Here is the list of the initial inductees into the DrReverend Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Without these people there would be no rock and roll. I don't even like all of these people or groups, but their impact on rock and roll is undeniable. If you think I've forgotten a group or person who you believe should have been included in the lists below, let me know and I'll consider them for January's inductions.
Performers:
The Beach Boys
The Beatles
Chuck Berry
David Bowie
Eric Clapton
Sam Cooke
Fats Domino
Bob Dylan
The Everly Brothers
Grateful Dead
Bill Haley
Buddy Holly
Michael Jackson
Jimi Hendrix
Led Zeppelin
Jerry Lee Lewis
Little Richard
Roy Orbison
Carl Perkins
Pink Floyd
Elvis Presley
Ramones
The Rolling Stones
Sex Pistols
Simon and Garfunkel
The Supremes
The Velvet Underground
The Who
Frank Zappa
Les Paul
James Brown
Aretha Franklin
Non-Performers:
Dick Clark
Leo Fender
Alan Freed
Berry Gordy
Sam Phillips
Phil Spector
John H. Hammond
*Addendum - I spoke with our good friend Skippy Stalin this evening and he convinced me that I am being perhaps a little too stringent when it comes to determining what is and what isn't Rock and Roll. As a result I James Brown and Aretha Franklin have been added to the list above.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame sucks. In fact it's hard to think of something that sucks worse. I mean tearing your scrotum while trying to inject cocaine into your penis, or living in Pakistan are worse, but you know what I mean.
I love all types of music but I especially love rock and roll, and the fact that the thing that calls itself the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fames" is as horrible as it is, is just depressing as hell. Take a look at the list of inductees. This is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, not the this band had 6 hits between 1965 and 1968 hall of fame. These are suppose to the "Immortals" of Rock and Roll. So someone please explain to me how the The Animals got in. I don't think that The Animals are necessarily a bad band, but the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Really? And how about Bob Seger? I can think of 10 bands/people off the top of my head who deserve to be in anything that calls itself the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" more than Bob Seger. How about Kiss? I don't even like Kiss but fuck it, they sold over 100 million records and I'll bet that quite a few more kids picked up a guitar and formed a band after hearing "Rock and Roll All Nite", than "Like A Rock". Or how about Rush? I like Rush more than Kiss, but not by much. They have a career that spans almost 40 years, they've sold over 40 million records and have 14 platinum ones. What exactly do they have to do to get in? Or how about Tom Waits, The Smiths, Iron Maiden, Lightin' Hopkins, Nick Drake, Daniel Lanois, Joy Division, or Kaftwerk. I could go on.
You might notice one name on my list that kinda sticks out a bit. As I'm sure you know Lightin' Hopkins did not play rock and roll. He was a blues musician. So what's he doing in my list? Well, for some fucked up reason one doesn't need to actually play rock and roll to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Why the fuck are Miles Davis, Johnny Cash, Charlie Christian and John Lee Hooker all in the Hall as performers? I can understand wanting to honour those who influenced Rock and Roll, but none of those people really played much rock and roll. I mean Miles Davis? Wow the selection committee really must have had their heads inserted firmly into their assholes on that one. Another thing that really pisses me off is that they put all these blues and jazz musicians as performers and "early influences", but where are the country guys? If you're going to put Johnny Cash in, why not Willie Nelson? Or Townes Van Zandt. Or Kris Kristofferson? And you're going to put Jimmie Rodgers in but not The Carter Family? I just threw up in my mouth a little.
