Music

Deep Purple, N.W.A, Cheap Trick inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

by Jeremy Mersereau

The 2016 inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have been announced, and dads everywhere will be jazzed as hell… with one exception, unless your dad is pretty far along the x-axis of normal dad coolness distribution. Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple, Steve Miller, and uh, N.W.A. will all be joining the hallowed hall of rock heroes at a ceremony on April 8th in Brooklyn.

“I never thought the type of music we were making would receive such a high accolade. I have always done what I love to do, so to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is unreal. I am humbled to be included in such an amazing group of great artists,” Dr. Dre told Rolling Stone. Translation: “I know I should act like this is a big deal and that some people might actually take the Hall of Fame seriously for some reason.”

The induction of Deep Purple holds special significance to both the band and its fans: securing their place in the Hall of Fame was the result of years of intense lobbying by the band’s committed fanbase. (The fact that there wasn’t a more influential rock band not already in the Hall seemed beside the point.) That being said, it’s not like there was much love lost between Deep Purple and the Hall of Fame organizers: singer Ian Gillian went on record back in October that he considered the Hall’s executive committee “bloody arrogant and rude” and that he has “no respect for them.”

Deep Purple’s induction poses logistical problems as well: With so many former band members and various versions of the group, who should be attending the ceremony, not to mention onstage accepting the award and performing? Just before learning his band would indeed be inducted, Deep Purple drummer (and only constant member) Ian Paice asked:

“Who would they induct? There have been so many members of this band, even if they say it will be core members, who would it be? You also have to bear in mind, that if some people are inducted together, it could end in a punch-up. I don’t need to tell anyone certain key members and former members of this band do not get on. Personally, I think they would be better off inducting us individually. That avoids the problem.”

To that point, it’s currently unknown whether Deep Purple’s iconic, “Smoke On The Water”-era guitarist Richie Blackmore will be attending/playing at the ceremony, as he hasn’t played with the band since 1993. “I wouldn’t put money on it either way,” said Paice, even though you could argue putting money on the induction ceremony is pretty much the only way to make it watchable.

Ian Gillian hits the problem with the Hall of Fame on the head, so he can have the last word: “I once wrote a song called ‘No Laughing in Heaven’ which was about not wanting to go to heaven due to the company I’d be keeping, and with a few exceptions, the Hall of Fame is pretty much the same thing.”