I'm gonna sit back right easy and laugh when Scooter and the Big Man bust this city in half... (Bruce Springsteen - Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out)
With the passing of Clarence Clemons, we now have lost two of our comrades on E Street (Danny Federici passed in 2008). I think it is time (way overdue) that the E Street Band are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
It is has been a bit confusing to me why they weren't incucted along with Bruce Springsteen in 1999, but on the other hand maybe Bruce deserved a night of his own. If that is the case then The E Street Band should have been inducted immediatley after that.
The rules for the eligibility of performers into the Hall are simply as follows:
Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria include the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll.
The Foundation’s nominating committee, composed of rock and roll historians, selects nominees each year in the Performer category. Ballots are then sent to an international voting body of more than 500 rock experts. Those performers who receive the highest number of votes - and more than 50 percent of the vote - are inducted. The Foundation generally inducts five to seven performers each year.
- The E Street Band as we know it has been together at least since Born To Run which was released in 1975 (36 years ago). Nils Lofgren and Patti Scialfa didn't play in the E Street Band until the Born in the U.S.A. era around 1984 (still 27 years ago).
- I can't think of a band not in the Hall that has had more influence on rock music; just look at today's young artists from The Hold Steady to The Gaslight Anthem.
- Perpetuation of Rock and Roll? How many concerts do you have to play? By my count on the Born in the U.S.A. tour alone the band played over 140 shows.
Happy Independence Day everyone!!