Rock & Rock Hall of Shame

KISS. Journey. Chicago. Cheap Trick.This is a much-abridged list of musical artists who have been snubbed by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for years. And justly so, I might add. After all, we know KISS keeps itself alive solely out of gimmick-not talent.


Fleshing out the 2011 nominee list: The Beastie Boys, Alice Cooper, Bon Jovi, Neil Diamond, J.Geils Band, LL Cool J, Donna Summer, Tom Waits, Chuck Willis, Chic, Donovan, Dr. John, Darlene Love, Laura Nyro and Joe Tex.


Ballots will be sent to more than 500 voters, who will then select artists to be inducted at the 26th Annual Induction Ceremony. To be eligible for nomination into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, artists must have released their first singles or albums at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination, meaning the 2011 nominees released their first recordings no later than 1985.


"We believe our nominating committee has put forth a list of artists that truly represent the wide variety of music that defines rock and roll," said Joel Peresman, President and CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.


Oh yeah, Mr. President? I beg to differ.


It's not so much the fact that the nominee list is speckled with artists I've never heard of-ever. It's the fact that the list of the long-time snubbed is speckled with undeniably influential and talented musical artists.


Thank you for finally acknowledging Tom Waits. But, mind you, he could have been inducted anytime in the past 12 years. Where have your heads been?

The same goes for The Smiths, who haven't even been nominated yet. They released four albums in four years-all of them fantastic.


But there is one band out there that has been brutally ignored for more than 12 years-pushing its cult followers to the brink of insanity.


You either love Rush, or you hate Rush, but it's impossible to deny them their rightful Rock & Roll Hall of Fame throne.


In July 2008, Rolling Stone called Rush fans the "Trekkies of rock"-willing to fight to the death to defend their beloved Canadian rock idols. The band's success, however, extends beyond its cult following, including 24 consecutive gold or platinum albums-trailing only The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Aerosmith.


Despite their obvious success, the Hall's refusal to nominate Rush may be due to the band's placement outside mainstream rock-or maybe it was their over-fascination with synths in the '80s. Either way, it's simply proof that Geddy and the gang doesn't care about convention, and isn't that what rock and roll is all about?

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson has expressed his indifference in the matter, saying, "I couldn't care less. Look who's up for induction-it's a joke."


Unfortunately, I think the joke is on Rush fans (again).


But-as I like to say at the end of every baseball season after having watched the Cubs drown themselves in embarrassment-there's always next year.