14 votes

Jann Wenner removed from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame board after controversial comments about Black and female musicians

8 comments

  1. [3]
    Sodliddesu
    Link
    Reading his comments in the article, I don't really get it. He seemed to be trying to deflect the criticism to make it all into a "of course they're just mad I didn't include a woman and a black...

    Reading his comments in the article, I don't really get it. He seemed to be trying to deflect the criticism to make it all into a "of course they're just mad I didn't include a woman and a black person!" But his argument is that... none of them meet his standard? Yet he's gonna laud... Bono? C'mon.

    It’s not that they’re inarticulate, although, go have a deep conversation with Grace Slick or Janis Joplin.

    This would make sense if his argument was that all the 'articulate' ones are dead but as far as I know Grace is alive.

    Maybe Marvin Gaye, or Curtis Mayfield? I mean, they just didn’t articulate at that level.

    Is he saying that Marvin Gaye is the high water mark or that Marvin somehow wasn't articulate? I just can't follow his, admittedly stupid, train of thought. Other than Joni Mitchell he never calls out the artists he's saying are somehow lesser...

    I don't get it is all.

    10 votes
    1. blivet
      Link Parent
      I think he meant that you couldn’t have a deep conversation with Janis or Grace. He didn’t phrase it very articulately though, lol. I think the problem with a lot of prominent older people isn’t...

      This would make sense if his argument was that all the 'articulate' ones are dead but as far as I know Grace is alive.

      I think he meant that you couldn’t have a deep conversation with Janis or Grace. He didn’t phrase it very articulately though, lol.

      I think the problem with a lot of prominent older people isn’t age per se, it’s that no one has pushed back on anything they’ve said for decades, and they’re at the point now where they just can’t imagine being wrong.

      5 votes
    2. timo
      Link Parent
      The more he says, the more he’s digging his own grave. There are so many ways out of this question, but he just couldn’t help himself.

      The more he says, the more he’s digging his own grave. There are so many ways out of this question, but he just couldn’t help himself.

      4 votes
  2. [3]
    JXM
    Link
    He has a history of saying shitty things like this, so it isn’t like this is a one time mistake or a misunderstanding of his intended meaning. Serious question: Does anyone actually care about the...

    He has a history of saying shitty things like this, so it isn’t like this is a one time mistake or a misunderstanding of his intended meaning.

    Serious question: Does anyone actually care about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

    They hold about as much critical water to me as the Razzies.

    8 votes
    1. Amarok
      Link Parent
      Serious answer: No, not a single living soul who isn't on their payroll. Like most 'awards' it becomes part of the marketing machine, and so it becomes about whoever can sell the most generic pop...

      Serious answer: No, not a single living soul who isn't on their payroll. Like most 'awards' it becomes part of the marketing machine, and so it becomes about whoever can sell the most generic pop records. The industry inducts artists who deserve that 'honor' only to prop up all of the other crap they induct alongside them.

      I will stick up for The Tony Awards as the last decent awards show standing - it is still a 'celebration' of the stage, something hollywood lost long ago. Broadway can still deliver. When you do your shows live eight times a week, you know more about how to do entertainment right than anyone else.

      5 votes
    2. boredop
      Link Parent
      I care about it only as a means to bring wider recognition to artists who had very long and influential careers but didn't find massive mainstream success. Some very important artists were...

      I care about it only as a means to bring wider recognition to artists who had very long and influential careers but didn't find massive mainstream success. Some very important artists were excluded by Wenner. Hopefully now there is a path to some of them being honored and recognized, hopefully while they're still alive.

  3. devilized
    Link
    Good, the guy is a total ass. He personally snubs deserving bands from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just because he doesn't like particular bands. The HoF will be better off without him. Don't...

    Good, the guy is a total ass. He personally snubs deserving bands from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just because he doesn't like particular bands. The HoF will be better off without him. Don't let the door hit ya on the way out.

    7 votes
  4. boredop
    Link
    Wenner is co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine and is a big part of why the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame is totally lame.

    Wenner is co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine and is a big part of why the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame is totally lame.

    3 votes