Why the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Sucks: Part 1

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a sham, plain and simple. Oh you don' believe me, well for the next few weeks I'll be pleading my case in detailed fashion.



Part 1: Fuck the 60s
There is no denying it, the 1960s was a crazy fucking decade. Way way to much to discuss here but let's see what we can hack out in connection to the 60s music. The incredible economic growth the United Stats experienced following WW2 and continuing into the 1950s, had changed the landscape for your average citizen and more importantly for their children. The suburbs were born and a strong middle class dwelt within it. Many of the citizens who had survived the incredible hardships of Great Depression and two World Wars, now had a decent wage, a prosperous country, and a white picket fence. Beginning in the 50s, and even more so into the 60s, children largely lived lives far better than that their parents had experienced though it was only a few decades previous. The majority of them did not have to hold a job or work on a family farm, they had immense free time, nearby friends, and newly reachable opportunities like college to look forward to. Unsurprisingly this allowed the rising youth to explore new ideas, shill responsibility, and question authority.

By the 60s, the record companies dying in today's world, fully seized power. Building off the lessons they learned in the 50s, namely that teenagers had a large disposable income they would willingly spend on music, executives sought out young musicians to make music and to make them money. Radios in every teen's car, and TV's in every teens living room only furthered their cause; now a hot single could spread across the entire country in a matter of days. What were these song about? Everything teenagers were thinking about: girls, love, drugs, independence, fun, getting older, rebellion, etc. Nothing new or ground breaking here, but the manner in which it could be reach and ingested by millions and millions in such a short time surely was.

Now don't get me wrong, there was some amazing music created in the 60's, and young artist took great advantage of the new technologies at their finger tips and the decreasing size of the continent and the world that allowed them to not only spread their music but discover the vast sounds of foreign lands, no problem comes with the blind reference. Teens from this era are adults now in high positions, and many act as if the 60s were the pinnacle of music as we know it; better than anything before it and better than anything after it. This is simply bullshit. Good music did not just suddenly appear half way through the 20th century. The 60s music built off and challenged the music of the 50s, just like the music of the 50s built off and challenged the music of the 40, and the 70s to the 60s, and the 80s to the 70s, and so on and so forth. Lost in this generation just makes you seem old and out of touch, and though you certainly have good music to choose from locked in the 60s, you're limiting yourself to the greatness of modern music, per-60s music, and post 60s music.

So whats the point of all this, what does this have to do with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? The hall is full of land locked 60s enthusiasts on the board and on the voting block. Great artist of following generations are often overlooked to induct mid-range groups from the 60s. Rather than rattle on about this subject much longer I'll let Little Stevie from the E Street Band, and member of the nominating committee speak for himself. Here he is at last year's ceremony inducting the Hollies, and giving what I consider to be one of the worst induction speeches ever offered.
(Speech begins at the 3:40 mark)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nINruIwgEyE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzSCIF8krp8&NR=1

So truth here, and its good to hear someone passionate about their craft, but come one Stevie. Your job here is not to prob up the 60s or the Museum, but to tell the audience why the Hollies are deserving of this supposed great honor. Instead your speech can basically be boiled down to "The 60s were an amazing time for music, and the Hollies were a pretty successful group from this era, not as good as the Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Animals, but hey they're all already in the Hall so the Hollie will have to do."

The Hollies did have some good songs, but more inspirational or groundbreaking than KISS? Ya right.