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Jon Bon Jovi and his band released their selt-titled debut album in 1984.
Artists become eligible to be inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first record, which means this is the first year that Jon Bon Jovi and his band were eligible for the honor. But, although they made the list of nominees announced two months ago, Bon Jovi were passed over in favor of Neil Diamond, Dr. John and Alice Cooper, among others.
Was the band snubbed? And were other qualified acts like LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys snubbed too? Share your thoughts about those who got in and those who didn't in the comments.
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Yes, Bon Jovi was snubbed. Beastie Boys, not so much.
I will have to disagree with you Linda. If anything the Beastie Boys are more influencial in their type of music than say a Bon Jovi (love Bon Jovi to death...awe NJ in the 80s). Anyway, they are both "young" bands, so I have no problem for them waiting until next go around. Yes, Rush should be there, but for whatever reason, they don't seems to get the votes.
I don't see Bon Jovi as "young" but yes, I see it quite appropriate for Neil Diamond to have gotten a spot over him-Neil is has been one of the most influential artists out there for 40 years-that's quite a track record. Bon Jovi is fabulous, but not at quite the same degree.
All three acts should have been voted in. Especially Bon Jovi. They just racked up the highest grossing tour of 2010. Doesn't that say something after 25 years on the road cranking out rock hit after rock hit.
LL Cool J and Beastie Boys are on the same page as Run DMC. All three came out at the same time. All three deserve the nod.
I supposed next year when the Chili Peppers are eligible they'll won't get the votes either.
Sometimes the Hall of Fame is a complete joke.
Was Bon Jovi robbed of spot in Rock Hall of Fame? The best answer to that question is to ask another question - How can one possibly be robbed of something they have never possessed in the first place? Plain and simple... It is not something they have obtained yet. Give them time. They'll make it. They certainly have made their mark. There's still a host of other artists who have been waiting much longer than Bon Jovi.
One of the things that I've always found so puzzling is how phoney and plastic the induction ceremonies are in the first place. Is the Rock Hall of Fame located in New York? Answer: NO Then why is it held in another entirely different locale? Answer: EGO & MONEY! If there was any true meaning or dedication behind the facade of honoring it's 'Roots', it would be held at the same location of the Rock Hall of Fame. Somehow the glam and glitter of corporate dollars seemed to have overtaken the true rebelous nature and roots of Rock.
Being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is so utterly subjective that it's meaningless. It seems hardly worth talking about. I'm sure all these artists are rewarded, or not, by their record sales and concert attendance much more than they are by a fabricated arbiter of fame.
Bon Jovi??? Screw them.... put RUSH in already!!!!
'Bout time Bon Jovi got his own reality program called= "Livin' on a Prayer".
absolutely, without a doubt. bon jovi has more talent than half on the list. who the hell are some of these people anyway?
Seriously Tina, not to rude but the folks being inducted are household names and legends.
No Rush.......No KISS......no rock n roll hall of fame
Absolutley correct....what is up with that?
I couldn't agree more. Rush is my favorite band, followed by Pink Floyd. Rush deserves it and has for a long, long time.
I whole heartedly could'nt agree more...As a long time RUSH Fan! This institution as they may feel they
deserve to be even called, should be labeled as "THE HALL OF SHAME". What a joke! This panel of whomever they claim to be has not even a smidgen of what they think is a ROCK N ROLL worthy candidate!! ROCK ON FOREVER RUSH!!!
You have to have had a claim on something to have been robbed. Jon Bon Jovi, while talented in his genre, broke no new ground and is not particularly exceptional. No, he wasn't robbed, and I would be hard pressed to believe that he will ever get in.
Look I'm no Bon Jovi fan and I grew up in the 1980s graduating HS in 1987; However, Bon Jovi whether you like them or not have sold 130 million records world wide. 25 years later they are still selling out stadiums around the world while most rock bands of that era can't even sell out the Whiskey in LA. Yes, they deserve to be in the Hall of Fame and already are in the European Rock Hall of Fame. Jesus, this is a band from NJ not London or Berlin!
