Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Class Of 2013: Public Enemy And Randy Newman In The Same Museum?!?
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio has officially released their inductees for 2013. rock band Rush, singer-songwriter Randy Newman, rappers Public Enemy, and female rock duo Heart all made the cut this year. Disco queen Donna Summer and blues forefather Albert King will also be inducted posthumously.
"It's a terrific honor and we'll show up smiling," Rush singer and bassist, Geddy Lee, told Rolling Stone. "It made my mom happy, so that's worth it." Lee is especially happy for Rush's army of hardcore fans. "It was a cause they championed," he says. "I'm very relieved for them and we share this honor with them, for sure."
Meanwhile, Public Enemy will become the Rock and Roll museum's fourth Hip Hop group to be inducted, following Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (2007), Run-D.M.C. (2009), and the Beastie Boys (2011).
Anna and Nancy Wilson, who made up the Rock duo known as Heart were honored to finally be recognized for their unique music style.
"Some people have an idea of what the shape of rock & roll is supposed to look like," Ann Wilson told Rolling Stone. "We're not really it. Personally, that's why I think it's taken quite a while . . . We're always traveling and out there doing it. It can start to feel like you're a tree falling in the forest, but nobody notices. So this kind of acknowledgement is really sweet."
Randy Newman was perhaps the most shocked of the new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, possibly because his music is rarely taken very seriously.
"I thought maybe I'd have to die before they let me in," he told Rolling Stone. "I'm really glad it happened when I was still around to see it . . . They're always a little doctrinaire about what's rock & roll and what isn't rock & roll. It's nice they opened up a little to let me in."
2013 also marks the first time the public was able to vote for their favorite musicians and bands to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The official ceremony won't be till April 18, 2013 at the Nokia Theater, and will be broadcast a month later on HBO. Tickets to the event will be up for sale starting on January 25th.
Do you agree with the new inductees? Let us know who you think should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the comments.