Bonus Noise Annoys column

Another column worth posting -- written last month after the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inductees were announced.

Noise Annoys:

Time for this hall to close


Ah, what a double whammy of a week. First, the utterly superfluous Grammy nominations are released. And now, the latest “class” of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame has been unleashed on an unsuspecting public.

For the blissfully uniformed, here they are:

* Leonard Cohen
* The Dave Clark Five
* Madonna
* John Mellencamp
* The Ventures

I don’t have any particular trouble with these artists. In fact, I’ve enjoyed music by all of them at one point or another. It’s just that we seem to be getting diminishing returns now. Instrumental rockers the Ventures and British Invasion songsters the Dave Clark Five (of “Glad All Over” fame) are certainly fine acts, but what pushes them to the Hall of Fame level?

Madonna is even more problematic. If this were a pop music hall of fame, her work in the 1980s alone would push her into the ranks. But this is supposed to be for rock music, and that’s never been Madonna’s main interest, or forte. Add in that her career since 1990 has been – to be charitable – spotty doesn’t help matters.

John Mellencamp is the quintessential journeyman. He has made a number of fantastic records over his three-decade career, plenty of listenable releases and a number of dogs. (The use of “Our Country” by Chevy is a huge demerit on his career, however). Mellencamp is the talented infielder of the Hall of Fame. Never spectacular, but putting up good numbers year after year.

Which leaves us with Leonard Cohen. Though not as well known as some of the others on the list, Cohen’s songwriting and influence on several generations of bands and performers makes him a natural pick for the organization. It’s just a wonder it took this long to honor him – Cohen has been eligible for the last 15 years.

Which really brings me to my main point. Apart from Madonna, all of these artists have been eligible before. Mellencamp’s music career dates back nearly 30 years, Cohen’s goes back 40, and the Ventures and Dave Clark Five are early ‘60s acts. It’s not that there haven’t been great landmark musicians in the last quarter century – I just don’t think the Hall’s voting membership has any idea of what those acts truly are. Like the Grammys, the voters here are looking more and more out of touch with their supposed area of expertise.
And really, why does rock music need a Hall of Fame? This is the music of anarchy, of rebellion, and having a good time and not caring what people think. I can’t think of anything less like the music than a codified list of the greats. Except, perhaps, for 30 minutes straight of the “Our Country” commercial, interspersed with the Clash-ruining Nissan Rogue spot.