ROCK 'N' ROLL HALL OF SHHhhh......shame!!!!

Bruce Dickinson and Ian Gillan

I would love to be a fly on the wall when the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame "people" decide who is worthy of their approval.  Established in 1983 to "recognize the contributions of those who have had a significant impact on the evolution, development and perpetuation of rock and roll", it's recent decisions as to who gets in and who doesn't, has left music fans worldwide scratching their heads in disbelief.  Artists become eligible 25 years after the release of their first album, so you would think it would be an absolute no brainer to honour the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Motorhead.  All of these are pioneers of metal and hard rock, who continue to influence scores of up and coming bands to this day.  Of course it doesn't help that among this clueless mob are critics and music historians.  Yes, historians, to whom metal is the Antichrist.

Judas Priest

But the real sickener is that they continue to ignore one of the most influential, groundbreaking bands in the history of music, Deep Purple.  They were part of The Big 3 of Rock in the 1970's, along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, both of whom have been inducted.  Their music has spread across generations and has been a source of inspiration for bands such as Metallica and Van Halen, two more inductees.  Vocalist Ian Gillan reckons the reason Purple are getting overlooked year after year, is because they're viewed by the Hall of Fame as "one hit wonders". 
I've heard quotes of somebody on the (Rock Hall voting) committee saying, 'well Deep Purple can't be in it, because they were a one hit wonder,' he told Rolling Stone".  I don't know if they were referring to 'Hush' or 'Smoke on the Water' or 'Child in Time' or 'Highway Star' or 'Perfect Strangers' any of those one hit wonders that we were.  I think it would be undignified for us to enter the fray and stamp our feet and say 'Yeah, we don't need it anyway.  We don't really understand it, but if i treat it with respect, we'll see what happens.  That's all I can say.
It really would make you wonder how they can put the likes of Nirvana, one of the most over hyped bands on the planet, in ahead of Purple. In their first year of eligibility!?  I challenge anyone to give me a proper answer as to why that is fair.  And to rub even more salt into this ever deepening wound, Madonna even got in on her first year.  Here is a woman who has contributed absolutely nothing to music except maybe conical bras and mam dancing.
Eddie Trunk, the voice of all things metal and rock in America, said it perfectly when he referred to the institution as the Rock and Roll Hall of Shame.  Oh, and I'm only mentioning a small portion of bands ignored.  Def Leppard,  W.A.S.P,Thin Lizzy, Dio, Whitesnake, Bon Jovi all have a case.  As do Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Y&T, Scorpians and UFO.  I could keep going. Granted Kiss got in this year, but they should of got in 30 years ago.
So I think it's time the rock community gave this horde of music snobs the middle finger and let them induct New Kids on the Block, Weird AL Yankovic and Bert & Ernie if they want to.  I think it's time maybe a Hard Rock and Metal Hall of Fame was established and finally give this music the respect  it richly deserves.