This morning, in typical understated fashion, the band Rush issued the following statement on their Web site: "We are honored to be among the nominees for this year’s Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame. We are especially thrilled for the many, many dedicated RUSH fans to whom this nomination is so very important.” – Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart. Thus, potentially signaling the end of one of the longest running controversies involving the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The band was nominated along with Donna Summer, Public Enemy, Procol Harum, N.W.A, Randy Newman, the Meters, Kraftwerk, Albert King, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, the Marvelettes, Heart, Chic, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and Deep Purple. The Hall of Fame also announced a fan's ballot, where fans can vote on the artists they think should be included in the Hall.
It's a nice honor and one that is long past deserved, but - at this point - does it really matter? Alex Lifeson has said "They don't really want us in there and we don't really want to be there." And if you parse the statement they made today, there's not a lot of joy to be found in it.
Looking at the list of bands not in the Hall of Fame, two of the biggest snubs are finally addressed in the nominations of Rush and Deep Purple. But when considering some of the bands that went in before them, what does that say about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as an institution?
Many fans will side with Rush, saying that the nomination doesn't matter. Still, Rush is an influential and important band and they belong in the Hall. We won't know until April 2013 if they will actually get in, but until then, Rush fans can claim One Little Victory today.
Image courtesy of Rush.
