The Boycott of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland
If you are a true rock and roll fan you should boycott the rock and roll hall of fame, do not watch its well hyped TV induction show and do not buy tickets to visit their museum in cleveland!

The fans of rock and roll music that pay to buy albums/CDs, concert tickets, admission tickets to the rock and roll hall of fame museum, watch sponsors TV ads during the induction shows, etc. have no voice in the induction process. Only a few elite insiders (mostly from Rolling Stone Magazine) deside what the rock and roll fans should like and only they deside who goes into the rock and roll hall of fame in Cleveland.

A wrote a letter requesting that Joe Long be inducted with the other members of The Four Season (he belongs! I saw them in concert at the Garden and AC, these rock and roll elitists from Rolling Stone Mag did not!! But yet they will tell us, the fans who are the best rock and roll musicians. Thanks, however I think the fans know better).

Thanks! Bill Barnes, NYC

The Response to my letter to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

Thanks for your comments about Joe Long.
Nomination and induction into the Hall of Fame is not about popularity, records sales, which label the group is on, or anything other than the process below. The love for, the evaluation of, and the impact of any artist are subjective questions to be answered by the nominators and the voters. Unlike baseball, football, basketball or hockey, statistics are not relevant.
The entire nomination and induction process is coordinated by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation in New York City. Artists can be inducted in four categories: Performer, Early Influence, Non-Performer and Side-Men. The latter three categories are evaluated and decided by separate committees. The selection of Performers is a two-step process as described below.
The only formal criteria for the performance category is that an artist has to have had their first record 25 years ago. That said, candidates are reviewed and discussed relative to their impact on this music that we broadly call rock and roll. The innovation and influence of these artists is also critical. Gold records, number one hits, and million sellers are really not appropriate standards for evaluation.
The formal selection of Performers begins with an extensive panel of journalists, historians, previous inductees, noted musicians, industry heads, etc. In turn, those nominated are sent to a committee of more than 500 people around the world (journalists, historians, music industry management, all living inductees, musicians, etc.) who vote. Those receiving the highest number of votes and more than 50% of the votes cast are inducted into the Hall. Usually, this means five to seven new performing members each year. All this said, you can see the road to being inducted is an arduous one and for the most part, removed from the realm of influences or politics.
Once the Four Seasons were selected, the Advisory Committee looked at the history of the group, i.e., origins, songwriting for the group, arranging the group, etc., and decided to induct only the original four members. I understand your displeasure but this is a ruling that has to be made with every band or group inducted. Each time, this committee examines the history and impact of all those playing a role and then makes a determination as to who is inducted..
Peace & Soul, Rock & Roll!

Sharon Uhl

suhl@rockhall.org