Overdue honor

It’s a bit off the beaten track for monoblogue, but this is why I have a “personal stuff” category.

After eight tries, Black Sabbath finally made it to the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. For whatever reason, a group cited as a major influence to many of today’s bands couldn’t get into the Rock Hall while contemporary British groups like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin were inducted quickly after they were eligible (1996 and 1995 respectively.) A sign of the performers’ respect was that one of the first of the “tribute” CD’s that became popular in the 1990’s was “Nativity in Black”, which featured 12 groups and their versions of classic Sabbath songs from the early ’70’s. But critics and Hall voters turned a deaf ear until this year. (The same goes for fellow 2006 inductee Lynard Skynard, who’s been eligible for a number of years.)

And, unlike the punk icons Sex Pistols, Ozzy Osbourne seemed genuinely honored to be inducted, saying, “I was getting a bit tired of getting my hopes up year after year, but I’m happy we’re finally in. It’s a great honor and hopefully it will lead the way to more heavy-metal acts being inducted.

Sabbath had Ozzy as a frontman for their first eight studio albums, but when he left the group continued with a variety of lead singers, most notably Ronnie James Dio. Some of that turmoil may have been a cause of their delay in getting this overdue honor. But a group that could just as easily turn out a pleasant song even Mom could love (like “Changes” or the instrumental “Laguna Sunrise”) could then put together a cruncher like the familiar “Iron Man.” With the simple drumbeat opening followed by a funeral dirge-like power chord you knew this song was going to be heavier than the humid air on a Delmarva summer day. And people who know me (or pay attention to the albums I put in my Amazon.com column) can figure out I like it heavy.

I had a lot of fun looking up some of the stuff for this, particularly the tour dates. I was shocked to see that Sabbath actually played once at the Civic Center here, December 5, 1981. That would have been the “Mob Rules” tour with Ronnie James Dio on vocals, and a week after they played my old hometown of Toledo. I missed that one, must not have had the money since I was a senior in high school at the time and had no job. The Salisbury date was sandwiched between gigs in Philly and Richmond.

One sign that I’m getting old is that a lot of the groups I grew up liking are now or becoming Hall-eligible. AC/DC was the first of this crop to be inducted in 2003. Some of my other faves who I think will get in eventually, based on their body of work:

Metallica will become eligible in 2008. They’re almost certainly a shoo-in.
Judas Priest has been eligible for several years, since about 1998. They’ve had a fair comeback after Rob Halford returned to the group, which might help.
Van Halen became eligible in 2003. But the question: do you induct David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar?

There’s a bunch more who have pretty good careers but are sort of iffy as far as the Hall goes.

Iron Maiden became eligible in 2005. I think they should get in before Metallica myself, but Metallica will likely be first.
Alice Cooper’s been eligible since the mid-90’s. But he’s somewhat dismissed as a theatrical rocker more than a musician.
Ted Nugent became eligible as a solo artist in 2000, as part of Amboy Dukes and the MC5 before that. His outspoken conservatism may turn off a lot of the music critics, who lean the other way.
Guns n’ Roses – if “Chinese Democracy” comes out before 2012, they could get in. They are the Boston of Generation X.
Motley Crue – they’ll be eligible in 2008, and their successful comeback might help their cause. They’re among the first of the early ’80’s L.A. metal bands, along with…
Ratt – who had a lot of commercial success, but not a ton of critical acclaim. Also eligible in 2008.
Def Leppard – became eligible in 2005. A little like Black Sabbath in that their early albums were considered their best and later ones more substandard.
KISS – For a group whose gimmick was their face paint and personnas, they put together a great career based on easily accessible hard rock with the occasional ballad tossed in. Not a critic favorite, though, which is why they’ve been eligible since 1998.
Motorhead – Lemmy is God, but he can’t get in the Rock Hall without votes. They’re much more of a success in Europe, which means American critics dismiss them to an extent. I think they’ve been eligible since 2001.

I suppose I can say my piece to them when I go there this summer. I’m taking my vacation in August to that part of Ohio, selected because the Shorebirds play at Lake County that week. Helps to have a stepdaughter live in that area too. It’s funny, I used to live about 100 miles from the Hall and have never been there. But I’ll change that this summer, and thank them for finally giving the best early British metal group (Led Zeppelin = overrated) their due.

Late note: looks like some nice prices on Amazon.com…buy your fill of Sabbath!

Author: Michael

It's me from my laptop computer.

One thought on “Overdue honor”

  1. ^_^ We’re going to the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame. No questions. ๐Ÿ™‚ Hey, if you think only living 100 miles away is bad for not going… John and I walked past it one day, and decided not to go because at the time, $20 was too much for us, since we were going to a concert that night. We haven’t gone back, and we said we would… A year later. ๐Ÿ™‚ I love you, and miss you.. When are you gonna update your LJ? Thought my Dad had disappeared off of internet land. *hugs & kisses*

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