Got to admit, the nominations for the 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class left me underwhelmed. The 15 finalists represent myriad styles of music, but some are not rock in my opinion. I know, that’s not a new critique against the Hall, but this year’s nominee class is all over the road and leaves out many of the popular classic rock bands that we’ve wanted in for years.
The past few years, it’s been nice to see some of the popular – though not universally praised by music critics over the years – get nominated, then become inducted in rock royalty. Bands like Bon Jovi, The Cars, Dire Straits, ELO, Journey, Yes, Cheap Trick, Steve Miller, Joan Jett and others are now in the Hall, despite being shredded at times by the music elitists.
This nominee class misses the mark on that trend. There’s no Pat Benatar, Styx, REO Speedwagon, The Doobie Brothers, Judas Priest, Bad Company, Boston or Foreigner, for example. There are, however, nominations for Janet Jackson, Devo, The Cure, The Zombies, Todd Rundren, Rufus and Chaka Kahn, Roxy Music, Rage Against the Machine, Radiohead, John Prine, MC5, LL Cool J, Kraftwerk and Stevie Nicks, who is already in the Hall with Fleetwood Mac.
Def Leppard fans can rejoice in that the top vote-getter on fans ballot has gain entry into the Hall the past few years, bands that were the critic’s darlings, but who sold millions of records and still get plenty of radio airplay. So Def fans should take advantage of this year’s weak crop of nominees and vote daily for their favorite band from now until December 9 at RockHall.com
