Every year at this time I have a Rock Hall rant, but this time it’s different. I’m about to say something (or write something…) I never thought I’d say: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should NOT be in Cleveland. I’ve argued that Cleveland is the Rock and Roll Capital of the World forever. Don’t get me wrong. It still is. But, the simple fact is that Cleveland Rocks! The Rock Hall does not. (Requisite disclaimer: I’m referring to the Rock Hall New York Board and nominating committee, not the Cleveland employees. See more below.)
With Positively Cleveland’s “This is Cleveland” campaign, they are pushing Cleveland’s rebellious rock and roll attitude (read more here). We made our own way regardless of what anyone thought. That’s not exactly what I think of when I think of the Rock Hall. A couple of examples to show what I mean. Cleveland is that Aerosmith T-shirt you got at their concert the first time you saw them live. The Rock Hall is the Aerosmith T-shirt you bought at Kaufmann’s or Kohl’s after seeing Steven Tyler on American Idol. Cleveland is Guns ‘n’ Roses Appetite for Destruction. The Rock Hall is Use Your Illusions 1 and 2. One has authenticity, heart and appreciation. The other is more about appearance, bravado and has gotten away from what made it cool in the first place. It’s not that Cleveland doesn’t represent rock and roll. It’s that THIS “rock and roll” doesn’t represent Cleveland.
This finally hit me (or maybe I’m just finally admitting it) as I was watching the latest round of Rock Hall inductee nominations being announced. My initial reaction was the usual annoyance. This group in particular just seems to be satiating the nominating committee’s own musical tastes. Eddie Trunk said it best (as he usually does) in his article here. The Rock Hall is an elitist music snob club that is not trying to elevate actual rock bands nor looking to appeal to actual rock fans.
The problem lies in the New York board and nominating committee (see my thoughts on how nominations SHOULD be done). They make the job harder for the Cleveland employees. It’s time they re-look at what it is they’re doing and who/what they’re representing. The answer is right in front of them. There is no city that is more rock and roll than Cleveland! Take what makes Cleveland great and apply it!
I’m curious for your thoughts. What could turn around the Rock Hall into being something that actually means something for fans and the artists? I don’t want it to turn into a debate of who should or shouldn’t be in as I think it goes deeper. As always, thanks for reading and please share it with your friends!
Note: This article is also posted on my main blog site, Taking It Back, at www.jeremybednarski.com.
first of all thank you make the place bigger, second of all they can take out all the music that doesn’t need to be in there including the rap, they can also take down their price is a little bit in the lunch room, plus Rock Hall can also have their own private concert hall, the concerts that play there are groups that already have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, charge people 5 bucks a head where they can go into a room and vote for their favorite bands like they’re voting in a presidential campaign, and in addition to that they should get together with the city of Cleveland to have the baddest rock and roll concerts in Cleveland Ohio ever had in the entire world, Cleveland should be in Hollywood for rockstars, thank you guys for allowing people to post comments on your website thank you people need this we need this for the rock bands that are not inducted into Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum thank you very much
I am now taking donations to build a new “people’s” Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It will be in Phoenix, Arizona…still early in the process. It is the “University of Rock” where all proceeds (non-profit) will go towards building the hall, and “profits” will go to profit scientific research–a board made up of physicians, MIT graduates, etc. Phoenix is much more accessible than Cleveland. universityofrock.org