Yearly Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Debate Thread

Yeah, yeah, BYH ... you're not Big Time.

And enjoy "Here Comes The Flood" with a Fresca. ;D

 

I disagree, I think it's a fun debate. The Rush RRHOF debate is even more entertaining than, say, a Jim Rice Baseball Hall of Fame debate.

And I think even hardcore Rush fans would have to admit that the annual debate is good for Rush too. Being the band that's been scorned, even if its being scorned primarily by its nerd-fringe fan base , is not a bad thing and puts them in the spotlight when they'd otherwise be an afterthought.

Is anyone carrying on a yearly debate about Velvet Underground? They're in, deservedly so, but they're as obscure as ever to most of the public at large.

Meanwhile, Rush is in the conversation annually. Their fans are united in their perceived disrespect before they go back to their normal daily lives consisting of D&D, repeated viewings of the Excalibur DVD, and a total and utter lack of knowledge about the fairer sex.

 

Stop talking about nerds. I never made it to even that level, eh?

 

Oh neither did I. Just engaging in some self-loathing is all.

 

I didn't realize Rush was a "nerd band" until reading the Rolling Stone article.
I never met a Rush fan who truly was a nerd, but so glad RS stepped in to enlighten us.

 

Man, that's a little harsh. I don't disagree with his seeking out of radio play. How else do you explain his 90s shit?

 

Until I read that piece, I had no idea that Rush was labeled a "nerd band."

I did know they weren't too high on Genesis. I think they were looking for infighting, i.e., like Sumner and Copeland with The Police or various stuff with Pink Floyd. They simply concluded it's GD Genesis!

Fine. They get along - really. What's wrong with that?

 

Can't speak for the rest of the continent but Rush has never been known as a nerd band here at home. When I was in high school in the late-70s, early 80s they were right up there with Zeppelin in the rock and roll hierarchy. I think, like most Canadians, we were surprised to hear they were big in the US. Same with Triumph, although they were shit.

 

I had questioned the tone of the piece when I read it. Your post confirms that, for once, I was right to feel that way. Thanks for the clarification.

 

I never heard the nerd-band tag either, and I'm roughly the same age as Huggy.

Also didn't know they're into Ayn Rand. The things you learn in a gratuitous reach-around article that didn't put them on the RRHOF ballot, where they belong.

 

Oh yeah, Birdscribe. Neil Peart is a big Ayn Rand sort.

The funny part is David Duval is a Rand fan, as well, and thinks it's funny that people consider him cerebral and/or well-read because of this.

 

Nerds rarely know they're nerds.

To Huggy's point, dude, that was nearly 30 years ago. Billy Squier and Night Ranger (HI BYH!) were once considered huge in the rock 'n roll hierarchy too. It doesn't mean they still are.

Rush is a nerd band for two reasons, having only ancillary relationships to Rush itself:

-- Their fans' fanatical devotion and extreme sensitivity about any criticism the band gets, which is a persecution complex that borders on the satirical. Read some of the hyper-sensitive responses in this thread alone, I mean, at the end of the day, it's just a band, right!

-- To that end, most of the arguments by its fans sheltering Rush from its crappy late 70s classic rock faux-prog rock ilk (like Styx, Kansas, etc.) are grounded in two things:

"Listen to how technically brilliant they are! No way [insert drummer of more popular band here, usually John Bonham] can play like Neil Peart! And only [insert respected guitar player of more popular band here, usually Brian May] can play like Alec Lifeson. And Getty Lee's voice is perfect for the lyrics."

Which brings me to argument point two ...

"Not only are they technically brilliant, they're smart! They make concept albums! Who's smart enough to write something like this?

Tobes of Hades, lit by flickering torchlight
The netherworld is gathered in the glare
Prince By-Tor takes the cavern to the north light
The sign of Eth is rising in the air

By-Tor, knight of darkness
Centurion of evil, devil's prince

"Read that and eat a dick, Mick Jagger! Any 2-year-old could write Satisfaction."

What's elementary about Rush for me is that they are technically brilliant, but that's all they got. And technical brilliance alone isn't enough to be a great band. If that were true, Joe Satriani would be the biggest rock star ever, but most people get bored with someone/a band that flashes their chops and can do nothing else.

Oh and as far as nerdom, there's only one thing that makes someone a bigger nerd than a Rush fan, that's the person who analyzes Rush fans. But I embrace my nerd status!