Hall of Fame certainty....

[Cabo1984]

We are aware that they become eligible for induction in 2003. However, I was thinking about this last night, and even though I'm a big fan and they belong, is it certain that they are a first ballot/first year certainty? I'm starting to have my doubts about this.

Look at Aerosmith, a band argueably on equal footing as Van Halen (though I don't believe it, it's true). Aerosmith became eligible in 1998, 25 years after the first release which is the criteria to be eligible. It has taken them 3 years to finally gain enterance. This only make me question whether VH will be in Cleveland in 2003.

Not knowing who the ballots go out to, but sure it goes to rock journalists, and HOF members, why did Aerosmith take 3 years to get in? Is there something political about this process?

Not everyone is a first time inductee into a Hall of Fame. Joe DiMaggio did not get into the baseball HOF on the first try.

Knowing the bands turbulent history with lead singers, and not being upfront with their fans recently surely can't help their chances in 2003.

Van Halens contribution is Rock n Roll is emmense, but to me it is not different than Aerosmith, and what they have accomplished. Based on this, I don't see them being inducted in 2003. Any thoughts?

[Georgie]

I am pretty certain that Van Halen will walk in on the first ballot for a few reasons. ( Blondie is also eligible that year.) There are quite a few essential things that separate VH from Aerosmith.


1)INFLUENCE- There is no doubt some bands were influenced by Aerosmith, but it is known fact that Van Halen influenced an entire generation and decade of music. More frontmen and singers were inspired by DLR then Steven Tyler and we know Eddie Van Halen was the man who dethroned Jimi Hendrix decades ago.

2)INNOVATION: The Van Halen sound, or "The Brown Sound" is universally known. There was no guitar player more innovative and influential then Eddie Van Halen and there has been no band, with the exception of maybe Led Zeppelin, that has been more imitated.

3) SALES: They are both comparable here. Aerosmith is ahead by a few million albums but a new VH album will pull that together. VH has had more #1 albums and has won all the same industry awards that Aerosmith has won. Aerosmith may have more top singles but being that they were around nearly ten years longer then VH and their sales are so close, clearly tell me that VH was the bigger monster. (VH has two diamond awards in sales and is tied for third all time behind the Beatles and Elvis for most multi-platinum albums.)

[Brett]

VH will get in first ballot no question. I don't think Aerosmith is on the same footing with them at all. VH exploded immediately in 1978, and Eddie's innovations and techniques were mimicked by the music world almost instantly. Sales of early Aerosmith records were very sluggish, while "Van Halen" sold 2-million albums in less than year. VH also changed the entire direction of hard rock and created a sound that was the basis for a lot of 80's heavy metal. Aerosmith "had" some good music, but the effect that VH has had on the rock world is far more reaching than just being good music.

------------------
Webmaster
VHLinks.com - Your Van Halen Internet Resource Guide
http://www.vhlinks.com

[Cabo1984]

1)INFLUENCE- There is no doubt some bands were influenced by Aerosmith, but it is known fact that Van Halen influenced an entire generation and decade of music. I CAN'T AGREE HERE ON THAT STATEMENT.

More frontmen and singers were inspired by DLR then Steven Tyler and we know Eddie Van Halen was the man who dethroned Jimi Hendrix decades ago. THERE IS NO WAY THAT MORE FRONTMEN/SINGER WERE INSPIRED BY DLR THAN TYLER. TYLER HAS MORE OF MUSICAL INFLUANCE, WHILE DLR WAS JUST A SHOWMAN. THE EDDIE COMMENT IS RIGHT ON THOUGH...

2)INNOVATION: The Van Halen sound, or "The Brown Sound" is universally known. There was no guitar player more innovative and influential then Eddie Van Halen and there has been no band, with the exception of maybe Led Zeppelin, that has been more imitated. AGREED...

3) SALES: They are both comparable here. Aerosmith is ahead by a few million albums but a new VH album will pull that together. VH has had more #1 albums and has won all the same industry awards that Aerosmith has won. Aerosmith may have more top singles but being that they were around nearly ten years longer then VH and their sales are so close, clearly tell me that VH was the bigger monster. (VH has two diamond awards in sales and is tied for third all time behind the Beatles and Elvis for most multi-platinum albums.)IF THAT IS A CRITERIA MOST VOTERS USE, I'LL BUY IT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT SALES PLAY MUCH INTO THE VOTERS MINDS.

I think that we need to be realistic and take a step back with objectivity. If we held ballots, they would be a lock, but we don't. We are not sure how these people with ballots base their votes. It is true that VH has been no darling of the media in their career, they never rubbed anybody the wrong way, right? Sure they have. I'm also sure that there will be voters out there who will say, "Van Halen, hm let me see.. they have only produced one album basically in the last 6 years, have gone through 3 lead singers, and we don't know the status of the band currently, but we think they are back with their first one, I'm not really sure on this one." I don't think this is a lock.

[Brett]

Aerosmith was COMPLETELY dead in the early 80's, broken up, doing nothing, don't forget that.

