2017 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

Via: abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/pearl-jam-tupac-2017-rock-roll-hall-nominees/story?id=42878231

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its list of 2017 inductees in the performers category.
They include three enduring bands from the classic-rock world, one of the most popular groups of the grunge-rock era, a legendary folk singer and peace activist, and an influential rapper whose life was cut short by violence.
Next year's honorees in the performers category are Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, Journey, Pearl Jam, Joan Baez and Tupac Shakur. The 2017 ceremony is scheduled for April 7 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Artists become eligible for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single. Yes, ELO, and Baez have been eligible for more than 20 years and Journey first was eligible in 2000. In contrast, Pearl Jam and Tupac both were chosen for induction in their first year of eligibility. Interestingly, the 2017 inductees all received their first Rock Hall nomination this year except for Yes, who also was nominated for the classes of 2014 and 2016.
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In addition, Chic guitarist and acclaimed producer and songwriter Nile Rodgers will be inducted into the Rock Hall in conjunction with receiving the award for musical excellence. It's worth noting that Chic has been nominated in the performers category 11 times, including this year, but has yet to be inducted.
In commemoration of the class of 2017 honorees, a new exhibit saluting the inductees will open at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland on March 30.

Where else can you have a night honoring the Electric Light Orchestra and Tupac? Only at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, that's where! That has to be the first time in history those two artists have been mentioned in the same breath, right?

The 2017 inductees are headlined by Pearl Jam and Tupac (RIP in peace/come out of hiding) who both are being inducted in their first year of eligibility. Both insanely deserving inductees. First Pearl Jam who along with Nirvana changed the landscape of music in America with the early 90's grunge era. They've since adapted as the grunge craze of the early 90's morphed into the punk revival with Green Day in the mid 90's and stayed relevant as ever for the last 25 years as one of the most popular bands in rock. Big year for Eddie Vedder too, as he was basically a treated like a former player during the Cubs 108-year curse breaking World Series run. Gets to cap it off with induction into the Rock & Roll HOF not a bad 2016 for him.

As for Tupac, he is the first solo hip hop artist to be inducted into the HOF. It's kind of crazy to think about but at the same time, not really if you just consider the time-frame. Rap and Hip-Hop in the grand scheme of music is still a baby. It didn't exist until the late 70's. It takes 25 years at minimum to get in. I'm sure more rappers will get inducted as time passes and they become eligable but if there's going to be a first solo rapper inducted, Tupac is the perfect choice.

As for the rest of the inductees I can't lie I kind of have a problem with them getting in. Yes, ELO, and Joan Boaz have been eligible for over 20 years and are just getting in now? I know a music HOF isn't held to the same standards as the HOF's in sports but if it takes you over 20 years to make it in you aren't a real HOFer. Sorry someone had to say it. Yeah, Mr. Blue Sky is a great song but I mean come on if you aren't a HOFer after like 5 years on the ballot then you don't deserve to be in. Just because you had a few hits doesn't mean you should be in the Hall of Fame. It's like with baseball they finally smartened up and decided 15 years on the ballot was too long and bumped it down to 10. If your catalog isn't strong enough to make it in after 40+ years then I think it's time to set a precedent and say you shouldn't be allowed in to Hall of Fame. It's getting too watered down.