I’m going to put my cards on the table. I think Jann Wenner is a sell out. How could it happen? How could a guy who founded one of the greatest music magazines in the history of Rock & Roll cheat the fans. Come on this is Jann Wenner. The guy who borrowed $7500 bucks from his family and started a movement in this country. Rolling Stone launched the careers of some of the greatest writers of our time. Wenner gave a gentle push to Hunter S. Thompson (love him or hate him) Joe Klein and Cameron Crowe. He produced Boz Scaggs’s self titled debut in 1969. So why do I have this great disdain for the man? He stole the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame from the fans.

In January of 1986 the first inductees were placed into the hallowed halls. Who made the cut that year? Chuck Berry, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, Ray Charles, Little Richard, Buddy Holly and of course Elvis Presley. This was a good list but many fans thought too many people were being inducted. It was suggested by several music critics that the list be narrowed to only 3 or 4 names a year. It wouldn’t hurt the new Hall’s business. You could still house memorabilia from all the great acts from Rock’s past, and have the Hall of Fame, a special place for the most honored.

That year I knew we fans were in trouble after Mr. Wenner didn’t respond to any of the questions we had about the Hall. He also went so far as to say that he would personally oversee the process. What?

Why not the fans. The music critics. Musicians. Why were we all shut out. The hall wasn’t even open and already we had lost our tickets and backstage passes.

Let’s take a moment and look at how bands are selected for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The following is from the “Hall Rules”. Performers - include singers and instrumentalists. A nominating committee composed of music historians selects names for the Performers category.

Stop! Let’s look at this rule. Every year the “performers” list is sent to a lot of folks in the music community. Each year every name is approved by Mr. Wenner. In the early years of the Hall Jann did let two of his close friends, Suzan Evans, and writer Dave Marsh help with the picks. Just picture three friends sitting around a table with a pitcher of margaritas discussing which of their favorite band would be honored. When fans and fan clubs sent this governing trifecta names, they usually only included them if they were fans. Most petitions never got a response. That’s probably why Michael Jackson has been inducted twice and Kiss is still waiting on the bench next to the water boy. Let’s continue with the rules.

Then roughly 1000 experts, including academics, journalists, producers and others with music industry experience vote on the list.

Stop! I guess I don’t have to tell you that the “experts” are all picked by Wenner, and he sends them a list of his 10 favorite bands of the moment. He still gets his picks. They are voting on the band he wants to induct into the Hall. It’s a rigged game. Let’s go back to the rules.
 
Performers receiving the highest number of votes greater than 50% of the votes received are selected for induction: each year, about five to seven nominees make the cut.

This turned out to be a lie. In 2007, two days after the 07’ induction ceremony a Fox News article reported The Dave Clark Five should have been the fifth inductee that year. They had more votes than Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Mr. Wenner was accused of juggling the vote numbers. When the dust settled Jann said he felt the Hall couldn’t go another year without a rap act. So the Dave Clark Five didn’t make the cut. They were inducted the next year, but most music critics felt it was only to put the past years controversy to rest.

Petitions for reform have been ignored. There have been years when different record company brass have been a part of the voting block. Groups that were affiliated with various committee members have been nominated with no discussion at all as well.

My favorite quote about the Hall’s induction process was by Wenner’s friend and Committee Member Suzan Evans. She said, “If the right bands aren’t chosen we wouldn’t sell enough tickets to the induction dinner.” Yeah, that’s what it’s all about isn’t it, selling enough tickets to the induction dinner. What a bunch of Losers with Wenner as the illustrious potentate. In 2006 the Sex Pistols refused to attend their induction ceremony calling the museum something I can't print on the web page. Let's just say it was not very flattering.  

Now, this years nominees and comments:

1. Jeff Beck (Should already be in the Hall, again Michael Jackson has been inducted twice as a solo artist and as a member of the Jackson 5 and Jeff is just now getting the nod? Sad.)

2. Chic (Really? Chic? Grand Funk, Alice Cooper, The Monkees, Yes, Kiss, The Runaways…. Yeah I can see how Chic should be inducted. They sure have contributed more to all that is Rock and Roll than any of the people I just mentioned… you think?)

3. Wanda Jackson ( A great pick but I’m sure Suzan Evans wouldn’t think she’d sell enough tickets to the event. Come on she dated Elvis and if you’ve never heard “Let’s Have A Party”… Love to play it for you sometime. I’ve got the original 45 release on Decca.)

4. Little Anthony & The Imperials (Should already be in the hall. But it was more important for Mr. Wenner to get The Bee Gees and Madonna in before this act.)

5. Metallica (No, Hell No! I don’t care if they meet the year requirement. I could see them getting in at some point. But putting Metallica in the Hall Of Fame before Alice Cooper, Yes, and at least two dozen other bands is just wrong. )

6. Run D.M.C. (Love the group, love the music…. I’d vote No. See comments attached to #2 Chic)

7. The Stooges (See Comments attached to #4 Little Anthony... The Stooges should already be in the Hall)

8. War (War is a ground breaking band that fought discrimination in the music business. War created a new sound in the late 60’s by crossing Funk & Rock… they should already be in the hall, but this is another example of a band overlooked for years by Wenner and his cronies)

9. Bobby Womack ( Bobby worked with Joe Tex and The Box Tops. He wrote songs for Wilson Pickett. His tune “It’s All Over Now” was a hit for the Stones in 1964. He wrote “Breezin” for George Benson. He’s released 35 Albums and had 38 chart R&B singles…. To put him on a list with Chic is a disgrace.)

I think Gene Simmons put it best when he said the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a giant popcorn fart. Gene you’re absolutely right.

Skipper

9/24/08 

P.S. Thanks to my wife Janet for her help in putting this piece together.