named Cleveland. But in this city named Cleveland Iwouldn't build some lame-ass I.M. Pei pyramid thingrecognizing the artistic/sales achievements ofmusicians.Boaz ReismanHas anyone ever been to the Experience Music Projectin Seattle? It's the most uncomfortable thing I'veever done. You walk in and there's a room dedicated tocontemporary music memorabelia. I forget thespecifics, but it's stuff like "the napkin Beyoncewrote the lyrics to that song down on" And then you goupstairs and there's a whole room dedicated to theBeatles, but it never actually goes farther than that- kitch and memorabilia. And it makes you realize thatat the end of the day we only know about the Beatlebecause they were famous.WhoalanskeWithout it, there would still be Rolling Stone andthose stupid VH1 clip shows to fill in the gaps of whobelongs on what list and why… but the fact that thereis a steel and granite stone in the heart of theMidwest dedicated to the backbeat and heartbeat ofthis land makes me proud to be an American, at a timewhen being proud of being American (in light of therest of the world and our reputation) makes somepeople queasy.
Of the 2004 inductees who is deserving?Please note that there was confusion on this one. I
should have specified that the 2005 inductees were
announced in 2004. Some of the panelists have
responded to those inducted in 2004 rather than those
about to be inducted. My bad. PerkyI guess all of them, even though I don't like themall.  I mean, they worked hard for the money, right? I've never cared for ZZ Top, but I like that theyexist.  Because I think the people out there that likeZZ Top love the rock and roll and love to have a goodtime, and there can never be enough people loving therock and having a good time.Stroudawg: All the African-American dudes who invented theirgenres (theO-Jays, Percy Sledge, etc).BaldiPrince, for being sweet and earnest and a supporter ofthe International Society for Krishna Consciousness. BoazPrincePerkyTraffic, again, not my cup of tea, but I'm sure some45 year old at Rolling Stone could tell you howalarmingly soulful Steve Winwood was back in the 60s. And the Dells, I mean, Motown is good, right?  Werethey Motown?  I like Motown.
Who is not deserving?PerkyI think if I were mystically given the power toretroactively cancel the existence one person in thehistory of the world, it would probably be some evildude like Hitler or something, but I have to admitthat my mind would briefly pause at Bob Seger, andentertain the glorious thought of a splendid andmagnificent world which never knew oppressive burdenof "Like A Rock."BaldiDefinitely ZZ Top. Too much of their career has beendevoted to aggrandizing hot rods. Can't we just putthem in the Automotive Hall of Fame?StroudawgThe Pretenders, because I think they suck huge donkeyballs. WhoalanskeI think they are all deserving.Boaz: I guess Bob Seger. Mostly because I can't think of asingle song of his. What kind of a Rock Star can yoube if you can't even reach the "Boaz" demographic?Whoalanskeif you had to twist my arm… U2 could have waited.StroudawgSeymour Stein (founder of Sire Records and responsiblefor signing the Pretenders)  should be permanentlybanned from even visiting the Hall for visiting thatplague known asthe Pretenders upon us.WhoalanskeThey (U2)  COULD wait… but I am glad they are in.What’s your relationship been with U2 for the past 25
years?PerkyI think I really liked "Sunday Bloody Sunday" in 7thor 8th grade, and from thence leapt into ownership ofthe Joshua Tree cassette.  WhoalanskeI own all their albums, seen them live twice,considered buying their special edition ipod beforeremembering (a.) I need to eat, and (b.) that would besupremely dorky, and once asked that people refer tome as ‘adam clayton’ on the basketball court—cause Iam all about driving hard at the bass line.Stroudawghave always found them rather mediocre. Achtung Baby was a great album.  Sunday Bloody Sundayis a great song.  Other than that, I could do withoutthem. PerkyThen in 11th grade I got mad at my girlfriend when shebought "Achtung, Baby!" because she had never told methat she liked U2, which speaks both to the fact thatI guess I didn't like them anymore and to the factthat my girlfriend and I had some weird and badcommunication issues.BaldiTwenty-five years of artistic development has broughtBono to the point where he can write lyrics such as:"It's a beautiful day, so don't let it get away." Onlya fearless artist can show us to these difficulttruths.PerkyAt some point in college I think I made my piece withthe early U2 catalog, but remember hating all thatMephisto bullshit.  