If the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame wants to sell out an arena show in Brooklyn — the annual induction ceremony touches down at the 18,000 capacity Barclays Center on April 10 with tickets open to the public — then they need arena bands to induct.
Mission accomplished.
2014 inductees are Nirvana, KISS, Peter Gabriel, Hall and Oates, Cat Stevens and Linda Ronstadt. Also receiving awards will be Beatles manager Brian Epstein, Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham, and Bruce Springsteen's mighty E Street Band.
Here's a recap of each with some things to look for...
Nirvana: This is the big name, first ballot headliner. There's obviously zero chance of a reunion, but will this mark the first time we see Dave Grohl play a Nirvana song since Kurt Cobain's death? As Dave told NME earlier this year, "it's sacred ground. If we were ever to do something like that it would have to be right because you want to pay tribute. There's a reason Foo Fighters don't do Nirvana songs, and it's a good reason."
Here's what started it all: "Smells Like Teen Spirit" directed by Sam Bayer
Kiss: You can celebrate Kiss for the marketing genius — dolls, shirts, wine, caskets, urns, wine, comics — but there's no other band that pulled off performing in character for so long, while still delivering some certifiable rock classics. Forgive them for the Phantom Of The Opera movie, for the early '80s "unmasked" version and everything past the initial 96/97 reunion. And, don't sleep on the drama: Will Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley let original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss — who Gene has not been shy about calling "drunks and losers" — anywhere near the stage.
Personally, I just hope Paul does a speech in his stage banter.
Here's a compilation clip for "Rock And Roll All Nite"
Peter Gabriel: Already inducted as part of Genesis — before Phil Collins stepped to the mic and they steered the ship to popsville — Peter Gabriel gets a special shout-out here for his absolutely visionary music videos.
Here's the classic "Sledgehammer" directed by Stephen R. Johnson with contributions from Aardman Animations and the Brothers Quay.
Hall & Oates: It took longer than it should've, but these champions of Philly Soul and r&b finally get recognized just as their influence is stronger than ever in artists like Justin Timberlake, Fitz And The Tantrums and so many others. No word, however, on whether John Oates' mustache will be inducted separately.
This is "Maneater," which we covered In Depth during a 4x3 flashback earlier this year.
Cat Stevens: Depending on how bored the Culture Warriors get, this will probably generate a bit of controversy due to his conversion to Islam — sample Fox News headline: Cat Stevens Has Possible Terror Ties. That said, he's also won several peace awards — hell, he even has a song called "Peace Train." You might know his work best from the Harold & Maude soundtrack, which is a perfect example of music and movie working perfectly.
Here's "Trouble" from Harold & Maude (PS: The clip is a spoiler. But the movie is also over 40 years old. Way past the spoiler expiration date.)
Linda Ronstadt: She says it herself in her recently published Sweet Dreams memoir — "I never thought of myself as a rock 'n' roll singer" — but, she had massive success, often as an rock interpreter, covering The Eagles, Warren Zevon and many other legends. Unfortunatley. Ronstadt is an unlikely performer due to losing her singing voice to an ongoing battle with Parkinsons Disease.
Here's a performance of "Blue Bayou" from The Muppets show:
Those are the six nominees. Notable exceptions depend on your personal preference: I'm a Replacements fan. Maybe you're an NWA fan. Maybe we both agree that Chic and Nile Rodgers are having a major moment via Daft Punk.
The other awards this year include recognition for a yin/yang of British Invasion figures: Brian Epstein, who managed some band called The Beatles through his death at 32 in 1967, and Andrew Loog Oldham, who managed The Rolling Stones at the same period and has gone on to prove himself one of the most interesting people ever (seriously: Listen to his Sirius Underground Garage radio program).
Last, but definitely not least is an Award for Musical Excellence to The E Street Band. Either you realize that the E Street Band not only defined a distinctive rock and roll sound, but has also kept nearly every strain of it alive on the road night after night after night, or you've never seen a Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band live.
Look for the Induction ceremony on HBO since your chances of getting a ticket to a NYC show that will boast what will likely be a mini Springsteen concert, a Kiss set and a tribute to Nirvana is slim to none.
