Day 8, Post 7: Which Brings Us To... Rant #4,382: Why The *@$# Isn't The Cure In The Hall Of Fame!

...Why the hell isn't The Cure in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame yet!!!  Seriously people, this is getting rediculous!  They've been eligible since 2004, and have only made the ballot once.  That year they didn't make it, likely due to Robert Smith publicly taking issue with the Hall's claim that drummer Jason Cooper would not be eligible for induction, while Smith pointed out that Cooper had drummed for The Cure longer than any other drummer, and played on as many albums as Lol Tolhurst or Boris Williams.

If induction is based on innovation and quality song writing, how can last years induction of Hall & Oats possibly be justified?  Take a listen to "In Between Days," "Just Like Heaven," or "Let's Go To Bed," to name a few; brilliant pop songs, every one.  Now go take a listen to "Man-eater!"

If induction is based on influence, show me a list of artists influenced by Ringo's solo work.  The Cure is arguably the most influential alternative rock band ever.  They are to alternative rock what Lynyrd Skynyrd is to Southern rock.

Every year there are groups that get in before groups that influenced them, would Nirvana or Green Day have found an audience without the groundwork that had been laid by Jane's Addiction, The Replacements, Sonic Youth, Pixies, or Dinosaur Jr.?  No, they wouldn't have.  It's time to start inducting acts on a basis other than popularity, and start inducting them based on what the music landscape would look like without their input.