Rock and Roll HOF nominees announced

Junkie, I disagREE REE REE on R.E.M. They captured the mainstream in a manner unlike Rush. My guess is they've been a bigger chart success than Rush in terms of albums and singles. Not that that's a standard for HOF induction, but I they were legitimately one of the biggest bands in the world for a decade.

As for their influence: They paved the way for "alternative" music, which in turn paved the way for Nirvana and Pearl Jam to murder the Van Halen-influenced hair metal in 1991.

 

Yes, early Genesis is good, up to about 'And Then There Were Three.'

 

Iggy Stooge and the Darth Vader of the Slide Fader.

Rest are crap.

MC5. Alice Cooper. Blue Oyster Cult. KISS await their turn.

All are more important than VH and REM.

 

I'd go as far as Abacab, by then, they were tightened up prog. They began to fall apart into pop silliness from there forward.

I have no qualms with KISS going in. Really, I don't, and I'm generally as music snobby as it gets. Even though they crafted an image, and even though Paul and Gene are cocksuckers of the first order, they have at least as many catchy memorable songs as many of the inductees already in. KISS Double Platinum really is one of the better greatest hits albums ever made.

 

Dude, enough with the fake hipster bullshit. People here are familiar with these bands, so you can't get away with saying shit like "Blue Oyster Cult is more important than REM" without looking silly.

You must love the fucking cowbell.

 

No doubt about that. When alternative dominated the '90s, it didn't come from nowhere. Those kids had to have some influence elsewhere. I can't imagine what '90s alternative would have sounded like without them.

 

Probably like Mr. Big.

 

Yep, history shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men.

 

I think eligibility kicks in 25 years after the first album.

And absolutely G'Master Flash goes in for helping create a new genre of music.

I miss the days when REM mattered and actually had something relevant to say.

 

i'm no REM fan ... i can't stand 'em ... but i did eat BBQ one time with peter buck and mike mills.


anyway, a sampling -- good and bad -- of the bands REM influenced:

counting crows
gin blossoms
pavement
guided by voices
dashboard confessional
toad the wet sprocket
camper van beethoven
hootie & the blowfish
del amitri
cracker
aimee mann
the cranberries
10,000 maniacs/natalie merchant
indigo girls
blue rodeo
matthew sweet
edie brickell
melissa etheridge
tracy chapman

freedy johnston
dave matthews
sister hazel
deep blue something
the rembrandts

 

KISS is funny as all get out. You've got to love them.
Who else could sing this:

You really like my limousine
You like the way the wheels roll
You like my seven inch leather heels
And goin to all of the shows, but
Do you love me, do you love me
Do you love me, really love me

 

Excellent.

Damn. KISS had some racy shit for what was basically a pre-teen audience.

You've got something about you
You've got something I need
Daughter of aphrodite
Hear my words and take heed
I was born on olympus
To my father a son
I was raised by the demons
Trained to reign as the one

God of thunder and rock and roll
The spell you're under
Will slowly rob you of your virgin soul

I'm the lord of the wastelands
A modern day man of steel
I gather darkness to please me
And I command you to kneel
Before the!

God of thunder and rock and roll