image from peoplesrockhall.blogspot.com
As it says on the blog, this is “the only Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame FOR and BY the people.” It has been designed as a direct alternative to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The former is based on fan votes while the latter is based on a selection committee who determines nominees who are then voted on by those already inducted. Ted Cogswell initiated the concept in January 2010.
The 10th class was announced May 18, 2012. 50 acts who’d released their first recording by the end of 1969 were nominated (see full list here). Voters could select a minimum of ten and up to 25. All acts who made it on more than half the ballots were inducted. Eleven new acts have been added: Alice Cooper; The Allman Brothers Band; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; The Faces; George Harrison; Led Zeppelin; John Lennon; Mott the Hoople; Santana; The Small Faces; and Yes. In all, 121 acts have been inducted. Check the full list of inductees here.
to these prog-rock giants, but the People’s Hall inducted them this year.
The People’s Hall and Rock Hall share many common inductees: 86% (105 out of 121) of the People’s Hall inductees are also Rock Hall inductees. However, the differences are highlighted by the exceptions. Last fall, I compiled a list of The Top 100 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Hopefuls, an aggregate of 39 lists of who belongs in. Here’s a list of the People’s Hall inductees who haven’t been inducted in the Rock Hall and how they fared on my list: The Moody Blues (#3), Deep Purple (#5), Yes (#8), T-Rex (#10), The Zombies (#33), Jethro Tull (#41), The MC5 (#42), The Guess Who (#45), The Monkees (#51), Dick Dale (#61), and Johnny Burnette & the Rock ‘N’ Roll Trio (#75). Five more People’s Hall inductees didn’t make my list: Chubby Checker, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Jan & Dean, Mott the Hoople, and Paul Revere & the Raiders.
aren’t yet in the Rock Hall, but they don’t have to feel blue:
The People’s Hall has inducted them.
It should also be noted that the People’s Hall had 1969 as their cut off this year, compared to the Rock Hall’s 1987 eligibility date. That means there are plenty of Rock Hall inductees (there are 279 inductees as of the 2012 class) who aren’t eligible yet for the People’s Hall. Similarly, if one looks at the DMDB’s list of Rock Hall Hopefuls, any acts from the ‘70s and ‘80s haven’t had a shot at the People’s Hall yet.
In any event, congrats to the newest inductees and kudos to Ted Cogswell for the creation of a fan-based Hall.
Resources and Related Links:
- DMDB Blog: The Top 100 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Hopefuls (10/22/2011)
- PeoplesRockHall.blogspot.com Announcing the Tenth Class of People’s Hall Inductees! (5/18/2012)
- The People’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame Facebook page
- RockHall.com All Inductees (through 2012, alphabetically listed)
The criteria for being inducted into the RRHOF is a band that sells 70 million units. As this blog points out there are many bands who should have been inducted a long time ago. The RRHOF is more run by politics and personal taste. Deep Purple sold a conservative 130 million units and was a one of a kind band. The fact they have been eligible since 1993 demonstrates the lack of credibility in Cleveland. The fans should be the ones inducting bands or individual artists since they are the ones who buy the recordings.-Promotions Director-The Induct Ritchie Team
ReplyDeleteBrian - the "official" Rock Hall induction requirements (http://rockhall.com/inductees/induction-process/) don't even mention sales and the Hall has inducted its fair share of artists whose impact was not sales driven, such as Laura Nyro this year. However, I think we are in agreement about a huge flaw in the process. The Rock Hall has a very incestuous process of determining nominees by committee and then having past inductees vote on who gets in. I've read plenty of articles about the biases of the nom com members who seem determined to keep certain groups out.
DeleteI think at least an element of fan votes should be integrated in - maybe the act who receives the top number of fan votes each year will be included on the ballot. Maybe the Hall needs something more extreme.
When the Hall announced its nominees last September, I wrote a blog about who I thought were the five most deserving acts to be inducted who weren't even nominated. Deep Purple was one of the five. You can read the full post here: http://davesmusicdatabase.blogspot.com/2011/09/and-this-years-rock-and-roll-hall-of_28.html
Thanks for your informative response. There is confusion about the exact criteria that would meet the RRHOF standards. They will not mention units sold publicly of course (will recheck my source on that) and individual artists are given more of a window. There is no doubt in my mind that politics and personal taste is involved. Here is another source I think you would appreciate. Tried to find the exact link and had to return to finish my thoughts. I can not find the link however, ranked number one is Rush. One nominating member of the RRHOF stated the band is not "his" personal taste. Number four is Heart (no argument from me) and Deep Purple is number eight. Although you know who I am I am not narrow minded as not to like all kinds of music from the 1950's-present day and there are a number of snubs that really annoy me. I believe that Brian May, one of my favorite guitar players, should be inducted into the RRHOF under the influence category. I also believe Warren Zevon and Blue Oyster Cult to name just two and many other bands/individual artists should be there. The Peoples Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame demonstrated to me that indeed the fans should have a say in those who are inducted into Cleveland. Their choices for induction that just occurred reflects that. Seven of the eleven choices I made were inducted. We think the same way. Kudos to the site and the fans! I will check out your blog about the five most deserving acts and I just know I would not disagree with any of your choices.
ReplyDeleteWho is on this committee that determines the nominees? All record co. execs or their pawns. Have never cared for hof nominees or voters from the ranks of critics (the guys that can't do it but feel qualified to tell me what to think about it). Music is something that means different things to different people. All of us have have our favorites, they may be the biggest names in the industry or little known acts that we just fell in love with. One thing I feel that the RRHOF misses are bands that had an impact on music. They seem to find people the rest of the world has forgotten for the most part. Laura Nyro? Come on, she was very good, I can see the voters selecting her (most of the early rockers liked more esoteric acts, "hey psst see what I am listening to"), but what reason did the committee have to nominate her. Ahh i am getting on a rant and didn't want to do that so I will leave it at that. Love this class of the PEOPLE'S Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
ReplyDeleteScott, you can see a list of the 2011 nom com at FutureRockLegends.com (http://www.futurerocklegends.com/Nominating_Committee.php). The Hall was originated by Rolling Stone's Jann Wenner and Atlantic Records' Ahmet Ertegun. From my personal observations and much of what I've read, their personal stamps are all over the Hall. I've read how Rolling Stone has no use for Kiss and prog-rock while the Atlantic influence is apparent with at least what I consider too much emphasis on R&B.
DeleteI think what hurts the Hall the most, though, is their failure to acknowledge the public frustration. They've managed to make rock and roll feel elitist and snooty, when is contrary to the genre's origin and vibe. They are not helping themselves by inducting people like Laura Nyro while acts like Kiss, Deep Purple, Yes, Rush, The Moody Blues, and more are on the outside looking in.