FEATURE:
The Class of ‘20
IN THIS PHOTO: The Notorious B.I.G. has been announced as one of the longlisted artists for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame/PHOTO CREDIT: Clarence Davis/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Nominees, Notable Snubs and the Ongoing Lack of Female Inclusion
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WHILST some claim it is outdated…
and has a misleading name, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has opened its doors to some true legends. You can have a look at the illustrious names that have been inducted through the years. I will mention a few names that have not been inducted but, earlier this week, the longlist for 2020 was announced:
“The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its long list of nominees for the class of 2020. First-time nominees include the Notorious B.I.G. (in his first year of eligibility), Whitney Houston, Soundgarden, T. Rex, Motörhead, Dave Matthews Band, Thin Lizzy, the Doobie Brothers, and Pat Benatar. Nine Inch Nails, MC5, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Rufus with Chaka Khan, Todd Rundgren, and Judas Priest have been nominated again.
Artists who became Rock Hall eligible for the first time this year but weren’t nominated include Oasis, Weezer, Aaliyah, Daft Punk, Elliott Smith, Sleater-Kinney, and Wilco. An artist becomes eligible 25 years after their first commercial record was released.
Previous nominees who didn’t make the cut this year include Rage Against the Machine, Kate Bush, the Replacements, Bad Brains, the Smiths, Eric B. & Rakim, Jane’s Addiction, John Prine, Eurythmics, LL Cool J, and Gram Parsons. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2019 was Radiohead, the Cure, Janet Jackson, Roxy Music, Stevie Nicks, Def Leppard, and the Zombies. Most of Radiohead declined to show up for the ceremony, Jackson urged the Rock Hall to “induct more women,” and Stevie Nicks shared the stage with Harry Styles.
IN THIS PHOTO: Trent Reznor/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor has, in the past, expressed his lack of interest in the Rock Hall. When he was asked last year about being snubbed, he replied, “I don’t give a fuck.” Months later, he gave a speech at the Rock Hall ceremony inducting the Cure. “I remember distinctly saying to myself, among other things, how can I even take this awards ceremony seriously if they’ll open their doors to X, Y and Z and not acknowledge the Cure,” Reznor said. “Let’s just say I’ve never been as happy to eat my words as I was tonight.”
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Nominees:
Pat Benatar
Dave Matthews Band
Depeche Mode
The Doobie Brothers
Whitney Houston
Judas Priest
Kraftwerk
MC5
Motörhead
Nine Inch Nails
The Notorious B.I.G.
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
Todd Rundgren
Soundgarden
T.Rex
Thin Lizzy”.
That is a pretty varied and impressive longlist. I guess one cannot really claim the nominees are Rock-based or exclusive to a genre. It is a bit late in the day to change the name – the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is more a church for a very special flock; those in music who have made a huge contribution to music and have influenced others. There are some acts in the longlist that I am surprised have not been inducted before. I have been looking online and, out of the names, it seems Nine Inch Nails are a popular shout.
IN THIS PHOTO: Depeche Mode/PHOTO CREDIT: Anton Corbijn
Depeche Mode and Whitney Houston are hugely popular artists that, whilst not Rock-based, are very worthy of induction. I always feel a bit sad because, invariable, there are artists on the list who are either deceased or have lost a member. Aside from the late Whitney Houston, bands like Soundgarden, Motörhead and T.Rex have lost their leads whilst The Notorious B.I.G. is finally eligible – I would be very surprised if he was not inducted next year. There are some heavyweights in that longlist and, whilst a few genres and time periods are represented, there is a relative lack of women to be seen. Of the sixteen on the longlist, there are only two female solo artists listed (Chaka Khan is nominated alongside/as part of the band, Rufus) and it calls to questions whether the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is doing enough to include more women. Many were glad Janet Jackson and Stevie Nicks were honoured last year; it seems unlikely two women from the longlist this year will be honoured next year. The fact Kate Bush has not been inducted mystifies some (myself included), but there are articles out there that catalogue snubs and ask why some certain acts have not been inducted. I guess the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame cannot please everyone and, soon enough, a lot of the names that have not been inducted will be included. It is twenty-six years since Björk’s Debut was released; I am surprised she was not nominated this year.
