The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees And Me

Normally, I take nothing more than a passing notice at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, but this year's crop is different.  I feel an emotional bond with many of them.

Growing up in the 70's was a rush. The world was changing fast, and music played a big part of it.  My social life revolved around music.  I spent hours at a time at the local record store, talking about and listening to music.  Almost every inductee this year holds a special place in my heart.

Hall and Oates -- In our neighborhood, musical tastes were often split along racial lines, Hall and Oates were a group that could bridge that gap.  "Blue eyed soul" is what they called it, and songs like "She's Gone" and "Sarah Smile" allowed our basketball team to share a common bond.  And my friend, Rich, was a HUGE fan, who I'm pretty sure had every album they ever released.

Cat Stevens -- The junior high years are awkward, and having a crush reject you felt like your world was coming to an end. It wasn't, of course, but listening to Cat sing "How Can I Tell You" over and over again helped ease the pain.

Linda Ronstadt -- Every guy I knew liked Linda Ronstadt, if not for her voice, for her album covers.  If you don't believe me, do a Google image search for "Linda Ronstadt Hasten Down The Wind" to see what I mean.  Plus, she took a Warren Zevon song to number one, and not many people can say that.  Not even Warren.

Peter Gabriel -- The imagery in the lyrics of "Solsbury Hill" about feeling like an outsider is something almost every teen age boy can relate to, plus he carried  a cool factor for having left Genesis before they became a pop cliche.

The E Street Band -- Why Bruce Springsteen's band wasn't inducted with him in 1999 is one of the reasons the Rock Hall was little credibility in the real world.  Bruce's interplay with Clarence, Roy, Little Stevie, and later, Nils Lofgren, is a HUGE part of what makes the Springsteen concert experience extra special.  Everyone has a certain Bruce concert living in their memory bank.  Mine is the three hour show we snuck into at the Saginaw Civic Center in 1977 .  "Can I play a new song?" The Boss hollered at us before launching into "The Promised Land".  Three hours of playing and a preview of the new album?  Who could ask for more.

KISS -- To see KISS live in the 70's was like to one of those Tony Robbins self help seminars.  The enthusiasm of the audience far surpassed the quality of the product, and that alone made it a worthwhile experience.  They didn't play well, but they put on a great show.  Somewhere in a box somewhere in my basement is my KISS Army membership card.

Nirvana -- I can't lie and tell you I am a huge Nirvana fan, but any band that introduced Dave Grohl to the world can't be all bad.  Plus, the rumor is that Joan Jett will front the band tonight at the ceremonies, and that will kick some serious butt.