Black Sabbath: Yes, the most important, pioneering, influential real metal band of all time, absolutely no question they should be in and the fact they are still not shows an incredible blind spot on the part of the voters. It is an obscenity they haven't been welcomed with open arms.
Patti Smith: Yes, a cornerstone of the NYC punk-art scene, made some great music and was life-changing live. For a time she represented all that was possible with rock 'n' roll.
The Stooges: Maybe - I wouldn't have gone for the Stooges, but for Iggy himself, who WAS the essence of the Stooges, and went on to make periodically great solo music to this day - how can you not have the Godfather of Punk in the rock hall? Iggy has arguably had a better solo career than Lou Reed.
Jackson Browne: I have grown weary of Browne, but he wrote a lot of excellent songs in the '70s, had a great band, and deserves it as much as James Taylor or Billy Joel among semi-rocking singer-songwriters.
ZZ Top: fun, fine and rootsy Texas blues-boogie-rock, really never had anything to say, but said it over and over again anyway - some great songs, but not yet.
Dells and 5 Royales: Both very fine but not strong enough.
Lynyrd Skynyrd: No way. I was a huge fan of the first two albums, parts of which I still like, but I now see them in general as trite and vastly overrated. Southern rock in general has not aged well.
Graham Parsons: no, not around long enough, didn't accomplish enough. Very influential, but the material just isn't there.
Sex Pistols: changed my mind on them - one album isn't enough, and the fact that they have reformed to tour but not record anything new does not help.
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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.