Out of all award shows in May, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (aired May 18 on HBO) is one of the few taped in advance. While that might take away the excitement of live TV seeing certain rock legends finally get their due, rock fans perpetually debate over who should be inducted and who shouldn’t.
Take a look at four legendary bands that deserve to be in the hall of fame next year, even if they unabashedly made rock very commercial or never fit the rock mold.
The Zombies
No matter how dated the band’s name is (impossible in the age of movie zombies); songs of The Zombies seemed ahead of their time. In fact, it’s possible you hear “Time of the Season” more now in commercials or movie soundtracks than anyone did in the 1960s. The same could be said for “She’s Not There.”
As with the band Rush this year, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will likely reward The Zombies soon enough.
Peter, Paul & Mary
You might be shocked that this legendary folk group hasn’t been inducted. It seems inevitable they will eventually, but seems incomprehensible it wasn’t done sooner. Perhaps the title of their only rock song (“I Dig Rock and Roll Music”) has been a problem. Regardless, Peter, Paul & Mary crossed boundaries in demographics and in the influence of their musical social statements.
KISS
There isn’t a doubt that KISS is the most commercial rock band in history. They’ve not only sold hundreds of millions of albums, but they also have a billion dollar merchandising industry that’s placed their painted mugs on everything from lunchboxes to coffins. It might be easy to see the hall of fame disregard them until you see how much KISS has influenced party bands and rock show spectacles.
“Rock and Roll All Nite” might also be the anthem of all rock bands from the 1970s onward as “Rock Around the Clock” was prior.
The Carpenters
This choice may always be a great debate in the world of rock. Nevertheless, there was no better arranger of pop music during the 1970s than Richard Carpenter and there was no better contralto in pop music than Karen Carpenter.
The song that might slightly help their chances getting into the Hall of Fame? “Goodbye to Love” and the famous rock guitar solo at the end.
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