Some of y'all have no concept of the R'n'R Hall of Fame eligibility requirements. It's not a sales contest. It's awarded to artists who have had, or exerted, some influence to the music/musicians that followed them. It's not about how many records were sold and where. It's not about being from NJ, UK, Japan or wherever. It's not about selling out stadiums. Get a grip peeps! They let in 5 artists a year. As the years go by, there are many, many artists who become eligible, but only 5 get in.
Kantya ... you do a very good job of quoting the machine. This is the argument that is thrown out quite often, but it holds no water. The Dave Clark Five were not an influence on anyone, just another copy band of the Beatles. I'm not saying they don't belong ... I'm just saying the bands that are allowed in are based on somebody's opinion and not necessarily on any set "requirements". There are many bands and individuals that never should have been let into the R'n'R HOF, just as there are many bands and individuals that should be in. Let's take the Moody Blues or Deep Purple for that matter. The Moody Blues influenced many a band (Days of Future Past fused two styles of music together to create something so totally different during it's day) and there's this tune by Deep Purple that every kid that ever picked up a guitar tries to play. Now, that is influence and yet ... both bands are routinely snubbed and ignored. You're right, it's not about sales nor should it be, but don't try to tell me it's about influence ... and by the way ... I do have a grip.
Well said jctoo
Absolutely not. Bon Jovi is derivative, ordinary pop rock with nothing exceptional to say. There are many bands with much more pedigree waiting for induction, and it would be an insult to induct Bon Jovi in their place. Yes, Rush, and (yeah, I'll say it) Kiss just for starters, many, many more to follow. I know, I'll get flamed for this one.
You sure won't get flamed by me! Unfortunately the RHOF is run by the snooty "music" critics from Rolling Stone magazine, POS that it is. Rolling Stone has NEVER appreciated progressive rock, thus no artists in that genre have been inducted despite several artists each selling millions of records and influencing scores of musicians that are now in the hall. It will always be a joke until they recognize prog bands such as Yes, Rush, Genesis, ELP, etc. I will give it up for Bon Jovi's high volume of record sales and continued concert draw as justification for his inclusion though, regardless of my opinion of his music. I have no beef with the inclusion of Dr. John and Neil Diamond either, I just want the progressive genre represented.
Nor me..kwietman.. Bon Jovi is not bad, but props must be paid to Yes / KISS etc.. btw taterwheel Genesis was inducted last year. and Peter Gabriel didn't attend
I'm with you on this as well. The one band that I've haven't seen on anyone's post is Paul Revere and the The Raiders. You heard me, PRTR.
Yeah, I know that they've got the "gimic" thing going, but is it any worse than KISS and the makeup?
Drake Levin (Rest in peace, Man), related this story: After a PRTR show, a young fan came up to him and told Drake what a great influence he was on him. After awhile, Drake asked the young man his name. Any guesses, people.
JIMI HENDRIX.
True story. As long as RS controls the hall, Jan and his cronies are going to dictate who's in and who's not. Rush, KISS and PRTR should've been in years ago. Alice Cooper just getting in now?
PLEASE....
The article should be titled "Was RUSH robbed" and the answer is yes. For Alice Cooper to make it into the hall before this band that has been producing gold & platinum albums since the early 1970's and is set to release another album in 2011 is a travesty.
While I agree Rush not getting in is a travesty, please don't bash Alice Cooper. He was extremely influential - as he put it, he brought "spectacle" to rock 'n' roll. Nobody was doing what he was doing and now his imitators are legion.
So, by all means, the Rock Hall lacks credibility when they continue to ignore artists like Rush (among many, many others), but Alice has just as much right to be in there and, like Neil Diamond, should've been in there a long time ago.