Anyways, I'm so disgusted with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, (ZZ Top in there you know...fucking ZZ Top), that I'm forming my own. I will have an initial induction that will include what I refer to as the "Obligatories". These are groups and people that no respectable Hall of Fame dedicated to rock and roll could be without. After that I will induct 4 performers and two non-performers a year. I invite all 3 of my readers to send me those they think are worthy of induction. The criteria for election to the hall is a little ambiguous. What makes a performer important? It is record sales? Perceived influence on others? I guess those both play role. I guess it really comes down to legacy. I really believe that people will be listening to Bob Dylan 50 years from now. I'm not sure they'll be listening to ZZ Top. One thing though. Those eligible for entry must be rock and roll performers. No jazz, no blues, no Gypsy soul music. I love jazz, blues, folk, bluegrass, country, and several other types of music, but this is the "Rock and Roll" hall of fame so it's rock and roll only. Also when a band is elected, ALL THE PEOPLE IN THAT BAND ARE ELECTED. I fucking hate the fact that that piece of shit in Cleveland excludes certain members of bands. Why isn't Doug Yule included with the Velvet Underground. Sure he wasn't the heart and soul of the band, but he was there and he played a big role on what was arguably their best record. Who the fuck are the assholes at the Hall of Fame, (which will henceforth be called the Hall of Incest, to differentiate it from the real Hall of Fame, my Hall of Fame), to decide who is and isn't a member of the Velvet Underground, (or any band for that matter). Fucking disgusting.
I will be announcing the "Obligatories" very soon. After that the induction ceremonies will take place annually on January 8th. That is Elvis Presley's birthday, and after all he did invent rock in roll on that day in 1972.
I love all types of music but I especially love rock and roll, and the fact that the thing that calls itself the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fames" is as horrible as it is, is just depressing as hell. Take a look at the list of inductees. This is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, not the this band had 6 hits between 1965 and 1968 hall of fame. These are suppose to the "Immortals" of Rock and Roll. So someone please explain to me how the The Animals got in. I don't think that The Animals are necessarily a bad band, but the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Really? And how about Bob Seger? I can think of 10 bands/people off the top of my head who deserve to be in anything that calls itself the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" more than Bob Seger. How about Kiss? I don't even like Kiss but fuck it, they sold over 100 million records and I'll bet that quite a few more kids picked up a guitar and formed a band after hearing "Rock and Roll All Nite", than "Like A Rock". Or how about Rush? I like Rush more than Kiss, but not by much. They have a career that spans almost 40 years, they've sold over 40 million records and have 14 platinum ones. What exactly do they have to do to get in? Or how about Tom Waits, The Smiths, Iron Maiden, Lightin' Hopkins, Nick Drake, Daniel Lanois, Joy Division, or Kaftwerk. I could go on.
You might notice one name on my list that kinda sticks out a bit. As I'm sure you know Lightin' Hopkins did not play rock and roll. He was a blues musician. So what's he doing in my list? Well, for some fucked up reason one doesn't need to actually play rock and roll to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Why the fuck are Miles Davis, Johnny Cash, Charlie Christian and John Lee Hooker all in the Hall as performers? I can understand wanting to honour those who influenced Rock and Roll, but none of those people really played much rock and roll. I mean Miles Davis? Wow the selection committee really must have had their heads inserted firmly into their assholes on that one. Another thing that really pisses me off is that they put all these blues and jazz musicians as performers and "early influences", but where are the country guys? If you're going to put Johnny Cash in, why not Willie Nelson? Or Townes Van Zandt. Or Kris Kristofferson? And you're going to put Jimmie Rodgers in but not The Carter Family? I just threw up in my mouth a little.
Anyways, I'm so disgusted with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, (ZZ Top in there you know...fucking ZZ Top), that I'm forming my own. I will have an initial induction that will include what I refer to as the "Obligatories". These are groups and people that no respectable Hall of Fame dedicated to rock and roll could be without. After that I will induct 4 performers and two non-performers a year. I invite all 3 of my readers to send me those they think are worthy of induction. The criteria for election to the hall is a little ambiguous. What makes a performer important? It is record sales? Perceived influence on others? I guess those both play role. I guess it really comes down to legacy. I really believe that people will be listening to Bob Dylan 50 years from now. I'm not sure they'll be listening to ZZ Top. One thing though. Those eligible for entry must be rock and roll performers. No jazz, no blues, no Gypsy soul music. I love jazz, blues, folk, bluegrass, country, and several other types of music, but this is the "Rock and Roll" hall of fame so it's rock and roll only. Also when a band is elected, ALL THE PEOPLE IN THAT BAND ARE ELECTED. I fucking hate the fact that that piece of shit in Cleveland excludes certain members of bands. Why isn't Doug Yule included with the Velvet Underground. Sure he wasn't the heart and soul of the band, but he was there and he played a big role on what was arguably their best record. Who the fuck are the assholes at the Hall of Fame, (which will henceforth be called the Hall of Incest, to differentiate it from the real Hall of Fame, my Hall of Fame), to decide who is and isn't a member of the Velvet Underground, (or any band for that matter). Fucking disgusting.
