ROCK ‘N ROLL HALL OF FAME
Bombs away on the Rock ‘n Roll hall of fame
Even if I get indicted I’d probably feel the same
I don’t want to see Eric Clapton’s stuffed baby
I don’t want to see the shotgun of Kurt Cobain
Bombs away bombs away
Cleveland’s cool, Cleveland’s cool
I don’t want to see the liver of David Crosby
I don’t want to see all the drugs I couldn’t take
I don’t want to see collector scum pay
Blow it up, blow it up
Blow it up before Johnny Rotten gets in
Blow it up before Paul Westerberg sits in
Blow it up before Steve Albini gives a speech
Bombs Away Bombs Away – Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments, 1995 (lyrics by Ron House)
And while any rational person (present company excepted) should have the strength to not even acknowledge the monument to bullshit that is the Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Fame, today’s news that the Pretenders are amongst the Class Of 2005 inductees can not go without comment. Clearly, there are loose criteria for entry into the Hall, but shouldn’t there be a rule of some sort that releasing more than one passable album is a requirement? While Chrissie Hynde and the two-dead-guys’ 1980 debut album is as close to a universally beloved album from that era that you’ll find (in homes that don’t have many good records), is there anyone on earth (including Hynde and the dead guys) who considers ‘Pretenders II’ to be anything other than a total fucking mess? While lovers of bland AOR surely have favorite songs from the many subsequent Pretenders albums released by Hynde and a successsion of competent hacks, will the Motels be getting a look in, too?
So fuck the Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Fame. Where’s the statue of David Thomas?
Speaking of museums with ever-shifting criteria for entry, congratulations to Peter Gammons, without question the only person to have achieved election to the Baseball Hall Of Fame with a comprehensive knowledge of the Letters To Cleo back catalog. Well, aside from Steve Carlton.
CSTB is dead-on again! Talk about a band that was one-and-done. We were listening to the first album the other day over at Scharpling Manor and were stunned at the clunkers that were scattered throughout the record. Which is excusable for a debut, IF you manage to top said debut at some point throughout your twenty-four year career.
The biggest supporter of the post-debut Pretenders is probably Rush Limbaugh, using ‘My City Was Gone’ as his bed music. Let him do the induction!
And you want David Thomas in the HOF? I’m still waiting for David Clayton-Thomas to get in! No hornblast, no peace!
Tommy Hoops
with all due respect Mr. Hoops, the Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Fame is a place for MUSICIANS, not Canadian street thugs!
Nothing tops Pretenders I, and Pretenders II is pretty inconsistent (nothing really tops the segue between Birds of Paradise and Talk of the Town). “Learning to Crawl” was basically retreads, though I have a weakness for “2000 Miles” and the Limbaugh-ized “My City Is Gone.” Anything after that is pretty forgettable. They are basically a good singles band. But, their nomination might have to do with the lack of women in the Hall of Fame (if you take it seriously at all, which I don’t), and Chrissie Hynde as a performer and a guitarist, is pretty influential and more rock and roll than some previous inductees. Though truth be told, my personal Rock and Roll Hall of Fame would include the Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments, The Electric Eels, and X Ray Spex.
Oh and Canadian Street Thugs is a great name for a band.
Sarah,
points taken, though I think Ms. Hynde’s persona has more to do with her induction than her skills as a guitarist. My recollection of the 3 Pretenders gigs I saw with the original lineup was that of James Honeyman-Scott being allowed to showcase his considerable chops-fest skills (yawn), Martin Chambers breaking about 200 sticks (whatever) and Chrissie H’s guitar turned down to zero. As they were the headliners in rather large clubs, I don’t think these were the acts of a soundperson taking matters into his or her own hands.
Looking forward to Concrete Blonde and Berlin getting in next year.
GC
Statue of Ernie Anderson