Axl Rose Declines Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame Induction
Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 12:01AM So Axl Rose refuses to attend or be inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. I honestly don't have much to say here, except I'm glad I sold my tickets to the Rock Hall induction ceremony a couple weeks ago. When it became apparent the Guns n' Roses reunion wasn't going to happen, I decided to let capitalism take its course. Anyway, Axl penned an open letter to the Rock Hall yesterday. It was originally posted on the L.A. Times music blog. I won't post the whole thing here - you'll need to go to the L.A. Times blog to check out the full letter. Here's the gist though:
For the record, I would not begrudge anyone from Guns their accomplishments or recognition for such. Neither I or anyone in my camp has made any requests or demands of the Hall Of Fame. It's their show not mine.
That said, I won't be attending The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction 2012 Ceremony and I respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N' Roses to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf. Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame should imply whether directly, indirectly or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of "Guns N' Roses".
This decision is personal. This letter is to help clarify things from my and my camp's perspective. Neither is meant to offend, attack or condemn. Though unfortunately I'm sure there will be those who take offense (God knows how long I'll have to contend with the fallout), I certainly don't intend to disappoint anyone, especially the fans, with this decision. Since the announcement of the nomination we've actively sought out a solution to what, with all things considered, appears to be a no win, at least for me, "damned if I do, damned if I don't" scenario all the way around.
In regard to a reunion of any kind of either the Appetite or Illusion lineups, I've publicly made myself more than clear. Nothing's changed.
Axl can do as he wishes, he has free will. While not wanting to attend the induction ceremony is one thing, I do think it is tacky that he is declining his induction award. Besides the Sex Pistols already did the bold "decline a Rock Hall nod via website thing" a few years ago. So whatever. I sort of feel bad for the rest of the Gunners, but I'm sure they expected Axl to have an outburst of some kind. My friend Johnnie wrote about Glam bands and the Rock Hall a few months ago. He wanted your opinion, so here's the article:
Guns N' Roses was recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. This comes three years after Metallica, who kicked off their recording career with 'Kill 'Em All' in 1983. G N' R's classic Appetite For Destruction hit in 1987. This is devastatingly bad news for Glam, Hair Metal, Guitar Rock - call it what you will. Just don't call it Hall Of Fame worthy, apparently.
We already know that the Hall Of Shame has ignored nearly all of the original theatrical guitar-slinging bands that came before Metallica - Rush, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Scorpions and Kiss to name a few. At this point, as the likes of Madonna, Abba and The Beastie Boys get in, these truly deserving providers of rock history may never get in.
All that aside, by admitting only Metallica from the early 80's and jumping to the late 80's to give Guns the nod, the Hall has effectively lip-glossed over an entire genre of music. They have completely ignored not only the biggest names in Glam, but some of the top selling artists overall from the decade of decadence. Have they ever heard of a band called Bon Jovi? Does 'Living On A Prayer' ring a bell? Because that is what this joke of an institution is currently doing to itself when it continues to ignore the "Fame" in it's very name. In fact, they give Halls a Bad Name.
Did Def Leppard not sell a bajillion albums world-wide, making fans of everyone along the way? Is Motley Crue not the most infamous band in American history, now in its 4th decade of controversy and great songs? Is Poison really nothing more than a good time, easily forgotten and cast aside? Has Twisted Sister not done enough with their life, creating anthems that hold up to this day? If these huge acts are not worthy, then bands such as Dokken, Ratt, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, Queensryche, Cinderella, Tesla and Skid Row will be nothing more than surgeon general's warnings on the empty Aqua-Net hairspray cans of yore.
So, what do we have to look forward to from this increasingly irrelevant institution? Waiting around a few years until they decide that Nirvana represents an entire generation, while completely ignoring their closest (and superior) neighbors such as Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains? Honestly, I don't know why I even care anymore. The people know what is important, and who is legendary, and isn't that what really matters?
