Axl Rose Blowup Shows Importance of Hall of Fame Purity
Last week, Axl Rose became an enemy to some, and a folk hero to many when he not-so-politely declined his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the original lineup of Guns & Roses, and then went on further to question the legitimacy of the whole institution, it’s funding, it’s voting practices and how it justifies its mandate of deciding who gets to be deemed the most important Rock & Rollers of all time.
I still don’t exactly know what the Hall is or how or why it makes money, where the money goes, who chooses the voters and why anyone or this board, out of all the artists in the world that have contributed to this genre, officially “rock” enough to be in the Hall?
By Axl being willing to sacrifice a little bit of his legacy, he solidified it for all time by proving he is one of the most devout rock & rollers of them all, and what a sham of an institution the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has become in many people’s eyes. Some consider the Rock & Roll HOF a sham because The Beastie Boys, or even Axl’s Guns & Roses were inducted into it before the Canadian band Rush. Others think it’s a sham because Madonna and many others were inducted at all.
Was/is Madonna rock & roll? How about Hank Williams or Johnny Cash who are both inductees? Johnny Cash a little…maybe. Could you see The Beatles and Led Zepplin being members of the Country Music Hall of Fame based solely on their importance in music? Elvis is in the Country Music HOF, but this was in consideration of his deep rockabilly, gospel, and Tennessee roots.
Axl Rose Declines Grand Ole Opry Induction
In the end, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame isn’t illegitimate because of who has been inducted into their institution, it’s illegitimate because it is an institution, formed around a genre of music whose roots are in rebelling against institutions. Conversely, where the Rock & Roll HOF found its fundamental weakness is where the Country Music HOF finds its strength, as an institution representing a genre of music whose fabric is built around the preservation of institutions and traditions.
The Country HOF has also done its rock & roll counterpart one better by keeping its list of inductees fiercely exclusive, not pandering to every petition drive or pretty name who might meet the requirements, being inclusive with their coverage of all aspects of the genre (their new exhibit on California Country being a great example), and being transparent in their operations, financing, and voting system.
Nothing But Respect for the Country Music Hall of Fame
Make no mistake, The Country Music Hall of Fame is not perfect, but it is better at preserving its purity than many other country music institutions, like The Grand Ole Opry for example, or even country music itself. Country music fans should be peacock proud of their Hall of Fame, but at the same time take wisdom from Axl Rose’s words, and the mistakes made from its Rock & Roll counterpart. Radio formats, awards shows, TV specials, they all must dabble with the here and now that doesn’t have the benefit of time to prove whether the content is worthy of recognition or not. But with a Hall of Fame, purity must be preserved at all times for the institution to remain strong.
Axl Rose, along with the Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten may have been some of the first to refuse their Rock & Roll HOF inductions, but after witnessing the success of their decisions, it’s easy to assume they will not be the last. Let’s hope that the Country Music Hall of Fame does not begin to be known for who requests to remain outside of its round walls, but for who’ve been granted the exclusive and distinct honor of being welcomed within.
April 20, 2012 @ 10:20 am
Trig while Axl would actually seem to be acting with a morsel of integrity for a change I can’t help but think his refusal has more to do with his unwillingness to share the Guns n Roses legacy with the original members (kinda like the CCR debacle) and his own boundless greed. Thoughts?
April 20, 2012 @ 10:38 am
Without question, Axl Rose is crazier than a shithouse rat, and is a tortured soul. I think he’s even admitted this, talking about how he was molested when he was 2-years-old and that stopped his emotional growth at that age. I have no doubt he has made big mistakes in his dealings with his bandmates and that greed has played a part in that. However I don’t think that makes any of his insight on the illegitimacy of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame any less true. Really, all he said was something many rock & roll fans have been feeling for years, but something nobody with the public forum Axl possess (and he especially possessed leading up to this year’s induction ceremony) ever had the balls to say. I’m neither hither nor yon on Axl and a lot of his music, but kudos for him for fighting for what he believes in, and saying what needed to be said.
April 20, 2012 @ 10:59 am
Absolutely agree with the stance I just question his motives. At least with the Sex Pistols you can be sure they were sincere. (BTW I was listening to a Tommy Stinson interview a few years ago when the interviewer asked Tommy who was more difficult to work with Axl or Paul Westerberg and without an nano second of hesitation Stinson replied Paul Westerberg. I didn’t think it was possible but there you have it).
