Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

[Indigo Al]

Anyone watch it?

I wasn't able to get through the whole thing - I switched channels after the RRHOF rep (was he the president?) read Johnny ROtten's note, and switched it back for the tribute to New Orleans.

I was amazed to realize that I didn't like Metallica covering Sabbath. They lacked that bluesy devil-stomp.

As much as I love Blondie, it was a pretty bad performance for Debbie. They performed Rapture and Call Me, and actually they nailed Call Me pretty well(to my glee, they ended it with the opening riff to Anarchy in the UK. Johnny Lydon has apparently called Debbie a "fat bag" on Sirius radio!). Then there was of course the punk bitchfight - former Blondie members begging Debbie to let them play with the band, and her and Chris Stein refusing them.

Overall though, it was a horrible, undynamic and badly edited broadcast. My favorite induction year was '02 I think? when the Ramones and Isaac Hayes were inducted.

[Poka Lola Luau]

I've seen clips of Shirley's induction speech, Frank's plea, and Clem's acceptance. Shirley said everything that needed to be said with the time allotted. I don't have a straightforward opinion on the ex-Blondies vs. current Blondies feud. I like the songs Frank wrote for Blondie, but I think he was out to cause trouble at the podium. He already knew he couldn't play and the new guys were setting up. It may have hurt the current Blondies in the court cases if they let the ex's play.

Have you heard that Nigel, Frank, and Gary wanted to form a band for the ceremony and play songs that they wrote? It's rumored that Joan Jett would have been the singer. The hall turned them down. I would've liked to have heard that as long as the RRHOF made time for it and the reformed Blondies. Out of curiosity, I'm going to check the CD's and see what they could have played. I wonder if they could have played songs that were co-written by the other Blondies.

Do you remember which Black Sabbath songs Metallica did?

[Poka Lola Luau]

These are the songs written or co-written by Gary Valentine, Frank Infante, and Nigel Harrison.

X Offender (Harry-Valentine)
Kung Fu Girls (Harry-Valentine-Destri)
Presence, Dear (Valentine)*
Scenery (Valentine)*
Underground Girl (Infante)*
One Way Or Another (Harry-Harrison)
I Know But I Don't Know (Infante)*
Union City Blue (Harry-Harrison)
Eat To The Beat (Harry-Harrison)
Victor (Harry-Infante)
T-Birds (Harrison-Harry)
Suzy & Jeffrey (Harry-Harrison)
War Child (Harrison-Harry)
Orchid Club (Harrison-Harry)

Now to go deeper into this little fantasy. There are only four songs that aren't co-written by someone from reformed Blondie. Oddly, Chris didn't write songs with any of them and Jimmy only with Gary. If they were limited to those four songs, they could have started with Presence, Dear and then jammed on Underground Girl and I Know But I Don't Know.

Out of all of the songs, I would've like to have heard Joan doing Union City Blue, War Child, Kung Fu Girls, Underground Girl, and maybe Victor if she can still scream loud for a long note.

Thank you for allowing me to go somewhat go off topic.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Sadly this Hall of Fame will go down in history as the one where Ex-Blondie and current Blondie fueded than anything else. Court case aside...they inducted the band. The ex-players had a legit beef. They should have been able to jam up there. Its just 1 damn show.

I'm sure Harry singing the line to the Anarchy in the UK was funny. I mean when Deborah Harry can raise more hell than the Pistols , jesus. What kinda world are we living in ? :p ;)

[Indigo Al]

Interesting - I hadn't heard the rumor about the possible Infante-Harrison-Valentine band, although a) I doubt the Hall of Fame would have let them and b) I also doubt Joan Jett would have joined them, out of respect for Debbie.

You do make a good point though. Rapture & Heart of Glass are great singles, but a little tired. Never liked Call Me that much. But those songs on that list are some of my favorites. They should have canned that setlist and done either some of their really punky songs like Detroit 442 or Underground Girl or Victor!, or else they should have done some of their 60's girl group-inspired ballads like In the Flesh and Presence Dear.

You can read a lot of Chris Stein's perspective on the whole thing at his blog (www.blondie.net)

As for Metallica - I didn't pay close attention, but Iron Man was definitely one of the songs they did.

[Indigo Al]

So here we have Johnny Rotten ripping on Debbie Harry....

http://www.johnlydon.com/faction06.html

JL: I was thinking of that Blondie fat bag but you know…

Tully: Hmmm...

JL: Cause you know she made some ridiculous rubbish comments and she shouldn’t have. She saucily implied that ‘oh yes well the Sex Pistols, of course, well we expect them not to turn up because that’s part of our act.’ It’s her who’s got an act, not us. We ain’t acting. Um, and she brazenly suggested that she was going to try and play a few Sex Pistols numbers live. Oh good luck you fat bag. Good luck. You try squeaking those songs out of that tonnage. No way, no way. It would have been appallingly interesting though. Would’ve made great live TV.

Tully: So you’re saying that Debbie Harry has let herself go?

JL: Let herself down, and let us down too. She knows us better than that. Debbie, you know me better than that. You know, shut your lips, babe. You know? You’re talking out your ass again. It’s not pleasant to hear her do that.

Tully: So what would you say…

JL: She doesn’t need to. She’s implying an us and them. It’s alright for her to accept the award and be institutionalized. It’s not alright for her. Punk is a different thing. We’re, we’re clean of that, that business. Ozzy comes from a madness rock and roll, heavy metal world, where that’s alright for them. Alright. But it isn’t for us, it isn’t. We rely on what the people say. If it is the peoples vote, I’m up for it. But anything that has secret judges, right, this is not acceptable. Not acceptable.

Tully: So for…

JL: This is kinda like what George Bush is trying to pull on this country at the moment, isn’t it? Secret agendas and spying and decisions made without our consent. Not having it. An induction? That’s a strange terminology. It’s vaguely sexual and involves duct tape and anyone who’s ever been in a band know what duct tape is used for.