Harrison, Prince, Traffic Get Rock Hall Nod

[DRL]

Harrison, Prince, Traffic Get Rock Hall Nod




The late George Harrison, Prince, Traffic and ZZ Top are among the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Jackson Browne, the Dells and Bob Seger round out the group. Harrison was previously inducted in the Rock Hall's 1988 class as a member of the Beatles.

The 19th annual induction ceremony will be held March 15 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. A Lifetime Achievement Award / Non-Performer honoree will be announced soon.



"These inductees represent many influential genres of rock and roll, including pop, funk, soul, boogie and psychedelia," Executive Director of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Suzan Evans says in a statement. "We expect this year's show to be unique and exciting with highly anticipated moments."

Artists become eligible 25 years after the release of their first recording. A Foundation committee nominates eligible artists, who are then voted on by an international body of about 700 music experts.
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Once again the hall fails to put two of the best acts of all timein.Now these are two of my favorites and not everyone likes them.
I would like to know why KISS and LYNYRD SKYNYRD have not been inducted in to the hall. I know that everyone won't agree that KISS should be in there,
I know they didn't put what some people would call classic stuff but what they did do was show everybody how to put on a show. Not to mention give us one of the greatest rock anthems of all time "Rock & Roll All Night."
Lynyrd Skynyrd should just be in there period their body of work is fantastic and they helped define a sound that is still around today.
I just don't get it and never will if you'll excuse I'm gonna go bang my head up against the wall.
Prince and Jackson Browne Puhleeese

[DRL]

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inducts 2004 Class




Prince, the late George Harrison, Traffic, ZZ Top, Bob Seger, Jackson Browne, the Dells and Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner were welcomed into the ranks of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last night (March 15) during a gala ceremony at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Highlights from the event will be broadcast Sunday by VH1.

Decked out in a debonair white suit and black shirt, Prince kicked off the evening's proceedings by leading an ace eight-piece band through "Let's Go Crazy," "Sign 'O' the Times" and "Kiss," The latter track was teased with the horn-driven introduction to the Sam & Dave-popularized "Soul Man."

Just ahead of a new studio album and a major tour, which he claims will feature some of the final performances of his classic hits, the artist was celebrated as "one of our greatest inspirations" by OutKast during their induction speech. "Prince Rogers Nelson," group member Andre 3000 said. "The name ... it's just powerful!" Added Alicia Keys, "There are many kings, but there is only one Prince ... only one man who has defied restriction, defied the obvious and all the rules of the game."

"When I first started out in this music industry, I was most concerned with freedom: freedom to produce, freedom play all the instruments on my records, freedom to say anything I wanted to," Prince said during his acceptance speech, referencing his frequent creative battles with the labels that have released his music. "After much negotiation, Warner Bros. Records granted me my freedom, and I thank them for that."

Cautioning the scores of acts that have looked to him as a musical example, Prince noted, "Without real spiritual mentoring, too much freedom can lead to the soul's decay. And a word to the young artists: a real friend and mentor is not on your payroll. I wish all of you the best on this fascinating journey. It ain't over."

And Prince's night didn't end there. After the ceremony, he performed an exclusive show for members of his NPG Music Club at New York's Club Black.

Harrison, who died in late 2001 after a long battle with cancer, was inducted by his Traveling Wilburys bandmates Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne. "He often said he wasn't pursuing a solo career at all. He just loved playing music with his friends," Petty said of Harrison's post-Beatles years. "He was never preachy -- he led by example. He was a truly great man."

Lynne and Petty were joined by Steve Winwood on organ and Harrison's son Dhani on guitar for the Wilburys' smash hit "Handle With Care," followed by Harrison's "White Album" staple "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Prince emerged from the side of the stage to join in on the latter about halfway through, unleashing an extended solo.

Earlier in the evening, Winwood took the stage with U.K. rock combo Traffic and showcased his lead guitar skills on a jam-laden version of "Dear Mr. Fantasy," accented by soulful organ accompaniment from Randall Bramblett. Although principal member Dave Mason joined Winwood and drummer Jim Capaldi to accept their awards, he did not perform until the closing jam.

Noting the potent psychedelic content of Traffic's catalog, inductor Dave Matthews said, "As a little kid, I thought they wrote really great music about cartoon characters. When I was in my early 20s, I realized they were seeing cartoon characters, probably!"

In his induction speech, Bruce Springsteen saluted not only Browne's "great songwriting," but also his ability to draw arenas full of good-looking women to his concerts. "While the E Street Band and I were sweating our asses off for hours just to put some fannies in the seats," Springsteen said with a chuckle, "Jackson is drawing more women than an Indigo Girls show!"

"Music is a very empowering thing and I'm happy to have had a lifetime to do it," Browne reflected. "Thank you for this job and thank you for this honor." The artist went on to perform "The Pretender" and his 1976 No. 11 Hot 100 hit "Running on Empty."

Seminal Illinois R&B vocal group the Dells dedicated their honor to the O'Jays, the Manhattans, the Whispers "and our homeboys the Chi-Lites," before performing their 1956 classic "Oh, What a Night" backed by the Paul Shaffer-led house band.

On the heels of an induction speech as off-beat as one would expect from the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, Texas rock trio ZZ Top rocked through the familiar head-nodding grooves of "La Grange" and "Tush."

Kid Rock saluted Seger as "the most overlooked musician of our time. Being from Michigan, raised north of Detroit and still living there today, Bob Seger's music not only influenced me, it taught me to be proud of where I come from Bob Seger is the voice of the working man and living proof of the American dream."

