Friday, March 29, 2024

Rock Hall Finally Taps Neil Diamond, Alice Cooper, and even Leon Russell (Sort of)

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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — you know how much I love them!– announces its new inductees later today. However. the website hitsdailydouble.com posted the names five days ago. Yesterday, the New York Times repeated the names without giving credit to that website. Bad form, I’d say. But the Times also thought Paul McCartney sang “Eight Days a Week” at his Apollo show. They only changed it after we pointed out that it wasn’t true.

Anyway: the Rock Hall will induct Neil Diamond, Darlene Love, Tom Waits, Dr. John, and Alice Cooper.

The good part, but weird, is that they’ve decided to give Leon Russell a “sideman” award. I guess it’s good that Russell is getting in, but he is not a sideman. Russell has had hits like “Tightrope” and “Lady Blue.” He’s also written several hits including “This Masquerade” and “A Song for You.” If anything. Dr. John is more of a sideman. But this is the way the Rock Hall is run. When Russell didn’t get the votes from the nominating committee, someone–ahem–stepped in and solved the long, embarrassing problem.

With Neil Diamond finally elected, and Alice Cooper, that only leaves about 30 different acts who’ve been overlooked. From Chicago and the Moody Blues to Chubby Checker and Billy Preston, the list goes on and on.

Still, all five main inductees were a long time coming. Darlene Love is so amazing, I’ll bet Paul Shaffer is starting to plan the set already.

Note to NY Times: credit where your info has come from. That’s www.hitsdailydouble.com

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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