Rage is going into the Rock & Roll HOF. AMA.

[pinback]

I'll get this one out of the way first:

Q: "Isn't the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame a fucking joke?"
A: "Yes."

NEXT QUESTION.

That was the only question? Right then, I'll give you some time back.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

Will they perform there?

[pinback]

I sure hope so! Preferably with clothes on.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

So they are anti machines, eh

[Flack]

Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue recently said he was personally told by members of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that their band would never be inducted into the Hall due tot he band's "bad behavior." And while none of the members of Motley Crue are angels, their "bad behavior," for the most part, falls under that classic umbrella of sex, drugs, and rock & roll.

It's hard to think of Motley as being the "bad boys of rock and roll" when RATM was standing on stage, literally getting tens of thousands of kids to chant "fuck you I won't do what you tell me!" I remember seeing the video for "Freedom" on Headbanger's Ball and getting those chills when you've seen and heard something that just changed everything. RATM certainly wasn't the first band to give the middle finger to the establishment, bands like Minor Threat were playing small, sweaty clubs while RATM was playing Lollapalooza. One of the many things the band exposed was the fact that the music industry is so greedy that if you are popular enough, you can literally talk shit about them and they will put up with it because you are making them money. The Clash advertised themselves as a political band and most people know at best two of their songs. Rage Against the Machine wrote a song about guerilla radio and it played during the opening of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2.

One of the most "RATM" RATM moments happened at the 2000 MTV Music Awards. During the show, RATM bassist Tim Commerford snuck out of his seat and climbed one of the show's giant set pieces on stage. Nobody recognized him and everyone assumed he was just some random protester. While Limp Bizkit stood on stage trying to accept some award, Commerford was rocking the top of the set piece, trying to bring the whole fucking thing down during the show. MTV wasn't in on it. Nobody was in on it. MTV called the cops and they had to stop the show while ten cops stood around scratching their heads trying to figure out how to get this guy out of a giant metal tree looking thing who was literally raging against the machine.



Several years ago when I visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I found a room near the lobby full of cars. Janis Joplin's Porsche is there, as is ZZ Top's infamous Eliminator. In the back corner is this ratty ass Chevy Astro minivan with a busted drum kit inside. There's a sign next to the van that says "Rage Against the Machine's original tour van." You can see inside; the seats are faded and the carpet is all shitty. When you're a kid I didn't think there was anything more rock and roll than ZZ Top's car, and when I saw that Chevy Astro I was like... goddamn, this is rock and roll, man. Rock and fuckin' roll.

Now freedom must be fundamental
In Johannesburg or South Central
On the mic, 'cause someone should tell 'em
To kick in the township rebellion

It's hard to come up with a scenario more bizarre than RATM getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Several artists (including the Sex Pistols) have rejected being inducted. All I can say is, RATM actually accepting the award may be an even bigger middle finger than turning it down.



Anger is a gift.

[Casual Observer]

Great post Flack

[Mama Blue]

Great post Flack

Agreed00!

[pinback]

Still waitin' on those questions.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

They aren't listenable though?

[pinback]

Your taste in music is shit. I thought that was something we all agreed on.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

I would agree with that, except this band is just noise. Come on man.

This is a joke, right? Them going to some "hall of fame"? They're just a bunch of clowns. Let's end this farce.

[pinback]

I'll wait until you're done with the bit and ready to discuss this seriously.

[Flack]

Still waitin' on those questions.

- Do you think RATM accepted the nomination because they really want to be in the Hall of Fame, do you think they're accepting as some sort of reverse psychology thing, or some other reason?

- Do you think the other acts being inducted this year (Missy Elliott) diminish the importance of RATM's induction?

- Do you think the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will ever rebrand itself? The name seems a bit silly with rappers and Dolly Parton in the club.

[Casual Observer]

I would agree with that, except this band is just noise. Come on man.

This is a joke, right? Them going to some "hall of fame"? They're just a bunch of clowns. Let's end this farce.

You're being sarcastic right?

[Jizaboz]

I would agree with that, except this band is just noise. Come on man.

This is a joke, right? Them going to some "hall of fame"? They're just a bunch of clowns. Let's end this farce.

You're being sarcastic right?

I don't think he is. I never got into Rage much either. I just considered some of their stuff "OK".

Also as a side note.. I'm pretty sure Minor Threat had come and gone before the first Lollapalooza. Gotta look that up.. <edit> Right yeah, Minor Threat was not active past the mid 80s. Fugazi came shortly after. Lollapalooza year 1 was 1991. Otherwise an excellent Flack post but this part nagged me.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

Are you going to go to their in--

Why aren't you going to go to their induction?

[Casual Observer]

Are you going to go to their in--

Why aren't you going to go to their induction?

You didn't answer. Of course I'm not gonna fly to fucking NY to attend the induction but It's fucking cool they're there.

Sounds like you and pindick don't like RAGE which is FINE. To each their own.

RAGE legitimately started a genra of rap inspired hard rock, followed by folks like Limp Biskit etc.

What I love about RAGE is that unlike a lot of political music, they present their views in a way that expresses the emotion of the issue.

Yeah, they only did 2 albums and then broke up because Zach De La Rocha is a premodana who wants to think he's only about his causes. But they got back together during Trump, sold "Make America Rage Again" hats (I have one) and got back to the tour grind.

They did create a new genra of rock music so should be inducted. So Fuck Pinback's bullshit and sorry you don't get it.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

My question was to Pinback. He lives in Ohio.

I assumed the induction would be where the RnR HoF is, Cleveland, but perhaps not.

Just so I have it right, though - you like them, just not enough to see them inducted.

I see.

Hmm.

Ah.

Okay.

Hmmmmm.

I mean, if you thought they were better, you'd go.

[Casual Observer]

My question was to Pinback. He lives in Ohio.

I assumed the induction would be where the RnR HoF is, Cleveland, but perhaps not.

Just so I have it right, though - you like them, just not enough to see them inducted.

I see.

Hmm.

Ah.

Okay.

Hmmmmm.

I mean, if you thought they were better, you'd go.

No, I don't leave the house except for supplies. I actually have no idea where the rock and roll hall of fame is, I thought NY but who cares about where the second marketing tool that the music industry uses is.

[Tdarcos]

I actually have no idea where the rock and roll hall of fame is, I thought NY but who cares about where the second marketing tool that the music industry uses is.

"They say the heart of rock and roll is still beating
And from what I've seen I believe 'em
Now the old boy may be barely breathing
But the heart of rock and roll, heart of rock and roll is still beating, yeah
In Cleveland."
- Huey Lewis and the News, Heart Of Rock and Roll