Jump to content

Rush in the Hall - WHY they got in...


rushgoober
 Share

Recommended Posts

It's become very obvious that the main impediment to Rush getting into the RRHOF was the NOMINATING COMMITTEE. The first time they actually get nominated and it's taken out of their hands, they're in.

 

It's also obvious that the RRHOF nominating committee has been extremely biased for decades. Consider the major league baseball hall of fame - every year anyone eligible who is an obvious nominee gets nominated, as well as all the borderline players and a lot of other marginal players. Then it's up to the voters.

 

But WHY did they get nominated this year? I'd say 4 main reasons, though not necessarily in this order.

 

1. LONGEVITY - Rush did not ever become a marginal band, a golden oldies band or retire. Sure, their studio output isn't what it was in terms of quantity, and not all their albums from the latter half of their years have been successful, but still they obviously keep giving it their all. They've persevered long beyond what anyone could have predicted, and overcome great tragedy in the process.

 

2. BEYOND THE LIGHTED STAGE - Could there be a greater argument for their induction in the rock and roll hall of fame than this amazing documentary?

 

"And now, it's kind of like we're all so old that – even if you hated Rush in the 80s and the 70s – now you gotta give it up for 'em. You just got to! Or else you're just being an old dickhead." ~ Matt Stone

 

3. CLOCKWORK ANGELS - How many bands who have been making albums for 38 years make an album of this quality, ambition and relevance, an album that has garnered tons of critical acclaim, and that actually deserves it? No one, that's who. It just doesn't happen.

 

4. THE FANS - FAMOUS OR NOT - If you've followed blogs and news stories like I have for years, by FAR the biggest uproar about a band not being inducted yet into the RRHOF has been for Rush. Fans have long complained, and even started petitions, and tons of well-known people, including a shit ton of rock stars have pleaded their case. How long could that be ignored for?

 

DISCUSS!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Agree with everything you mentioned. It kind of all just kept snowballing until the ball got so fukking huge it ran over the "old dickheads". It certainly doesn't hurt that they've gotten a LOT more mainstream exposure in the last 8 or so years. It also doesn't hurt that they consistently STILL sell 10,000 to 20,000 tickets every night when most of their contemporaries play casinos and state fairs. That's hard to ignore forever.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Agree with everything you mentioned. It kind of all just kept snowballing until the ball got so fukking huge it ran over the "old dickheads". It certainly doesn't hurt that they've gotten a LOT more mainstream exposure in the last 8 or so years. It also doesn't hurt that they consistently STILL sell 10,000 to 20,000 tickets every night when most of their contemporaries play casinos and state fairs. That's hard to ignore forever.

 

:goodone:

 

Excellent additional points. :yes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with everything you've mentioned 100%. I think you also need to add they have been in the public/ mainstream/ Limelight much more these years than prior. They've just came off a very successful Time Machine Tour, Neils Has been nominated twice for his live performances, they appearered in the Movie "I love you, Man", their music has been featured in major commercials, and like you mentioned the success of Clockwork Angels and its corresponding Novel is a major plus. Its all coming to a climax for them. 2013 is going to be a great year for RUSH!

 

:codger:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with everything you've mentioned 100%. I think you also need to add they have been in the public/ mainstream/ Limelight much more these years than prior. They've just came off a very successful Time Machine Tour, Neils Has been nominated twice for his live performances, they appearered in the Movie "I love you, Man", their music has been featured in major commercials, and like you mentioned the success of Clockwork Angels and its corresponding Novel is a major plus. Its all coming to a climax for them. 2013 is going to be a great year for RUSH!

 

:codger:

 

Agreed - not only did I forget to mention them being in the mainstream a lot more the last few years, but things like "I Love You, Man" had to have some kind of impact. Similarly, you would have thought the inclusion of so much Kiss in the movie "Role Models" would have introduced them in some way to a new generation of fans.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree, not to mention Gene's Family Jewels TV show. Regardless, Kiss should have been nominated even prior to RUSH, but lets face it their music hasn't had the impact or influence that RUSH's has.

 

:no:

 

But you know, I'm starting to see a pattern here. I think the RRHOF likes working Backassward. They Induct the Chili Peppers, who pulls for RUSH, who now will now pull at their induction for ....KISS! It will all work out in the end.

 

:D :LOL: B)

Edited by losingit2k
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I believe it was Cliff Burnstein, in B.T.L.S, who said a lot of the supposed geeks who grew up listening to Rush are now in positions of power... Producers, directors, writers...they have championed for the band.
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I believe it was Cliff Burnstein, in B.T.L.S, who said a lot of the supposed geeks who grew up listening to Rush are now in positions of power... Producers, directors, writers...they have championed for the band.

 

Another good point. Its just all working for RUSH now. Everyone wants a piece of their pie!

 

:drool:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can only ignore the body of work for so long. And I think too many respected people in rock music were championing the cause. I'll never forget that video of Dave Navaro being interviewed when he was sitting in his car, and the only thing he wanted to talk about was Rush not being nominated again.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The comittee didnt wake up one morning throw on Hemispheres and proclaim "i finally get it"! Who knows what sparked the nomination, my uneducated guess is they just finally said f it! even though we still hate thier weird ass music, and as much as we hate to admit it we cant continue to look like complete idiots year after year, and we are sick of answering the questions about RUSH sooooo.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I believe it was Cliff Burnstein, in B.T.L.S, who said a lot of the supposed geeks who grew up listening to Rush are now in positions of power... Producers, directors, writers...they have championed for the band.

