Axl Rose: Street Fight or Streetest Fighter?

Do you know what Rush, Kiss, Motorhead, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, The Scorpions, Blue Oyster Cult, Yes, and Cheap Trick all have in common?   None of them are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Neither are Thin Lizzy, The New York Dolls, The Monkees, Steppenwolf, Def Leppard, Chicago, The Dead Kennedys, Husker Du, Jethro Tull, Slayer, Bad Company, or “Weird Al” Yankovic.

I can go on for days about the problems with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the flaws with their system.  I can rant and rave about how it is a travesty that the above mentioned artists are not in, meanwhile Eric Clapton is in three times.  I can scream about the fact that Madonna is in.  The level of ridiculousness is through the roof.  However, once a year a band or singer deserving of the honor makes it in among the mucky-muck.  Last year, Alice Cooper finally got in.  In 2010, Genesis’ long overdue induction arrived.  In 2009 Metallica got voted in their first year of eligibility.  In 2007 it was Van Halen.
2006 actually was a very deserving class with Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Sex Pistols.  This year’s induction ceremony was supposed to be huge.  Among the flurry of “backing bands” such as The Miracles (Smokey Robinson, voted in 1987), The Comets (Bill Haley, voted in 1987), and The Crickets (Buddy Holly, voted in 1986), two
bands deserving of the HoF nod were voted in.  The Red Hot Chili Pepper, and all has been quiet around them.  However, the headlines were saturated with news of Guns N’ Roses induction.

I’m glad Guns N’ Roses were inducted.  They deserve it.  They have had a lasting impression on Rock music.  Their classics are Classic Rock.  Appetite for Destruction is one of the best albums of all time.  Use Your Illusion was ground breaking.  Axl SHOULD have been at the induction.  It is an honor, and he should have accepted it if not for himself, then for the fans.  If not for the fans,  he should have accepted on behalf of all the artists that have been snubbed year after year.  I honestly would not have a problem with Axl snubbing the hall if I didn’t see right though his lies.  The Sex Pistols snubbed the HoF back in 2006 calling it a “piss stain.”  That was the feeling of a whole group, and of an entire genre.  Punk and Metal have been snubbed time and time again, and this is how a punk rocker should react.  Axl is not snubbing the Hall because of a dislike of the Hall.  He is snubbing because he doesn’t want to be near the rest of the classic GN’R lineup.  He doesn’t want rumors of a reunion, and I can respect that, but give the fans what they want and accept the honor that too many bands (including Accept) will never know.

Axl claims to be happy where he is, with the band he is playing with.  He says that he doesn’t want to hold on to the past by being with the other members of the classic GN’R lineup.  If he truly felt this way, his band wouldn’t still be called Guns N’ Roses.  I mean, hell, Tracii Guns hasn’t even been in the band since 1985.  If Axl changes the name of the current band then I might believe his openletter.  However, until such a time, I will refuse to believe a word he says, especially about Guns N' Roses being voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.