Let the Whinging Begin! The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominations are Here

Filed in National by on September 29, 2010

Here is the complete list:

  • Alice Cooper
  • Beastie Boys
  • Bon Jovi
  • Chic
  • Neil Diamond
  • Donovan
  • Dr. John
  • J. Geils Band
  • LL Cool J
  • Darlene Love
  • Laura Nyro
  • Donna Summer
  • Joe Tex
  • Tom Waits
  • Chuck Willis

So. Outside of Tom Waits and Dr. John this isn’t an especially inspirational list. I can imagine lots of these artists on some commercial radio station designed to play for aging boomers. And I say this as an aging boomer. Is Neil Diamond rock & roll? Really? And how does LL Cool J get in ahead (again) of the Sugarhill Gang? This year’s real WTF moment — Bon Jovi. Really? Bon Jovi? Maybe my perception of this list is colored by the fact that plenty of them are repeats — Love, Waits, LL Cool J, Summer, Tex.

The Smiths, Billy Bragg, The Replacements, The New York Dolls, Big Star — these have been some of my go to complaints about this list recently. What are yours? Who did they really miss out on this year?

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"You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas." -Shirley Chisholm

Comments (13)

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  1. 6 out of 15. I’m looking for some hot stuff not snorting Summers. School’s out for this abomination.Iko ugh. Christmas mess. Le Freak,non, le merde.When I die (I hope its Nyro). CC Rider get me away and Show Me the do’.

  2. Mike Matthews says:

    You know what’s funny, cass? I was going down the list and, like you, Dr. John and Tom Waits were the only two I emphatically agreed with!! Too bizarre…

  3. jason330 says:

    Alice Cooper – Yuck.
    Beastie Boys – They have a special wing for one hit wonders?
    Bon Jovi – OH HELL YEAH! – Jersey Rules
    Chic – Le Freak!
    Neil Diamond – As long as this means no Bobby Vinton.
    Donovan – Dono-who now?
    Dr. John – Wasn’t he in the muppets house band?
    J. Geils Band – Love Stinks, Yeah yeah. – J Giles, no no
    LL Cool J – Ladies Love Cool James
    Darlene Love- Seriously, who is this?
    Laura Nyro- Is it me? I have no idea who this is.
    Donna Summer – Okay I guess
    Joe Tex – Who?
    Tom Waits – Oh GAWD. Do we really have to pretend to be into this?
    Chuck Willis – No idea…

  4. cassandra_m says:

    Darlene Love Sang in some Phil Spector girl groups and a legendary backup singer. She sang with Bruce Springsteen and E Street during their induction performance.

    And about Chic — Le Freak was le merde as Cyclone Ranger notes, but Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards were perhaps the most influential producers of the 80’s. So for that I can see them on this list, but I imagine there is a more straightforward way to get them in the HoF than nominating this band….

  5. MJ says:

    Donovan was great back in the day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donovan)

    OMG – Laura Nyro was a great song writer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Nyro)

    The only other one I’d like to see is Donna Summer.

    And yes, I know I’m showing my age.

  6. Joanne Christian says:

    I’m surprised some of these aren’t already in there. Darlene Love is a fave jason, and a great rep of early black girl groups. I THINK, she may have even been the one who married Phil Specter early on. And I LOVE Bobby Vinton–and darling most of all—I love how he loves me:)!!!!

  7. Free Radical says:

    The conspiracy against Rush continues.

  8. jconnorjr says:

    What does Rush Limbaugh have to do with Rock and Roll??????

  9. kurward derby says:

    Alice Cooper – Now plays golf regularly with Republicans in Arizona — immediate disqualification. (“Under My Wheels” was cool, though.)

    Beastie Boys – These guys were funny, at least. (We lower the bar each decade starting in 1980.)

    Bon Jovi — formula rock; if these guys get in, Gary Puckett should be right behind!

    Chic – Cass is right, put Rodgers and Edwards in as producers.

    Neil Diamond – My man was a rocker when he started: Cherry Cherry, You Got To Me; also wrote Red Red Wine and I’m a Believer. His first live album cover shows him simulating masturbation — let him in!

    Donovan – Atlantis, First There is a Mountain, Barabajagal(sp?),Sunshine Superman — the hits keep comin’!

    Dr. John – Once said he didn’t think he could have hit records as a vocalist until he heard Sonny Bono; right on Mac!

    J. Geils Band – The only real rockers on this whole list; why aren’t they in already? Hell, why don’t they get back together?

    LL Cool J – didn’t he sing about biting someone’s neck? Ahead of his time!

    Darlene Love- He’s a Rebel, Fine Fine Boy, He’s Sure the One I Love, Xmas Baby Please…; come right in, Dar!

    Laura Nyro- Wrote dozens of pop classics, made the best “oldies” album with Labelle, lived with Todd Rundgren. Belongs.

    Donna Summer – Belongs just for I Feel Love.

    Joe Tex – Basically invented a ballad style with Hold On To What You’ve Got; Show Me, One Monkey, If Sugar Was As Sweet, a real variety of styles — put him in!

    Tom Waits – I know he writes good songs; let someone else sing ’em!

    Chuck Willis – In the 50s, he used to perform in a turban, so it might not be his time right now. CC Rider, What Am I Living For, It’s Too Late (covered by Derek and the Dominos)– he belongs!

    Once Pink Floyd and the Dead got in, you realized the term “Rock and Roll” had lost all meaning.

  10. Another Mike says:

    Donna Summer? Isn’t this the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

  11. ek says:

    Donovan should have been in a long time ago.

  12. Grania says:

    Warren Zevon – one of the most prolific writers and musicians ever.

  13. a. price says:

    “Once Pink Floyd and the Dead got in, you realized the term “Rock and Roll” had lost all meaning.”

    i just made a new enemy.