Axl Rose Declines Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame Induction

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?

Comments

[fletch]

In 1988, robert plant took her on tour too, rock-it. she is the real deal. as for guns, I am going to send the warmest thoughts to steve as he accepts the nomination. HE is MOST deserving of this honor, and an honor, it is!

[fletch]

snd steve, if you really want to send axl into a tizzy...while you're accepting the nomination, simply thank POISON for your honor for allowing you to 'cry tough' rather than be in a civil war. That just might do it.

stay frosty, steve! enjoy your night!

[Rich]

LSD
Lead singer disease
I hope axl dies from it becasue he is a dickweed.

[Metalboy!]

Hear, hear, once again, Fletch!

I especially like what you said about a sense of one's accomplishments and taking comfort in them, no matter how big or small.

If only Axl could accept his in stride and accepted his induction with humility and do the right thing minus the drama. Going to the ceremony and going up on stage with his former comrades would have been the move.

Still gotta say, The Runaways blow away any of Jett's solo stuff. 100x more BAD*SS!!! YouTube 'em! They should get in and just may well do it.

One way TRNRHOF could start correcting their reputation is to start doubling down by inducting 2 or 3 Hard Rock and Metal acts in one year to make up for all those years either nominating none or only nominating one.

Put in KISS, Deep Purple and Crüe next year. Now THAT would be a Rock and Roll Party!

Also, though I'd like to see Tyler be the designated hitter for Axl at the induction, it might be bigger to have him do "Welcome", as I said before, then, as I also suggested, McCartney up for "Live And Let Die" (could you imagine?) and, say, GaGa, or somebody huge for "November Rain" and, I still think Dylan for "Knockin'". Probably the only way to get any of these "Pillars of Rock and Roll" to step in for Axl, is to make them all feel they are collectively showing their support for the band and The Hall as a whole, rather than, say, Tyler being made to feel like he, intentionally or not, is stepping on Axl or taking a step down. By having multiple giants sub in throughout the performance segment of the Gun's induction ceremony, makes it more of a celebration as opposed to a counter attack. And the bonus of added proper respect for G'n'R plus the dire need for a quick injection of integrity for TRNRHOF.

[Gary]

takenverbatim from an interview with Adler concerning this clusterfuck:
It's not that hard — just show up, put the fans first and be a rock and roll band, if only for their sake. It's the fucking least we could do after everything the fans have given us. The fans have given us our careers for all these years. The fans were there then and they're still the reason we can play music and have careers. They love the five of us and they'd still love us and I don't understand why he can't see that.

Thanks Steven, for nailing it!!!

[fletch]

steve totally nailed axl's ass to the sheets with his statement!

as for joan, I disagree with MB assessment and this is coming from someone who has 3 runaway CD's in his collection. Can anyone alse on here claim this? By dissing Joan Jett's accomplishments post the runaways would be like dissing fletch's after Archbishop Wood and beyond.

As for TRARHOF, I agree that "that's" what should be done, but they haven't even yet begun to accept any responsibility od their wrongs and perhaps, that's where it should start...from within. When the question, "What did I do wrong?" is asked, they should focus on interpersonal dynamics; not societal.

As my therapist told me on my final night after three years of intensity, "Stop beating yourself up...no one else does." I quipped, "oh Yeah? you obviously haven't met my fans."

[fletch]

...and they're the nice ones!

[Metalboy!]

Not dissin' Joan Jett, it's just simply fact The Runaways tower over her solo.

She still gets in and so does the band who changed the trajectory of Rock and Roll forever as the first truly all female act where the members wrote their own material AND actually played their own instruments.

Without their sound there would have been no sounds from Joan Jett, Blondie, Slits, X-Ray Spex, Soiuxie & The Banshees, Pat Benatar, B-52's, Plasmatics, Girlschool, Cheetah, Wendy O., Bangles, Go-Go's, Missing Persons, Divinyls, Belinda Carlisle, Vixen, Robin Beck, Precious Metal, No Shame, Phantom Blue, Princess Pang, Smashed Gladys, Cycle Sluts From Hell, Bad Romance, Darby Mills, Witness, Fiona, Scandal (ugh!), Saraya, Lita Ford, Pandoras, Doro, Femme Fatale, Jade, Chrissy Steele, Courtney Love, Donnas, Damzal, Kelly Clarkson, Crucified Barbara, Diemonds, Halestorm, etc.

Now for a reality check for who should get in:

Deep Purple
Slade
T Rex
The Raspberries
Todd Rundgren (as artist and producer)
New York Dolls
KISS
Sweet
Heart
Cheap Trick
The Runaways
The Damned
Judas Priest
Hanoi Rocks
Def Leppard
Motley Crüe
Randy Rhoads
Nirvana

[looksthatkill]

It's his opinion and he can make it anyway he wants, he said FU to the RRHOF that's more rock n roll than any slagging comments you can throw up on this board.

[Metalboy!]

Looks That Kill!

Nah! It's a frickin' cop out.

A lot of bands put their differences aside and perform a one off reunion for this event.

Axl's a wimp.

If their smart they'll just get some major alumni like Tyler and people like some of the others I've mentioned who are bigger stars than he is to help 'em out.

[scott whitt]

Just because The Runaways and all the bands you listed have a vagina does not mean they are the same. A lot of the bands you listed were probably more influenced from pop acts than anything.
looksthatkill nailed it. He pissed off the the HoF and now HBO is probably is mad at them too. Their first show in the new deal, they get a Velvet Revolver reunion.
It's strange in that people hate Axl so much they overlook how much of a douche Adler has been. He has continually shot himself in the foot so many times.
Again I ask, why is no one bashing Izzy?

[Rock-It]

fletch.. I've got every Runaways as well as every Joan Jett CD in my collection. I was lucky enough to see the Runaways on their last tour. It was after Cherie Currie had left and Joan was singing most of the vocals. The played a place called Coast To Coast. Great show and Sandy West was a beat on drums.

Maybe one day day Joan or The Runaways will make The Hall of Fame. We shall see.

[fletch]

we don't have to wait and see, Rock-it. They are both [individually] already there. Now, if we could only get "the establishment" (TRARHOF) to follow through, then our jobs would be so much easier.