The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame Has Nothing To Do With Rock ‘n’ Roll

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a joke. It has been a joke for a long time, and I don’t see how anyone can takes it seriously.

From the start, I think the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame should’ve been a museum, nothing else – holding rare guitars, keyboards, sheets of music, and other rarities owned by the legends of rock ‘n’ roll, blues, metal, and so on.

The idea of having a “Hall of Fame” with inductees… I’m sorry, when has music become a sport? How do you decide who gets inducted or not? The beauty of music is that, unlike sports, medals and prizes don’t matter here. Pink Floyd and The Beatles would still be considered legendary even if they had never won a Grammy… newsflash, non of the people who listen to them actually give a damn about the Grammy wins.

I’m pretty sure Queen never won a Grammy… and? Does anyone care about it except those who actually run this award, which gives them a sense of importance like they are a part of something they’re not? Will it change the fact Queen are more influential and notable than any of those who do win it these days?

Same with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The thing is… it could’ve been great, as a museum, as an experience, like the Hard Rock Cafe is absolutely awesome and has a beautiful atmosphere.

But, not only did they decide to award “medals”… apparently Jay-Z belongs in the Hall of Fame… while Iron Maiden, one of the greatest and most influential rock bands ever, don’t? Roxy Music and the Cure only got inducted in 2019, The Moody Blues only got inducted in 2018… but pop band Green Day got inducted in 2015? Rap group Public enemy got inducted in 2013?

Should I even get into the fact that the morons who run the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame are so clueless about rock that British 90s bands like Oasis, Suede, Blur, and The Verve who shaped a whole generation don’t even get mentioned as potential candidates to be nominated? What music do those who run this organisation even listen to, 50 Cent and Justin Bieber?!

And while I think that the whole idea of awards in music is meaningless because it has no effect whatsoever on the legacy of a given artist, in the early days a lot of it did make sense. I love the fact that early rock ‘n’ roll pioneers like Chuck Berry and Little Richard got introduced into it straight away. It was obvious to everyone when The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Kinks, Simon & Garfunkel, The Who, The Police, the Doors, David Bowie, Elton John, U2, Blondie, Hendrix, Joan Baez, Guns N’ Roses, and Queen god inducted… because those guys ARE what people think of when they hear about rock ‘n’ roll.

I also think the likes of Robert Johnson shouldn’t have been inducted as more than just “early influences.”

But later… it become a complete joke. I still find it shocking Sister Rosetta Tharpe and The Jam aren’t in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame… but apparently Jay-Z is.

Kendrick Lamar introducing NWA into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame… I mean, WTF does that have to do with rock ‘n’ roll.