Madonna in the Hall of Fame? Sadly true

I can't bring myself to type the next couple of words: Madonna is being inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

So is John Mellencamp -- and that's better news. (Though there's still a list of acts a mile long that deserve to be there before either of them. Can anyone say "Heart" for starters? KISS isn't even in there. What the hell??)

But Madonna, good lord why? She's not a rock act. She didn't influence rock. I'm not sure there's a single electric guitar or real drum set in any of her songs. Compare her music to Michael Jackson, a 2001 inductee, and Wacko Jacko sounds like Ted Nugent!

Aside from her fetish for wearing black leather and sleeping around, I'm not sure what qualifies her to be considered a "rock star."

Today's announcement only sours me to the entire Rock Hall of Fame experience. Last year, it was Van Halen mucking up the works, with Eddie in rehab and Diamond Dave sitting out the induction ceremony in protest. Only Michael Anthony and Sammie Hagar made an appearance on the band's behalf. Particularly ironic since they're the only two not represented in the current touring version of the band.

Days like this, I wish I hadn't stopped sniffing glue.

Comments

[Bassnote]

Whoever is in charge of deciding what acts get nominated needs to be taken out a shot... repeatedly. The Rock and Roll Hall of fame is already a joke, now it's a really bad (and tasteless) joke.

[melissa]

Madonna has been around forever... every CD that she has ever put out is awesome! She is a true talent! When someone can keep making great hits after 25 yrs id say she's done good! This is no one hit wonder where talking about here!

[Miguel]

You guys have to understand that all the people from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hate music! I agree with Bassnote,they`re a joke! But it´s not only them. What about music awards? The Grammys are a joke, the MTV awards are a joke,do this people even know anything about music?
Madonna a Rock and Roll star?! She´s more a ex-whore now Cabala star who pretends to be british!!! Now that´s a even bigger joke than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

[Miguel]

You guys have to understand that all the people from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hate music! I agree with Bassnote,they`re a joke! But it´s not only them. What about music awards? The Grammys are a joke, the MTV awards are a joke,do this people even know anything about music?
Madonna a Rock and Roll star?! She´s more a Cabala star who pretends to be british!!! Now that´s a even bigger joke than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

[Mike in Austin]

To the gallows, all of them!!! Who really cares about the rock n roll hall of fame? Hell, where is it? Springfield, MA......no wait....that is the B-ball hall of fame...Juarez, Mexico....no, that is where I met my wife...somewhere in Wyoming? I give up. On a lighter side, who doesn't own Like a Virgin on vinyl?

[tommyduncn]

Good grief! You must be kidding...

The R&RHOF certainly has left out way too many deserving artists. But if anything, Madonna should have been inducted years ago.

Madonna is the only the single most successful female recording artist of all time, selling over 250 million records (75 million singles and 175 million albums). That's more than any other female recording artist. Ever. Yep - she is the female Elvis.

Like her music or not, it was very popular, and deserves recognition.

And we all know that each of you have sung along with her songs at some time or another.

Congrats to Madonna!

[Josh]

There are plenty of artists not in there that deserve it:

Pete Townshend (solo)
Steve Miller Band
Rush
etc...

[Ron]

This will continue to be the hall of shame, until the stop overlooking people like Nils Lofgren, Gram Parsons and Todd Rundgren. I could provide a list a mile long, but I'm short on time.

[Spears]

This was Madonna's first year of eligibility, for the record.

If they want to rename it the "Music Hall of Fame" or "Pop Music Hall of Fame," then sure, Madonna belongs there.

But she's not Rock! Not even close.

[Mike in Austin]

I AM DEAD SERIOUS....I met my wife in Juarez, Mexico....but as far as the rock hall of fame......is it in America Samoa??
In honor of hosts past, maybe I should:
"Google it Steve"

[Al]

I concur with you, Steve.

You're dead right on this one. Perhaps you could use your License to Kill (courtesy of Gladys Knight) and take out the committee!

[Spears]

I would, but I "disagreed with something that ate me."

Oh yeah, non stop Bond quotes.

[GinaT]

oh you Madonna haters are so bitter. While one may not enjoy her music, her music and style had had a tremendous influence. I remember dancing to early Madonna music. It was full of live and always a great beat and like one poster said, she's outsold so many other artists. Madonna should have been inducted years ago. Steve Miller? Please.

[Spears]

She couldn't have been inducted years ago. You're only eligible 25 years after your first recording. That's this year for Madonna.

Too bad it wasn't a ROCK RECORD!

[Tom]

I've been to the R&RHOF, which is in Cleveland , OH right on the lakefront. Cool place but the inductees are a bit suspect. I did like how they included a few old school blues and jazz greats, because they are the major influences for rock, but when it turns out to be a popularity contest for some suspect acts, Madonna et al, then it has lost all integrity. Just my 2 cents worth.

[Mike in Austin]

Just a question: What did Madonna contribute to rock and roll besides fashion trends, re-inventing herself with all the latest trends, gain attention via "shock value", etc? Granted her music (if in fact she wrote it) was catchy and yes, I enjoyed her music. But can you really put her in the same category with those rock n rollers that had passion, the love of music, remained true to their music and styles, etc? Go back and listen to the podcasts of Brian Johnson, John Waite, and Klaus Meine. Great rockers who have passion for their jobs and not the least bit interested in making the cover of people magazine: just great rock n roll, great music. I believe a few of my stuck in the 80's colleagues pegged it when they said "hall of shame" and "popularity contest"

[Marissa]

Awards shows, Hall of Fame inductions, Walk of Fame Star...it's all about the benjamins, I fear. I was informed that getting a Star on the Walk of Fame these days only requires enough money donated by the star themselves.
Everybody needs to unbunch their panties and relax. Madonna isn't being force fed to you like a Coke-a-Cola bottle.
Sheesh!

[ditamae]

I think someone who your grandparents know who they are and your kids or grandkids...shows someone who should be in the hall of fame. Most of the people mentioned(who may also deserve to be in), aren't as well known or heard of. I think someone who had one hit record(or cd), isn't a reason to talk down someone who you may not like her music but obviously must be doing something right, she has stayed around for 25 years...why does everyone always have to say negative things, why can't people just be happy someone gets an award...no wonder this world is in the state it is in...

[Al]

I think Madonna deserves to be shot for "Ray of Light"......'nuff said. One of the few times I wish I was living behind the Iron Curtain.

[Carla]

I can think of many others that deserve it more. Not saying that she doesn't have her place in music 'history'... at least the 80's for sure, (and she is all over my ipod), but to be nominated into the Hall Of Fame???

Many, many others deserve it more.

[Carla]

I can think of many others that deserve it more. Not saying that she doesn't have her place in music 'history'... at least the 80's for sure, (and she is all over my ipod), but to be nominated into the Hall Of Fame???

Many, many others deserve it more.

[Miguel]

You guys are discussing if she is a good artist or not, that you may or may not own her records,but that`s not the point. I have never been a fan of Madonna but it is not a question of taste. What i think made Steve Spears write about this and i totally agree is that she is a pop star and has nothing to do with Rock and Roll! Maybe soon they induct Celine Dion for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!!!

[Cait]

Dude, come on. The R&RHOF was never exclusively about R&R. Did you flip out when they inducted Aretha Franklin or the various Motown acts who are already members?

[Rick Reed]

And for the record, inducting John Cougar isn't much better than Madonna.

Wake me when Boy George gets elected.