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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2007 > December > 13 > Entry
Rock Hall Inductees Announced
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Photo: Elaine Mellencamp
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2008 inductees today.
The new hall of famers are singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, influential instrumental rockers the Ventures, British invasion quintet the Dave Clark Five, pop powerhouse Madonna and heartland rocker John Mellencamp.
Mellencamp finally got the nod on his third nomination, but Madonna made it in her first year of eligibility. Artists can be nominated 25 years after the release of their first record.
Cohen, the Ventures and the Dave Clark Five had all been eligible for many years, The DC5 was nominated in 2006 and 2007, as well. But neither Cohen nor the Ventures had been a finalist before.
Four other artists were nominated, but didn’t make the final cut. Afrika Bambaataa, Chic, Donna Summer and the Beastie Boys will have to wait for their place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The choices seem to reflect a lingering “disco problem” among the voters. They just inducted the first rap act last year, when Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five made the cut. There were rumors of vote-fixing, however, with some sources claiming that, when some late ballots were counted, the Dave Clark Five actually received more votes than Grandmaster Flash. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation denied those allegations.
What do you think of this year’s inductees? Do rap and disco belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Is Madonna really a rock artist? And if not, what about probable future nominees such as Run DMC (eligible next year) and Whitney Houston (eligible in 2010)?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By rocker
December 13, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this
The fact that it took them until only a couple of years ago to finally induct Lynyrd Skynyrd pretty much shows that they don’t know what the crap they are doing.
And NO!… Madonna, Run DMC, etc. do not belong in the ROCK AND ROLL Hall of Fame. If they want to change the name to the Music Hall of Fame fine….but that music ain’t “Rock and Roll”….They don’t belong there.
By ruben
December 13, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
Rocker is right, Madonna is not rock-n-roll. But she did set a precedent for many female musicians or entertainers to follow. She deserves to be in there. What got me going was how long it took Black Sabbath to be inducted. Or how the Sex Pistols got overlooked and the Hall allowed the Clash to be inducted first. Thats just wrong. Long live the Sex Pistols!!!
By Snoop Dawg
December 13, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
Johnny Cougar is the ONLY “Rocker” inducted this year!!
He!! no to non rockers!!
Look at it this way, would Steppenwolf get into the Soul Train/Rapper HOF???
That’s your answer…
By Nancy, Charlote, NC
December 13, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this
Madonna certainly deserves to be in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. She meets the criteria! Rock on, Madonna, you are the best entertainer out there!!
By ADL
December 13, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this
What the deuce are you smoking in NC Nancy?
It’s affected your spelling AND you musical taste (I use the term “taste” loosely)!!!
By WRCz
December 13, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
Jann Wenner (founder of Rolling Stone and US magazine) has an overriding (and overbearing) influence over the R&R HoF processes and his starstruck and politically correct NYC social life guides this. Thus, we get hip-hop and pop divas coming to the afterparty instead of not-so-glam Rock & Roll musicians. (Kudos to The Pistols for passing on the whole charade.)
Led Zeppelin rooted their sound in the blues… that doesn’t mean they should be in the Blues Hall of Fame. Whatever relationship Hip-Hop and Pop superstars may have to R&R doesn’t make them Rock & Roll either.
By L.
December 13, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this
Donna Summer will finally get in next year.
By DLR
December 13, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
In the case of the Hall, I don’t think “Rock and Roll” was necessarily meant to be interpreted as “only heard on your local classic rock station.” I have little problem with acts from various musical genres being eligible, and since the Hall has set a precedent by inducting Grandmaster Flash, to not induct Run DMC would be just plain wrong.
By WRW
December 13, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this
Rock and roll has a hall of fame? How many chords are required for consideration? What a waste of triviality!
By M
December 13, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
I like the Dave Clark Five, never knew they played rock and roll…
Where is Rush? Thirty+ year career, untold number of young acts influenced (and some that are IN the bogus hall of fame) but not Rush…
Tells you how legit this organization is….
By SRVfan
December 13, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this
WHAT ABOUT STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN????? No one ever “rocked” like he did!!!!
By dougmo
December 13, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this
Where is KISS?
By MusicFan
December 13, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this
Mellencamp is about the only one on that list that I would consider rock. Madonna is much more of a rock star than Donna Summer. As for rap I don’t think every rapper should get in, but the Beastie Boys and Run DMC where the first big rap stars who crossed over to the masses. They have had a huge influence on rock and rap over the past 25 years.
By Rob
December 13, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
And of course you forget Status Quo, who have had more 3 ones than the Stones. Just cos they didnt make it in the US shouldnt exclude them! They rock like no other, for 40 years now!
By Rob
December 13, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
And of course you forget Status Quo, who have had more # ones than the Stones. Just cos they didnt make it in the US shouldnt exclude them! They rock like no other, for 40 years now!
