2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

So recently the Rock and Roll hall of fame relased it nominees list. The artists are The Paul Butterflied Blues Band, Chic, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Green Day, Kraftwerk, The Marvelettes, N.W.A, Nine Inch Nails, Lou Reed, The Smiths,The Spinners, Stevie Ray Vaughan, War and Bill Withers.

My first reaction was a sense of anger. Not only is Deep Purple not in the hall but this year they were left of the ballot completely. This year the hall has decided to nominate more new artists instead of many of the influential artists of the 50's 60's and 70's such as Link Wray, Deep Purple and Yes. Those three who are usually put on the ballot but never inducted were not even put on the ballot to make way for more modern less influential bands.

One of my main problems with the hall happened again this year. It's when the hall inducts only
certain backing bands and not others. This year it's the Blackhearts being nominated and Stevie Ray Vaughan's band Double Trouble being left out. Just this year the E Street Band got after being left out of Springsteen's induction in 1999 but sadly Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici did not live to see the induction which really pissed me off. I will never understand why some backing bands get in with their leaders and others don't.

Some of these artists are not what you would consider rock like N.W.A,Chic, Bill Withers and The Spinners. While I am a huge fan of both Bill Withers and The Spinners and listen to them on a regular basis I don't think they should be in the hall. I'm really getting sick of this genre mixing that is going on. I am also really disappointed that all of these raps acts are getting nominated and inducted before many legendary rock artists like Paul Revere and The Raiders, Steppinwolf, Chicago and Johnny Winter. I would be all in favor of starting a rap/hip-hop hall of fame and taking the artists in this hall and putting them in there.

Well the good news is that Stevie is finally being recognized by Jann, Joel, Dave and the rest of those clowns proving that once in a blue moon they can get something right.
   

Joan Jett & the

Happy 88th birthday to one of the gods of music

Paul Revere 1938-2014

Another music legend is gone.

Listening to these albums to celebrate the births of the Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eddie Cochran

I did not realize that two of my musical idols shared the same birthday. One man helped to change the course of modern blues and the other help to create Rock and Roll. Who knows what more they could have done had their lives not been cut short. May you both rest in peace.

Today AC/DC fans were greeted with good news and bad news.

First we received the news that founding member and rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young would be officially retiring from the band.  Then we got the news going to release a new album. Although we had known for sometime that Malcolm was sick it was unclear weather or not he would be returning. His nephew Stevie Young will be filling in for him on the new album and subsequent tour. He had played with the band in 1988 on the Blow Up your Video while Malcolm dealt  with drinking problems. The new album is titled Rock or Bust and a track from the album titled "Play Ball" is said to be released sometime this weekend. Hopefully now I will finally be able to see my favorite band and one of the greatest bands of all time.
 

RIP Glenn Cornick and Jimi Johnson

In the past few days the rock world has lost two talented musicians from two well-known classic rock groups. On Thursday we got news that former Jethro Tull bassist and founding member Glenn Cornick had passed away at 67. He played on 4 studio albums including This Was, Stand Up and Benefit. Then on Sunday it was reported that Survivors lead singer Jimi Johnson had died at the age of 63. Johnson had been a member of the band since 1984 when he replaced Dave Bickler. Although he did not sing Eye of the Tiger he did sing some of their other big hits including High On You, The Search Is Over and Burning Heart all of which made the top ten. In the 90's Johnson took a break from the band during in which time he wrote and preformed the theme to Baywatch. He would later join up with the band again in 2000 and record two more albums.

Johnny Winter 1944-2014