Rock and Roll Hall of

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - There's a whole new slate of nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

• George Harrison - The only thing notable about this nomination is that is actually is happening after Lennon and McCartney got into the the R'nRHOF for their solo work; I think Harrison's solo career was better and more interesting than either of his bandmates (let's leave Ringo out for a bit)
• Prince- Here's hoping. Prince has descended into self-parody for the past decade, but his decade - from 1980 to about 1990 - was stunning; a brilliant, fearless, joyous, horny, sleazy, transcendent melange of funk, rock and everything in between. He'd better win.
• John Mellencamp - Mellencamp released a pair of albums - Scarecrow and Lonesome Jubilee - that were among the best American rock and roll records ever made. Both were simple, intense, wonderful records that seamlessly blended garage rock, hillbilly soul and fifty years of American folk music tradition into some of the most memorable music of the last twenty years. But I think he should wait until the second ballot, if only because his first several albums could suck-start a V8 engine.
• Jackson Browne - Zzzzzz. Oh, excuse me, we were talking Jackson Browne, right? Oh, I'm sure he'll get in; the R'nRHOF loves big political statements, and nobody made 'em bigger than Browne. The bummer is, Warren Zevon - who worked the same genre as Brown - probably contributed much more to the genre, and rock at large, than did Browne. It would have made sense to nominate Zevon while he was still alive - but instead, we get Jackson Browne.
• Sex Pistols - Since the Clash got in last year, and the Ramones the year before, it only makes sense; the Pistols weren't as important or as good as either of their contemporaries. But since the serious business is done, oh, why not?
• Black Sabbath - I hated Sabbath when they mattered. Now that they're just a segment in Ozzy Ozbourne's VH1 "Behind the Music", I really fail to see why they matter.
• Lynyrd Skynyrd - People underestimate Skynyrd. Their trailer-park cachet and redneck roots, and the caricature that "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Freebird" have become, conceals a lot of great music, some fabulous musicianship (the used those three guitars!) and an approach that gave up nothing to the punks in terms of commitment. It's their time.
• Gram Parsons - I'm amazed he wasn't inducted already. Do it.
• Patti Smith - Easily the most overrated person in punk music; let's wait a year or two (although I think she did "Because the Night" better than Bruce, to say nothing of the dismal 10,000 Maniacs version)
• The Dells - Definitely.
• The "5" Royales - Like the Dells, these guys deserve it if only for the people they influenced.
• Bob Seger - He released three absolute classics - Night Moves, Stranger in Town and The Distance, all among the best American rock and roll albums. But I think he deserves at least one more year in limbo for "Against the Wind"
• The Stooges - First the Pistols. Then the Stooges. And only if they renounce the accolades the French have been giving them.
• Traffic - Enh.
• ZZ Top - Erf. They always bored me stiff. I can think of many people to induct before them. Which means, I'm sure, that they're shoe-ins.