Where Do We Go Now? '80s Hard Rock and Metal's Future in the Rock Hall

Is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ready to rock?! Well, that will be decided by committee. But with British hard rock legends Deep Purple about to be inducted this week in Brooklyn, it certainly opens the door for others in the genre. Who's next in the hard rock/metal world to get a Rock Hall nod, specifically acts that hit it big in the '80s? Call it hard rock, call it heavy metal, call it hair metal, call it pop metal... to quote Tesla, call it what you want. There are tons of acts carrying these labels that should now be a loud-and-proud part of the Rock Hall conversation, and justifiably so.

Bon Jovi is a major act that is in this mix. Love 'em or hate 'em, they're relevant to this discussion as they've actually been nominated (in 2010, but not inducted yet), so their chances are better than most. But hey, there are a lot of other artists that Warrant (sorry...) consideration as well. Guns N' Roses is the rare hard-edged band of the '80s era that has enjoyed an induction, and a first ballot one, at that. KISS got in 3 years ago, Deep Purple gets in last year: It's all good news for '80s hard rock and metal acts as far as their Rock Hall chances are concerned, as their predecessors are getting out of the way. But what are the odds? Who's likely to go in?

If you'll forgive the conceit, Bon Jovi songs are being used below as categories to forecast the likelihood of Rock Hall induction for a sampling of acts that either emerged or found great success in the '80s. The scale is most likely ("Wanted Dead or Alive"), somewhat likely ("Keep the Faith") and least likely ("Livin' on a Prayer"). 

Wanted Dead or Alive

Bon Jovi - Previously nominated, a truckload of hits. Just a matter of time. But will Jon and Richie mend fences before then for a proper induction performance? Come on guys, don't Cetera out on us.

Judas Priest - Yes, their first album dropped in 1974, but their major album successes came in the Reagan era with British Steel (1980) and especially Screaming for Vengeance (1982), and MTV videos were a factor in their visibility. Consistently mentioned alongside of Iron Maiden as a glaring Rock Hall snub, but the smart bet has them going in first, when they do go.

Iron Maiden - Try to imagine '80s heavy metal without them; it's tough. A heroic howler of a singer in Bruce Dickinson, undeniable musicianship, striking iconography, and they're still at it, putting out their latest album The Book of Souls in 2015. I think I speak for most metal fans when I say that seeing their mascot "Eddie" (no, not Trunk) sauntering onstage during a Rock Hall induction ceremony performance would be beyond killer. 

Mötley Crüe - Their flaming pentagram looms large over the '80s; deny their impact at your peril. People often forget that in the conservative, PMRC-scourged early-'80s, they once embodied darkness and danger, arguably as much so as the already-inducted Gun N' Roses. Shout at the Devil alone should get them into the Hall. 

Keep the Faith

Scorpions - No question their legacy extends well before and after the 80s, as their debut came out in 1972. However, as with Priest, theres's no denying the '80s/MTV era and the Scorpions' place in it, as they had massive success with the albums Blackout (featuring the hit single "No One Like You") and especially Love at First Sting, featuring "Rock You Like a Hurricane". There were also the hits "Still Loving You" and the politically-conscious "Winds of Change." Finally, any band that can sell the lyric "An exploding shot of pleasure / Is what I have for you..." deserves at least a Spinal Tap award of some sort, if not a Rock Hall induction, both of which I would wholeheartedly support. The Scorpions are a worthy dark horse that should be looked at for the Hall; it's a shame they aren't talked about more, given their longevity, amazing live shows, and work ethic. This is the sting that belongs in the Rock Hall.

Def Leppard - Among the crop of bands in the "New Wave of British Heavy Metal" that even influenced Lars and Metallica, people often forget how raw and vital Def Leppard's early stuff was. High and Dry (1981) features knockout tracks like "Bringin' on the Heartbreak" and "Lady Strange." They went on to churn out an endless string of Mutt Lange-produced hits from their blockbuster efforts Pyromania and Hysteria, all of which seemingly had an accompanying MTV video. Bon Jovi, another juggernaut of this time period, will get in before them, but Def Leppard feels worthy of consideration too. Their drummer has one arm and still plays, for god's sake.