Reader Comments (53)
And almost everyone here's got it right about Axl.
When Brando refused his Oscar for "The Godfather" in 1973, he did it for a cause, sending Sacheen Littlefeather, representing all Native Americans in his place. She stated at the podium, simultaneously receiving and then declining the award on Brando's behalf, that because of "poor treatment of Native Americans in the film industry", Brando would not accept the award and politely left it on the podium.
Whether you agree with what Brando did or not, he had a reason above himself -- generating awareness for a cause he believed in.
In Axl's case, there's just no upside at all. How can TRARHOF have any chance at doing the right thing if self serving jerks cannot.
All G'n'R drama aside, one thing they could do is invite Van Halen to play a make-up performance for missing their induction now that Roth and the Van Halen brothers are back together. Of course, you would have to hope Anthony and Hagar would come up for one but ya gotta wonder if they would ever do that, considering they were left at the podium when Van Halen was originally inducted and no one showed up but them.
axl really should take a cue from roth and stay frosty! Perhaps, just maybe, he wouldn't be so angry and point fingers at EVERYONE but himself. Now if I could just get my finger pointers to do the same....
stay frosty, MB
p.s. Yes, Joan can stand on her own but the real groundbreaking went on when she was standing even taller with The Runaways. Her solo stuff is not as real, except a few tracks from the first couple of albums and it sure as hell can't hold a candle to "Cherry Bomb", "I Love Playin' With Fire" or "California Paradise". As great as "I Love Rock And Roll" is, it pales in comparison to her work with The Runaways, which is vastly superior to anything she's ever done on her own.
TRARHOF can redeem itself by indicting all of the bands we agree on. It's a shame that, once again, a band member cannot put the crybaby crap aside for the greater good of Rock & Roll.
No, Axl, you f*ck off!
And anyone accusing The Hall of a publicity stunt by inducting G'n'R, I say Axl's refusal is far more transparently so. As battered and bruised as the reputation of The Hall may be, it's still a lot bigger, a lot more significant and a h*lluva lot classier than Rose could ever be, if he even knows what that is.
axl...look at john
Not saying that what Axl did to get the band name nor what he has done is ok in my book, but here is in the right.
Plus f'n Green Day is inducting them. That alone should be reason not to go. Bad enough they had Lou "if I wasn't from NYC no one would know who I am even though I am in the Hall twice and suck in both versions" Reed induct Frank Zappa and use said speech to get himself over.
No way on Hell are the Runaways a HoF band. They are a one-hit wonder that was the breeding ground for 2 bigger stars.
This Hall is a joke and they have become an VH1 show of lists that they only reason they do it is to get people talking about it.
when axl stops telling stories and using GNR as HIS crutch...maybe (a big maybe), I'll stop commenting. He wants to be GNR, but he's NOT gnr
You guys have gone off the reservation. G'n'R being inducted makes total sense. The fact Axl won't go is childish. If Zeppelin and The Stones show up and play, so should G'n'R.
Yeah, TRARHOF has a bad track record of getting it wrong more than right. But last year they got it right with Alice Cooper and they got it right this year with G'n'R this year.
Haven't you guys heard of an institution righting a wrong over time and improving their track record. I think TRARHOF IS getting better. Yeah, it's screwy to put in Chaka Khan but Rock'n'Roll has evolved and taken on many forms.
Remember, as much as we need one, this is NOT The Hard Rock Hall of Fame.
Sure as h*ll, the way their criteria is set up, what would make it even more of a joke would be inducting UNROCK insignificant footnotes in Rock History such as clowns like Pearl Jam, who are total frickin' poseurs!
What's with you people?!
I love how so many idiots like Eddie Chump, who in particular, knows so little about Rock and Roll beyond memorizing album cover credits as a teenager, can have anything intelligent to say about the music and The Hall formed to celebrate it.
