Monday’s Question Of The Day: Why Is Chicago Not In The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?
CHICAGO – Yes, on a very frequent basis I do rant, regarding the obvious omissions of legendary bands/musicians that the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame are embarrassingly guilty of not inducting for membership. Believe me, this is not the first time nor the last, that I am ranting about the ignorance and politics of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
The 500 “Rock Scholars” and/or whatever else they’re called, over there in Cleveland, Ohio, should all put their heads down in shame about ignoring this legendary American Rock Band: Chicago. Read the musical achievements below about Chicago and maybe you too will agree… Chicago is a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Band!
* The following facts about Chicago are taken from this source: Classic Rock Presents AOR Magazine, Issue 3, July 2011
* Record Sales Of 100 Million
* 21 U.S. Top Ten Singles
* Five Consecutive Chart-Topping Albums
* 11 Number One Singles
* 25 Of 32 Albums Are Certified Platinum
LONG LIVE CHICAGO.
Stone.
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
October 24, 2011 at 1:49 pm
To be honest, I understand why bands such as Judas Priest, KISS, Rush, etc. are not in the Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone magazine has never liked any of those bands at any time in their respective careers. I get that. They are trying to make it so History will see what music is through their prism… Good Luck to those Evil Geniuses. The band Chicago however, presents a dilemma for the Rolling Stone judges. In the early days of the band, when the majority of the vocals and songs were handled by Terry Kath, they were kind of a hippie band. “Saturday in The Park”, “Colour My World”, “Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?” are very of the times they were penned and I see those songs appealing to R’N’R Hall of Fame people and their “hipster” attitude towards American-Pop culture.
But, Chicago is a band that changes with the times… Good or Bad. Around “Chicago 16”, the band became, nearly, a Pop band. In the subsequent years following “16” they had multiple “Pop” hits in “Love Me Tomorrow”, “Stay The Night”, “If She Would Have Been Faithful” etc. The band became a mainstream, pop machine with Peter Cetera at the reigns (up to “18” when he was replaced by the under-rated Jason Scheff). That poses a problem for Rolling Stone. Unless you are a Pre-70’Pop act, a “kitch” artist (like Toni Basil, who IS in the Hall of Fame for “Mickey”), or you meet some unknown, pretentious qualification, you are not eligible and may never be. Though, that is a guess.
Just a little side note: This may be blasphemous, but I really dig their re-working of “25 or 6 to 4” on “Chicago 18”. It is just so Awesome and I was blown away when I first heard it. Great question, or more to the point… inquiry.
October 24, 2011 at 6:27 pm
Well said my Metal brother. To make a sports analogy, Chicago not being inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is like a baseball player with a career of 3,000 hits and 400+ homeruns, with a lifetime batting average of .299, not being inducted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame.
Well said again. Thank you! \m/
October 24, 2011 at 3:34 pm
They get my vote
October 24, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Right on 80’s Metalman! \m/