So, we went to the Rock N Roll HOF!
...and it was pretty cool!
None of the OBD family has been to Cleveland before, and I have to say we were favorably impressed! Mrs. OBD and I liked the free trollys to take folks from downtown to the attractions by the lake.
If you haven't been to the HOF before, it's six levels. The uppermost level was closed during our visit (a Greatful Dead exhibit is going in). The 5th level had a small exhibit dedicated to Pink Floyd's "The Wall." The level below that has a film showing the inductees to the HOF by year. The level below that has exhibits dedicated to Les Paul and Alan Freed. The lowest level has an array of artifacts from a wide number of well known artists. @ $22 per adult, it's spendy, but we spent a solid 6 hours there. Kids 8 and under are free.
Afterward, our discussion turned to the inevitable: after seeing a comprehnsive list of inductees, we started debating the relative merits of bands and artists who had not been inducted. Examples are plentiful:
Why are James Taylor and Joni Mitchell in, but not Carly Simon?
Why are Elvis Costello and the Talking Heads in, but not Dire Straits?
Why is Neil Diamond in, but not Jim Croce?
Why is Bonnie Raitt in, but not Linda Rondstadt?
..and we went on .. Stevie Ray Vaughan? Nirvana? Roxy Music? Little Feat? Heart? America? Bread? It seems like a lot of great artists and bands have been passed over, while other artists have been inducted multiple times (Eric Clapton, Jimmy Paige, Paul McCartney, and several others).
We figure many of the rappers/hip hop artists, as well as groups like Green Day, Linkin' Park, and Nickelback will go in in the next 10 years. We also suspect that Whitney Houston will be inducted in 2013. As you probably are aware, the definition of what is "Rock N Roll" is vague, so CSNY, the O'Jays, the Sex Pistols, and AC/DC are all under the same roof.
I also wish to reverse a previously held position. I'm no fan of KISS, but after seeing the other groups that have been allowed in, and having witnessed firsthand the phenomeon they created from '75-80 (roughly), they belong in the HOF. Ditto Ted Nugent. I despise his politics, but between his work as a studio musician, his work as a solo artist, and his work with myriad groups, he also belongs. JMHO, anyway.
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