On October 18, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame came out with
their list of nominees being considered for induction in 2017. The long list of
nominees this year spans many genres within rock and pop, from funk and
electronic to punk and traditional rock to hip-hop and R&B.
The list includes many first-time names, such as Pearl Jam, Jane’s
Addiction and Tupac, as well as artists who have been passed over in years
before, such as MC5, Chic, The Cars, Yes and Chaka Khan.
Join Vinyl Bay 777 in looking
at the nominees by genre and why these artists deserve to be nominated.
·
Punk: There are two bands nominated this year in
the punk subcategory of rock: Bad Brains and MC5. MC5 is an original. Their
debut album, ‘Kick Out the Jams,’ has become a classic for punk music fans.
They were loud and obnoxious and didn’t care what people thought about their
music. They would fit in beautifully with the other punk bands already in the
hall. Bad Brains, on the other hand, is an interesting choice. Where punk music
suffers from a severe lack of diversity, Bad Brains fills that gap being a
predominantly black hardcore band out of the D.C. underground scene. Their
self-titled debut album is iconic for both its music and artwork. The band is
still making waves today and would be an outside, but deserved pick to be
inducted.
·
R&B and Soul: There are some iconic names up
for consideration this year for R&B. Joe Tex, who’s style blended country,
gospel and R&B elements, had four huge hits that sold millions of singles
in the 60s and 70s. However, his accomplishments could get overshadowed by the
two iconic female R&B singers on the list: Chaka Khan and Janet Jackson.
Chaka Khan has been blowing people away with her big voice since the early 70s,
first as a member of Rufus, then as a solo artist. Her music has earned her
gold and platinum albums. She was also the first singer to collaborate with
hip-hop artists on her music. Janet Jackson has consistently been putting out
music since the mid 1980s and is one of the best-selling singers of all time.
She helped open the door for many other female singers in the pop and R&B
genres, being one of the first to include choreographed dancing as a main part
of her live performances.
·
Electronic: At a time where electronic music
continues to evolve and EDM is gaining in popularity, the RNRHoF is perhaps
starting to look at the bands that pioneered some of its main tropes. Nominated
this year are Depeche Mode and Kraftwerk, who were both influential in the use
of synths in rock and pop music. Kraftwerk’s music is unique because much of it
after 1975 contains no guitar whatsoever. That is a bold move for a rock band,
but it sold well around the world. Depeche Mode came out in the 1980s and has
influenced countless other artists in many different genres. The band has never
left the public eye, as their music continues to be played on radio stations
all over the world. They continue to release ground-breaking synth-pop music to
this day.
·
Alternative: After Nirvana’s induction in 2014,
the fairly new subgenres of alternative and grunge continue to see its most
popular and influential bands get nods . This year’s grunge nominees include
Pearl Jam and Jane’s Addiction in each of their first year of eligibility. A
win would be a great way for Pearl Jam to celebrate the 25th
anniversary of ‘Ten,’ the band’s much lauded debut album. Eddie Vedder remains
one of the most emulated frontmen in current rock music. Jane’s Addiction
helped coin the term “alternative” and frontman Perry Farrell became its
spokesman. He created Lollapalooza and has continued to run it for 25 years.
·
Folk: It’s hard to believe that Joan Baez has
never been nominated to the RNRHoF before. She has been a pioneer and staple in
folk music since the late 1950s. She has written countless protest songs and
inspired other artists to fight for what they believe in with their music. Baez
continues to be a force for positive change in the world.
·
Hip-Hop: Tupac Shakur is one of the most revered
names in East Coast rap and one we have continually been talking about as a
culture since his death in 1996. There is no denying that his work has been
influential on today’s hip-hop scene as people try to recreate his work (and
likeness) all the time.
·
Rock: While there are a lot of different genres
represented in the RNRHoF, its main focus has always been and continues to be
rock. This year’s classically rock contenders include Electric Light Orchestra,
J. Geils Band, Journey, Steppenwolf, The Cars, The Zombies and Yes. ELO’s
influence can be found in artists of many genres and are still touring around
with singer Jeff Lynne as Jeff Lynne’s ELO. J. Geils Band’s sound was ahead of
its time and their big hit, “Centerfold,” is proof of that. Journey is an
iconic band with so many hits that it is impossible to get away from their
music to this day (evidenced by the karaoke power of “Don’t Stop Believing”).
Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild” has soundtracked every cool moment in a movie
since it was first used in ‘Easy Rider,’ and the epitome of the 70s rock sound.
The Cars’ sound continues to be a heavy influence on many new synth-pop and
indie artists. The Zombies’ hit “Time of
the Season” has been ranked as one of the best songs of the 1960s. Yes has sold
millions of albums all over the world.
Inductees for 2017 will be announced in December of 2016 and
the induction ceremony will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York in
April.
Find music from all of these bands and more in-store at
Vinyl Bay 777 and online at vinylbay777.com.
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