guns is up the Hall of Fame has cred? come on, Percy Sledge got in for one freaking song, that had nothing to do with rock! while Queen almost fell off the ballot? I mean come on, Queen is miles ahead of anyone in the Hall of Fame, and they almost missed it

I'm still @ Percy's induction. Now that one I don't think was deserved... at all! If anything GNR are like the '80s Sex Pistols: revered for one album (UYI got a lot of mixed reviews upon its release) so I could see them getting in since both of them were credited with "changing rock music" with one particular album. In the Pistols' case it was Nevermind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, with GNR, it was Appetite for Destruction and that was a 3-year run.

I never understood how the hell Percy got on the ballot, not disrespecting the man but this goes right up there with Del Shannon being in, alot of these "one hit" guys are in especially in that era. And i know its not about hits its about influence, but when was the last time someone said "i was influenced by Del Shannon"?

Nirvana is going in first ballot, long before the more deserving band Pearl Jam, but thats the way it goes.

lastdecember said:

Timmy84 said:

^ You think they honestly care about "preserving" rock and roll? The induction for GNR would be well deserved but there's always something up their sleeves whenever they induct a band whose members don't get along at all. If there's a chance GNR will get inducted next year, don't count AXL on being there with Slash, Steven, Izzy and Duff, especially Slash and Duff.

[Edited 9/27/11 15:49pm]

The same thing is going to happen that happend with the Van Halen induction, the only ones that showed CLASS were Hagar and Anthony, the original guys like Eddie and ALex and Dave were creeps and in the end showed they really didnt deserve it, by making it a point of not being there as a stunt that Eddie has grown famous for. Props to HAGAR for having class and thanking Gary Cherone who was another victim of Eddie the dick halen. My guess is Alex and Slash will have a rumoured renuion and neither will show, leaving Buckethead or whoever is in that band now to go get it.

I can see it being that too. That neither Axl or Slash would show. Then it's a question mark if they would even perform or have someone perform FOR them, which is possible.

lastdecember said:

Timmy84 said:

I'm still @ Percy's induction. Now that one I don't think was deserved... at all! If anything GNR are like the '80s Sex Pistols: revered for one album (UYI got a lot of mixed reviews upon its release) so I could see them getting in since both of them were credited with "changing rock music" with one particular album. In the Pistols' case it was Nevermind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, with GNR, it was Appetite for Destruction and that was a 3-year run.

I never understood how the hell Percy got on the ballot, not disrespecting the man but this goes right up there with Del Shannon being in, alot of these "one hit" guys are in especially in that era. And i know its not about hits its about influence, but when was the last time someone said "i was influenced by Del Shannon"?

Nirvana is going in first ballot, long before the more deserving band Pearl Jam, but thats the way it goes.

I think Nirvana being in the first wave of so-called "grunge"/alternative music and of course the reverence they gave (and continue to give) Kurt Cobain makes them shoo-ins.

Timmy84 said:

lastdecember said:

The same thing is going to happen that happend with the Van Halen induction, the only ones that showed CLASS were Hagar and Anthony, the original guys like Eddie and ALex and Dave were creeps and in the end showed they really didnt deserve it, by making it a point of not being there as a stunt that Eddie has grown famous for. Props to HAGAR for having class and thanking Gary Cherone who was another victim of Eddie the dick halen. My guess is Alex and Slash will have a rumoured renuion and neither will show, leaving Buckethead or whoever is in that band now to go get it.

I can see it being that too. That neither Axl or Slash would show. Then it's a question mark if they would even perform or have someone perform FOR them, which is possible.

I think Slash, Duff and Steven will show up. Probably Gilby and Matt as well, if the Hall allows them, since they were not on the eligible album, but I don't think Axl or any of the new guys will show up (well, the new guys have no business being there anyway, besides Axl not allowing them to be there).

lastdecember said:

PatrickS77 said:

Geez! It's called "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame"... so yes, GNR should get in before all the bands you mentioned! And it's 3 great albums!

Sorry but there are alot of artists in the RNR hof that arent ROCK, so thats BS. Guns will get the honor for what they did off stage than on, no one can deny that, yes they had a 2 great albums and were a rock band, but lets be real Use Your Illusion's had a great deal of non-rockers, i can remember some power ballads on there that they themselves were totally against a few years prior.

I mean all of a sudden because Guns is up the Hall of Fame has cred? come on, Percy Sledge got in for one freaking song, that had nothing to do with rock! while Queen almost fell off the ballot? I mean come on, Queen is miles ahead of anyone in the Hall of Fame, and they almost missed it

I'm aware of that... so the whole hall is BS... it should be called "Hall of popular music". But still it's called RnR and as long as they haven't run out of rock bands to induct, I still think rock bands should have priority! Anway, GNR were one of the biggest bands on the planet for about 6 years. So it certainly deserved. Many people became rock fans because of them! And power ballads belong to rock bands, so that's not an issue.

You're right about Queen though.

OK, guys, who do you think of this list is shoo-ins, possible inductees, and "never-will-be-inductees":

1. Guns N' Roses
2. Red Hot Chili Peppers
3. The Cure
4. Beastie Boys
5. Donovan
6. Heart
7. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
8. The Spinners
9. Freddie King
10. Laura Nyro
11. Rufus & Chaka Khan
12. The Small Faces/Faces
13. Donna Summer
14. WAR

PatrickS77 said:

Timmy84 said:

I can see it being that too. That neither Axl or Slash would show. Then it's a question mark if they would even perform or have someone perform FOR them, which is possible.

I think Slash, Duff and Steven will show up. Probably Gilby and Matt as well, if the Hall allows them, since they were not on the eligible album, but I don't think Axl or any of the new guys will show up (well, the new guys have no business being there anyway, besides Axl not allowing them to be there).

What about Izzy?

1, 2, 4 and 12

PatrickS77 said:

1, 2, 4 and 12

Shoo-ins right?

Timmy84 said:

What about Izzy?

He's a wild horse... if he feels like it, he shows up, if not he doesn't.... probably will the decide in the afternoon before the show!

My personal opinion, they need to increase the number of inductees again, from 5 to back to 9 as they had originally.

Timmy84 said:

PatrickS77 said:

1, 2, 4 and 12

Shoo-ins right?

Yeah!

PatrickS77 said:

Timmy84 said:

What about Izzy?

He's a wild horse... if he feels like it, he shows up, if not he doesn't.... probably will the decide in the afternoon before the show!

Yeah I've read of him. He's real eccentric lol