Hall of Mediocrity 2011

It's that time of year again music fans.  I'm looking for you my loyal readers to nominate new potential members to the Hall of Mediocrity.

Last year's proud members: Whitesnake and Grand Funk Railroad won't be in attendance this year.  In fact, many of the other members of the prestigious Hall, sent cease and desist letters, which we proudly display next to their exhibits.  They just keep giving us stuff.  I knew we inducted them for a reason.

This is open to all of you.  All you have to do is follow the rules as stated here:

I will be using the Rock Hall Induction Rules, as well as a couple of my own, which are as follows:

1.  There are no novelty, one hit wonder bands, such as Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead...just seeing if we're paying attention.  Although, technically...they are one hit wonders.

2.  No band/performer will be inducted into the Hall of Mediocrity that are already in the "real" Hall of Fame.  I'm not taking anyone out that is already in, regardless of how I really feel about the band or performer.  You got lucky Aerosmith...very lucky.

3.  All bands being inducted are currently eligible for the Rock Hall and should they ever be inducted into the "real" Rock Hall, will be asked to leave immediately.  Those Hall of Fame bands get real egotistical, very quickly.  Plus, let's face it...they graduated to the big leagues...I'd never hold them back from going.

 

The nominees will be announced in November.  The induction will take place in December, just like last year...if I can get the elks lodge in Walla Walla, Washington this year...

I hope you all participate.  It'll make it more fun.

Hall Of Mediocrity Induction Party

The hard working staff at For Lack Of A Better Title had the Hall Of Mediocrity Induction Party at the fabulous Grand Prix Motor Lodge.  You don't really need to know the location.  It was equally mediocre.  Vince Neil, from Motley Crue and Skating With The Stars was going to be our host, but he fell off the stage.

So, I hosted and everything went about as well as we could imagine.  The two bands being inducted tonight were.  Whitesnake and Grand Funk Railroad.  It would have been Bachman Turner Overdrive and Supertramp, but they couldn't get into the USA.  Stupid, TSA at the airports.  We're very flexible and called up the other bands to be inducted.  They were just as happy to be inducted.  Grand Funk sent an old roadie for their honor and David Coverdale of Whitesnake actually showed up.  He probably thought we were the real Rock Hall of Fame.  Since our location looks just like downtown Cleveland, it was to our advantage.

Here is what the honorees received:

Pretty snazzy, if I do say so myself.  They also received a $25 gift certificate to China Buffet.  We spare no expense here.  The jam session was going to be great, until we realized that we had too many guitarists and no drummers.  So that didn't happen either.  In our defense, this induction was moved up a week, because most of us here at For Lack Of A Better Title, have better things to do next week.  It was a great time, had by at least a few people.  Though, those few may be hard to find and may not actually admit they had fun, now that their sober.

This will become just a yearly induction...since, no one here can handle doing this on a quarterly basis and we really need our 20 readers out there to nominate and induct the future members of the Hall Of Mediocrity.  We'll try again next year.  Cheers again to Whitesnake and Grand Funk Railroad!!

Hall Of Mediocrity Nominees

There's been a lot going on here at the Hall of Mediocrity.  The engineers, city planners, de-construction workers and various other skilled technicians, have been working very hard to make the new Hall, look a special way.  It looked way too nice.  We were afraid that the real Rock Hall members would want to join, which defeats our purpose.  We fixed it.  It's still on the water, but that's really a sewage treatment plant.  We just couldn't get it into the shot.

Our crack research staff were prepared for the inevitability of no one nominating any bands for the Hall Of Mediocrity.  There was the one loyal reader that nominated Boston and we decided not only to include his nomination, but give him a new car.  See, what happens when you participate out there in "Readerland."  You get prizes.  Tom gets a new to him...Wait, his name wasn't Tom.  Right...John gets, a "new to him," 1975 AMC Gremlin.