I think I quit caring about themaltogether until "Beautiful Day", which I likedbecause to me it sounded kind of like Swervedriver,and I've always been cuckoo for shoegazer music. BoazIt began when I was really young and I heard GregPrincipe say that "U2 sucked" in school. Later thatevening I heard my older sister talking about U2 and Itold her that U2 sucked. She asked me to name one songby U2. I thought about it for a second and thenstarted singing "Space Odessey." Then at one point incollege I overheard someone saying how U2's new albumwas totally lame and they were total Jonny ComeLatelies with the whole electronica music thing. Laterthat week I used that exact same phrase to describewhy U2 was shit to somebody else even though I stillhadn't heard any of their new album.With the exception of Mysterious Ways (which I learnedhow to play). I can't name a single U2 song that isn'ton Joshua Tree. Though I did hear somewhere at onepoint that the Edge is a fan of Phillip Glass, whichseems like a really good thing to drop into aconversation at some point.PerkyI'm sure the level of success they've had makes youcrazy.  I mean, why else would you think that youcould relieve African debt by refusing to take off yourblue sunglasses when you meet with heads of state?  Sofor crazy people, I think they're alright.Please discuss the likelihood of the following artists
odds of entering the rock n’ roll hall of fame in the
future and your feelings regarding them:NirvanaStroudawg:Soon. Suicide is hip. PerkyGiven.  Duh.  Sadly, the more I hear "Nevermind" theless I like it.  But for some reason I'm alwayspsyched when I hear a tune from the first Foo Fightersrecord.WhoalanskeThey will get in the first year they are eligible.BoazIt's gonna happen. And you know what, it's a goodthing. They were awesome.
Run DMCWhoalanskeIt will take a few years after eligibility—but theircollaboration with Aerosmith will win it for them.PerkyGiven.  First rap act to reach #1 on the R&B charts. First rap act to chart a Top 10 single on the popcharts.  First rap act to go platinum.  First rap acton MTV.  It's Like That.  Sucker MCs.  King of Rock. You Talk To Much.  It's Tricky.  You Be Illin'.  WalkThis Way.  Who in their right mind would dispute them? Who?  Only the stupid and the dead, that's who.StroudawgThey are the kings of rockBoazThat's not Rock and Roll. If we're going to startletting in Hip Hop personalities then where does itall end? Business personalities? Should Steve Jobs belet into the Rock & Roll hall of fame because hetotally "rocks"?PerkyAnd anyone that argues that it's the Rock and RollHall of Fame and not the Rap Hall of Fame clearly hasno idea what it means to rock.
REMPerkyGiven.  But ugh.  I wish they would have stopped inthe early nineties. WhoalanskeYes—they are almost in the same league as U2BoazI used to have this arguement with this girl in 7thgrade about who was better Led Zeppelin or REM (I wasfor Zep). Later, in 11th grade we dated and she brokemy heart so completely I'm getting choked up justwriting this. I hope REM never ever ever gets into theRock and Roll hall of fame.Stroudawgtheir first five years make up for the rest of theirschlock
LL Cool JPerkyLL.  So jacked.  So hot.  And some admittedly topnotch jams.  But he's made a lot of crappy records,and appeared in some dodgey commercials and TV shows,and tried on some fairly lame personas in search of ahit.  Is that rock?  Not so much.  But since he washuge so early, and kept coming back, sure.  I bet he'sin.Stroudawgmaybe not.  although i do love his work with the GapWhoalanskePaul. Shame on you.MadonnaStroudawgShe’s in. the pointy tit phase is still seared into myadolescent memory. PerkyMadonna is so in they've probably already got numerousmolds of her boobs.  And yeah, she's had a lot ofhits.  They say she revolutionized music, buthonestly, how revolutionary is knowing that sex sells? No one wants to admit it, and Daniel Lee willcastrate me for saying it, but Madonna is overrated. WAAAAAAAAY overrated.  She can't sing.  She can brand. And that's not rocking, my friends, that's business. Should she be in the Business Hall of Fame?  Fuck yes. Should she be in the Famous Personality Hall of Fame? Fuck yes.  Rock and Roll Hall of fame?  She sold tonsof records, and set a lot of styles, but... argh...see, this is why the whole concept or Rock 'n RollHall of Fame is stupid.  The very notion of sittingaround debating what's rock and what isn't is sodecidedly un-rock.WhoalanskeYes. But she will probably offend people at theceremony.BoazI'm going to go out on a very fragile limb here andsay that Madonna isn't Rock either.
