Let the battles begin! Who should be in the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame?

After being flabbergasted at the fact Alice Cooper is not in the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame, I have decided to start an argument. Or something like that. What bands out there right now, should be or will be “hall of famers?” This doesn’t need to be bands or artists that are currently in the charts, for example, Van Halen. This includes acts that are knocking about right now or acts that maybe have seen their time go by, but made a difference.

I am the type of guy that does not want a hall of fame watered down, so there must be some guidelines for induction. Here is the R’n’R hall of fame’s guidelines, “Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria include the influence and significance of the artist’s contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll.” Perhaps there should be more to it than that, but that is pretty succinct.

So by looking at those guidelines, who should be in and better yet, who do you think will be in when it is all said and done?

Van Halen-They should already be in. They influenced rock n roll more than any band in the 1980’s. Van Halen led to hair metal, not that that is anything to brag about. Eddie Van Halen has inspired more people to pick up the guitar than any other guitar slinger alive. They are also one of the few bands to survive losing a lead singer and go on to even more success with a replacement.

Metallica-There is no doubt this band will get in. The Black album is one of the biggest selling of all time. They have influenced many bands. Like them or not, everyone knows the song Enter Sandman and everyone likes it. That should be part of the criteria, if you love a song by a band you would not normally listen to, then that band is doing something right. They survived tragedy, alcohol, and therapy. Stone cold lead pipe lock.

KISS-Why they are not already in is a mystery to me. They have been around for a thousand years. Up until about 10 years ago they put out new music. They have survived lineup changes and make up changes. Sure they slapped their name on everything to transistor radios to caskets, but rock n roll is a business. KISS should not be penalized for being smart or greedy. The Eagles weren't penalized for greed. Nine out of ten “rockers” today will tell you they love KISS. Besides Black Sabbath, who got in this year, this is the biggest injustice in the history of rock.

The White Stripes-The White Stripes have led to a mini revival of alt rock or independent music, or whatever you want to call it. They are already influencing today’s music because there are now a ton of bands that a) are missing one piece of the traditional guitar, bass, drums formula, b) are a twosome consisting of a guy/guy and guy/girl, c) sound like they recorded in a barn in Rosine, KY. Each of The White Stripes’ albums has sold more than the last. Jack White is not afraid to experiment with his sound. The White Stripes are so anti-selling out that after their album Elephant, which made good use of loud, bluesy guitars, their follow-up, Get Behind Me Satan, was a piano and marimba album with very little guitar histrionics. At the end of their run, they will make it to Cleveland.

Korn-Bear with me. When it is all said and done, I think Korn may be able to slip in. They influenced heavy metal throughout the 90’s. They have sold millions of albums. They have a signature “sound,” you always know a Korn song when you hear it. If they can put out another hit record or two, I think they could get in within the next 30 years.

There something to argue about. I think there are many others, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, the Crue, Tool, Rage Against the Machine, Son House, SRV and others. Besides Korn, I do not think there is anything to argue about. But you can try.