Skip to main content

Not So Chic, But Rock Hall Gets a Run(-DMC) For Its Money

Well, friends here we are a few days into the Obama administration and I'm still excited. Bought all the various newspapers I could. It will take me a while to read through them, but I'll do my best. 

On to music. The Rock Hall class for 2009 was announced recently and as usual, I am disappointed by the omission of Chic. This band, not simply a disco act or one-hit wonder, deserves the recognition. Perhaps in another decade, founding member Nile Rodgers will be honored as an individual in a technical category for his production and writing prowess. Le Freak excites me every time I hear it. Their other big hits, I Want Your Love and Good Times form the basis of a great jazz influenced dance canon. Oh, well. 

[Search my blogs for previous entries touting the worthiness of Chic's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.]

As for this year's class, I'm only truly thrilled for Run-DMC. They are one of the cornerstones of hip-hop and modern rock. Yeah, I said it. Without Run-DMC, no Beastie Boys, no Beck, no Public Enemy, no Aerosmith comeback or Johnny Cash's valedictory run. Why? Because along with the awesome, influential music Run-DMC created, their act is associated with the seminal label Def-Jam and a producer for the ages: Rick Rubin. To call Rubin a genius is fair. Plus Run-DMC was fun, they weren't about abuse, drugs or guns. They were all about the kicks, the Kangols and the rhymes. Their induction performance, minus deceased DJ Jam Master Jay, will be moving and spectacular. Run-DMC's inclusion in the Rock Hall will also open the gates for other deserving rap acts, like P.E., the Beastie Boys & (yeah, I said it) LL Cool J.

Congrats to the other inductees including Bobby Womack & Jeff Beck. 

Peace & Disco Beats

Comments

Unknown said…
And to the committee that left off Chic:

You Be Illin'

-Numero Dos
8:15 AM, January 22, 2009
DAVE said…
I am excited for the new Obama administration too..wish I could have been there (even with the Arctic cold weather and traffic)..
I am proud that RUN-DMC is in..Yes, Rick Rubin was instrumental in their ascent to stardom, but don't forget Russell Simmons was an integral/vital element too!!
-Numero Quatro
9:39 AM, January 22, 2009
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Being There [Grammy Recap]

Hey Soul Mates, Check out your boy. Yes, I did look that damn suave at the Grammys last night. Look, the tickets very clearly said "black tie." What could be less rock and roll than black tie? Not wearing "black tie." Frankly, the hipsters and the club girls just looked silly. Maybe I'm getting sartorially conservative, but you must be clean for the Grammys. We arrived early in the afternoon. A beautifully mild afternoon in downtown L.A. and not a sign of the predicted rain. I wanted to experience the whole nine, so we got there in time for the "Pre-telecast" ceremony. This is where 97 of the 108 gramophone statuettes are awarded. It was much more entertaining and endearing than the actual broadcast. The winners were genuinely moved, were not limited in their speech time and came in all stripes. Now, very few of the acts I voted for won. But the day did start off with a bang as OK Go won best short form video for the treadmill hopping video for Here...
5 comments
Read more

John Lennon 40 Years On

Remembering John Lennon today. Forty years have flashed by. I can still hear my clock radio turning on to the incongruent sound of the Beatles on Dec. 9, 1980 and wondering why? I think about John every day. I am fortunate to have been able to make pilgrimage to Mendips, Abbey Road and Strawberry Fields, NY; to play on stages like the Cavern, the Jacaranda and the Troubadour where he performed or made trouble, or both. Here’s a quick playlist for you and me. (Just Like) Starting Over I Should Have Known Better Bless You Nobody Told Me Strawberry Fields Forever Nowhere Man Enjoy the day. Fill it with peace. Fill it with music. #JohnLennon #Liverpool
Post a Comment
Read more

Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air - Book Review

“The Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air” is a trippy new mystery novel from Phillip Mottaz. It captures the grit and gilt of the City of Angels with the flair of a contemporary Raymond Chandler. The brisk pace and wit are reminiscent of Douglas Adams’s entries in the detective game. Flourishes of  Fletch  and “Medium” also spring to mind. However, Mottaz has added a psychic/mutant/superhuman touch and his own comedic voice, structure and internal monologues to the proceedings that help the author announce his own style and the arrival of a literary heroine for a new generation. Hairstylist and budding private investigator, Danica Luman is the perfect character to convey the irony, angst and sarcasm needed to tell a 21st century L.A. crime story. Danica also represents anyone who thought it would be neat to get tangled up in a mystery and the darkly comic cautionary tale that follows. The genre is recognizable, but Mottaz offers a fresh take on the not-ready-for-prime-ti...
Post a Comment
Read more