In our next installment of bands that deserve to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we examine the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
While early in their eligibility (they became eligible in 2009), I feel that the Red Hot Chili Peppers should be inducted. I know there are a couple of strikes against them:
- They're just newly eligible, when other bands (and better bands) have waited longer. Their lyrics are sometimes quite sophomoric.
- Likewise, their stage presence was adolescent at times (appearing naked on stage, appearing wearing just a tube sock around their junk, appearing in light bulb costumes for Woodstock '94, etc.).
Despite these liabilities, there are a couple significant reasons for their inclusion. Consider the following:
- Style: Their sound is a unique amalgam of hip-hop, hard rock, alternative, punk, and a huge dose of funk. And the funk is what really pushes them into their own realm. Flea's bass playing, in particular, has made Funkadelic (and even James Brown) a lot more accessible to a whole new generation of kids as he tipped his hat and adopted his style akin to Bootsy Collins. Give it Away
has to be one of the top 20 funky songs of all time. Incredible. Check it out.
- Classic Work - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
, the Rick Ruben produced title, is one of the best albums of the '90's. It helped define that decade, and is a classic. Perhaps not one of the top 100 of all time, but clearly in the top 300.
- Longevity: Despite death, other personnel changes, drug use, and other setbacks, this band has been at the game since 1983, and are still putting out very good, relevant music.
While their sound is not everyone's cup of tea, they are a very good band that has a great library, and their high-energy stage presence endearing. They're worthy of being included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Next up, the case for Robert Plant.
I can't support the Replacements or Chili Peppers for the Hall of Fame for the same reason I never supported Bert Blyleven for the baseball HOF; they just are not good enough.
ReplyDeletePersonal preference aside, and as a kid Blyleven was my favorite major league ball player, Blyleven was a good baseball player but he was not amongst the best. For a Hall of Fame to mean something, only the very best can be inducted.
And, the Replacements and Peppers were not amongst the very best. The Replacements were not impactful enough and having a single "classic" album like the Peppers is not enough production.
And, the test is pretty simple. If you asked a group of baseball analysts to name the top pitchers from the early 1970's to early 1980's, very few, if any, would include Blyleven's name. And, the same would hold true for rock and roll, and these bands.