By sth
December 13, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
Hey M, I was thinking the exact same thing… actually, every year that I see the inductees, I wonder, where the heck is RUSH?
As you said, they’ve been around more than 30 years, same members of a 3 piece band, influential, awesome live shows, and still touring.
For not having Rush inducted yet, I really have little respect for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…
By Rob
December 13, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
And of course you forget Status Quo, who have had more # ones than the Stones. Just cos they didnt make it in the US shouldnt exclude them! They rock like no other, for 40 years now!
By Ex-Northerner
December 13, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
To all you Boy’s Club headbangers, get over it! Madonna deserves to be immediately inducted. She changed music and performing, and if you had ever attended one of her concerts, you’d know that she “rocks” the house.
The Eagles have been a Country act rather than a rock act for years, and Bill Haley and the Comets and Chuck Berry no more resemble Black Sabbath than does Michael Buble. The “Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame” is really representative of and synonymous with everything rebellious in music since 1954, and no one was more rebellious and controversial than Madonna. She not only rebelled against established customs of music, dress and performance, she also rebelled against established preconceptions of what was rock-n-roll. So there!
By David Lee
December 13, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
Madonna was a unanimous choice in The W** Hall of Fame.
By classio
December 13, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this
rap and disco acts should be in the rap and disco hall of fame….rock and roll should be in the rock and roll hall of fame. period.
By borisdag
December 13, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
Donna Summer was snubbed? That’s crap!
Donna Summer is the most under appreciated American singer on the landscape, and if it weren’t for her there would be no Madonna.
By SteveO
December 13, 2007 1:01 PM | Link to this
The idea of a Rock museum goes against the spirit of the entire genre.
What’s next? A communist investment bank?
By Paul Weller
December 13, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
Rock & Roll has had a long run of changing and adapting to the times; you could draw a line to how Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly led to The Beatles and the British Invasion; The Byrds blended folk and country into the Beatles and led to country rock like the Eagles & Wilco, Jimi Hendix took inspiration from Little Richard and Prince took it from both of them; The Who played the same stuff louder and opened the door to metal; and Punk took all of it, blew it up and started over again. (Boys and girls, btw) But there’s a point where you stretch the line to a breaking point, and you only had to watch last year’s induction ceremony to see that Grandamaster Flash was something else quite apart from all the other acts. Not bad, just different.
As for Madonna changing music, well, sure… now we’re overrun with Britneys and Jessicas and Hannahs, all thanks to her. Yawn.
By AK
December 13, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this
KISS is the most egregious omission to the Hall of Fame. How did Run DMC get in last year, but KISS keeps getting snubbed. It’s just wrong!
By Vasily D'Efferins
December 13, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has as much relevance as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, i.e., ZERO, because anybody can get in as well illustrated by this years nominees.
By Nubs
December 13, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this
When are some of the progressive rock bands of the 70s going to get recognized. Such as Yes, Jethro Tull, Emerson Lake and Palmer, etc?
By Sid
December 13, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this
Garth Brooks claims to have been inspired by KISS… does that means he should in the the R&R Hall of Fame?
But SteveO, you’re right… the whole idea of making an institution out of Rock & Roll is exactly what’s killing it.
By Trey E. Keys
December 13, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this
William Shanter and Leonard Nimoy both make records. When are they getting in?
By Christine
December 13, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this
THE MOODY BLUES should be in the Hall of Fame. The new nominees and some of the others already in the “Hall” could not be a “pimple on Justin Haywood and the Moody Blues butt.”
By Trey E. Keys
December 13, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this
And Scotty would have too if he hadn’t gotten so fat.
By BlackElvis
December 13, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this
Quit belly aching! For crying out loud all you folks do is whine whine whine. Several folks that have been inducted never sang Rock and Roll but they are in there. Music is Music. Its about break through artists that made Huge impact that are included in the hall. Not because they sang or even played rock n roll. There are many artists that refuse to even sing rock n roll that are in the Hall of Fame. You all just jealous because YOUR names will not be in the Hall of Fame. I bet you folks whining have that pea color of Green, as in Jealous and Envy. There was no One like Madonna nor Grand Master Flash, nor Run DMC. Elvis may have sang rock, but he also was very very soulful with his body movements and vocal delivery. Something inwhich he learned by hanging out in Black(negro) bars and clubs. No one was like Elvis, before or after, black or white. and Yes I happen to be Black and Proud and Loved Elvis who I thought had a much better delivery and voice then James Brown and thats not taking any thing away from Brown. Its about impact and 25yrs of constant breakthrough music. You folks are joke.
By P.J.
December 13, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
Depeche Mode definitely belongs (eligible since 2006).
They’ve sold over 90 million albums and are the most successful electronic-based musicians of all time (though they incorporated drums and guitars starting in the late 80s). They’ve sold out the Rose Bowl and Dodger Stadium and can play an entire concert based on their hits.
