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The ’70s dominate this year’s crop:
- AC/DC, the Clash, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, the Police and the Righteous Brothers are headed for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
The incoming inductees were announced yesterday by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, based in New York. The 18th annual induction ceremony will be March 10 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan.
The Class of 2003 represents “a nice assortment of different genres of rock ‘n’ roll,” said Suzan Evans, executive director of the Hall of Fame Foundation.
The Clash, Costello and his band, the Attractions, and the Police all emerged from England’s punk and new-wave scenes in the ’70s.
AC/DC specializes in headbanging anthems such as “You Shook Me All Night Long” and “Back in Black.” Next year marks the Australian band’s 30th.
The Righteous Brothers – Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield – got their start in Los Angeles in the early ’60s. Their hits “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ ” and “Unchained Melody” defined blue-eyed soul.
The five inductees in the performer category were the top vote-getters among 15 nominees on this year’s ballot. An international pool of 1,000 musicians, broadcasters and other members of the music industry cast the votes.
The Class of 2003 is the smallest incoming group of performers since 1989. Since then, at least six and as many as eight performers have been enshrined annually.
I have no problem with any of these inductees, all well-deserving. (I have a problem with Black Sabbath being excluded again, and am slightly surprised the Sex Pistols didn’t get in, but they DID only have one album.) This bunch should make for one hell of an induction ceremony, unlike last year’s rather dull affair. Will the Clash and Police reunite to perform? Inquiring minds want to know. I hope I get to webcast again.
For my webcast of the 2002 Rock Hall Inductions Ceremony go here, and for an interview with Rock Hall Chief Curator Jim Henke see here.
More on the individual inductees shortly.
