We like to think Spinal Tap said it best: 'Ello, Cleveland!
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is about to open its doors to another class of music gods, and while the Cleveland-based shrine isn't admitting the Tap, there are plenty of bands with funny accents going in.
British punk pioneers the Clash and new wavers Elvis Costello and the Attractions and the Police and Aussie headbangers AC/DC all got the call from the Hall on Thursday. The lone American act going in are the blue-eyed soul duo the Righteous Brothers.
A quick look at their credentials:
- Considered Britain's preeminent punk outfit, the Clash were led by singer-songwriters-ne'er-do-wells Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. The band got started opening for the Sex Pistols in 1976, and fancied themselves the ultimate political rebels, infusing such anthems as "London Calling" and "White Riot" with a leftist bent. They peaked in the U.S. with radio-friendly hits "Rock the Casbah" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" After internal feuding and several lineup changes, broke up in 1986. Aside from Strummer and Jones, the Hall of Fame roster includes bassist Paul Simonon and drummers Nicky "Topper" Headon and Tory Crimes.
- The Police formed in the late '70s and included frontman-bassist Sting, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland. Drawing on reggae, pop and punk influences, the band churned out a string of hits: "Roxanne," "So Lonely," "Don't Stand So Close to Me," "Message in a Bottle" "Invisible Sun," and the ubiquitous "Every Breath You Take." The trio called it quits in 1985.
- One of the best and most prolific songwriters of his generation, Costello has collaborated with the likes of Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach and the Brodsky Quartet. Backed by the Attractions (keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas, drummer Pete Thomas), Costello racked up several U.K. hits ("Alison," "Watching the Detectives," "Oliver's Army"), before going solo.
- AC/DC has been shattering eardrums since being founded in Sydney in 1973 by sibling guitarists Malcolm and Angus Young. They were joined by bassist Mark Evans, drummer Paul Rudd and, for a vocalist, went with their chauffeur and resident wild man, Bon Scott. Early hits included "Highway to Hell" and "Let There Be Rock." Evans left the band in 1977 and was replaced by Cliff Williams. Scott died of alcohol poisoning in 1980 and Brian Johnson took over, putting his own vocal stamp on such tracks as "You Shook Me All Night Long," "Hells Bells" and "Back in Black."
- The Righteous Brothers were two unrelated Southern California boys--Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield--who could belt it out with the best soul singers. Their greatest hits include the jukebox standards "Unchained Melody," "Ebb Tide," "You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin' " and "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration."
Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first recording. The Clash, Elvis Costello and the Attractions and the Police all made it on their first ballot, as did the Righteous Brothers, who were first-time nominees despite being eligible since the late '80s. AC/DC was voted in on its third try.
Those in the better-luck-next-year category: Black Sabbath, the Sex Pistols, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ABBA, the Patti Smith Group, MC5, Kraftwerk, Steve Winwood, Chic and the Dells.
Unlike most years, when six to eight acts get enshrined, the quintet of bands in this class is one of the smallest since the Hall was founded in 1986. (The 1988 ceremony also features just five entrants.) The Hall will announce inductees in the Sideman and Nonperformer categories at a later date.
Last year's class consisted of the Ramones, Talking Heads and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Isaac Hayes, Brenda Lee, Gene Pitney and Chet Atkins.
The Rock Hall's 18th annual induction black-tie induction ceremony, followed by the now-standard rollicking jam session, will take place March 10 in New York. (Highlights will air later on VH1.)
If nothing else, the inductions should make for some touching--and touchy--moments. Perhaps no other class in the nearly two-decade history of the Rock Hall has featured so many acts whose members have axes to grind.
For instance, while Costello still tours with Attraction mates Nieve and Pete Thomas, he can't stand Bruce Thomas. Likewise, Sting isn't exactly adored by ex-Police-men Summers and Copeland. And the Clash's split was hardly a happy one, with Jones getting fired by Strummer.
On Thursday, though, it sounded like Sting at least might extend the olive branch for music's sake.
"I am very proud of the legacy of the Police," the one-named wonder said in a statement on his Website. "We were a damn good band and it still holds up."