![]() ![]() The band’s induction into the Rock Hall is a welcome nod to those who still value good music over modern window dressing.Ĭontact Tony Hicks at /BayAreaNewsGroup.TonyHicks or /insertfoot. Despite a semi-irritating spell when they grew a bit too enamored of keyboards, Rush is one of the few bands that never strayed too far from its roots. They are like dinosaurs from the LP age who still roam the Earth in the age of singles. It was an emotional roller-coaster at the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony Thursday night in Los Angeles, even more so than usual for the annual event. They haven’t been Rolling Stone cover darlings. They don’t write hit singles and never have. “Moving Pictures” (1981) was a bellwether release for a generation of guitar rock lovers who can still look back and not regret all their musical choices. Their music resonates with people who, like me, grew up with their records sandwiched on turntables between Van Halen and AC/DC. Paul McCartney didn’t attend the Beatles’ induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, but that didn’t stop the attendees from playing I Saw Her Standing There, one of his. They’ve written progressive music that, unlike most prog rock, has been heavy enough at times (at least their first decade or so) to pull in the hard rock crowd. So this year’s induction of Rush is like a rock ‘n’ roll version of “Revenge of the Nerds.” Rush fans are the rock equivalent of Trekkies - loyal supporters who are often mocked, but capable of keeping their favorite artists afloat for decades. I think a big hurdle has been cleared with the induction of Rush, which has never had a true hit single, yet has stayed afloat for four decades, thanks to legions of fans who keep buying the band’s albums and flocking to its shows. That includes, up until this year, rock ‘n’ roll nerddom. From the Sex Pistols to Paul McCartney to Axl Rose, there has been a storied history of musicians refusing to attend their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. It’s obviously difficult for rock snobs to acknowledge certain things. Yet nearly 40 years after the band released its first record, Kiss isn’t in the hall. For example, it’s hard to argue the effect Kiss has had on the concepts of marketing rock music and on staging a flamboyant live show, despite widely varying opinions about how good the band is. My concern is whether members of the nominating panel allow their biases to intrude on the process. The 26th annual ceremony officially inducted Roosevelt’s Public Enemy, progressive rockers Rush, blues guitar wizard Albert King, disco queen Donna Summer, hard rockers Heart, singer-songwriter Randy Newman, producer Quincy Jones and manager Lou Adler into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.Is it about having a certain amount of influence? Is it about being great players? Is it about having hit songs? Is it about a band’s effect on popular music? All are no doubt considered, and should be. And Oprah Winfrey, there to induct her friend Quincy Jones, threw her hands in the air and waved ‘em like she just don’t care during Public Enemy’s set. Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson delivered his entire speech by repeating the word “blah” for several minutes while miming his thought process. who even tapped on Flav’s trademark clock around his neck to try to get him to wrap it up. Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav offered a long and winding stream-of-consciousness acceptance speech, all under the watchful eye of Chuck D. Live that stretched deep into Friday morning. LOS ANGELES - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame returned to its wild, unpredictable roots with an unforgettable induction ceremony at the Nokia Theatre L.A. ![]()
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