Can You Rock Too Hard?

This is not a post about what counts, or does not, as “heavy metal.” But even by the widest, loosest definition of the term, it would be hard to argue that the genre has gotten its due from the Rock Hall, in terms of the number of metal bands inducted.

Sure, some acts simply do not rock hard enough to get in. But it is mystifying to consider that some acts seem to rock too hard.

Punk has the same issue. There are, at best, a half-dozen such acts in. This is even baffling-er, for while metal has a hard time pleasing rock critics, punk (and its makers) is often fawned over by them.

One of the things that make music “rock music” is that it makes someone twice your age bang on your door yelling, “Turn that crap down!” (Which is another good argument for why rap belongs in the Rock Hall).

There is little music, these days, that evokes that codger-ly rage. But metal and punk still can.

As someone who is eligible for an AARP card, I think it’s OK for me to say that keeping metal and punk out of the Hall reeks of “Get off my lawn”-ism.

If they are going to raise their cane at you, raise some Cain right back, you noisy kids. Someday, you’ll make it past the lawn and right up into the Hall.  

https://wmmr.com/2020/01/17/the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-has-a-heavy-metal-problem-2/

https://ew.com/article/2001/12/27/punk-rock-enters-hall-fame/

Update: Randy Rhoads was inducted with a Musical Excellence award in 2021... and that's fair, he was mostly an accompanist, which is what this award is for. But then in 2022, Judas Priest were also inducted... also for Musial Excellence. Even though they are a whole band, you know, not a bunch of sidemen. Still, they were graciously overjoyed at being in the Rock Hall, despite what I consider getting the Miss Congeniality sash. 

In 2023, Rage Against the Machine got in after multiple attempts. I feel the Induction is deserved, but wonder if the holdup was over concerns of conflict of interest, since the band's lead singer is very active in the Hall's nomination process.