TJ Bryan’s Top New Wave Rewind Rock Hall Snubs
Alternative music, like heavy metal and country, has had a hard time getting recognized by the dorks that make these decisions at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Last year Duran Duran and Eurythmics were rightly enshrined, joining peers Depeche Mode and The Cure, but there are so many acts that deserve consideration who continue to be on the outside looking in.
The Rock Hall nominees for the Class of 2023 were announced this week, with Joy Division and New Order getting a collective nod (their first), and Kate Bush was nominated for the fourth time. Will this be the year she gets in after the Stranger Things effect on “Running Up That Hill” this year? Hopefully, and Joy Division/New Order rightly belong as well.
Here are my Top 5 Rock Hall snubs from the era of Classic Alternative music.
5. Oasis Bjork INXS The Smiths
Love ’em or hate ’em, Noel and Liam Gallagher are nothing if not entertaining, and they’ve done that to the tune of over 70 million albums sold worldwide with countless hit songs. Oasis were the anchor of the ’90s Britpop scene, essentially defining an era.
4. Devo
Personally I am not a fan of Devo, but there’s no denying their popularity and influence in the nascent days of the alternative scene. Like The B-52’s and Talking Heads, the visual aspect of the music was a hallmark of Devo’s music. If they get elected to the Hall I fully expect them all to be wearing the red flower pots on their heads.
3. Bjork
Iceland’s The Sugarcubes burst on to the scene in 1986, disbanding in 1992. The success they had was due in no small part to singer and keyboardist Bjork Guomundsdottir. Bjork launched her solo career with Debut in 1993, and for thirty years she has been challenging music and fashion norms with her unique, often groundbreaking work.
2. INXS
It is crazy to me that INXS is not in the Rock Hall. It’s never been easy for Australian bands to break through the into the mainstream, but INXS did that in global fashion. Starting with “The One Thing” in 1984, and subsequent smashes like “What You Need”, “Need You Tonight”, “Devil Inside”, and the like, INXS ruled the radio and concert stages. Michael Hutchence was an incredible front man and his band deserves a nod from Cleveland.
1. The Smiths
The Manchester band that spawned a genre, The Smiths, have been criminally overlooked by the Rock Hall. After The Cure, there isn’t another Classic Alternative band that has been more influential than The Smiths. Morrissey is certainly a right bastard these days, but the music he made with Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce is absolutely brilliant. Johnny Marr is unquestionably a guitar god of the genre, and Moz’s lyrics will challenge you every step of the way. Vote early, vote often, VOTE THE SMITHS!
