LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – “Livin’ on a Prayer” rockers Bon Jovi, British bands Dire Straits and the Moody Blues, the late Nina Simone and The Cars will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, organizers said on Wednesday.
FILE PHOTO: Jon Bon Jovi performs during the Rock in Rio Music Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 23, 2017. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares/File Photo
The rock-heavy 2018 list marks a return to the roots of the U.S. Hall of Fame, which for the past two years has broadened its base to welcome rap artists like the late Tupac Shakur and N.W.A.
Bon Jovi, led by Jon Bon Jovi, formed in 1983 in New Jersey and remains one of the biggest acts in the U.S. music industry, releasing albums every couple of years. The band toured the United States in 2017 in support of its “This House is Not for Sale” album.
May never happen, but sure would love to see The Guess Who/BTO get jointly inducted. Alternately, a joint induction of Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings would suffice.
Rocker
I agree wholeheartedly!
All of those you mentioned should be in the Hall!
I was never a huge Guess Fan but I always respected Bachman and Burton. The Guess Who should go in as a complete Band.
IMHO Cummings had/has one of the Best Voices ever in Music period!
Cummings is also one of the Best Live Performers in all Entertainment!
It has nothing to do with the fact they are Canadian for me, I simply am of the opinion they have earned the induction.
I am not really familiar with the criteria and I have not ever looked at the list of those already inducted but your comments have piqued my interest.
Thanks BMCQ.
Rolling Stone magazine czar Jan Wenner has reportedly always had his elitist finger on the scales of selecting nominees eligible each year for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Only a handful of nominees actually wins induction in a given year. Whether Wenner influences that final selection is unclear.
All I know is that for years, preference seemed to be given edgy (read “low selling”) rockers. It’s ridiculous that the Moody Blues had to wait this long. At least all the Moodies are still alive (even original co-founder/vocalist Denny “Go Now” Laine. Hope all of them get invited and at least take an onstage bow together.
When you look at the totality of hits—beginning with Shakin’ All Over (sung by Burton’s predecessor Chad Allan)—The Guess Who, BTO, solo Cummings and solo Bachman (with Ironhorse), the guys knew their way around a Billboard chart.
That’s why it makes the most sense for a Guess Who induction. Without the GW, doubtful that BTO would’ve even existed! And while Bachman Turner Overdrive sold more albums and concert tickets, the band didn’t have staying power.
Even in the lean years after So Long Bannatyne until 1974’s Road Food, Burt and the boys issued compelling, musically adventurous recordings. Vincent Fournier (aka Alice Cooper) remained a fan in that commercially fallow period. He told me The Guess Who was “seriously underrated” at an Alice pre-concert, media meet-and-greet in that period.
Oops, sorry Alice Cooper. That should read Vincent Furnier. Name another rock ghoul who was the son of a preacher man and relaxed with a round of golf?
Vince/Alice flew in the outer orbit of The Guess Who. The late Jack Richardson, who mortgaged his house to produce The Guess Who, later passed on the opportunity to oversee Alice Cooper sessions. But he encouraged his Nimbus 9 apprentice Bob Ezrin to handle the project. The rest was history.
Another link: After Burton quit the Guess Who in late 1975, he chose Alice Cooper’s manager Shep Gordon to handle his early solo career.
Rocker
Thanks for the lesson in Rock History! When is the Book coming out?
I also agree, it is really quite ridiculous that the MB were kept waiting this long,