Annual Rock & Roll Hall Nominee debate

And this year's nominees are...

Madonna
Chic
John Mellencamp
Beastie Boys
Afrika Bambaataa
Leonard Cohen
Dave Clark Five
The Ventures
Donna Summer


And let me be the first to say.... uggh. Maybe the hall should just take a break for a few years.

 

Madonna, Mellencamp and Beastie Boys are pretty legitimate choices. I've never heard of Afrika Bambaataa. Sounds like something a sheep would listen too. . .

 

Madonna - I hate her, but she absolutely should be in...
Chic - Who?
John Mellencamp - I sort of see Mellencamp as the Fred McGriff of the R&R HOF. I won't have a problem with it either way...
Beastie Boys - Absolutely...
Afrika Bambaataa - Who?
Leonard Cohen - Absofuckinglutely...
Dave Clark Five - No.
The Ventures - No.
Donna Summer - No.

 

Are there any disco artists in the Hall? Donna might be the best choice from that genre.

 

Bambaataa is a hip-hop pioneer and was a very influential community leader with the Universal Zulu Nation. "Planet Rock" is his record.

His Rolling Stone biography:

www.rollingstone.com/artists/afrikabambaataa/biography

I'd give him a shot at making it, as I think many hip hop pioneers should have a shot. As for the rest, Madonna's a lock, Mellencamp should make it, as should the Beastie Boys and Leonard Cohen.

 

Madonna ain't rock, but she'll get in because of the impact on music in general
Chic - no
Mellencamp - Yes
Beastie Boys - don't like 'em, but they deserve to get in
Afrika Bambaataa - Who? Wikipedia says he is "a DJ and community leader from the South Bronx, who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1970s. Like the majority of the early pioneers in Hip-Hop, he is of Jamaican descent." I don't think he'll get voted in.
Leonard Cohen - Without a doubt
Dave Clark Five - No.
The Ventures - Have a shot. One of the pioneers of the 'surf' sound of the 60s.
Donna Summer - Comes closer to rock than Madonna and was more of a pioneer than Madonna in her genre. She has a very good shot at getting in. I'd have no problem if she got the nod. Besides, she covered an unreleased Springsteen song ("Protection") where Bruce plays guitar on her version

 

When are Rush and KISS going to get the respect they deserve?

(Stepping back to enjoy the show from this point forward.)

 

Bambaataa was a very important name in rap for about two years. He hasn't done anything relevant in a long, long time.

I really haven't liked anything that the Beasties since License to Ill. I was so exited to hear Paul Boutique, especially since Rolling Stone gave the album the full Brown Bunny (I think it got 5 stars), and I thought that it was just awful. With the exception of a couple of good videos, I just don't see it with them.

I think that the Beasties, Madonna and Mellencamp are locks. Summer and Cohen are 50/50.

 

Madonna: Easily.
Chic: Yes, because Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards have gone on to be very influential.
John Mellencamp: No doubt.
Beastie Boys: Not my cup of joe, but definitely.
Afrika Bambaataa: No.
Leonard Cohen: The rock inteligentsia will put him in probably, but in a Rock hall? I wouldn't.
Dave Clark Five: No.
The Ventures: No, represented a lame musical fad: synchronized guitar riffs.
Donna Summer: No, a product of producers.

And Kiss is way overdue.

 

Completely agree. Every year that passes that these two aren't in undermines the credibility (if you can call it that) of the HOF.

From this list, Beasties, Madonna and Johnny Cougar.

 

My vote....

Madonna - no, but she'll get in
Chic - no, but semi-close; I think Nile Rodgers is already in
John Mellencamp - no
Beastie Boys - I have a hard time making white guys some of the first hip-hop artists to get in
Afrika Bambaataa - no, and a bizarre nomination
Leonard Cohen - Sure. Great songwriter. Let quality beat commerce for once and let him in.
Dave Clark Five - no.
The Ventures - Yes, but barely
Donna Summer - Yes, but I'm not wild about it.

And I'm not taking the Rush bait...