I really disagree with your comment Cabo that Aerosmith has influenced a lot of bands. Who? Apart from GNR, I really can't name a band that has said Aerosmith was a big influence on them. No dig on Aersmith, I just never put them up as this big influential band. Certainly, despite their recent popularity, their cookie-cutter ballads of the last decade should count against them. Lifeless music in my opinion.

------------------
Webmaster
VHLinks.com - Your Van Halen Internet Resource Guide
http://www.vhlinks.com

[tap1966]

The RNRHOF is a complete joke. Really, does anyone give a flying fuck whether VH is in there or not?.....a bunch of politically correct industry insiders who seriously believe their opinions are worth more than everyone else's. They voted against Black Sabbath more than once....which says it all IMO.

[Brett]

I care because VH might actually get together to play that show.

------------------
Webmaster
VHLinks.com - Your Van Halen Internet Resource Guide
http://www.vhlinks.com

[Cabo1984]

Yes Aerosmith was completely dead in the 80's, but can't that basically be said about VH right now? They have done nothing but jack the fans around basically for the last 5 years in my opinion. Right now, out of sight, out of mind.

But on the arguement of influence of future bands. How many have acutally said that VH was their influence, other than Eddie's innovative guitar playing? All these greatest countdown shows on VH1, I never hear someone from another band say they were influence by Van Halen, as a band mind you.

I will put EVH in the category as the guy who changed the way guitar was played, but Van Halen as a band I don't see on the same level as The Who or Led Zep.

I am just curious how this will play in the voters minds.

[Cabo1984]

Oh man, if they voted against Black Sabbath more than once. Forget 2003 folks we's awaiting longer..

[Brett]

It's not cool to say VH influenced you, for some reason it is cool to say Kiss did. It's trendy. Shit, I'm embarrassed when my bandmates rip into "Detroit Rock City," I just hope no one outside our studio is listening. Sometimes I leave the room.

Now, music is such a hodge-podge of really nothing, I'm not sure most of these bands were influenced by any one group. Much like VH is blamed for hair metal and it took a decade to kill that, Nirvana should be blamed for influencing most of the awful rock of the last decade.


------------------
Webmaster
VHLinks.com - Your Van Halen Internet Resource Guide
http://www.vhlinks.com

[Glenn]

Influence is an odd thing. People are only honest about their influences when it's cool to do so or it fits in with their desire to shape their appearance.

Like Billy Corgan in 96 interviewing Eddie. It was only then, when Billy was tired of the alternative tag that he mentioned being influenced by Van Halen. I challenge anyone to find any interview with Billy while he was an alternative darling that he mentions anything about Van Halen.

Anyway, I also don't think it'll be a lock for them to get in. I think if this whole reunion thing times right so that they are huge when the ballot comes up, they'll get in for sure. If it all falls apart today, I'm not so sure they'll get in right away.



------------------
www.vhlinks.com

I don't know what's gonna happen in the future-maybe somebody else in the band will get ego'ed out and quit or something - Eddie Van Halen 1980

[NE169]

It should take Aerosmith longer since they teamed up with Britney & 'N STINK at the Super Bowl. Put 'em in a penalty box of some kind! I like the old stuff, but it didn't make me a big fan.

IMO, Aerosmith doesn't have good harmonic vocals/BG vocals, even with their Diane Warren-written ballads; as much acclaim as the VH guitar sound receives, the drums are often overlooked--I don't know anyone who comes close to sounding as good or unique as Alex does (VH3 excepted). We know about Neal Peart, but that's another topic.

------------------
LIGHT 'EM UP!!

Smoke 'em if you got 'em!

[Eddie's Monster]

I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU CABO..
Black Sabbath took long enough to get into the HOF mainly because the band wasn't recognize at being a TRUE favorite among critics. Van Halen doesn't have that problem, many in the industry including critics,producers and record company executive, know for a fact that Van Halen was a HUGE influence in rock music since their very first album. they change the way rock music is played,perform and presented.
VH sales records solidify them as a true, and only band ever to carried the torch left by the other great bands as Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones, Van Halen is not a group anymore, VH is an institution in History. Rock History 101.
If their id a band that trully deserve to be first ballot inductees...look no further, Van Halen's the one.
Amen

------------------
Whazzup! People:

There's only one true dynasty... the Yankees, the Celtics and Van Halen 1974-1985, it's time to reclaim the trone. VH 2001-???

[tap1966]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Eddie's Monster:
I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU CABO..
Black Sabbath took long enough to get into the HOF mainly because the band wasn't recognize at being a TRUE favorite among critics.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

recognized by whom? The critics?...I don't get that sentence at all.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>
Van Halen doesn't have that problem, many in the industry including critics,producers and record company executive, know for a fact that Van Halen was a HUGE influence in rock music since their very first album. they change the way rock music is played,perform and presented.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Black Sabbath was a HUGE influence in rock music too, every bit as influential as VH was. Unless we're using a different definition of influential of course. They were certainly more influential than The Animals for example.

Sabbath's "problems" with the RRHOF

1. The critics hated them
2. The critics hate heavy metal.
3. They sold more albums outside the US than in the US - and the RRHOF is pretty much ignorant to what happens in the rest of the world.
4. Ozzy (correctly) told them to fuck off.

[BrokenCombs]

I agree 100% with your last post Glenn---in particular the part about Billy Corgan...