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Seriously, Why is ZZTop in the Rock & Roll hall of fame
Sure they had some fun songs back in the 80s but nothing that was so memorable they needed to enshrine them into the Hall of Fame.
46 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
they had some EXCELLENT shit back in the 70s. the 80s sucked in general.
and I'd still support ZZ Top for RnR HoF.
That doesn't mean there aren't a ton of worthy bands not in there but I see no problem with ZZ being in. Their 70s electric blues stuff is straight up Rock.
Maybe it's a growing up in Texas thing. 
I know a gal she lives on the hill....
but her sister will? 
The irony is that most of their more recent albums are a return to their more organic roots, but they still get viewed for SHIT like "Sleeping Bag."
They deserve to be in the R&R Hall of Fame for the same reason that bands like The Allman Brothers deserve it...in their early days they were a blues-based, American music band that stuck close to their roots.
Here's a song from the second album, "Rio Grande Mud" (1972) that is ALSO one of their BEST songs. It was never a "hit" like "La Grange," but I'd "enshrine" any band that produced music like this in a heartbeat.
...The "Legs" video, played to death on MTV along with "Sharp Dressed Man" and the rest, featured Playboy Playmates
Jeana Tomasino
and
Kymberly Herrin
Love your screen name BTW. 
but you did but you did
and she thaaaaaanks you...
Welcome to DU.
Heart: There's no reasonable argument for keeping them out. They have 22.5 million in certifice album sales - comparable to inductees The Beach Boys and Jimi Hendrix. They had solid hits from the mid-70s well into the 80s, and are frequently heard on classic rock and adult contemporary radio.
KISS: Setting aside whether their music is any good, and also setting aside that Gene Simmons has been obnnoxious about the whole HoF issue, KISS belongs. They have a respectable 20 million in certified album sales, and they absolutely dominated pop culture from 1975-1979. They redefined the concert experience, and are among the most recognizable acts in rock music.
Rush: Rush and ZZ Top have something in common besides both names being drug culture references. Both have 25 million in certified album sales. What they don't have in common is that ZZ top has 2 "top 100" albums (Eliminator and Afterburner). Rush has none in the top 100. Just for comparison's sake, Heart has one album in the top 100; KISS has none; inductees Led Zeppelin have 8.
Little Feat: I think the induction of Little Feat would be more based on the company they kept and influenced, rather than album sales. Little Feat helped kick start the careers of inductee Bonnie Raitt, as well as Linda Ronstadt (not an inductee, but she should be). Members of Little Feat have played as individuals in the studio and on tour with other groups: Sam Clayton has appeared many times with Jimmy Buffett, and Bill Payne has toured and done studio work with inductee Bob Seger (most notably - he played the piano solo on "Against the Wind" . Their unique music continues to influence many country and rock artists, as evidenced by the "Join the Band" album http://www.littlefeat.net/index.php?page=joinband.
Sales figure source: http://www.riaa.org/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-selling-artists
About Stevie Ray Vaughan:
R&R Hof inductee John Lee Hooker
R&R Hof inductee Mick Jagger
Multiple R & R HoF Inductee Eric Clapton:
R&R Hof inductee David Bowie
R & R HoF Inductee Buddy Guy
More at: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Talk:Stevie_Ray_Vaughan
I'd also note that R & R HoF inductees Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, and Jackson Browne led the crowd in singing "Amazing Grace" at Vaughan's funeral.
..so if a man is judged by the company he keeps, Stevie Ray Vaughan belongs in the HoF. He belongs in yesterday.The powers that be in Cleveland should stop whatever the Hell it is they are doing and induct him right now.
By the way, here is the inductee list: http://rockhall.com/inductees/alphabetical/V/
I apologize to all if this rant constitutes threadjacking.
KISS: Setting aside whether their music is any good, and also setting aside that Gene Simmons has been obnnoxious about the whole HoF issue, KISS belongs. They have a respectable 20 million in certified album sales, and they absolutely dominated pop culture from 1975-1979. They redefined the concert experience, and are among the most recognizable acts in rock music.
