Turn It Up To Twelve

With every year that goes by, the more the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame seems to become a less cloudy vision, a more transparent, old boys network who randomly pick names from the hat of yesteryear.

Rush, Donna Summer, Heart and Public Enemy on this years list. All deserve to be recognised, but are they names that you, today would put forward for any type of nomination? Why in fact should anyone be nominated for such an honour? Artists are out there because they want to be. Jeff Ament, bassist with Pearl Jam once said that “you can’t give people a fucking award for art.” He was right. There are so many that go unrecognised, un adulated and un awarded. Who are these suits that choose who should be revered and not so? No-one should judge anothers art. If a particular genre is not for you then that is OK, but if you do choose to comment who are you to say that Bob Geldof is superior to Eminem? You are no-one..

Artists, musicians, painters, actors and the like work hard at their crafts. Not because they want to end up a name on a wall, but because they have drive, vision and passion. The best thing you can do is buy the merchandise, see the show, listen to the records and tell your friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues. Spread the word and keep them alive.