Motörhead - There's a hesitation to include these guys as they are timeless and transcend the '80s. Also, Lemmy was averse to labels, insisting they were not a heavy metal band, but just a "rock and roll band." Nevertheless, we're talking about the '80s, and Ace of Spades came out in 1980, and its title track is their signature song. They belong in the Hall, but one wonders if Lemmy's passing last December will now somehow delay their consideration. Being dead may help an artist's chances in the Hall, but at this point it would sort of seem cruel and insulting for the Rock Hall to induct them anytime soon, especially when they could have nominated them starting in 2002. 

Slayer - Among the "Big 4 of Heavy Metal" (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax), Slayer, blood-soaked and ever mighty, would be the next logical act to stomp into the Hall, as Metallica is already in. They're legendary, uncompromising and are masters of the pummel-you-to-death thrash universe. Their fringe status, something that ideally the Rock Hall would value, is making them feel like a long shot at this point, but hopefully that won't be the case.

Dio - The fact that the late Ronnie James Dio was not inducted as part of Black Sabbath really puts weight behind the induction argument for his namesake band. Dio delivered some huge metal hits, landmark albums like Holy Diver and was possessed of a signature, highly influential voice that has been both celebrated and satirized. Metal is unthinkable without his contributions. Worst case, give him a Musical Excellence award for all of his career. And speaking of the Musical Excellence award...

Randy Rhoads - Tom Morello, a Rock Hall Nomination Committee member, is evidently pushing for the late Ozzy Osbourne guitar wizard to get the Musical Excellence Award. Rhoads is rightly revered as a guitarist, and played on such key Ozzy solo records as Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. This induction actually happening will be a key litmus test for two things: Morello's sway within the nomination process, and heavy metal's future in the Hall. 

Livin' on a Prayer

Poison - Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Rikki Rockett and Bobby Dall were hair metal (an eye-rolling pejorative as soon as Nirvana came around), wading neck-deep into the excesses of their genre aesthetically, musically, and lifestyle-wise. They had catchy songs, a "Behind the Music"-worthy history, and a number one hit, the power ballad "Every Rose Has its Thorn." They just won't ever be taken seriously by the Rock Hall. And maybe that's OK.

Whitesnake - It's a total bummer that David Coverdale, inducted this week with Deep Purple, is apparently not going to be given a chance to sing his DP-era songs alongside bassist Glenn Hughes; this is most likely Coverdale's only dance at the Hall. As mega-popular as Whitesnake was in the 80s, they embodied hair metal and all the video vixen/power ballad fluff that went with it. They certainly don't have critics on their side, despite some well-produced, full-throttle records in their discography. (Also, if you look at the chart on Wikipedia as to the dozens of cats who have actually been members of Whitesnake, it's enough to make an entire Rock Hall Nomination Committee run screaming.)

Megadeth - An important band in their genre, and Mustaine is a gifted guitarist and lyricist that's still putting out dazzling, whiplash-inducing albums. But Metallica, from whence Mustaine was sprung, is already inducted, and that's one reason it's difficult to see a path to a nomination. I'd love to be wrong.

Anthrax - Thrash done with style, virtuosity, and humor. They even teamed up with Public Enemy on a cover of "Bring the Noise." But in the larger picture of metal, their commercial success is spotty, and unfortunately, it doesn't feel like they'll get serious consideration.

Quiet Riot - Some huge anthems in "Metal Health" and "Cum on Feel the Noize," and Rhandy Rhoads was an original member. Also, they sort of ushered in the whole hair metal era as their videos were a staple of MTV in 1983. But they're a bit heavy on the Slade covers, and success of Quiet Riot's ilk really doesn't translate to Rock Hall consideration; they simply lack the type of career that fits the Rock Hall paradigm.

Cinderella/Tesla/Skid Row - All far better groups than they have ever been given credit for, but the Rock Hall's acceptance of bands in this realm as inductee candidates looks very limited indeed. That's taking nothing away from all three's formidable hits, nor the notion that their albums have aged way better than anyone might have predicted. Not getting into the Rock Hall? Don't sweat it. You guys are in good company. 

