April 27, 2013
With yet another Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony held this past April 18th, and once again guitar maestro Stevie Ray Vaughan was not included among those honored that night at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angles. This year’s inductees were Rush, Randy Newman, Albert King, Public Enemy, Quincy Jones, Lou Adler and Donna Summer. Really? Donna Summer is inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame before Stevie Ray Vaughan? Why is she even inducted in the rock Hall of Fame in the first place? The Hall of Fame seems to have a long history of rigging the vote, accused of inducting a person or group because of enhanced ceremony ticket sales over actual votes cast, however for one of the greatest guitarists in rock/blues history to be passed over in favor of Public Enemy, Quincy Jones and Donna Summer is a joke. Although I live within two hundred miles of the Hall of Fame, I have no intention of ever going because their list of inductees and deserving bands that have never been inducted is an insult to rockers of every generation.
The following are one hundred reasons why Stevie Ray Vaughan, one of the greatest guitarists ever, and arguably the one who played with the most passion and fire, is not inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame:
1. James Brown (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986)
2. Jimmy Yancey (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986)
3. Jimmie Rodgers (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986)
4. The Coasters (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987)
5. Aretha Franklin (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987)
6. Marvin Gaye (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987)
7. Louis Jordon (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987)
8. Clyde McPhatter (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987)
9. Smokey Robinson (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987)
10. Hank Williams (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987)
11. Jackie Wilson (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987)
12. The Drifters (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988)
13. Berry Gordy, Jr. (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988)
14. Woody Guthrie (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988)
15. The Supremes (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988)
16. The Ink Spots (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989)
17. Bessie Smith (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989)
18. The Soul Stirrers (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989)
19. The Temptations (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989)
20. Stevie Wonder (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989)
21. Louis Armstrong (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990)
22. Charlie Christian (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990)
23. The Four Seasons (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990)
24. The Four Tops (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990)
25. Holland, Dozier, Holland (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990)
26. The Platters (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990)
27. Ma Rainey (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990)
28. Hank Ballard (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990)
29. LaVern Baker (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991)
30. The Impressions (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991)
31. Dave Bartholomew (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991)
32. Johnny Cash (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992)
33. The Isley Brothers (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992)
34. Doc Pomus (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992)
35. Ruth Brown (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993)
36. Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993)
37. Dinah Washington (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993)
38. Johnny Otis (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994)
39. Al Green (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995)
40. Martha And The Vandellas (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995)
41. The Orioles (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995)
42. Gladys Knight And The Pips (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996)
43. Pete Seeger (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996)
44. The Shirelles (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996)
45. The Bee Gees (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997)
46. The Jackson 5 (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997)
47. Mahalia Jackson (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997)
48. Bill Monroe (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997)
49. Jelly Roll Morton (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998)
50. Lloyd Price (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998)
51. Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999)
52. Charles Brown (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999)
53. Curtis Mayfield (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999)
54. The Staple Singers (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999)
55. Earl Palmer (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000)
56. Hal Blaine (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000)
57. Nat “King” Cole (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000)
58. Earth, Wind And Fire (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000)
59. Billie Holiday (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000)
60. James Jamerson (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000)
61. The Moonglows (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000)
62. The Flamingos (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001)
63. Michael Jackson (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001)
64. Chet Atkins (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002)
65. Isaac Hayes (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002)
66. Brenda Lee (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002)
67. Floyd Kramer (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003)
68. Benny Benjamin (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003)
69. The Righteous Brothers (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003)
70. The Dells (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004)
71. Prince (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004)
72. The O’Jays (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005)
73. Percy Sledge (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005)
74. Miles Davis (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006)
75. Blondie (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006)
76. Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007)
77. The Ronettes (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007)
78. Madonna (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008)
79. The Ventures (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008)
80. Bill Black (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009)
81. Little Anthony And The Imperials (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009)
82. Run-D.M.C. (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009)
83. Bobby Womack (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009)
84. DJ Fontana (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009)
85. ABBA (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010)
86. Jimmy Cliff (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010)
87. Neil Diamond (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011)
89. Darlene Love (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011)
89. The Beastie Boys (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012)
90. The Blue Caps (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012)
91. The Comets (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012)
92. The Crickets (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012)
93. The Famous Flames (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012)
94. The Midnighters (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012)
95. The Miracles (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012)
96. Laura Nyro (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012)
97. Lou Adler (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013)
98. Quincy Jones (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013)
99. Public Enemy (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013)
100. Donna Summer (Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013)
Granted, these artists had great careers and contributed immensely to the music of America, however, does that make them eligible for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? I think not. Along with Stevie Ray, the following bands or guitarists have yet to be inducted into the Hall (in alphabetical order):
1. America
2. Bad Company
3. Blue Oyster Cult
4. Charlie Daniels Band
5. Chicago
6. Dave Mason
7. David Gilmour
8. Deep Purple
9. Elvin Bishop
10. Emerson, Lake & Palmer
11. Flying Burrito Bros.
12. Free
13. Gary Moore
14. George Thorogood & The Destroyers
15. Grand Funk Railroad
16. Gram Parsons
17. Humble Pie
18. Iron Butterfly
19. Iggy Pop
20. J. Geils Band
21. James Gang
22. Jethro Tull
23. Jimmie Vaughan
24. Joe Walsh
25. John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
26. Johnny Winter
27. Journey
28. Judas Priest
20. King Crimson
30. Little Feat
31. Lonnie Mack
32. Lou Reed
33. Marshall Tucker Band
34. MC5
35. Michael Bloomfield
36. Montrose
37. Moody Blues
38. Mott The Hoople
39. Mountain
40. Nazareth
41. New Riders Of The Purple Sage
42. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
43. Outlaws
44. Ozzy Osbourne
45. Pat Travers
46. Paul Butterfield Blues Band
47. Peter Gabriel
48. Peter Green
49. Procol Harum
50. Pure Prairie League
51. Rainbow
52. Rick Derringer
53. Robin Trower
54. Savoy Brown
55. Spirit
56. Stephen Stills
57. Steppenwolf
58. Steve Miller
59. Styx
60. T Rex
61. Ten Years After
62. The Doobie Brothers
63. The New York Dolls
64. Thin Lizzy
65. UFO
66. Uriah Heep
67. Walter Trout
68. Yes
This list of bands that have yet to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame includes some of the greatest guitarists and most influential bands that made their name during rock’s heyday of the 1960s and ‘70s. How these bands are not in the Hall of Fame is astonishing when you consider many of the names that have been inducted. If the only criteria for induction is that it has been twenty-five years since their first record was released, maybe this benchmark should be amended. It just might be possible that twenty-five years is much too long for those who vote for induction to remember the significance of a particular group or artist. How else can a person explain how many if not all of the bands listed above have yet to be inducted?
The above photos of Stevie Ray were shot at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, Ohio, USA on August 13, 1987 during the band’s tour in support of its then recently released live album “Live Alive.” This show was prior to the state fair charging administration to their concerts and as such, seating was general admission. I remember getting to the grandstand early as to get good seats to shoot these photographs and seeing a rather large area down front reserved for VIPs. Needless to say, I was pissed!
If I am fortunate to have you view my photographs and you find the color saturation too much or the color schemes of the mats do not match either themselves or the photograph, please let me know via a comment. Being color-blind, what might look great to me might look like sh*t to everyone else! After making my final review of this post, I did not like the color scheme of the mats on the sixth photograph, however, I decided that it was way too much work to redo it and kept it as is.
Steven H. Spring