Lynyrd Skynyrd, the hard-rocking pride of Jacksonville, Fla., is best known for the Southern-rock standard "Free Bird." Band members Ronnie Van Zant (vocals) and Steve Gaines (guitar) were killed in a 1977 plane crash. Bassist Leon Wilkeson died of natural causes in 2001.
Country-rock pioneer Parsons blazed a trail out of Los Angeles as a solo artist and as a member of the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers. He died of an overdose of morphine and tequila in 1973.
Seger, a piano-pounding rocker from Detroit, made his mark in the '70s and '80s with more than a dozen Top 40 singles, including "Night Moves."
The Sex Pistols led the punk charge in England in the mid- '70s. The group originally featured Johnny Rotten (vocals), Steve Jones (guitar), Glen Matlock (bass) and Paul Cook (drums). Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious, who died of a heroin overdose in 1979.
New York City's Smith and Detroit's Stooges, led by Iggy Pop, paved the way for punk in the late '60s and early '70s by taking a no-frills approach to rock 'n' roll. [Cleveland.com]
My vote:
George Harrison: Sure, why not? Great singer and guitarist, very good songwriter, former Beatle, dead guy. All Things Must Pass is classic
John Mellencamp: Sure, why not? Steady, rootsy rocking singer-songwriter, the Midwestern Springsteen minus the mythic quality, has explored many interesting variations on basic rock 'n' roll, longevity, integrity.
Bob Seger: Around 1980 Seger would have seemed a shoe-in, with his force-of-nature voice and equal ease with rockers and ballads. He went the way of overproduction and bombast later in his career, but a body of indispensible work ("Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" "Get Out of Denver" "Hollywood Nights" "Night Moves" "Katmandu" "Mainstreet" "Rock and Roll Never Forgets" "Beautiful Loser" and yes, "Old Time Rock & Roll") should assure his entrance.
Traffic: Yes - no question, pioneering jazz-folk-rock-pop jam band greats with Winwood on vocals and guitars - one of my favorite greatest hits collections of all time.
![All Things Must Pass [DIGI-PAK EDITION]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NGHT0452L._SL120_.jpg)
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 " 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.