Hall of Shame

The term "hall of famer" is supposed to be a crowning achievement for a career. Be it sports or music, when one thinks of "hall of fame" the implication is the best of the best, the most influential, or the most deserving is being recognized.

Were that only the case with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If anything, the past two years have shown that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is becoming a parody of itself. For proof, one needs to look no further than the nominees for the 2008 induction class: among the "rock and roll heavyweights" deemed worthy of induction are Chic, Afrika Bambaataa, and the Beastie Boys. Other nominees that are sure-fire winners are Donna Summer, John Mellencamp, Madonna, and the Dave Clark Five.

Let's begin with the DC5. According to Fox.com's Roger Friedman, the Dave Clark Five received enough votes for induction in 2007. However, Friedman's report states that Jann Wenner, publisher/founder of Rolling Stone magazine and head of the organization that nominates (and inducts) people for the Hall of Fame, invalidated votes for the DC5 and instead declared Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five the fifth inductee. Look for the DC5 to be inducted to "make up" for the injustice they received last year. Since DC5 member Denis Peyton died in late 2006, nothing can make it up to him now.

The other issue is who is not nominated. Neil Diamond, for all his 80s MOR muzak (e.g., "Heartlight"), created some of the most energetic rock and roll of the 60s. Even as a songwriter (of songs such as "Red Red Wine," UB40's biggest hit, and "I'm a Believer"), Diamond deserves induction. Certainly, if five-hit wonder disco band Chic (who gave us such "rock" classics as "Le Freak" and "Dance, Dance, Dance [Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah]") can be considered "rock" (well, Frank Zappa did quote "Yowsah, yowsah, yowsah" in his 1978 song "Dancin' Fool"), Diamond's long list of hits before he began singing songs inspired by E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial qualifies him.