The Rock Hall and Solo Artists: Who's Worthy?

"Going solo." The concept comes off as self-serving, even egotistical. A self-important singer ditches his band, because he doesn't need those other guys (see: David Lee Roth). But sometimes, a performer legitimately outgrows their original group, spreads their wings, and soars even higher artistically and commercially (i.e. Michael Jackson, Peter Gabriel, Joan Jett, George Michael, Beyoncé). 

For the purposes of this piece, let's define "solo artist" strictly as a person that separated, either permanently or temporarily, from the existing group that made them famous in the first place. So, Sting (The Police) and Phil Collins (Genesis) would fit this bill, but someone like Janet Jackson would not; Janet is a solo act of course, but her career was not preceded by involvement in another successful musical group. 

As far as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and solo artists, the question is this: Who's worthy enough to be inducted as a solo entity, especially if they've already gotten into the Rock Hall with their original group? The institution's history shows that each Beatle, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Paul Simon, Gabriel, and Lou Reed fit the bill, to name a few. However, "demonstrating musical excellence," the oft-repeated Rock Hall induction criteria, is evidently tough for voters to quantify in this subset. Ben E. King, inducted with the Drifters in 1988, has been nominated three times, but has not yet entered the Hall as a solo artist. Sting was nominated for 2015, didn't get in, and then disappeared from the nominee pool for the 2016 ceremony. (Maybe that lute album torpedoed his chances?)

So what does a solo artist have to do to make the Rock Hall cut? Being in a popular band and doing a solo album is hardly enough. Rock history has seen so many go it alone, with various results. There are wildly successful solo acts, middling successes, and solo forays that went over like a lead balloon. All four Beatles had largely terrific solo careers, but let's face it, no one is persuasively touting the replay value of Mick Jagger's She's the Boss at this point. Tina Turner raked in the Grammys after Ike, King had "Stand by Me," and Gabriel and Collins pulled an exodus from Genesis and became huge '80s icons... but have you been bumping much Mike & The Mechanics lately? Then there's the lesser-appreciated solo work that's neither a failure nor a triumph; it was laudable, but just met with less fanfare. The solo careers of Pete Townshend, David Byrne, and Lindsey Buckingham come to mind; later examples might be the work of Thom Yorke (Radiohead) and Jim James (My Morning Jacket). Finally, is anyone (unironically at least) still playing Andrew Ridgeley's 1990 LP Son of Albert, or late Ramone Dee Dee's rap album under the name Dee Dee King? 

Clearly, there exists a bumper crop of solo artists as they are defined here. And in the busy realm of the Rock Hall-related blogosphere and Twitter, the following individuals have been broached as potential inductees:

• Björk (group: Sugarcubes, who are not inducted)
• Phil Collins (group: Genesis, inducted)
• Ice Cube (group: N.W.A., inducted in 2016)
• Ronnie James Dio (groups: Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath; Black Sabbath only one inducted, but Dio was actually not inducted as a member)
• Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones, inducted)
• George Michael (Wham, not inducted)
• Morrissey (The Smiths, not inducted)
• Chaka Khan (Rufus, not inducted)
• Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac, inducted)
• Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath, inducted)
• Teddy Pendergrass (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, not inducted) 
• Keith Richards (Rolling Stones, inducted)
• Tina Turner (Ike and Tina Turner, inducted)
• Steve Winwood (Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith; Traffic only one inducted)

It's an entertaining/infuriating list, and in some cases, their original bands aren't even enshrined yet in Cleveland, muddling the argument. No need to expound on every one of them, but perhaps just a few. One could predict that the Sugarcubes will never be inducted, but Björk is a relatively likely future nominee. The Smiths have been nominated twice to no avail, so to suggest Morrissey is a swell idea, but as unlikely as the Pope of Mope actually showing up to a ceremony in either case. Chaka Khan was just nominated, so it's reasonable to think she could appear on the ballot once again. But with N.W.A. going in this year, Ice Cube being considered for his solo work could unfortunately take decades, if it ever happens.