I will be announcing the "Obligatories" very soon. After that the induction ceremonies will take place annually on January 8th. That is Elvis Presley's birthday, and after all he did invent rock in roll on that day in 1972.
Bill Holt - Dreamies
Dreamies - 1974
Despite the fact that he had a family to support and minimal experience playing music Bill Holt quit his day job in 1972, locked himself in his basement for year and made a record. The album has two tracks, side A is Program 10 (in 6 parts) and side B is Program 11 (in 7 parts).
This album is pretty much in a class of its own. It's composed mostly of samples, bits from Beatle songs and found sounds via the media. JFL, MLK and Walter Cronkite all make repeated appearances. Beneath the samples are some nice acoustic melodies and pleasant enough lyrics. Program 11 is the darker of the two, although the American Airlines sign off right near the end is hilarious. One of the things that makes this album so great is that it is so unique, especially when view in its historical context. No one in rock and roll was doing what Holt was doing in the early 70s (Dreamies is one of the first and best examples of sampling in modern music). Beyond that, the songs are actually good and like a lot of good music require close listening. A casual listen will not be nearly as rewarding as putting on some headphones, (real headphones not those ridiculous things that came with your iPod), in a dark room and listening without distraction. The "Sunday Morning Song" is really catchy and I found myself humming it after a few listens, (always a good sign for me).
One of the really fascinating characteristics of this record is how it manages to capture the spirit of the time period from which it comes. Essentially it's just one big sound collage, but one that works. Holt uses both sounds and voices to create a sort of progressive confusion of sound that sincerely expresses the zeitgeist of the late 60's early 70's. It's quite an achievement.
Don't go down to your local record store to get a copy of Dreamies, (do people still go to record stores...are there still record stores). You won't find it there. I couldn't even find it while searching several popular torrent sites. The best place to find it is iTunes.
Despite the fact that he had a family to support and minimal experience playing music Bill Holt quit his day job in 1972, locked himself in his basement for year and made a record. The album has two tracks, side A is Program 10 (in 6 parts) and side B is Program 11 (in 7 parts).
This album is pretty much in a class of its own. It's composed mostly of samples, bits from Beatle songs and found sounds via the media. JFL, MLK and Walter Cronkite all make repeated appearances. Beneath the samples are some nice acoustic melodies and pleasant enough lyrics. Program 11 is the darker of the two, although the American Airlines sign off right near the end is hilarious. One of the things that makes this album so great is that it is so unique, especially when view in its historical context. No one in rock and roll was doing what Holt was doing in the early 70s (Dreamies is one of the first and best examples of sampling in modern music). Beyond that, the songs are actually good and like a lot of good music require close listening. A casual listen will not be nearly as rewarding as putting on some headphones, (real headphones not those ridiculous things that came with your iPod), in a dark room and listening without distraction. The "Sunday Morning Song" is really catchy and I found myself humming it after a few listens, (always a good sign for me).
One of the really fascinating characteristics of this record is how it manages to capture the spirit of the time period from which it comes. Essentially it's just one big sound collage, but one that works. Holt uses both sounds and voices to create a sort of progressive confusion of sound that sincerely expresses the zeitgeist of the late 60's early 70's. It's quite an achievement.
Don't go down to your local record store to get a copy of Dreamies, (do people still go to record stores...are there still record stores). You won't find it there. I couldn't even find it while searching several popular torrent sites. The best place to find it is iTunes.
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