Rush - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2013 Induction

One likes to believe in the freedom of music, but glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity. –Rush "The Spirit of Radio"

Eligible yet overlooked for 14 years, 2012 marked the first time Canadian band Rush was nominated for entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Since then (and for the first time) the fans have voted, some music historians have discussed it, and Jann Wenner from Rolling Stone has stamped it with no erasies black magic swallow the golden key:

Rush will be officially inducted into the Cleveland museum of rock and roll (and not-so rock and roll... cough ABBA cough Donna Summer cough) early next year.

It's surprising and strange that it took this long, considering the foundation's mandate that nominees must "demonstrate influence and significance within the history of rock and roll." I mean... virtually every rock group formed in the last 44 years has named Rush as their inspiration at one point or another; their songs can be heard several times a day on every classic rock station imaginable; and this band is so deeply-rooted in our history that even our most beloved fictional characters name Neil Peart as their drum god. Love them or hate them, Rush's "influence and significance" in the school of rock is undeniable.

Guitarist Alex Lifeson said in a phone interview, "I think our fans are more upset than we were because they feel a real bond to this band and it's been an important part of their lives in some form, and to be snubbed was snubbing them at the same time."

Maybe die-hard Rush fans value the biased opinions of this small group of "experts" in the US who took it upon themselves to deem certain bands "worthy" of benefice; or maybe the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is, to quote the Sex Pistols, "a piss stain" and we really shouldn't give a damn what they think. But the fact that Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee, and Neil Peart achieved success without ingratiating themselves with the mainstream masses is the reason why I'm excited about their impending induction.

Ever the gentleman, bassist and singer Geddy Lee directed the attention away from the band and sent it out to fans and family when he told Rolling Stone, "It made my mom happy, so that's worth it. It was a cause they championed, [and] I'm very relieved for them and we share this honor with them, for sure."

Join my fellow Canadians and prog-rock fans everywhere in our collective cry of relief: FINALLY.

 

2013 Inductees

Albert King
Donna Summer
Heart
Public Enemy
Randy Newman
Rush
Lou Adler (Ahmet Ertegun Award)
Quincy Jones (Ahmet Ertegun Award)

 

Full List of Nominees

Albert King
Chic
Deep Purple
Donna Summer
Heart
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Kraftwerk
The Marvelettes
The Meters
N.W.A.
Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Procol Harum
Public Enemy
Randy Newman
Rush

 

--Stephanie Dee hosts Twee Time, Fridays 8-9pm