As I said before, Slash, Duff, Adler, Gilby, Sorum, Dizzy and Miles Kennedy or maybe even a heavy who's more significant than him -- someone of the previously inducted who could scream it like Axl that would make more of a statement than having Kennedy do it would be so cool but who is it?
They should get Tyler! That would F*ck Axl but good!
That's it!
The original line-up (sans Izzy, unfortunately) plus Tyler.
Or better yet, get Tyler to sing "Welcome To The Jungle", have Duff do "Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory" and McCartney up for "Live And Let Die". Hoo, hoo, hoo, hee, hee, hee. See, ya gotta think more diabolically like Metalboy!
Put that in yer crack pipe, Axl!
in his room always TRA
Get on the phone to Tyler and McCartney, now, Slash!
Touché, Axl, ya dumb*ss f*ck!
Plus your discrediting of Eddie Trunk because he does not have the "knowledge" of rock that you do? This is music, not an SAT test. Plus somethings are so elementary that people like myself, Eddie, and others that the Hall wants to celebrate itself more than music. You can go to the building itself, which is in Cleveland but the ceremony is in NYC because why should the New York people behind have to travel to such a city. Inside they totally ignore hard rock/metal. There was an exhibit on Atlantic Records and they just skipped over Twisted Sister and other bands even though at the time they were the biggest bands on the label. The HoF is an annoying music hipster just in building form.
Again, why are you not blasting Izzy for skipping? Is it because he did not write a letter? I think that by letting people know that you, as in Axl, are not coming is better than the glimmer that you may be there.
What is the record for most posts on a thread?
I came up with the solution...
Get Tyler and McCartney on vocals as they're bigger than Rose. And Duff should sing that Johnny Thunders tune they covered which he sang on. Hell, get Brian Johnson for another one, too -- say "Nightrain", hahaha!!! That would be so killer. And how 'bout Dylan to join 'em on stage for "Knockin' On Heaven's Door"?
All of these singers are members and all are bigger than Axl.
Buh-bye, Axl.
p.s. Izzy not showing is sad but the difference is, he quit before the band broke up. So, my beef is not with him. Having been fortunate enuff to have seen G'n'R 3 times with Izzy -- First in '86 and then twice more during the "Illusion" warm up shows at The Ritz in NYC in '92 not long before he called it quits, I respected why he quit, having learned why he did. So the fact that he ain't comin' is something I understand. Let all of the other members dance on the grave of Axl on stage with Tyler, McCartney, Johnson and Dylan filling in for him on vocals. hahaha!!! That would so waste Axl!
p.s.s.t. Hardpopboy! Hahaha!!! Clever boy, Scotty. But if yer talkin' Hardpop, that would be Pearl Scam, my friend. So UNROCK! The name is Metalboy! As in Glam Metal -- what this site is primarily about, not that other sh*t!
Just make sure the loudspeakers are bulletproof.
Also, a clarification: I "spoke" scott's name based on his comments about The Hall and about the Runways, not the rest of his statements. It's true that Lita and Joan became bigger stars, but Joan carved out her carreer based on her vision of music and she became a multi-demensional artist who stayed true to this vision; whereas Lita jumped on a popular bandwagon and had a couple of mediocre songs. This is why I thought that Def Lep and Poison should have "bucked tradition" and invited Joan on tour with them instead; much like Van Halen did with Kool and the Gang.
I get MB's point about institutions righting wrongs and cleaning up, and it must start...hell, I'm not even sure where; perhaps being more focussed on producing quality work and less concerned about statistics??? again, for starters??? And, I type this knowing full well the quality of work I've out-putted and the disastrous results that occurred. The successes, on the other hand, are reasons to smile and be proud.
She has a ton of respect within the music community and among bands both new and old. It is hard to tell whether or not she or The Runaways will ever be inducted. It would be cool to actually see her go in twice.
As for Guns... I could care less about them being inducted on the strength of one release. At least this way there will be no drama.. Let the members who want to be there enjoy their night.