Sorry. I'm not meaning to bash Alice...but I would argue that on the "influence scale" Rush is far above Alice. And both are far above Bon Jovi, which is a perfectly amiable group that spent a lot more timing being influenced than influencing.
erm, no. Who has Rush influenced? No offense, but I never heard of them until I started watching the VH1 Classic channel. And even after I heard their music, ehh. Meanwhile, Alice was one of the first shock rockers to influence a slew of similar acts.
As for Bon Jovi, if Neil Diamond and Alice Cooper JUST got in, Jon Bon can wait.
Ed, "Who has Rush influenced?"...OMG!!!!! As a group, Rush possesses 24 gold or platinum (3 multi-platinum) records. They're third behind the Beatles and the Rolling Stones for the most consecutive gold or platinum studio albums by a rock band. You don't have statistics like that without having influenced a "few" others. Rush has been continually denied entry into the Hall. The Rush band members say that they don't care, but their fans do! I'm not gonna denigrate the folks in the hall or this year's invitees, but without Rush, the Hall of Fame continues to be a joke.
Really..I'm more than willing to give them a listen, but I don't know. Just haven't heard anything from them that made me a fan yet. What band would you say has an obvious heavy Rush influence? Because I know there's definitely a whole lot of rock legends that were influenced by Alice Cooper's style.
When Metallica was inducted into the RRHOF they mentioned a few bands that should be inducted. Rush was one of them. I would say that's being an influence. Watch Beyond The Lighted Stage and you'll see a lot of bands on there that say Rush was a main factor in learning to play music. Neil Peart alone must have influenced thousands of drummers.
You are also aware that Alice Cooper (the band, by the way, which is who was inducted) started making records in 1968, and that Alice (solo) will be releasing another album in 2011 as well, right?
I FULLY agree that Rush should be in, and HAS been snubbed. However, for all the reasons you state, Alice lines up, point for point. And while Rush has been amazingly influential, the sheer number of people that state Alice as an influence is also quite staggering.
(Oops, double post. Deleted.)
without a doubt absolutely. They have more talent than half those on the list. Maybe next year.
....Was Philly "robbed" by Bon Jovi of the free concert he pledged if his Arena League team "the Soul" won a championship? YES.
But that hasn't stopped him from selling tickets 4 months in advance of his next Philly tour!
I would like to think that "character" plays a role in the nominees.
Yes they were. They were on of the BIGGEST acts of the 80's. Neil Diamond can wait his turn
HEY!! :)
ND is the man, yes I said it. Seriously, look at the body of ND's work and then tell me that he should not be in the hall of fame? ND should have been in the hall along time ago, IMHO.
Neil Diamond HAS waited his turn. Do we need a history lesson here? It's about time, and he should have been there long ago.
If Neil Diamond was remotely rock and roll, maybe he would have been in the RRHF a long time ago. Rock and roll, he's not and never has been. He's been pop all the way.
ND wrote numerous hits for others along with his own songs. He was RnR long before "pop" was even coined. Check out Hot August Night I & II.
I kept thinking to myself, "What the hell is wrong with these people saying Neil Diamond is not rock and roll?" Then I realized I was confusing Neil Diamond and Neil Young. I looked it up, and sure enough, Neil Young is in the hall of fame, as he should be. Neil Diamond, I don't remember what songs he did...
Agree w/ above posts: Until Rush is in the Hall of Fame, it's really just another building in Cleveland. And puh-lease, Bon Jovi robbed? hahaha! Best joke all day.
RUSH is above all Alice and Bon Jovi, no question.
None of the other acts mentioned can come close to Rush as performers of "rock". This is the first I was aware that they are not in. What's the deal? Is that a joke?
RUSH, IRON MAIDEN, KISS, DEF LEPPARD just to name a few! The RRHOF is a joke, even more so to have rap and to even consider rap inducted is a shame. They call it the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for crying out loud! They will probably try to induct George Strait next year! Cripes!
I couldn't agree more. Evertime something is called rock n roll it inevitably starts getting diluted with pop, r&b, hip-hop, etc. Don't forget ABBA has already been inducted ahead of numerous rock giants. It's all corporate BS.
