The Amorphous Definition Of Rock And Roll

The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame has announced the nominees for next year's class, and like a broken record, the world has responded by pointing out that some of the nominees did not perform rock and roll music. This year's bugaboo is Whitney Houston.

The disconnect comes from the name of the place. When it was a gleam in Jan Wenner's eye, rock and roll was the dominant form of popular music, and had been since the 1950s. It is no longer the case, as rock is now just one of many forms, and in some ways a niche. As time goes on, there will be fewer big-time rock acts to go into this place, and thus they have expanded their horizons, inducting figures from rap, jazz, and folk. In recent years, Joan Baez, Janet Jackson, and Nina Simone have been inducted. All great artists, but none of them were rock stars.

The name of the place should be the Popular Music Hall Of Fame, but that will never happen, as even though rock music isn't that popular anymore, the phrase still has some cache. And Houston probably won't be elected, anyway. Mariah Carey wasn't (thank goodness).

So who should get in this year? Well, to start with, MC5, who were one of the innovators of punk music. The Dave Matthews Band, who were the epitome of white bread, middle of the road rock, are also nominated, and if they get in before MC5 they might as well burn the place down. The same goes for Motorhead, who may not have been million sellers, but were hugely influential.

For those who were popular, we start with Pat Benatar, who had hit after hit in the '80s. The Doobie Brothers is one of those acts that I would have thought were already in. And Todd Rundgren, who had some hits on his own and with Utopia, should be in for his producing chops alone (Meat Loaf, Grand Funk Railroad, New York Dolls, XTC, The Tubes, Psychedelic Furs). Fans are allowed five votes, so I'm casting my fifth for T. Rex, another group I would have thought were already in, due to their importance during the glam period.

Judas Priest, Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, and Soundgarden wouldn't cause me any consternation about being elected. Thin Lizzy had a few hits, but I don't see them as Hall Of Fame material. If rappers are to be elected, certainly Notorious B.I.G. is worthy. Kraftwerk has many supporters, and while I don't really get them they deserve a place, as does Rufus featuring Chaka Khan in the funk category. Really, the only person who doesn't belong on this list is Houston, who was a great singer, but again, not remotely rock and roll.