By Steve Newton
Okay, it has finally come to this.
After years of slagging the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for its inconceivable ignorance of the best rock music from the past, I’ve gone ahead and established my own institution to pay tribute to the stellar artists the RRHOF deems unworthy.
Based somewhere near the weed ‘n’ hockey-riot hotbed of Vancouver, Canada, Newt’s Rock Hall will only be open to musicians and bands that HAVE NOT already been inducted into that other Hall in Cleveland. It will follow the same stipulation in that nominees must have released their first albums at least 25 years ago.
Inductees for Newt’s debut class of 2015 include influential British hard-rock gods Deep Purple (eligible since 1993), Irish guitar legend Rory Gallagher (1996), American blues legend Johnny Winter (1993), British metal titans Iron Maiden (2004), and inventor of the raunchy riff Link Wray (eligible since…wait for it…1985!).
(R.I.P. Rory, Johnny and Link. Keep on rockin’ Purple and Maiden.)
Every year around this time, unless I find something else to do, five more non-RRHOF acts will be inducted. Except from now on I’ll be considering reader suggestions and not just going with who I want.
So get your votes in now for Newt’s Rock Hall, class of 2016, because the list of nominees already includes Thin Lizzy, Blue Oyster Cult, UFO, Mott the Hoople, Warren Zevon, Humble Pie, Motorhead, T-Rex, the Cramps, Robin Trower, Ten Years After, Mountain, Steve Earle, the J. Geils Band, Rick Derringer, Ronnie Montrose, Gary Moore, Wishbone Ash, Dick Dale, Jethro Tull, the New York Dolls, Dire Straits, Free, the Doobie Brothers, the Georgia Satellites, Little Feat, and a bunch of others I can’t think of right now.
Okay, I will name a few to add to you good list of nominees for 2016.
– John Hiatt
– Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
– April Wine
– Steve Winwood (solo)
finally got someone who has some sense..moody blues,yes,three dog night,chicago,steppenwolf ?
Great group of first inductees! None more so than the great Rory Gallagher! Keep the flag flying, Steve!
AWESOME LIST..BUT PLEASE PUT THE BAND i CUT MY TEETH ON ROCK N ROLL WITH 69-71 MARK DON AND MEL …GRAND FUNK RAILROAD !
Ritchie Blackmore
Primus
Buckethead
🙂 can The Charlatans from the UK be honoured?
Nope
Wow there are so many the HOF has overlooked or taken so damn long to include.
King Crimson
Frank Zapper
Zapper’s already in there, I’m happy to say
Cool cool cool I agree it’s about time!!!! If you need an employee all work there Haha
The pay ain’t much but Rush freaks are always welcome
I can not fathom the reasons why Gary Moore, Robin Trower, free(the 2 Paul’s could or should be included individually) , the doobies, or deep purple are not already in…..yeah I got sucked in . This is a tragedy
correction link has been eligible since 83
Yes…………..the Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, and the late great Chris Squire edition.
what about tom petty
I think Tom Petty’s already in
Bues Helping and GrandFunk
Moody Blues and Yes
J. Geils Band! Heart! The Hollies! Grand funk Railroad!
Few bands more deserving than Big Country.
Michael Schenker Group, Scorpions, Pat Travers, Ted Nugent, Nazareth, Sammy Hagar (solo, or w/Montrose,) Alvin Lee (solo), Uriah Heep….I could go on forever with bands that are deserving.
Frank Marino
Add Budgie, Mahogany Rush, Moxy, Foghat, Yes, Golden Earring, & The B-52’s to that list!
Link Wray is GOD, he NEEDS to be IN ALREADY!
Rory Gallagher 🙂
Big Country… ‘nuff said.
Finally the true rock hall of fame. Will purchase t-shirts when available. Cheers!