HALL OF SHAME?
Noting that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's eligibility requirements state that inductees must have released their first recorded
efforts 25 years before the year of their induction, Neil Young once said that the Hall would have to
close its doors soon. In essence, he meant that everyone truly warranting a place in an institution honoring the giants of rock'n'roll
music would have already been inducted.
But it's 2000, and so the new list of possible Hall of Fame inductees all released their first records in 1975. And the lineup is, barring a
few exceptions, sorrier than Net Aid's. Feast your eyes:
Peter Gabriel, Heart, Amazing Rhythm Aces, Ambrosia, Angel, Captain & Tennille,
Eric Carmen, Natalie Cole, Pablo Cruise, the Dictators, Dr. Feelgood, Gloria
Gaynor, Andy Gibb, Andrew Gold, Ian Hunter, Al Jarreau, Journey, Little River
Band, Nils Lofgren, Pat Metheny, Delbert McClinton, Billy Ocean, Rainbow, Kenny
Rogers, David Sanborn, Sister Sledge, Outlaws, the Tubes, and Ultravox.
The slim pickings mean that for the induction ceremony, which will take place next year, the Hall might do well to turn to those it has
ignored in the past. Already waiting for their John Mellencamp induction speech are such notables like Aerosmith (who debuted in
1973), Kiss (1974), Black Sabbath (1970), and Ted
Nugent (1967). But maybe Ted's just a little too rock'n'roll for the venerable
institution.
Then there is the continued neglect of Iggy and the Stooges and the MC5, the two
'60s Detroit avant-garage bands that presaged the whole of punk and heavy
metal. Throw in the New York Dolls and Patti Smith, two acts that did the same
from a New York perspective. They're critical darlings, but they played to a rather select audience.
That Peter Gabriel's time has come might gladden some, but his old band,
Genesis, has yet to receive a nomination. In fact, progressive rock as a whole has been poorly served by the nominating committee of
critics and industry insiders. No Yes. No King Crimson. No Gentle Giant. And you might as well forget glam rockers like T. Rex and
Roxy Music.
The Hall prefers to induct artists long after they have become eligible: Rockabilly standard-bearer Gene Vincent released his first
record in 1957, but was not inducted until 1997. Screamin' Jay Hawkins, daddy to a reported 57 children and an unhinged
rock'n'roller, never lived to see his eminently worthy, still-unissued nomination. Now that he can't enjoy it, perhaps now is the time.
That the Hall is even willing to acknowledge the existence of pop geniuses like
Captain & Tennille, Eric Carmen (who really should be nominated for his work with the Raspberries), Andy Gibb, and Natalie Cole
at least indicates an acceptance of non-cliched rock'n'roll artists that should be applauded. The same goes for disco artists like Gloria
Gaynor and Sister Sledge.
But there's a lot of cleanup work to be done by the committee, given 45 years littered with underappreciated, critically neglected
artists. Of course, some say that something as gloriously messy as rock'n'roll should not really be enshrined in an institution anyway.
So this year, how about securing a vote for Iggy? Write the Hall's induction
committee, care of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, 1290 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, N.Y. 10104 with your letters of support. Or better yet, go to rockhall.com and email them.
In fact, email them a few times.
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Johnny Cash At San Quentin Sees Unedited Release In July
Johnny Cash's legendary 1969 concert at San Quentin State Prison in San Quentin, Calif. will be preserved unedited and in its entirety
for the first time on CD, when Columbia/Legacy releases Johnny Cash at San Quentin (The Complete 1969 Concert) on July 4.
Johnny Cash at San Quentin was originally released in 1969 but was missing nine tracks originally played during the Feb. 24, 1969
concert. Those include "Big River," "I Still Miss Someone," "I Don't Know Where I'm Bound," "Ring of Fire," "Folsom Prison
Blues," "He Turned the Water Into Wine," "Daddy Sang Bass," "The Old Account," and a closing medley of "Folsom Prison Blues,"
"I Walk the Line," "Ring of Fire," and "The Rebel" (featuring the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers, and Carl Perkins). As with the
previous release, The Complete 1969 Concert includes back-to-back versions of "San Quentin" -- written especially for the
performance -- per the request of the prisoners in attendance.
Country legend Merle Haggard, who was a serving time at San Quentin in 1969 for breaking and entering and attended the show, is
interviewed by country star Marty Stuart for the liner notes to the album. Besides the music, a famous rock and roll image came out
of the 1969 San Quentin show as well. Photographer Jim Marshall's timeless photo of Cash flipping a bird to what looks like the
camera lens (but in actuality was to all the photographers and cameramen at the front of the stage who refused to move upon Cash's
request) was taken at the show.
Here is the track listing to Johnny Cash at San Quentin (The Complete 1969 Concert):
1. "Big River"
2. "I Still Miss Someone"
3. "Wreck of the Old 97"
4. "I Walk the Line"
5. "Darlin' Companion"
6. "I Don't Know Where I'm Bound"
7. "Starkville City Jail"
8. "San Quentin"
9. "San Quentin"
10. "Wanted Man"
11. "A Boy Named Sue"
12. "(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley"
13. "Folsom Prison Blues"
14. "Ring of Fire"
15. "He Turned the Water Into Wine"
16. "Daddy Sang Bass"
17. "The Old Account"
18. Closing Medley ("Folsom Prison Blues," "I Walk the Line," "Ring of Fire," "The Rebel")
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Hendrix Music Cannot Be Linked To Drugs
Eurythmics star and filmmaker Dave Stewart says that he was refused permission to use a song by Jimi Hendrix in a scene for his
upcoming movie because it involved drugs.
Stewart approached the Hendrix estate to use material from Hendrix classic rock album 'Electric Ladyland" in a scene involving naked
bodies and drug use but was told that it was inappropriate. Ironically, the original cover for Electric Ladyland was covered in naked
flesh.
Speaking to the UK press, Stewart says "I've got a letter from Jimi Hendrix's estate which I've framed, saying, 'we don't want Jimi's
music connected with sex or drugs'."
Stewart's movie 'Honest' stars All Saints singers Nicole and Natalie Appleton. It is set in the 60's and the offending scene is actually
based an a true life experience of Dave's. He says he once stood naked in Trafalgar Square and was actually arrested over the
incident.
The movie is having its debut this week at the Cannes Film Festival.
The English censor has given it a 18+ R classification.
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