Trent mentioned that Prince was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after becoming eligible for the first time. I would say there is virtually zero doubt that Prince will get in on the first ballot, fulfilling as he does every possible criteria for inclusion: artistic and commercial success, longevity, distinctiveness, innovation - what else is there?
The other nominees are:
- He's back on the ballot for his solo achievements, including topping the charts with "My Sweet Lord" and spearheading a 1971 benefit concert for famine-stricken Bangladesh.
Harrison died in 2001 after a long battle with cancer.
Mellencamp is no stranger to Top 40 success, to the tune of "Jack & Diane," "Pink Houses," "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." and other singles. The heartland rocker from Seymour, Ind., co-headlined last Sunday's Farm Aid concert in Columbus with Willie Nelson, Neil Young and Dave Matthews.
Minneapolis native Prince (real name: Prince Rogers Nelson) released his debut album, "For You," in 1978. Embracing rock, pop and funk, the prolific superstar has a long list of hits to his name, including "When Doves Cry," "Let's Go Crazy" and "Kiss."
Fronted by singer-keyboardist Steve Winwood, the British classic-rock band Traffic issued six studio albums between 1967 and 1974, including "John Barleycorn Must Die" and "The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys."
Singer-guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard of the Texas trio ZZ Top have been a popular concert draw since the mid- '70s, thanks to "Legs" and other enduring blues-rock favorites.
This is the seventh nomination for Black Sabbath. In the past, lead singer Ozzy Osbourne has asked to have his British heavy-metal group removed from the ballot.
Browne epitomizes the sensitive singer-songwriter. The Los Angeles scenester had a string of hits in the '70s and '80s, including "Running on Empty." Doo-wop favorites the Dells and the "5" Royales had their heyday in the '50s and '60s. Chicago's Dells cracked the Top 10 with "Oh, What a Night." The misleadingly named "5" Royales - a sextet, actually, from North Carolina - topped the R&B charts with "Baby Don't Do It."
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Article comments
1 - frost@work
My votes would go to George Harrison, Sabbath and the pistols.
2 - Craig Lyndall
I agree with you on Sabbath for sure.
As for Skynard, I might have to disagree with you. I don't like them personally, but it seems like my generation has recognized Skynard as a significant chapter in music history. Maybe it's because Sweet Home Alabama is on the Forrest Gump soundtrack, but it seems to be sticking around. I can't tell you how many bars I have heard Free Bird in.
I am not saying this should put them in the Rock hall, but I think, for whatever reason, Lynard Skynard has withstood the test of time a little more than you might realize.
3 - The Theory
the sex pistols definately should NOT be in.
Lynyrd Skynyrd should be. I like their music. And I'm young. That should say something.
I agree, Iggy Pop should be... not sure about The Stooges.
4 - Mark Saleski
Lynyrd Skynyrd: No way....
hmmmm, smells like "barger-baiting" to me.
5 - Eric Olsen
No, that's how I really feel: two good albums (that sound pretty dated) do not the Rock Hall make.
6 - The Theory
don't forget the kickass live album...
7 - BRICKLAYER
A north eastern man don't need them around anyhow.
8 - TDavid
Sabbath should be in, but wasn't Ozzy's issue with them being on the ballot that he didn't consider them a "rock" act? Or something else weird along those lines? I didn't google and research it, so somebody set me straight on the story there. I like the ozzman's music, but I don't understand a lot of where he comes from on things.
9 - Al Barger
"Barger-baiting" fer sure! No to Lynyrd Skynyrd? Wait, no to Skynyrd and yes to SABBATH? Treason! Am I gonna have to give someone a good old-fashioned Hank Jr attitude adjustment with a tire iron?
10 - Eric Olsen
TD, Ozzy was just pissed that they haven't been voted in and said he wouldn't accept anyway: "You can't fire me, I quit."
Al, Sabbath should be in for every possible criteria: popularity, influence, longevity, creativity. Skynyrd has remained popular, has some excellent songs, wasn't particularly creative or influential, and sounds pretty dated to me. But I wouldn't be outraged if they got in.
11 - Ralph Del Rio
(12/4/03) George Harrison has been nominated for three Grammys in the nominations released Thursday morning. One is for best Pop Vocal Album for "Brainwashed," another is for best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Any Road" and the third is for Pop Instrumental Performance for "Marwa Blues." This is an incredible and well-deserved honor for such an incredible album.
Here are the three categories George is nominated in, along with his competition for the awards:
6. Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Any Road," George Harrison ; "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," Michael McDonald ; "Send Your Love," Sting; "Cry Me a River," Justin Timberlake; "Keep Me in Your Heart," Warren Zevon.
Pop Instrumental Performance: "Patricia," Ry Cooder and Manuel Galban; "Marwa Blues," George Harrison; "Honey-Dipped," Dave Koz; "Seabiscuit," Randy Newman ; "The Nutcracker Suite," The Brian Setzer Orchestra.
Pop Vocal Album: "Stripped," Christina Aguilera; "Brainwashed," George Harrison; "Bare," Annie Lennox ; "Motown," Michael McDonald; "Justified," Justin Timberlake. ARBP
12 - Ralph Del Rio
USUALLY he speaks about war, land mines, famine and disease. But yesterday, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan revealed another passion â€" George Harrison of the Beatles.
At a tribute dinner for the 50 years of celebrities who have served as UN goodwill ambassadors, Mr Annan said Harrison's work on behalf of Bangladesh in the 1970s was a landmark in social activism.
"George Harrison was the first to understand and use the power of rock music to motivate people to embrace causes bigger than themselves," he said. "Not only did George's sensitive and spiritual music bring profound joy and poignancy to millions of people around the world, his character, compassion, conscience and sense of common humanity compelled him to do even more than that.
"When George heard a call for help, he wanted to answer it."
Harrison, who died two years ago, is credited with staging the first major star-packed benefit concert in 1971, in New York for Bangladesh.
Mr Annan said advocacy by celebrities had multiplied "but it is hard to imagine how all this could have happened without the contribution of Harrison, or the sound of his guitar gently weeping."
Agence France-Presse
13 - Eric Olsen
Very true and a fine tribute, thanks Ralph.