Isn't it the "ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME"??? While I like Dr. John, really? Over Bon Jovi? Over Rush? What am I missing????
Neil, aka "The Jewish Elvis", does indeed belong in the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". Bon Jovi should be inducted maybe after Chic, with Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, who can and have played (rocked) with the best of them.
It's not a rock and roll hall of fame until DEEP PURPLE are inducted. The first three chords to "Smoke on the Water" and you know exactly who the band is. You can't say that about many other bands. Just go back and listen to the Machine Head album and tell me this band doesn't belong in the hall.
Couldn't agree more. The RRHOF should be about influence not album sales. Every single rock band since 1972 owes their start to Deep Purple and "Smoke on the Water". Listen to Lars Ulrich. Seeing Deep Purple in concert is what set him on his musical journey rather than tennis.
Deep Purple, Rush and KISS. Until they are inducted, it's the Rock 'n Roll Hall of "other guys", not Hall of Fame.
Neil Diamond? You've got to be kidding me!! How is he remotely rock? No Rush? No KISS?! And, now that I'm on a rant, what about Heart? Talk about another band getting totally hosed. I'll take "Barracuda" over "Sweet Caroline" any day!
Why all the hate for ND. He is the new James Brown :) Now the hardest working man in show business.
Until RUSH is nominated, Bon Jovi deosn't deserve to be in..
Sorry Tina ... Tom Waits not as cute as you would like
The Hall is a joke and a sorry excuse for nothing more than a musicians' cliche popularity contest. If Rush isn't in, then there's something wrong. It doesn't take a genius to see that. As for Bon Jovi- I'm not the biggest fan; however, I'm pretty certain that they'll have their day.
As for Rush- they're too good for the Hall! There needs to be something like an "Awesome Music Hall of Fame" that features Rush as one of only five bands that are ever inducted.
Are you high? Alice Cooper has been getting the snub since 1996. Compared to him, Bon Jovi is a johnny-come-lately.
Yes Alice Belongs for reasons too many to list. Most of you Rock-n-Rollers can name at ten to fifteen songs off the top of you head he wrote from 1966 to now. Those who do not know his newer stuff, have just not been paying attention to him as much as other bands. As for the other bands mentioned here I have seen most of them and have alot of thier music. Most of them belong too, but Alice is there now.
Sorry the additional of Niel Diamond and exclusion of Rush, Kiss, Bo Jovi and numerous other far more worthy entrants proves that the RRHF is a joke. nothing more, nothing less.
Give a listen to his double live LP, Hot August Night. Read the liner notes. Neil Diamond should have been in long ago.
It's Bon Jovi's first year of eligibility. No way in the world was he a first-year HOF'er.
I agree that Rush should be in there, since they're the highest-profile prog rock band, possibly in the history of the medium. But they've never been a critical favorite, and the HOF selection committee is full of critics. That's another reason you'll be waiting for Bon Jovi.
KISS is largely seen as a triumph of marketing amongst those people, though I think there's more to their music than that.
But everyone who got in this year deserves it.
I am sorry that Jon Bon Jovi is disappointed and feels snubbed because he has been around for 25 years. How about some acts that have been around for 50 years. That was the beginning and the basis for all the other acts to follow and still are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Many are very deserving and still get snubbed. Especially Johnny Maestro. They should change the name to Rock and Roll Hall Of Shame.
Don't get me wrong I like Neil Diamond, but he got in and Bonjovi didn't what is wrong with this picture, I wouldn't consider Neil Diamond as Rock n Roll???? That doesn't make any sense. I'm not sure why the critics have such a beef with Bonjovi...... Hopefully Bonjovi will respond with another hit album and show them all just as he has done in the past. i'm looking forward to seeing them.
I agree, Vriley -- Neil Diamond is a legend in pop music, but rock and roll he's not. Bon Jovi has given us 25 years of what the Hall of Fame is supposed to be about -- rock and roll. So, Bon Jovi most definitely were overlooked. Who's on the voting committee anyway?
Bon writes pop.