Today's post is from our friend HIM.
As many of you know, I am the stick in the mud who chimes in each year when the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame (RaRHoF) discussion starts. I mention, as others do, the litany of crimes that organization has committed: the cozy relationship that bands getting in share with Wenner, the elastic designation regarding what constitutes “rock n’ roll” or even a member of a band who is worthy enough to be inducted; the fake appeals to fans; the costs that bands are forced to cover to attend an event in their honor; and so on. So I suggest, time and again, that it is merely a thought puzzle with little actual relevance. Getting mad about who is in and who isn’t is about as productive as artists suggesting how “great” it will be once they are inducted. That, and two nickels, gets you ten cents.
On the other hand, one productive line of discussion has appeared on more than one occasion: why not start a Glam Hall of Fame, or simply a Metal Hall of Fame. Wouldn’t that cater to what we, as BBG! readers and metal fans actually care about (not to suggest we don’t care about other forms genres of rock or even other types of music)? Wouldn’t that take the sting off the buzz-kill that is the RaRHoF?
Well, it might. It could. Perhaps it will. Why am I being so qualified? Simply put, there is going to be a Heavy Metal Hall of Fame; or, more accurately and less pleasing to the ear and eye, a Hall of Heavy Metal History. That said Hall doesn’t exist doesn’t really matter. I mean, the RaRHoF’s hall is actually more legit than the ceremonies. But I digress. Here is a link to the press-release-cum-news-story provided by Sleaze Roxx:
Yes, I can wait while you read the article. And, once you have, you can probably see why I am a bit hesitant in singing the praises of this venture. Without going into great detail, I can list two issues that I have with the organization. First, there seems to be a conflict of interest baked into this, one of lesser grandeur than Wenner’s meddling. But it still seems like a conflict of interest. Which relates to, second, the list of inaugural inductees. Not sure this is the first class you would want while claiming your bona fides as a representation of heavy metal (no less the history thereof). Sure, some of the first class seem okay. Others, not so much. It seems fairly narrow. Nor can I find any link of relevance to this group online, or to how they choose who is inducted.
On the bright-ish side, as an event held by a recently created (as of June this year, at least according to trademark filings) organization, this isn’t going to cost fans too much to attend. There are also some good causes listed as related to the organization and its founder/CEO Patrick Gesualdo. This is a non-profit, which is a good thing too. And I am sure that the Anaheim Expo Center is a fine establishment.
But I wonder: is this what metal fans actually (there is that italicized word again) wanted? If so, is this the configuration they dreamed about? Please share your thoughts.
Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 12:01AM
Reader Comments (4)
Metal, and even glam today are or used to be the "outsider" genres. Word of mouth and these days word of web makes discovering a band cool. A hall of fame or history puts a corporate "club" mentality into our music.
I remember in high school passing the kids by cars listening to Ride The Lightning and thinking to myself that's some crazy shit; but oddly it sounds good? In my mind I was an outsider with Priest and Maiden. Those kids were waaay outside the fringe. They knew they had a special band on their hands and didn't give a f*** if it scared lay people.
Keep the RaRHoF for the cool kids. When a band like Priest or Maiden get in the hall; one could only hope they stick their figurative finger in the air and thank Rolling stone and mainstream for ignoring them all along. That's part of the essence of Metal folks.
That can be the only explanation why this "institution" isn't named that.
And that should be a tip off right there that this whole charade reeks of being a total con job... That and other details revealed in HIM's fascinating (as usual) post lead me to this unfortunate conclusion. Here we go:
I smell a rat and I'm going to guess that rat is founder and CEO Patrick Gesualdo.
Here's why:
It strikes me that any organization such as this would initially induct the acts that are historically at the absolute pinnacle of Metal Mountain. I'm not saying DIO isn't right up there but, let's be honest, he's in the foothills compared to who should really go in first, i.e., Black Sabbath, AC/DC or Judas Priest.
Here's what I suspect what brought this about, especially considering Guessualdo's checkered past heading up "charitable" events and organizations. He's simply tapped into who he already knows and then dreamt up an event as an afterthought to take advantage of those relationships and then retrofitted those people into the format of an induction ceremony while cloaking the whole thing in the "legitimacy" of a charitable benefit so we won't notice it's verging on becoming an out and out hoax.
Let's look at the people he's taking advantage of (besides the fans) and people who really should be 5th year inductees... I mean, come on, really? Frankie Banali? Props to Rudy Sarzo but isn't he more of a footnote in Metal, as bad*ss as he is?
Now, granted, Randy Rhoads is a completely legit inductee and so is Dio, though I still believe the latter, as great as he is, needs to be in bigger company than Quiet Riot. Aside from him, did you notice the whole thing is the Quiet Riot show?
Now one thing that would sort of redeem what is right now shaping up to be a horror show (thus the 25.00 admission) is if they could get the remaining "Metal Health" era Quiet Riot line-up of Banali, Sarzo and the elusive current secret weapon of the Real RATT, Carlos Cavazo, together on stage to perform with whatever "singer du jour" Banali could conjure.
My guess is, because of the suspect origins of this event, Cavazo won't be found anywhere near the place. I do anticipate, however, it will be none other than the current scab Quiet Riot taking the stage with the bass player sitting the whole affair out to make room for a reunion with Sarzo, since he is also a separate inductee.
It's just a shame the families of the posthumous inductees have been topped into this thing!to give it some semblance of legitimacy, when in fact, I feel like they're being used as unwitting pawns for Guessueldo's scheme, even if it does mean their charities will receive some benefit however small it will most likely be.
At least Dio's family had a little more of a reputable experience with his recognition by the 2010 Revolver Golden Gods Awards which aired on VH1. Until somebody actually launches a legitimate entity which would be known as The Heavy Metal Hall of Fame, they'll have to settle for this upcoming charade of an event. Thankfully, they probably don't realize that's what it actually is.
p.s. It would be great if Ace would weigh in on this (1) because he knows a lot of those involved and (2) can refute any of my claims and hopefully reveal what's really going on here.