2017 Nominees include Pearl Jam, The Cars, Yes, ELO, Janes Addiction, Tupac (the rapper!), Steppenwolf and more.  You can participate in the fan vote now here. Tupac Shakur?.  If Tupac gets into the “Rock N’ Roll” Hall of Fame before Jeff Lynne then I have a huge issue with that.  It’s not the music hall of fame, it’s not the pop culture hall of fame, it’s the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame.  Tupac has written zero rock songs.  Like Tommy Thayer from Kiss told me, “if N.W.A. can be in the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame then Kiss should be able to be in the Hip Hop Hall of Fame“.  Good point.  USA Today has no clue what they are talking about.  This has nothing to do with race or public influence, it’s simply about genres of music.  I think Tupac is great, he just doesn’t belong next to the Beatles, Guns N’ Roses, and Tom Petty.

Check out Jeff Lynne with Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Prince, and George Harrison’s son playing “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” for George’s induction in 2004.  Make sure you watch what Prince does with his guitar at the very end.

– Forrest