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March 23, 2004
IT'S ONLY ROCK AND ROLL, BUT I LIKE IT
I just watched the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies for 2004 on VH1. I'm incredulous. This year's class contains one guy who definitely doesn't have any business being there, and one other who more than likely doesn't belong.
Jackson Browne being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is like putting Bombo Rivera in the baseball hall of fame. (If you just said, "who?" you get my point.) Jackson Browne had what, two or three years of being relevant? I mean, "Doctor My Eyes" is a good song, and "Running on Empty" is all right, but you know what? "Flagpole Sitta" was a good song too - and no one is aiming to put Harvey Danger in the hall. Let's face it: Jackson Browne is better known for the hits he put on Darryl Hannah than the hits he put on the charts. (For the record and in case anyone's ever been unclear, let's get it straight: any man who EVER hits a woman, EVER, deserves to be sodomized with a Louisville Slugger embedded with barbed wire and coated in tobasco sauce. Freakin' cowards.)
I know rock success and legend status isn't dependent on chart success -- just ask Led Zepplin or the Velvet Underground. But what other contributions to rock did Jackson Browne make outside of his chart songs? Being a no-nuke activist? Well, I appreciate the sentiment, Jackson... but Michael Douglas was a no-nuke activist after "The China Syndrome," and no one's putting him in the Hall of Fame. If Jackson Browne can get in the rock hall, then I guess there's hope for Crowded House and Hootie and the Blowfish.
Bob Seger? Beyond the fact that the man ought to be stoned to near-death for the way classic ClearChannel overplays "Night Moves," and the fact that Chevy has been using that damn "Like a Rock" for fifteen damn years, I don't have too much problem with the guy... but is he a Hall of Famer? I mean, Dale Murphy was a decent ballplayer back in the day, but he's not a Hall of Famer. Same with Seger. Decent musician, I don't deny his symbolic importance to his home state of Michigan. But he's not a hall of famer.
On the plus side, Prince did show last night why he definitively is a Hall of Famer. Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and Dhani Harrison (George's only son) were playing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" as a tribute during George Harrison's induction. (As a side note, how come "Weeps" has become the unofficial Harrison anthem? It is a great song, but he did so many other strong songs... why has everyone seemingly settled on this one?) So Prince comes on and plays with them - he's not really known for being social, so that was noteworthy in and of itself... and when the time came for the solo at the end, Prince let loose with one the best solos I've heard. Man, I was just in awe. He just rocked the joint out, man - let it all fly, a Hall of Famer paying tribute to another Hall of Famer. Great way to honor George, and a great way to end the show.
Comments
Regarding your ignorant comment about Jackson Browne, and the "hits he put on Darryl Hannah": There is absolutely no evidence to back up that accusation, and MUCH evidence to the contrary. Example:
Here is a statement made by Lt. John Miehle of the Santa Monica Police Department in November 1992:"The Santa Monica Police Department went to the house where Jackson Browne lives regarding a possible disturbance. We resolved the situation in about five minutes. There was never any assault. There are no charges pending and no prosecution sought by or intended by the District Attorney. It is this department's intention that no citizen, regardless of who she is, suffer any kind of abuse, whether it be domestic violence or any other kind of assault. But in this case, absolutely no assault occurred. Our investigators tell us nothing happened. Nobody has even alleged that Daryl Hannah was even touched. If they had, we'd be investigating. We're not hiding anything. The press is trying to make more out of this than there really is, and it's unfair, not just to Browne, but to us. We did our job, and repeat, no crime occurred here. This whole thing is ridiculous."
Posted by: Steve at June 1, 2005 03:46 AM
