Rolling Into the Rock Hall? pt 2

Please see part 1 here.

Toots and the Maytals
Toots Hibbert is second only to Bob Marley in reggae history as singer and songwriter. Career spans early-'60s ska to today. Gritty, soul-dripping voice along the lines of Otis Redding. Should be next reggae Rock Hall inductee (then Jimmy Cliff).

R.E.M.
Returned a Byrds-like jangle to modern rock in early-'80s. Enigmatic lyrics and unique allergy-inflected vocals from oddly charismatic Michael Stipe. Most important American band of '80s and early-'90s. A lock.

U2
Most important rock band of last 20 years, period. Has uniquely combined guitar grandeur of arena rock, punkish independence, Celtic spirituality, even electronica: all held together by Bono's transcendent vision and charisma.

Nirvana
THE grunge band - put the genre and Seattle on the map. Kurt Cobain's brooding integrity, ragged voice, and monster guitar flamed out quickly but left indelible mark. Nevermind was rock album of '90s.

Alice Cooper
Cooper has been a hard rock/metal journeyman for 20 years, but the original Alice Cooper band combined shock, glam, hair, with chunky, tuneful rock 'n' roll to make something new and dangerous. Was much more integral part of pre-punk than most realize. Original sound not dissimilar to NY Dolls, whom they preceded.

Genesis
Visionary Peter Gabriel and excellent musicianship made them one of the two (with Yes) great prog-rock bands in first half of the '70s. Elaborate, theatrical live show and high concept albums left when Gabriel went solo in '75 and band settled on drummer Phil Collins as unlikely lead singer. Drifted in a more pop-rock direction, verged on electronic side of modern rock for a time in '80s before absorbing the regular-Joe pop of solo Collins into band sound.

Traffic
It astonishes me that Traffic isn't in the Rock Hall yet: late British Invasion-era pop-rock band with some great tunes, evolved into jazzy jam band, all led by singer/songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist Steve Winwwod, one of the brightest talents in the history of rock. What's the freaking problem?

Article Author: Eric Olsen

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