All things considered, there are numerous solo artists that genuinely deserve Rock Hall consideration. But maybe the conversation should really start with individuals that have never been honored. The thing is, the Rock Hall is having a math problem as of late. 15 nominees in 2015 (for the 2016 ceremony), but only 5 got in; that's brutal. Considering the increasing exclusivity of this club, how logical is it for the nomination committees to submit previously-inducted people as solo acts when only five or six inductees might get in each year? Sting is in with the Police; is it truly vital to induct him for his solo work, as accomplished as it may be? All due respect, but Reed was in with the Velvet Underground and had passed away before he was even nominated as a solo act, anyway; could it have waited? Should it be "3 nominations and you're out" for Ben E. King so they can move onto others? Also, there are legions of deserving groups that have been snubbed or have never seen a nomination. While the Hall has been doing some clean-up the past few years, inducting such long-overlooked fan favorites as Rush and KISS—and this coming April, Chicago, Deep Purple, Cheap Trick—they might want to prioritize acts that have never had a seat at the table.

Rock Hall 2016: Feelin' the Berns

So... Bert Berns is receiving the Ahmet Ertegun Award for Lifetime Achievement. Rock Hall followers might be scratching their heads today, but it's fair to look at the basic facts. From the Rock Hall website: 

"Bert Berns was one of the great record men of the New York rhythm and blues scene of the 60s. Berns produced 51 chart records in seven years, most of which he also wrote. His songs have been recorded by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin. Janis Joplin made her career with her version of his “Piece Of My Heart,” a song he wrote and produced for Erma Franklin, Aretha Franklin’s sister, only weeks before his death on December 30, 1967 at age 38."

Also a fact, and blowing up up the Rock Hall social media channels today is that Steven Van Zandt and Paul Shaffer are producing a Broadway musical about Bert Berns. And per the Future Rock Legends Twitter (@futurerocklgnds), Van Zandt and Shaffer are both on the committee that picked Berns for this honor, raising the issue of a conflict of interest. Wow.

But let's take one step back here. One positive to extract is that a rock n' roll luminary from the '60s is being inducted, giving hope to many a snubbed artist of that era and maybe earlier. Despite recent Nomination Committee purges, the door is evidently still open, in theory, to worthy artists such as Mary Wells, Link Wray, Joe Tex, the Zombies, Chuck Willis, Dick Dale, and Captain Beefheart. Berns deserves the honor, but the timing feels suspect now. He could have been honored previously, maybe even in an inductee-heavy year like 2012, where producers Glyn Johns, Tom Dowd, and Cosima Matassa got the Award for Musical Excellence, and Don Kirschner was given the Ahmet Ertegun Award. What's another Ahmet Ertegun Award when there were multiple "Musical Excellence" honorees? 

In any case, the Rock Hall, true to form, continues to confound. Not only with inductees vs. snubs, and the worsening inductee gender gap that people are really starting to pay attention to, but also with the relatively meager count of inductees they're putting in this year (now 6 total). Speculation that ceremony length is an issue seems legitimate, but ultimately, the HBO broadcast will be edited. So if say, the J.B.'s were announced alongside of Berns last night in the "Musical Excellence" category, at least we would have gotten Bootsy Collins out of the deal, bringing some bass magic to the end-of-night jam.

Berns, with all due respect, isn't bringing viewers to HBO nor is his name selling tickets to the ceremony. So the question becomes, "Why Bert Berns, and why now?" Honoring someone overdue? Well, there's a long list of those. Yet another head-scratcher is waiting until January 27 to "officially" announce this decidedly non-flashy inductee choice, especially when as of January 12, Bert Berns' Facebook page had already announced it. Couldn't they have determined last month that Berns was going in, and then rolled his name out on December 17 alongside of Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple, Steve Miller, and N.W.A.? There's some unprecedented stuff happening, and it raises legitimate questions.

But, here we are. Six inductees, five of them mostly mainstream and crowd-pleasing, and this last one controversial out of the gate.