 

This car could've been yours, but Tom was the only one to chime in with a nomination.  Congratulations, John!!  (Should the car not start or tragically, blow up.  We here at For Lack Of A Better Title take absolutely no responsibility whatsoever.  Face it, it's a Gremlin.  If you actually try to drive the car, it's on you.  Plus, do you really want to be caught driving a car like this?  You like having sex, with other people, right?  So, be happy that you won metaphorically and not actually.  Then everyone wins!  Congrats again Tom...err...John!)

Alright, folks on with the nominees for the Hall Of Mediocrity.  

Boston

John's nominee and a fine choice for the HOM.  A band that came out with one of the all-time great debut albums and then spent the next 30 years trying to live up to it.  Only releasing 5 albums along the way and regularly taking 8 years in between album releases.  Also, tragically losing Brad Delp to suicide.  I'd like to make a joke, but it just seems wrong.

Bachman-Turner Overdrive

This Canadian based band had a bunch of hits during the 70's, but in-fighting and changing times led to members leaving the group and to the band officially splitting in 1979.  There have been reunions and reformations over the past 25 years, but none of the had the success of the original lineup.

Grand Funk Railroad

A band that's still slogging along.  The bulk of the group is still in tact.  Only singer/guitarist Mark Farner has left for a solo career in, Christian Contemporary Music.  They haven't released an album in over 25 years, but are still playing the old hits at tractor pulls and barn raisings.

Whitesnake

This band deserved better, but David Coverdale messed it all up, in my opinion.  He had one the best and most underrated guitarists ever in, John Sykes.  Then fired him and the rest of the band at the completion of what would be their breakthrough album, Whitesnake in 1987.  After that success, karma really hits the band.  The follow up album doesn't do as well as expected, Coverdale puts the band on hiatus to make music with Jimmy Page and the band is no longer relevant.

Supertramp

A band that has recently reformed.  I guess no band really ever ends.  However, it's without Roger Hodgson, who sang a lot of their hits, including, "Dreamer," "Give A Little Bit" and "Take the Long Way Home."  They had enormous commercial success, but received little critical acclaim.  Considered one of the first "corporate rock" bands.

There we have it folks.  The nominees have been picked and inductions will take place the last week of December.  There will be two (2) inductions during that week.  Voting is still open and encouraged by you the reader.  Take the decision out of my hands.  You could win a prize like John/Tom.  Have fun!

Hall Of Mediocrity Nominations

 

Way back in September, I know it's not that long ago, but just for dramatic effect.  Anyways, way back in September, I came up with the Hall Of Mediocrity.  The thought being, I or we (you, sitting out there in Readerland) could add to the Hall on a quarterly basis.  I'd like to start the nomination process, but I'd like to have some interaction with my 10-15 readers out there.  I want you to nominate who you think belongs.  The remainder of November will be the nomination period and then the first couple of weeks of December will be the cut down process.  Having Inductions during the holidays.  All bands/performers nominated must qualify under the rules we have established.  

I will be using the Rock Hall Induction Rules, as well as a couple of my own, which are as follows:

1.  There are no novelty, one hit wonder bands, such as Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead...just seeing if we're paying attention.  Although, technically...they are one hit wonders.

2.  No band/performer will be inducted into the Hall of Mediocrity that are already in the "real" Hall of Fame.  I'm not taking anyone out that is already in, regardless of how I really feel about the band or performer.  You got lucky Aerosmith...very lucky.

3.  All bands being inducted are currently eligible for the Rock Hall and should they ever be inducted into the "real" Rock Hall, will be asked to leave immediately.  Those Hall of Fame bands get real egotistical, very quickly.  Plus, let's face it...they graduated to the big leagues...I'd never hold them back from going in.

Of course, I could come up with nominees on my own and I still might have to, depending on participation.  I'm just hoping this could be something fun to do for my dedicated reader(s) out there.  Tell your family, friends, enemies and strangers.  We'll limit you to 3 (THREE) nominations.  Please try to take this ridiculous concept, seriously.

The Hall of Mediocrity

 

  

Mediocre means neither good nor bad.  Just kinda, there.  You're alright, not the worst, but certainly not the best.  There are a variety of Hall of Fames and Hall of Shames, but no Halls of Mediocrity...that I'm aware of, at least.  So, why not have one?  We will eventually cover a variety of subjects, but today I'm focusing on music.  Specifically, Rock music...since the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is what gave me the idea.  My arguments with their induction methods will be another blog for another time.