There are sources that call out the lack of women and, whereas this article’s writer will be pleased Whitney Houston has an opportunity to be inducted next year, there is still a problem regarding the lack of women inducted and longlisted. The media has reacted and asked why, when so many legendary women have been excluded, is such a steely blind eye cast? I want to bring in a feature from 2017 that lays down some facts and, whilst one or two women mentioned have been nominated/inducted since, the truth remains: more needs to be done to recognise and celebrate iconic women – the article rolls to 2020 and highlights a few female artists are deserving of acclaim then:
“13.5% is not at all representative of female influence on rock and roll music throughout history but it’s not a surprise, as women have often been placed on the back burner when it comes to rock and roll. During the ’50s and ’60s when rock music came about, women were labeled as ‘groupies’ and limited to the status of obsessed fan [Editor’s note: Read an incredible corrective to that here, by Amanda Petrusich if you haven’t yet.] If a woman made it into a band, she was often told to learn bass, as this was considered the easiest instrument to pick up. And for the women who did gain popularity in the early years of rock and roll, they were rarely supported in the media, recognized amongst critics, or given awards, like their male cohorts were. If anything, they were made into sex symbols. Back in 2015, Jackie Fox of The Runaways shared an even more harrowing scenario, that of assault carried out by men in the industry with no consequences.
The Rock Hall overlooking women for their solo work isn’t really where the discrepancy ends, either. There are also countless female artists and groups who haven’t been recognized at all who definitely should be at this point. Take Pat Benatar, for example. I mean, come on, is there anyone who doesn’t sing along when they hear “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Love Is A Battlefield,” or “Heartbreaker”? Even millennials know Benatar’s work. And what about Ella Fitzgerald, the Queen of Jazz? She won thirteen Grammy Awards during her lifetime and paved the way for African American women in music. Whitney Houston, arguably the most awarded female artist in history, hasn’t been awarded by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
Even though Kate Bush might have been passed up by Coachella, she doesn’t deserve to be passed up by the Rock Hall, particularly when you consider she was the first female artist to have an album reach number one in the UK album charts. Michael Jackson (2001) and the Jackson 5 (1997) are inductees, but their emblematic little sister Janet Jackson isn’t. Still others like Courtney Love’s badass grunge-rock band Hole, Kim Gordon with Sonic Youth, Sinéad O’Connor, and Björk are more than worthy of induction into the Rock Hall.
Moving forward, 2020 could also likely be a groundbreaking year for women inductees. 1995 was a huge debut year for many women of rock who would make a name for themselves in the remainder of the twentieth century, many of whom are still active today. Alanis Morisette will be eligible for her influential debut Jagged Little Pill.
The alternative power-pop band Garbage, who released their sixth album Strange Little Birds just last year, will also most likely be nominated. With an extremely punk ethos, Garbage was one of the first all-female rock groups to advocate for unashamed female power and assertive aesthetics that challenged gender roles, and they are still doing it today. While Gwen Stefani’s new wave punk band No Doubt debuted their self-titled record in 1992, they didn’t receive major attention until 1995’s Tragic Kingdom which includes hit tracks “Don’t Speak” and “Just A Girl.” No Doubt gave Stefani the confidence to break out into her solo career and become a heroine for aspiring female rockers.
Indie rock trail-blazers Sleater-Kinney released their self-titled debut in 1995 and have championed twenty years in rock music with the release of the critically acclaimed No Cities To Love back in 2015. Pop rock singer-songwriter Jewel also had a strong debut in 1995 with Pieces Of You, which has sold almost 7.5 million copies in the US. Needless to say, 1995 was a year of unprecedented success for women entering into the rock canon; as such, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame class of 2020 should be filled with these female artists.
Whilst the article does name-check Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar as artists criminally overlooked as not being included (that was rectified last year), there is no guarantee Benatar will be given her dues and inducted; there will be a scurry of articles listed big female artists omitted this year.
IN THIS PHOTO: The late Whitney Houston is one of only three women on the longlist for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
Let’s hope there is more balance next year. Last year, both Janet Jackson and Stevie Nicks highlighted a surfeit of female Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees and urged changed. I guess there will always be omissions and problems with every award ceremony and event such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It is encouraging to see a broad array of artists and, after some critical pieces, there are three iconic women longlisted this year; all of whom are deserving of induction. Stevie Nicks’ induction last year was long-overdue and it is clear there are still problems. Let’s highlight the fact that there is a competitive and eclectic longlist. In my view, the most deserving are Pat Benatar, Whitney Houston; MC5, The Notorious B.I.G. and Soundgarden but, as we know, one can never predict and get it right – that aspect of unpredictability is what makes things exciting. I would challenge those who want to keep the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame more geared to Rock and the more electric side of music. Others think the name needs changing, since all genres are considered. I think it is fine as it is and, as we predict who might win, ponder those who were overlooked and ask whether next year will see more women longlisted and inducted, I shall leave things there. The longlist is one that spans a lot of ground and it will be interesting seeing who people place as the frontrunners. I am excited to see which artists will be making themselves comfy in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame…
IN THIS PHOTO: Soundgarden/PHOTO CREDIT: Universal Music Group
THIS time next year.