Rush: Rush and ZZ Top have something in common besides both names being drug culture references. Both have 25 million in certified album sales. What they don't have in common is that ZZ top has 2 "top 100" albums (Eliminator and Afterburner). Rush has none in the top 100. Just for comparison's sake, Heart has one album in the top 100; KISS has none; inductees Led Zeppelin have 8.
Little Feat: I think the induction of Little Feat would be more based on the company they kept and influenced, rather than album sales. Little Feat helped kick start the careers of inductee Bonnie Raitt, as well as Linda Ronstadt (not an inductee, but she should be). Members of Little Feat have played as individuals in the studio and on tour with other groups: Sam Clayton has appeared many times with Jimmy Buffett, and Bill Payne has toured and done studio work with inductee Bob Seger (most notably - he played the piano solo on "Against the Wind"
. Their unique music continues to influence many country and rock artists, as evidenced by the "Join the Band" album http://www.littlefeat.net/index.php?page=joinband.
Sales figure source: http://www.riaa.org/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-selling-artists
About Stevie Ray Vaughan:
R&R Hof inductee John Lee Hooker
To me, he's one of the greatest blues singers there ever was. I'm very sad because I wish he were here. But his music will never die. He's one of the greatest blues musicians that ever picked up a guitar. The first time we met was in Austin, Texas at Antone's, and it was him and his brother, Jimmie. That was fifteen or twenty years ago, and at that time he could play tremendously. And I said, "Someday this kid's going to shake the whole world up". And he was one of the nicest people. You couldn't help but like him, you couldn't help but love him. I never cry, but yesterday, when I heard the news [about Stevie's death], I sat down on my bed and cried like a little baby.
R&R Hof inductee Mick Jagger
He was the greatest blues guitarist of his generation.
Multiple R & R HoF Inductee Eric Clapton:
I didn't get to see or hear Stevie play near often enough, but every time I did I got chills and knew I was in the presence of greatness.He seemed to be an open channel and music just flowed through him. It never seemed to dry up.
R&R Hof inductee David Bowie
I saw Stevie in two completely opposite places. In 1983 he was sitting cross-legged on my floor during rehearsals for a not to be undertaken tour. His furrowed brow and sallow cheeks seemed old and weary on a face that young. Our talk drifted from blues to travel to books. All at once, his engine revved up to full throttle and he waxed at length about the things he read, fixing pointedly on a tome concerning the ups and downs of a young boy. He told me how inspirational this book was and how one day the lessons in it would enable him to stand taller than he already was. As the conversation ended, his expression fell back into the unknownable depths that only the truly hurt can fathom.
The second time was at a Double Trouble gig in 1990. With bright, shiny eyes, a huge warm grin and hug, he brought me back into his dressing room. Sure enough, times had changed and he related to me with passion how bad things had gotten and how good they were now. Happiness, hope, and fulfillment filled his face. Right there I knew he had become as tall as the thoughts in the book of which he had spoken those many years before. Stevie had one thing going that eludes so many. He had grown into the man he knew he always was.
The second time was at a Double Trouble gig in 1990. With bright, shiny eyes, a huge warm grin and hug, he brought me back into his dressing room. Sure enough, times had changed and he related to me with passion how bad things had gotten and how good they were now. Happiness, hope, and fulfillment filled his face. Right there I knew he had become as tall as the thoughts in the book of which he had spoken those many years before. Stevie had one thing going that eludes so many. He had grown into the man he knew he always was.
R & R HoF Inductee Buddy Guy
Stevie is the best friend I ever had, the best guitarist I ever heard, and the best person anyone will ever want to know. He will be missed a lot.
More at: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Talk:Stevie_Ray_Vaughan
I'd also note that R & R HoF inductees Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, and Jackson Browne led the crowd in singing "Amazing Grace" at Vaughan's funeral.
..so if a man is judged by the company he keeps, Stevie Ray Vaughan belongs in the HoF. He belongs in yesterday.The powers that be in Cleveland should stop whatever the Hell it is they are doing and induct him right now.
By the way, here is the inductee list: http://rockhall.com/inductees/alphabetical/V/
I apologize to all if this rant constitutes threadjacking.
I don't wear them caus my wallets fat......
DAMN YOU! now stuck in my head.
And they were fun. Good enough reason for me. 