I will be using the Rock Hall Induction Rules, as well as a couple of my own, which are as follows:

1.  There are no novelty, one hit wonder bands, such as Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead...just seeing if we're paying attention.  Although, technically...they are one hit wonders.

2.  No band/performer will be inducted into the Hall of Mediocrity that are already in the "real" Hall of Fame.  I'm not taking anyone out that is already in, regardless of how I really feel about the band or performer.  You got lucky Aerosmith...very lucky.

3.  All bands being inducted are currently eligible for the Rock Hall and should they ever be inducted into the "real" Rock Hall, will be asked to leave immediately.  Those Hall of Fame bands get real egotistical, very quickly.  Plus, let's face it...they graduated to the big leagues...I'd never hold them back from going.

On with our show....

Our first inductee into mediocrity is....

Journey

They have sold an estimated 75 million albums, many Top 40 singles and sold out tours all over the world, but what are they best known for?  The Power Ballad.  That and their overall happiness with being an Arena Rock staple.  When you have a guitar prodigy in the band (Neal Schon, started playing at 5, joined Santana about a decade later), I expect more.  Besides Mr. Schon, you have had talent the likes of drummer Steve Smith, Gregg Rolie/Jonathan Cain on keyboards and the pipes of, Steve Perry.  I guess they were destined for mediocrity once the dude from American Idol, Randy Jackson, joined on bass, near the end of Perry's initial run with the band.  They just have no influence on rock music.  The next time you hear someone say Journey is an influence for them, will be the first time.

We'll combine the next two performers.

Pat Benatar

Cyndi Lauper

I think there needs to be more women in the Rock Hall.  Pat Benatar and Cyndi Lauper certainly don't lack record sales or hit singles.  The problem they have is living up to the women that were inducted before them.  Madonna, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Chrissie Hynde and Deborah Harry, amongst many others, of course.  Cyndi and Pat fail the eyeball test.  They may have more hits than say Patti Smith, but lack her influence.  They can't live up to Diana Ross or Tina Turner, who went from a group setting to successful solo careers.  To tell you the truth, I'm not sure who the next woman that will be inducted into the Rock Hall will be.  It's a tougher road than the men have, you have to be beyond exceptional.

Steve Miller Band

 

If the Steve Miller Band was a new band coming up these days, they would've been dropped by their record label.  Thankfully, Steve started in the late 60's.  He's a great guitarist, his band was always really tight and he has had some monster albums, but he's been active for the better part of 40 yrs and his main success encompasses less than a 10 yr period.  When he was on, there were none better, but there are a lot of misses in his catalog.  Steve Miller is the one person on this list I could see getting into the Rock Hall, but it would really have to be a down year.

Last but, certainly not least...

Motley Crue

All flash and no substance is perhaps too harsh for Motley Crue, IMO.  Although, they didn't do themselves any favors until later in their career, when they decided to show they really could play a little.  It resulted in their best selling and my favorite album by them, Dr. Feelgood.  Drug use, divorces, run-ins with the police, in fighting and near death (in the case of Nikki Sixx, real death) experiences, can really derail your career.  They have reformed the classic lineup, squashed any bad feelings toward one another and have continued to forge ahead.  After everything they've been through alone and together, they are definitely survivors in my book.  Maybe that's enough for them, because they aren't significant enough to get into the Rock Hall.

This is the first class heading into the Hall of Mediocrity.  So congratulate them, but not too much...they could have been so much more.  The next class will be inducted in December and the subject will be determined at a later date.  Probably, around Thanksgiving. 

Editor's Note: This is not a dig at any of their careers, because any band would kill for the success that any of these people have had.  I also like all of these performers, just to a varying degree.  Also, if there is any subject that you would like me to tackle for the Hall of Mediocrity, let me know.  Remember, it could be for anything...TV shows, Movies, Actors/Actresses...etc.  The topic will be voted on, but I will name the inductees...something has to be a secret....right?