After a short speech in which he thanked his Silver Bullet backing band and staffers at his longtime label, Capitol Records, Seger rattled off the slow-burning "Turn the Page" and "Old Time Rock'n'Roll," one of the most enduring rock hits of the past 25 years.

Rolling Stone's Wenner, who is also the vice chairman of the Rock Hall's executive board, was feted by Mick Jagger as "one of the first music critics who understood what we as artists felt. Jann almost single-handedly pioneered the idea of rock'n'roll as a vibrant art form. It was Jann and his staff that elevated our music to a place where it enjoys the status of other musical forms."

The evening wrapped with the traditional all-star jam, this time on Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Rock & Roller" and Mason's "Feelin' Alright." While the Dells crowded around the mic, Kid Rock harmonized with Browne as Richards traded licks with ZZ Top's Billy F. Gibbons.

[Mr._Shooter]

DRL, looks like we agree on Prince. I'd like to say it was a case of style-over-substance, but then, Prince's style was (and still isn't) anything to write home about. I guess they ultimately decided that Prince has been around long enough, and sold enough records during his 80s heyday, to merit induction. As for Browne, he was quite influential is his day (and still today) and, notwithstanding the often heavy-handed soapbox mentality of his lyrics, his songs never disappointed those who wanted more from their "road music" than mere slogans.

Anyhow, CongraTulations to Bob Seger. He has always been one of the good guys.

[LS]

I'll disagree on Prince- whether one cared for his music or not, he was definitely an innovator and he does belong...just not yet...they shouldn't be up to the 80s era yet. They slipped him in on the 'technicality' card since he did release two albums in the late 70s- though his commercial fame & success didn't come till the early 80s...and IMO at this point in time- that one just kinda seemed like 'cheating' in light of everyone who pre-dates him who's not in yet and should be.

Jackson Browne- he deserves to be in too...just one of many underrated/overlooked artists over the years that include the likes of Warren Zevon, Tom Waits, John Hiatt, Nick Cave, Marshall Crenshaw and so on and so forth.

I definitely agree on Skynyrd...From what I've heard though- that one's been presenting them with a problem...namely the fact that there are two 'different' Skynyrds...the original 70s Skynyrd and the late 80s resurrected version. While both bands have a couple of members in common- they are really two different bands with two different histories, sounds and bodies of work. If they induct 'Lynyrd Skynyrd'...how do they distinguish between the two and which members/former members get in- or would they have to include them ALL?? And there's a lot of really bad blood between some of the surviving original members and those in the new-line up so things could get really messy there. Unfortunately, until they figure that one out... I think they're gonna keep getting bypassed.

Kiss I'd probably not have a problem with...IF they put the artists they based their act on in the Hall first. Where's Alice Cooper?? Sabbath (despite Ozzy's protests) definitely before Kiss. Marc Bolan & T-Rex, The NY Dolls, Mott the Hoople?? Kiss took the 'over-the-top' elements of glam-rock & married it to the theatrics and harder sound of Coop & the Oz-man...so I think those other guys should be in first.

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Some Skipped School of Rock
by David Hinckley
Tuesday, March 16th, 2004

Since most Americans assume history began with the first thing they personally remember - What, there were talent shows on television before "American Idol"? - one function for halls of fame is to acknowledge all the torches that lit our paths in the past.
That's why it's important to correct one assertion made by Kid Rock as he was inducting Bob Seger into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Monday night at the Waldorf-Astoria.

"Pardon my French," Kid said. "But Bob Seger is the baddest m-f of all time!"

We understand Kid meant this as a heartwarming tribute.

It's just not true.

Right down the corridor in the Rock Hall, you'll find Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown and Chuck Berry. You'll find Keith Richards, who was also right there at the Waldorf Monday.

Seger's a class guy and a fine rocker. He's not in that league.

But Rock otherwise said the right things about Seger, and he wasn't the only one who tripped on or dodged a little history.

Inductee Jann Wenner recalled listening to "Party Doll" by Buddy Holly, when it was actually Buddy Knox " an inadvertent slip not nearly as stunning as hearing Prince say "thank you" to Warner Records.

On larger issues of history, Chuck Barksdale of the Dells mentioned that this wonderful harmony group never got paid for many of their hits and couldn't get radio play for a lot of fine records " and there seemed to be a sense in the room that he was recalling something from long ago.

Artists who ignore this nasty bit of history are, even as we speak, reliving it.

Overall, the Hall's 19th annual induction ceremony was, well, long. Kid Rock joked that Chris Rock reminded him, "Martin ­Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech only took 14 minutes."

Bruce Springsteen said the first time he heard Jackson Browne's songs, he thought, " Damn, I gotta put less words" in his own. Bruce also said no album captured "the long slow afterburn of the '60s" better than Browne's "Late for the Sky."

"I wish I wrote those songs myself," said Springsteen. "Along with 'Like a Rolling Stone' and 'Satisfaction.' "

Browne praised Jac Holtzman of Elektra Records for using "one hit by the Doors to [subsidize] 100 records by artists who wouldn't necessarily make the top of the charts."

Mick Jagger concluded his induction of Jann Wenner by saying, "This is a heartfelt occasion, and I'll treasure the memory all the way to the airport."

Nice touch: Wenner taking the podium to the sound of " Do You Believe in Magic?"

Musical high points included Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne - who inducted George Harrison " leading "Handle With Care" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," on which they were joined by Prince.

Prince was 10 years old when that song came out. Amazing how much good stuff there is on those dusty old paths.