Not only that, but when Johnny Cash covers one of your songs (Personal Jesus) you are legit, no matter what the “traditionalists”, that is, those who fawn all over Motown, Beatles, Stones, Zepplin, Bruce, and Clapton, say.
By Fraiser Crane
December 13, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
Under how many identities is Mellencamp being inducted?
By Elmer Gantry
December 13, 2007 1:51 PM | Link to this
The Rock and Roll HOF has absolutely no legitimacy until Rush is inducted. Period.
By You make me sick
December 13, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this
Rush? Kiss? You people are pathetic.
By Neal
December 13, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry but when Billy Joel went in, they lost all legitimacy.
By Nubs
December 13, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this
and yes Christine, the Moody Blues
By ESTREET
December 13, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this
E Street BAND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Edna Cravitz
December 13, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this
When the New Christy Minstrels get in, then I’ll pay attention.
By bogiesmom
December 13, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
YES — E STREET BAND!! Bruce has been inducted, but E Street hasn’t been yet. They deserve it!!
By JOSHI
December 13, 2007 3:26 PM | Link to this
John Cougar and Madonna the cougar are aptly in the same batch!
By SRVfan
December 13, 2007 3:28 PM | Link to this
I agree “KISS” being inducted is LONG overdue. Just listen to “Detroit City Rock”!!!!
By D
December 13, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
only people who played rock and roll should be in the rock and roll hall of fame! why you ask? because there’s no white guys receiving anything at the BET awards, because Black Sabbath won’t be allowed into the Blues hall of fame, because Hank Jr. will never be honored by rappers and because it’s time for ALL races and groups to be able to honor their own, and if the word equality really means something, that would include white people, too. and white people shouldn’t have to accept everyone into a club that is primarily theirs just for fear that the race card will be used on them. if we can have the black everything and the Latin everything, than we should be able to just include rockers into the rock and roll hall of fame, just because they played rock and roll, no matter what color they are and no matter if somebody might get their little feelings hurt.
By Ozzy
December 13, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this
Diana Ross get your skinny little butt out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and run to somebody that represents Motown for you pat on the back!
By the judge
December 13, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this
when people from other types of music start awarding and rewarding rockers, then and only then should anybody that wasn’t a rocker be allowed into the rock and roll hall of fame. don’t expect the same generosity from others that rock lovers (mainly white folks) have to endure and have shoved down their throats. equality does not mean ‘do as I say, and not as I do’, equality more aptly states ‘what good for the goose is good for the gander’. so next year, let’s see David Allen Coe at the BET awards show to accept his life time achievement award.
By Rob
December 13, 2007 4:18 PM | Link to this
Where is Journey? WOW.. What a Joke
By Biggie Bopper
December 13, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this
Journey is a joke.
By LA Woman
December 13, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this
You should check out the The Doors exhibit at the RnR HoF - thru March only. Lots of documents: Jim’s death report, Last Will & Testament (sorry Keltiad Witch - your not mentioned!) handwritten lyrics, etc… No leather pants though - only Mr Mojo Risin’s Cub Scout shirt!
By Zen Wizard
December 13, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this
Mellencamp and Madonna are venerable for their career longevity—but “contribution to Rock”?
Dave Clark Five I believe actually toured America before the Beatles.
The Ventures I will buy.
What exactly are the criteria?
Records sold, or influence on the genre?
With Chic, that same bass line was lifted about a half dozen times as I recall.
By GaBugman
December 13, 2007 5:36 PM | Link to this
For years I have felt that it should have been renamed “The Music Hall of Fame”. Take care of that and the rest is moot…
By Brandon Cook
December 13, 2007 7:46 PM | Link to this
I do agree that Madonna has “entertained” for a generation, but this is not the Entertainers Hall of Fame!!! There are so many more deserving people: Stevie Ray Vaughn, Journey, Rush, Kiss, and Iron Maiden to name a few. I’m a big Prince fan and he deserves to be in there, but I knew that something was funny about this institution when Michael Jackson was inducted!!! All three of them will be linked forever for being the biggest acts of the 80’s, but only one of them deserves it.
By Steve
December 13, 2007 8:55 PM | Link to this
Madonna isn’t a w**. She’s just your average female catholic American girl who found a voice and doesn’t hold back what she is really thinking. Thats what happens to some women when they are brought up in patriarchal households. Supression of women causes them to snap back in the other direction. What do you expect? Its all simple laws of cause and effect.
By Brad
December 13, 2007 9:28 PM | Link to this
It’s a joke because it is decided on by industry insiders. Why not have real criteria regarding ticket sales, album sales, influence. Let fans participate as well. If you use fact based info then bands like KISS, Rush, etc would get in.