Pearl JamBoazFuck no. StroudawgThere is nothing I care about less.PerkyI'm sorry people, but I like these guys.  Ten isundeniably awesome, and sure they got a little boringover the years, but they seem like good dudes.  Andthey at least tried to fight Ticketmaster.  Also, theyplayed one of the greatest concerts I ever saw to acrowd of about 1000 at the Bronco Bowl in Dallas in1991 or 1992.  It was with Smashing Pumpkins and theChili Peppers, right after Gish and Ten and BloodSugar came out.  And the Pumpkins and Pearl Jam kickedout the goddamn jams.  They're in.WhoalanskeIf a Bush is president, no. If a democrat is, yes.The PixiesBoazGod, I love the PixiesPerkyHands down one of the top 10 rock bands in the last 20years.  Maybe top 5.  Maybe even top 1.  Stroudawgmaybe not, but they should be.  they are the VelvetUnderground of 90s alternative.WhoalanskeYes. God—Frank Black will be so fat by that point.
Fugazi
Stroudawgmaybe not, but they should be.  led conscious punk fora long time.  invented a new way of doing business. and kicked ass.PerkyIt's difficult to consider Fugazi, since theytranscend the very idea of a Rock Hall of Fame. They're simply bigger and better than the idea of somestupid tourist attraction with wax figures of peoplewho were famous in the 50s and 60s.  Fugazi fuckingrules.  But no way in hell will they get in, becausethey never coughed it up for the man.  Because, and Ireiterate, Fugazi fucking rules.WhoalanskeThis is a tricky one. So many mega-watt rockers saythese guys are the best there ever was. And they wouldbe right. But it will take some effort or maybe one ofthe members of this band dying to push them over…BoazHoly shit. It just dawned on me that I've never everheard Fugazi. Everyone I hung out with in high-schoolhad a Fugazi shirt, and I always meant to listen tothem, and that's just sort of slipped my mind for thelast 10 years. I can't believe this. This alwayshappens to me. I wanted to see Ground Hog's day when Iwas in like 4th grade and I only saw it for the firsttime a few months ago.SadeWhoalanske“This is the smooth operator calling Paul… Come in,Paul… You are crazy if you think Sade is getting in.Will you accept the charges?”PerkyWho doesn't love smooth R&B?  I'll tell you - peoplewho can't fuck well.  Sade rules the night time. Probably not in.BoazI'm like, "Who is Sayd?
Sonic YouthStroudawgi don't think they ever made a bigenough splash, culturally or commerciallyPerkyPretentious art fucks.  Who rock like sons o' bitches. God love 'em.  80/20 in.WhoalanskePaul loves this band. I have never understood them andwas throroughly pissed at their shitty performance atthe Brown Spring Weekend of my was-it-Junior-Year? Icould do without them.BoazSo weird. I've always felt like on "Confusion is Sex"They were saying "Sonic Tooth" and you know what? Ijust checked the lyricshttp://www.xs4all.nl/~bigron/sonic/sylconfu.html Andit turns out they WERE saying "Sonic Tooth"Justin TimberlakeBoaz:Shut the fuck up.Public Enemy
WhoalanskeYes. I mean… Yes. Just for the clock wearing fashions.And Pierre, aka MC Plaid, will agree.PerkyHow awesome are those records?  And when Natioan ofMillions and Fear of a Black Planet came out, howawesome is it that overtly political music was HUGEagain?  And how fucking S-L-A-M-M-I-N slammin' are theTerminator X beats?  Stroudawg Innovators extraordinairePerkyAnd how sad is it that college kids today have no ideawho Public Enemy is?  So sad. I would bet mycrotchcakes that Jackson Browne never rocked 1/10 as hard as PE. In, in, in!