 

Another good point. Its just all working for RUSH now. Everyone wants a piece of their pie!

 

:drool:

 

Everyone wants 3.14159 pieces of their pi!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Regardless, Kiss should have been nominated even prior to RUSH, but lets face it their music hasn't had the impact or influence that RUSH's has.

 

Kiss should have been nominated and inducted the same year as Rush, since they each had a debut album in 1974. I disagree however, and would say that Kiss has had more impact and influence - not necessarily musically, but in terms of stage shows, thinking of rock shows more of as a theatrical event than just a concert, as well as with marketing. They made an enormous impact and changed the industry forever in those regards.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

While everything you listed is are good reasons why they should legitimately be in the RRHoF, I'm thinking Rolling Stone is just taking advantage of Rush's newfound popularity in recent years to get more people in that tourist trap. Just look at other bands in there. There are rap artists and pop artists who get into a rock hall before Rush and so many other worthy candidates did. I don't mean to sound bitter but this is just how things look from here. The music industry is corrupt and this is just another extension of it.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

While everything you listed is are good reasons why they should legitimately be in the RRHoF, I'm thinking Rolling Stone is just taking advantage of Rush's newfound popularity in recent years to get more people in that tourist trap. Just look at other bands in there. There are rap artists and pop artists who get into a rock hall before Rush and so many other worthy candidates did. I don't mean to sound bitter but this is just how things look from here. The music industry is corrupt and this is just another extension of it.

 

I think it shows a degree of ignorance to not see the massive cultural impact that the leading Rap bands have had. In the grand scheme of things Public Enemy, NWA et al are far more important in the development of popular music than Rush could ever be.

 

I'm not sure why Heart made it, unless it was a gender thing. Maybe because they forged a career in a male-dominated genre but I'm not sure what kind of legacy they leave.

Donna Summer was highly influential but she was the puppet of Georgio Moroder so I find her inclusion more sentimental than based on any real personal achievement.

 

I'd have put Deep Purple in before Rush anyhow.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While everything you listed is are good reasons why they should legitimately be in the RRHoF, I'm thinking Rolling Stone is just taking advantage of Rush's newfound popularity in recent years to get more people in that tourist trap. Just look at other bands in there. There are rap artists and pop artists who get into a rock hall before Rush and so many other worthy candidates did. I don't mean to sound bitter but this is just how things look from here. The music industry is corrupt and this is just another extension of it.

 

I think it shows a degree of ignorance to not see the massive cultural impact that the leading Rap bands have had. In the grand scheme of things Public Enemy, NWA et al are far more important in the development of popular music than Rush could ever be.

 

I'm not sure why Heart made it, unless it was a gender thing. Maybe because they forged a career in a male-dominated genre but I'm not sure what kind of legacy they leave.

Donna Summer was highly influential but she was the puppet of Georgio Moroder so I find her inclusion more sentimental than based on any real personal achievement.

 

I'd have put Deep Purple in before Rush anyhow.

Geddy to Rolling Stone "... I certainly have worked with Heart and I know them well. I'm very happy for them. I have great respect for Albert King and for Randy Newman. I don't know the music of Public Enemy very well, but I know they have a very strong fan base. They've certainly played a role in the development of that style of music for sure, so it's a nice group. To be frank, I am disappointed that Deep Purple is not included in that group. Certainly Heart and Rush would not sound the way we sound without Deep Purple. ..."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Regardless, Kiss should have been nominated even prior to RUSH, but lets face it their music hasn't had the impact or influence that RUSH's has.

 

Kiss should have been nominated and inducted the same year as Rush, since they each had a debut album in 1974. I disagree however, and would say that Kiss has had more impact and influence - not necessarily musically, but in terms of stage shows, thinking of rock shows more of as a theatrical event than just a concert, as well as with marketing. They made an enormous impact and changed the industry forever in those regards.

I agree that KISS had a huge impact on the music business, whereas as RUSH was more about the business of music. Elvis proved that rock is about entertaining, about theater. KISS should be in.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

While everything you listed is are good reasons why they should legitimately be in the RRHoF, I'm thinking Rolling Stone is just taking advantage of Rush's newfound popularity in recent years to get more people in that tourist trap. Just look at other bands in there. There are rap artists and pop artists who get into a rock hall before Rush and so many other worthy candidates did. I don't mean to sound bitter but this is just how things look from here. The music industry is corrupt and this is just another extension of it.

 

I think it shows a degree of ignorance to not see the massive cultural impact that the leading Rap bands have had. In the grand scheme of things Public Enemy, NWA et al are far more important in the development of popular music than Rush could ever be.

 

I'm not sure why Heart made it, unless it was a gender thing. Maybe because they forged a career in a male-dominated genre but I'm not sure what kind of legacy they leave.

Donna Summer was highly influential but she was the puppet of Georgio Moroder so I find her inclusion more sentimental than based on any real personal achievement.

 

I'd have put Deep Purple in before Rush anyhow.

 

Yes, rap had a huge influence, but it's not rock (notice the name of the institution). While we're at it, classic composers had a huge impact on rock as well (they influenced Deep Purple a LOT). Let's throw in Mozart and Beethoven!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The 6,000 votes they got from their Moms helped, too. They said so on their website. ;)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...