Anyway love SCM and read it nearly everyday.
April 20, 2012 @ 11:50 am
The big reason that people seem to forget when it comes to why Rush hasn’t been inducted yet is that they sucked. Appetite is hands down the greatest rock album IMO.
Good article Trig.
April 25, 2012 @ 10:49 am
Ha!
April 20, 2012 @ 12:28 pm
Great write up Trig! I was surprised by the amount of people I saw talking shit about Axl because he didn’t go to the horse and pony show at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I think you said it best when you said,
“In the end, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame isn”™t illegitimate because of who has been inducted into their institution, it”™s illegitimate because it is an institution, formed around a genre of music whose roots are in rebelling against institutions.”
I don’t need a building telling me who was a great musician. I will let their music do the talking for them.
April 20, 2012 @ 2:57 pm
i’ve never really given a wit or a half wit to the r&r hof. mainly due to some of the folks inducted into it. no sense beating a dead horse there. if i were ever to visit cleveland i’d for sure eat at micheal symon’s restaurant and i’d avoid the hall of fame like the plague it is.
April 21, 2012 @ 6:54 am
I’ve lived in Cleveland for 15 years and still haven’t visited the rock hall. I’m guess I’m just not in a rush.
April 21, 2012 @ 8:03 am
I think it’s great that he declined the “Rock” HOF. I was disappointed that Black Sabbath and Metallica gave legitimacy to an organization that has shown such disdain for what “real” rock bands do. Atleast Hetfield used the podium to bring up many of the other legends that the HOF has ignored (Iron Maiden,Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, etc…) in favor of non rock acts. It’s a complete joke.
April 21, 2012 @ 6:20 pm
See, that’s some awesome thinking from a rock star!!! But if most of them had that same mentality, there would be a whole lot less famers in there! lol
April 22, 2012 @ 12:12 pm
the whole R&R HOF is a joke, it became a joke long before Michael Jackson was inducted and it’ll be a joke long after Axl Rose refuses induction.
April 22, 2012 @ 6:13 pm
My question is on the Country Music Hall of Fame. Triggerman, you have said repeatedly on this site that the Country Music HOF is true to the roots of country music. I would guess one would call it a staple in the genre. I know you just said in this article that the Country Music HOF isn’t perfect; and I want to proceed with caution with this organization because of their imperfection. Today I read a Tweet by the Country Music HOF congratulating their “friend and supporter Keith Urban who became an Grand Ole Opry member Saturday night.” This statement scared the shit out of me, and made me second guess their motives.
Back to you sir.
April 23, 2012 @ 7:31 am
I believe if you’re going to be critical of someone, you also have to be fair. I can’t think of a single Keith Urban song that I like, but I admittedly am not familiar with much of his work. Along with Rascal Flatts, he embodies the whole “Hair Highlights” era of pop country music.
However except for passing quips about the man, I’ve never roasted the dude, or crossed a line like I have with folks like Aaron Lewis for example. That’s because acts like Keith Urban are necessary evils. He just plays cheesy pop country songs and goes about his business. There is much, much worse.
Keith Urban deserves credit for being a good guitar player. He’s not great like Brad Paisley, and when compared with other lead players he’s nothing more than average. But to have a top tier country star whose up for Entertainer of the Year at the awards shows all the time be able to play his own leads is commendable.
The other thing he deserves credit for is his charity work, and specifically how he works to benefit country music. The reason the Hall of Fame said that was because where Keith was told he was going to be the next Opry member was at a benefit concert he threw for The Hall that raised half a million dollars. It was also just announced Keith is a “honorary committee member” for The Waylon Fund, which is one of the primary Saving Country Music charities. Keith has lent his name to numerous projects over the years. Sometimes its hard to determine if these things are done from the heart, or for tax purposes, but when it comes to charity, I think we should always give credit and the benefit of the doubt.
As much as I want to hate Keith Urban and do hate him for his music, on an individual level I feel like the guy is probably a pretty good dude. People first, then music, so I won’t hold the Hall of Fame to blame for giving kudos to Keith, especially since he just handed over them a 1/2 million dollar check with his name on it.
April 23, 2012 @ 8:35 am
Wow. I stand corrected sir. What an odd position we are put in.
April 25, 2012 @ 4:31 pm
ok enough posts about axl effen rose, fake or otherwise. every wretched moment i am forced to hear his shitty voice I think of a rocking chair smashing a cat tail.