Dr. DrePerkyAbsolutely.  Both for NWA and his solo work.  Dre isundeniably awesome.  You are not able to deny hisawesomeness.Stroudawgi hope not.  he's an a-hole and he sticks with onesound for way too longBoazhe’s also not Rock & Roll
Liz Phair
WhoalanskeI doubt it. She seems to have peaked to young…PerkyFuck no.  She had one good record.  That's it. There's bunches of indie and punk bands from the sameera that are way more deserving:  (in no specificorder) Pavement, Guided By Voices, PJ Harvey, Archersof Loaf, Bikini Kill, Built to Spill, Yo La Tengo,Sebadoh, and Mountain Goats, to name a few.  And eventhey won't get in.
Duran DuranWhoalanskeNo doubt about it. They are like the poor man’sO’Jays.StroudawgnopePerkyWhy the hell not?  They wrote catchy tunes by theboatload.  MTV survived on a steady diet of DuranDuran, Madonna, and Michael Jackson for half of the80s.  Don't hate them because they're beautiful.  I'msure that some people here would point out howhypocritical it is that I support a fashion band like DuranDuran and not Madonna, let me just point out that I'msure it is and I'm sure you're right.  But I likeDuran Duran and I don't like Madonna and this is mylist.  The CurePerkySure.  They're in.  Remember that brief period of timewhen "eclectic" was a musical genre?  But I digress...the Cure is sweet.WhoalanskeNo doubt about it. They are like the poor man’s PercySledge.BaldiI say we should let 'em all in. Someone needs to getaround to recognizing the importance of Nirvana, LLCool J has wonderful muscles, Madonna has wonderfulmuscles, and the Marquis de Sade was very rock androll. Furthermore, I think every citizen of Americashould be able to get in and have Paul Shaffer inhis/her back-up band.

Please tell us who you hope to receive the
recognition of being a hall of famer but probably will
not. PerkyAgain, I don't care much one way or the other for theHall, but people who I think are dreadfullyunderappreciated but deserve to be recognized include:The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and LedZeppelin.WhoalanskeHere’s a few. Mountain—for writing, in ‘MississippiQueen’—perhaps one of the best songs to ever be usedin a beer ad. That guitar is just vicious—but I havethe feeling that they are just too small a blip on theradar of southern rock.BoazKing Crimson. I'm kind of getting back into them.StroudawgI'm a huge Tom Waits fan, and I think he deserves tobe inducted into this sham organization.WhoalanskeI also really enjoy Big Country—for the song ‘BigCountry’ off the album… hold for it… ‘Big Country.’But man… the ego of that band! And also—no one wantsto see the combination over-gelled mullet and plaidpajama top with overalls that was their fashion senseEVER AGAIN! Including me.PerkyMaybe also: Serge Gainsborg, The GoGos, Wu Tang Clan,Jane's Addiction, Salt 'n Pepa, NWA, Sweet, T Rex,Drive Like Jehu, Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow and NeilDiamond.BaldiSee above (everyone in the United States, and maybeVancouver, too).PerkyPeople who are probably will get in (and with mywholehearted approval) include: Bjork, Beck, BeastieBoys, Radiohead, and Guns n' Roses (more accurately:Appetite for Destruction).If you found out a musician was on Steroids their
whole career would you ban them from the Hall of
Fame? WhoalanskeNo. I would not. I would only ban them if they betagainst their own team.BoazRock stars used to be all about the bulk. Rememberthat guy in that band at the beginning of "The LostBoys?" He was fucking ripped. Let's get back to theage of the Barrel chested Rock star. Enough of thesewaif boys.