Joel Peresman, the CEO and President of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was interviewed recently and was asked some point-blank questions. Kudos to someone finally posing these to him, but his responses aren't real satisfying - he often responds as if he is just a bystander. Would love to see a list of these so-called scholars:
Full interview here: http://radio.com/2014/05/29/intervie...man-president/
Some of the highlights:
Let me ask about the Chad Channing/Nirvana controversy. He played on the band’s debut album, Bleach. Many fans see that album as a classic on par with Nevermind or In Utero. Why wasn’t he inducted with the rest of the group?
Peresman: Whether it’s KISS or whether it’s Nirvana, or any other act, there’s people on the nominating committee who nominate the act, and there’s also people that we go to who are scholars and who know that genre of music. And when you go to them and you say why is this band being inducted and who should be inducted [from the band’s lineups] and who are the artists who made this band what it was, it was really just the three guys who were inducted for Nirvana. And the same thing with KISS. It was the original four. Granted, they had other people play with their band, they’ve had big success with tours, but there’s a reason they got inducted and the reason is, those four guys.
In a different year when you didn’t have Gene and Paul complaining so loudly about which members are inducted, do you think Chad Channing would have gotten in?
Peresman: No, I don’t think so. This isn’t an exact science. But you really have to go to the people you trust who have strong opinions, and are very deep and knowledgable on certain genres of music, whether it’s Nirvana or KISS or the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. You have to go with people who know the subject matter and you get those opinions and you make those decisions. It’s not going to always please everybody all the time, but it’s as “right” as we can be.
I get into debates with people about this kind of thing all the time.
Peresman: I get into debates about this all the time! I tell people what I do [for a living], and then they say, “Well, how come this one isn’t inducted?” The thing is, nobody’s wrong. There’s no wrong opinion. Like, “Why isn’t Chicago inducted?” Or “Why isn’t the Moody Blues inducted?” Or “Why hasn’t Jane’s Addiction been inducted?” People aren’t wrong. I don’t really have a good answer for them.
One nice surprise was Gene Simmons’ speech; it was surprisingly gracious.
Peresman: It was a lovely speech, it was actually kind of classy, as opposed to Paul [Stanley]’s. That speech was the best advertisement for [pointing out that] what we did was right. He’s been almost borderline racist, not in that speech, but in other interviews talking about how hip-hop artists shouldn’t be inducted because they don’t play instruments. It’s like, “What are you, kidding?” And he talks about the nominating committee, and how those guys don’t buy records. Those guys buy records! They’re f—ing fans! Those guys are writers and critics and musicians. Those are the people who buy records and got into the business because they love music.
These type of arguments keep people interested.
Peresman: If anything, it keeps the passion going. People get so pissed off when someone doesn’t get inducted but it’s never a closed door. We never say you’ll never be inducted.
When KISS said they wouldn’t perform, was there any thought of doing a KISS tribute with other artists?
Peresman: No.
One genre that seems to be overlooked is the post-punk era: British bands like the Cure, the Smiths and Joy Division and American groups like the Replacements and Sonic Youth. Do you see them getting in soon?
Peresman: Some of the acts have been nominated. The Cure has been nominated, the Replacements were nominated this year. Unquestionably, some of these acts are going to get in.
I read that Questlove and Tom Morello are now both on the nominating committee. Is that a new development?
Peresman: Correct, as of last year.
Are they charged with advocating for artists of their generation?
Peresman: Not necessarily: Tom Morello was a big advocate of KISS. That wasn’t his generation, it was something that influenced him. That’s what you look for on the committee, you look for people that are open-minded, and who have a love a certain genre, but who are open to all kinds of ideas.
Why do you think that no p0st-punk acts have been inducted yet?
Peresman: They haven’t gotten enough votes, is the simple answer. I don’t have a quantification why they haven’t gotten enough votes.
You sit on the nominating committee, but you’re not a voter. Are there artists who you want to see get in?
Peresman: There’s so many bands that I like that aren’t in yet, I’ll stay neutral there. But people ask me all the time, if a certain artist is going to get in. I don’t know! There’s not necessarily a rhyme or reason why a certain artist gets traction with the nominating committee one year, and not another year.
What was your first nominating committee meeting like?
Peresman: It was interesting! People may bring up certain acts and you roll your eyes and say, “What are you, kidding?” But then they back it up, and explain why that act should be inducted. “This is their influence, this artist covered their songs,” I find it very educational, frankly.
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Originally Posted by ronmac
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