Although we have stated that it is difficult to have a WWE Hall of Fame without Bruno Sammartino, we imagine it is no different to have a Hall without Hulk Hogan in it. If you were a wrestling fan in the 80’s you knew who Hulk Hogan was, and even if you were not a fan….you knew who Hulk Hogan was. As the biggest wrestling star of all time, the Hulkster HAS to be in the WWE Hall of Fame.
The Progressive Rock question returns again with an act that could have had the biggest hit of the genre in “A Whiter Shade of Pale”. That song may not only have been Progressive Rock’s biggest hit; it may have been the first real one too.
Although Gospel influenced singers have penetrated the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Christian Rock seems very far away from reaching the Hall. An interesting future candidate is Jars of Clay, who were able to secure mainstream attention in the mid 90’s as their music was a rich and textured blend of current Alternative trends. Many people got into the band before they realized that the content was all Christian. So here is the problem; musically they are a more than competent band but can an outfit that never lyrically strayed from singing about God be a serious Hall of Fame contender?
A common thread on this list is musicians who are ahead of their time. We can’t help but think there may be no other band on this list that defines that opening sentence better than the New York Dolls, who not only helped define a sound but a look as well.
If you are looking for no frills, no nonsense pure Rock and Roll, Gov’t Mule is a great place to look. Their real accomplishments are not in the studio, but on the concert circuit where their Southern flavored Blues Rock makes them a decent draw. Although they are not always classified as a Jam band, it is when they are jamming that they really shine. Having said that, the Hall already has the Grateful Dead and the Allmans, there is no void should Gov’t Mule not get in.
The Electronica duo from France that comprised Air, put together some of the best music that Electronica has ever had to offer. With a series of albums that leaned more towards the Chill and Ambient side then the Dance styles normally associated with Electronic music, Air was creating a dreamy and hypnotic sound collection of sounds as opposed to the driving pulses that was done by their peers. At some point, an artist from France will enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. With the high regard Air has from the critics, there is a slight possibility that they could be that representative in the future. Remember, we said slight.
In our countdown we discuss many artists that have crossover appeal. With The Cars, we wonder if it is possible to fit into so many genres that you almost forget what genre they originally came from.
The Singer/Songwriter movement of the 70’s produced many great artists. Although, our next selection, Warren Zevon is primarily known for just one song “Werewolves of London” my many people, a deeper look at his career shows a man who was among the most respected of his genre.
Regardless of the genre, Southern California is a hotbed for musical inspiration. Punk is no exception, as our next selection is the region’s undisputed king of their early Punk scene, X.