Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees Named… But Should They Be?

Right about now, the Beastie Boys are probably feeling intergalactic while Madonna is feeling like a virgin as news of their nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hit the airwaves yesterday.

Along with the queen of pop and the legendary rapping trio, rocker John Mellencamp, hip-hop godfather Afrika Bambaataa and disco diva Donna Summer are also in consideration for induction, according to MTV.com.

But what truly fuels the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominations? Sure, artists like Madonna have left an undeniable mark on the music world; she’ll be remembered whether or not she’s in the Hall of Fame. But over the last few years, there has definitely been some controversy and criticism of “the man” behind the nominations.

An article on Wikipedia.com argues that the nomination process is inherently flawed because it is managed by only a handful of individuals, including founder Jann Wenner, former foundation director Suzan Evans, and writer Dave Marsh. Some protest that the nominees reflect their musical tastes rather than the broad scope of the rock world as a whole. According to Wikipedia, a former member of the nominations board once said: “At one point Suzan Evans lamented the choices being made because there weren't enough big names that would sell tickets to the dinner. That was quickly remedied by dropping one of the doo-wop groups being considered in favor of a 'name' artist… I saw how certain pioneering artists of the 50s and early 60s were shunned because there needed to be more name power on the list, resulting in 70s superstars getting in before the people who made it possible for them. Some of those pioneers still aren't in today — but Queen is.”

I personally think there are too many artists in the Hall of Fame. Who doesn’t get nominated these days? True to the heart and soul of punk, the Sex Pistols refused to attend the ceremony after being inducted in 2006, calling the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum a “piss stain” in a letter sent to the head honchos of the Hall of Fame. To view the letter, click here. Basically, all the museum does is blemish the purity of Rock N Roll. To quote the Sex Pistols, it truly is like “urine in wine.” It’s a bastardization of what the true heart behind music is supposed to be.