This is the man that has the unarguable distinction of having the most distinct singing voice on this list. The raspy alcohol and tobacco soaked voice of Tom Waits blends perfectly with the lyrics about the downtrodden and his ballads have much more somberness because of it. He was certainly different than the other Singer/Songwriters of the 70’s and it wasn’t just because of his unique voice.
For those who watched the original run of Good Times, it wasn’t likely that you would have pegged Janet Jackson as the cast member who would become the biggest star among them. Of course, with the last name of Jackson and her famous siblings; perhaps nobody should have been surprised.
In earlier selections the NIHOF committee debated the merits of artists who never had success commercially be it because they were ahead of their time or just did not receive support from their label. In the case of Captain Beefheart there likely was no point in time (past, present or future) in which he could have been a commercial success. Quite likely, the Captain could probably care less.
The next selection is a band synonymous with early 60’s surf music. Jan & Dean was certainly a key part of that scene, though they always seemed to be in the shadow of the Beach Boys.
Do we even bother to raise the Progressive Rock question in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame anymore? As this list continues we find yet another band of the aforementioned genre who may be wondering what they have to be considered Hall eligible. Certainly, the fans of Emerson, Lake & Palmer are wondering the same thing.
The early 90’s brought a lot of attention to the Pacific Northwest music scene, and there were many who thought it came out of nowhere. The reality was that Alternative music in its various forms was alive and well and if anyone was the early champion of the state of Washington it might very well be the Sonics.
Many musicians crave the spotlight and as we look up and down the list we created we find many artists who fit that description. Our forty-third selection, Lou Reed seems to be an exception to that rule, as he often appeared to eschew Rock and Roll stardom in favor of his art.
One of our committee members asked why it was that whenever they think of our next selection they are constantly reminded of Michael Douglas reading in a paper in the jungle that they broke up while rescuing Kathleen Turner in Romancing the Stone. Gordon Gecko aside, the Doobie Brothers are of course known for much more than that 80’s Pop culture reference.
Welcome to the first true heavyweight entry of the Grunge question. The question is not whether a Grunge associated act will get in; because one will. The question is how many, and does the Hall have a quota. With Soundgarden now eligible, we are fascinated to see what will happen.
Some bands just have an iconic status without really trying to. From the unique way that lead singer Lemmy sings upright into the microphone, the umlaut over the second letter ö and their biker look, Motörhead may be more recognizable visually than audibly by those whom are unfamiliar with the British rockers. Of course, fans of Motörhead could never confuse them with anyone else.