2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Yellfest

Kiss is an interesting debate...

I think Def Leppard should be in. I think they are unfairly lumped with some of the hair bands...

I'm sure a lot will disagree with me on this one, but I think Bon Jovi should be in as well... I'm not claiming them to be Zeppelin or Guns N Roses, but filling stadiums for 30 plus years should count for something.

Not many bands can make that claim...

 

I propose we continue the yearly kabuki argument as though nothing ever happened.

 

Iron Maiden was far more influential and much more artistically impressive than all three bands you mention.

 

A discussion about the artistic validity of Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and Iron Maiden?

This is the greatest day in SportsJournalists.com history.

 

Sorry, but there should be no debate on KISS. They have a lengthy catalog of good tunes and albums, they were arguably the most dominant band of the back end of the 70s, and they really changed the way rock concerts were presented with all the visual spectacle and showmanship.

They should have been in long ago.

 

Are you calling me a hipster?

 

If Heart's in (and I don't know if they should be; such a large percentage of the band's career output was sappy ballads), then REO Speedwagon (with much the same career trajectory) and Styx (which probably rocked more consistently but was given the stigma of being liked by kids) can't logically be kept out. And Kiss should be inducted posthaste and given reparations.

As for Def Leppard, no way. Taking three years to perfect an album sounds a little contrived to me. Maybe induct Mutt Lange for creating the Def Leppard sound. Bon Jovi and Iron Maiden, most definitely.

 

I'm not disputing that Iron Maiden should be in.

I certainly would not try to argue that many "hair bands" should be considered, but there are a few bands from that era that had success before and after that specific time period that should merit consideration... I think the only three would be Def Leppard, Motley Crue and Bon Jovi...

 

I think it inductees should be able to exhibit multiple qualities: aesthetic value, influence/inventiveness, popular success, longevity.
You have to consider all four.

I don't think Iron Maiden, Styx, Heart, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Kiss or REO Speedwagon exmplify enough of those qualities.

To be fair, during much of that heyday I was listening to the Dead Milkmen, the Dead Kennedys, Black Flag. They don't exmplify enough of the qualities I listed, either, and they should not be in the HoF.

 

Whenever Buck posts on this thread, I think of pro wrestler Buck "Rock 'n' Roll" Zumhoff

 

Some people just can't erase the "Phantom in the Park" movie out of their heads ...

 

Styx are awesome. Because of my age, I knew nothing of the stigma until I already had heard most of their biggest songs and liked them. "Come Sail Away" is wonderful.

I dislike Kiss and pretty much all of their music, but I agree that they should be in if only for what they did for the concert experience.