The Rock Hall's Most Egregious Snub Yet?

If you’ve read JacoBLOG for any length of time, you’re well aware of my disdain for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in lovely downtown Cleveland. In actuality, I was an early supporter—despite Detroit not winning the honor—thanks to one of my early clients, WNCX, Cleveland’s Classic Rock station.

Don’t get me wrong. The museum itself is well-put together and worth the trip to Ohio. I’ve visited on several occasions over the years, and I always walk away seeing or learning something I didn’t know. I have long recommended Classic Rock stations in neighboring states put together “experiences” that include an excursion to Cleveland and the Rock Hall. Especially for stations fighting budgetary pressures (and who isn’t?), a trip to this cultural home of so much great music packs wonderful ROI. And I’m always surprised by how many people in rock radio I’ve met over the years that have somehow missed the opportunity to visit.

No, it’s the nomination and selection process of inductees in the august HofF that has hacked me—and millions of other music fans—off. Whether its arbitrariness or the institution flexing its music muscle, every year’s slate of nominees seems to whip up emotions. (In fact, it has turned out to be a reliable morning show bit for so many stations.)

The list of excluded artists is both legendary and even shameful. Legions of Classic Rock fans feel snubbed every year when fave bands that include Bad Company, Styx, Jethro Tull, and others are on the outside looking in. Other snubbed music icons like Alice in Chains, the Smiths, and Soundgarden are not “IN.”

And then there are the performers who have made the cut that seem to many to be at odds with the apparent spirit of the organization (another good morning show topic for the right show/station).

I don’t wish to go too far down that rabbit hole this morning, but ABBA, Madonna, and Percy Sledge are often on lists that single out undeserving members of the HofF.

These eyebrow-raising moves prompt a lot of “What about-isms?” all over the Internet and on the radio airwaves. That is, “If HE’S in the Hall of Fame, why isn’t SHE?” And on it goes, year in and year out.

Sensitive to the criticism, the organization published a nominating rationale designed to stave off the vitriol:

Lots of wiggle room there, perhaps opening the door to even more controversy over time. In some ways, the Rock Hall seems to revel in the maelstrom of criticism lodged by diehard fans questioning why their all-time favorites continue to be left by the altar.

That’s why the truly smart ones get out in front of what is obviously a flawed process. The most recent advocate for common sense in Cleveland is the wise beyond his years, debonair, and hilarious John Mulaney.

Last week, he passionately made his pitch for a musical artist guaranteed to get virtually every social media platform humming. Mulaney’s pick to click is an artist he says should be voted in “yesterday,” as he explained to Rolling Stone.

In fact, the snubbed inductee is the only artist besides Madonna and Michael Jackson in three of the last four decades.

He has sold more than 12 million albums since his debut in the mid-’70s, many of which have achieved gold or platinum status. He has also performed more than 1,000 live shows in his storied career, and his music has been featured in numerous movies and TV shows.

His music is respected and adored by entertainers and music icons that include Lin Manuel Miranda and Dave Grohl.

OK, enough teasing. Here’s the reveal, John Mulaney’s choice for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction at the next opportunity:

Weird Al Yankovic

If you laughed when you read this, well isn’t that the point? Weird Al has made a living from making us laugh and to not take the music—or life—too seriously.

He’s recorded more than 150 parody songs, and is the top seller of all time in the comedy genre. Yankovic has received five Grammys in addition to a star on the famous Hollywood Hall of Fame.

Given all his great parodies of major hit songs—and the amazing videos on MTV that accompanied many of them, it’s hard to pick a favorite. But “I Love Rocky Road” is right up there for its combined stupidity and brilliance:

Here’s how Mulaney makes the case for Weird Al getting the nod in Cleveland one of these years:

“I’m a big proponent of novelty music. I’m a big proponent of ‘Weird Al’ getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (He) brought more people to music than is recognized at all.”

That last point is interesting because it’s all about how there are many different pathways on the way to music discovery—comedy being one of them.

In Weird Al’s impressive Wikipedia bio, Dave Grohl of Nirvana says the band felt they’d “made it” after the parody “Smells Like Nirvana” was released. Kurt Cobain, by the way, originally gave Al the green light to record it.

After Dire Straits front man, Mark Knopfler, OK’d the recording of “Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies” (for the film UHF) but insisted on playing lead guitar on the Weird Al’s version of his hit.

The list of Yankovic’s parody approvals—and rejections—will make a great book one day.

But induction into the Rock Hall? Is the world ready for that?

Actually, given the perilousness of the planet, Weird Al’s timing might be the perfect musical elixir to make us laugh about ourselves.

It might take a lot more campaigning by Mulaney and the comedian community. Or maybe Donald Trump will sign an executive order.

In any case, Weird Al getting into the HofF could signify the breaking of the “polyester ceiling,” opening the doors to other parody geniuses who just might be the recognition they’ve long observed.