CLEVELAND, Ohio – It never fails. This time every year, someone has a complaint: What about ELO? Where’s The Moody Blues? Can Journey get some love?
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction process is one of the most polarizing things in music. This year’s list of nominees includes everyone from hip-hop legend N.W.A. to influential hard-rockers Deep Purple?
As is the case with any worthwhile Hall of Fame, you can’t please everyone. But the Rock hall could sure things up by borrowing something from the old-school days of the Baseball Hall of Fame — its Veterans Committee.
For years, the BHOF’s Veterans Committee provided a chance for baseball players past eligibility years a shot at the entering the hall of fame.
Things got a bit complicated in 2010, when the Veterans Committee was divided into three 16-member groups to vote on individuals from different baseball eras.
But the purpose remains the same: Honor individuals whose contributions to baseball seem more prevalent as time goes on. That’s something the Rock Hall can learn from.
At the Rock Hall, artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first official album or single. They remain eligible until the end of time, which is why a band like Chic is on its record 10th nomination. But what if you capped how long an act could be eligible?
Sure, the Rock Hall already has separate honors outside of its regular voting process for eligible performers. But something like the Award for Musical Excellence lacks a strict formula.
In baseball, any player receiving between 5 percent of the votes and fewer than the 75 percent required to be elected can remain on the ballot for a maximum of 10 years. At the Rock Hall, you could institute a maximum eligibility of 15-years. After that, an act would have to be inducted by a Rock Hall Veterans Committee.
Thus, if Chic fails to earn induction by the time the 2018 Induction Ceremony roles around, the band would no longer be eligible for the regular voting process. However, a Veterans Committee made up of music legends could induct Chic the same year under special guidelines.
It’s a formula that has worked out well in baseball. Baseball legends like Sparky Anderson, Tommy Lasorda, Lefty Gomez and Bill Mazeroski are all in the BHOF because of Veteran Committee selections.
A similar setup would accomplish two things for the Rock Hall: It would unclog the ballot, freeing up space for other snubs that have yet to be nominated or newly eligible acts.
It would also give certain, worthy legends a better chance to get in. Imagine if Deep Purple or Cheap Trick didn’t have to compete with Nine Inch Nails this year or Pearl Jam next year.
Who knows – if a Veterans Committee with strict guidelines started years ago, perhaps acts like Deep Purple, J. Geils Band, Link Wray, The Marvelettes and The Spinners would already be in.
With a Veterans Committee, the Rock Hall Inductions would seem fresher each year, while still honoring artists essential to music history. We could be looking at the perfect storm.