The VH1 Rock Honors will have more relevance to rock than the Rock Hall of Shame.
By yknot
December 14, 2007 6:40 AM | Link to this
They should just call it “The Rolling Stone Magazine Hall of Fame”. The inductees seem to come from their favorite cover boys & girls. That’s why it took so long for Skynyrd, & Sabbath to get their due. Still no KISS, Rush, SRV. Are you kidding me? Today, Madonna…tomorrow, The Village People? RnR HOF, you are now irrelevant.
By Kenny
December 15, 2007 4:30 AM | Link to this
The people who want the rock haalllto only induct White male guitar acts are way off base and need a history lesson on the music.Don’t forgete all the inductees have a vote too ,so some of of them are not using thata narow and innacurate definition.Rock and Roll has many sub genres and is a broad term. Pop is short for popular.You think the Stones don’t have a bunch of Pop hits,should we keep thenm out too?Of course when an institution is only honoring one of the genres they will do that but the Rock hall clearly encompasss all the genres and always has and rightly so.
By Kirk
December 15, 2007 9:04 PM | Link to this
Where’s Winger? And Whitesnake? How does Judas Priest not make the cut, or the Scorpions? Quiet Riot?!?! C’mon, people! There is no justice!
OK, I was being sarcastic there.
Put on a station that claims their format is classic rock. Any of the artists they still play should be eligible. I have never heard Madonna on a freaking classic rock station. That was ridiculous.
Seriously… what about Ted Nugent or Peter Frampton? Kiss, Steppenwolf, Bad Company, 38 Special… all of them overlooked while Madonna of all people gets in?!?!
If Madonna can get in, then that means Wham, NSync, New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, Boys To Men, and every other pickle puffer 80’s hair band is now eligible.
Tossers.
By Ilya17
December 17, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
What about Paul Anka, Bobby Vee, Donny Osmond or Bobby Sherman. Noboby can rock like these guys.
By Joe
December 17, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this
Stupid, Just Call it the Hall of Shame. They have no clue what they are doing. The same people who are voting in Madonna are the same reason why todays so called rock is filled with talentless musicians who barely know how to play their instruments or write music. What a Joke!
By J C B
December 20, 2007 8:09 AM | Link to this
What a joke this “Hall” is, pathetic in every way. Been there, totally inept. I don’t like all these acts, but every single one of them belongs in before Madonna or some rap act. The Doobie Brothers, Rush, Paul Rodgers, Jethro Tull, The Moody Blues, Yes, Carole King, Kiss, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Ten Years After, Genisis, Peter Gabriel, Johnny Rivers, Steppenwolf, Carly Simon, Dan Fogelberg, Chicago, Journey, Jimmy Webb, The Fifth Deminsion, and on and on. Who votes for this place? Are they just musically illiterate? The “Hall” has been jerking major British acts for 15 years, and everyone knows it. How in God’s name does Madonna make it in before Donna Summer. There would be no Madonna withour Donna, period. The place is a damn joke!!!
By Barry Blakely
December 20, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this
Rap or anything close to it, does not belong in the ‘ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME’. If any of the present day rappers are still alive in 25 years, then they can create their own Hall of Fame…but chances are (and this is just I read in the newpapers, or see on TV news), they’ll be mainly in jail, or have shot each other by then.
By JamesM
December 21, 2007 7:27 AM | Link to this
Donna Summer was snubbed. She is Rock n Roll period! Madonna is a w**!. If it wasn’t for Donna Summer’s influence, there would be NO Madonna! Case closed!
By JamesM
December 21, 2007 7:38 AM | Link to this
And I also like to add that the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is a BIG nasty joke in my book! As for the inductees. Only one person truly should be in there!
By Rael
December 22, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this
I think what is not being realized here is that it is NOT technically about a “rock act” getting into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. It is about those artist who have made a notable/made notable contributions into the music foray, those who have paved the way for others, through the uniqueness of their style(s). While many artist nominated and those who have actually won, may have had rock influences/hits, many have also enjoyed the ‘pop’ side of their careers.
MaDonna while not in the least, a good singer, has been quite an influence in the business through her rebelism and creativity that deserves to be honored. Donna Summer on the other hand, while still “one” of the best singers still around and being in the business for 30 years plus, unfortunately is still labeled and not given her due as another innovator of her time and that is unfair since her style, especially in the later years have reflected lots of rock and pop influences in her recordings, as well as having success other musical genres.
Her time (Donna) should still come and hopefully will one day….
By Jeff
December 23, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this
So many names, so many complaints. One man who embodied the spirit of rock (and blues) by simply playing for the love of the music and while respecting his fans always comes to my mind. He will never be enshrined because he was not a sell-out or a stylistic flash-in-the-pan. His name is Rory Gallagher and I promise you that his legion of fans know that he was the best. Hall of Fame be damned…