Five To Be Enshrined In Rock Hall

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By MATTHEW OSHINSKY
January 9, 2007

It may be the most un-rock 'n' roll thing on earth, but the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland is gradually claiming the legacy of its field one act at a time. Five more inductees were announced yesterday as the class of 2007. A panel of 600 industry figures selected the acts, who will be inducted at the annual ceremony on March 12 in New York.

To be eligible, artists must have issued a first single or album at least 25 years before nomination. In addition to the nominees, the Hall will also honor Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, who was a crucial figure in the careers of artists such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and the Rolling Stones. Ertegun passed away in December.

R.E.M.

The quintessential indie rock band of the 1980s, R.E.M. began with a simple and unparalleled blend of melodic post-punk, 1960s-style arpeggiated guitar jangles, and artfully garbled lyrics before ascending to the pantheon of mainstream rock in the early 1990s. Originally a foursome, now a trio, the Athens, Ga., natives have successfully upended one industry assumption after another in their 27 years, from the idea that post-punk required a jagged edge to the notion that political activism and rock 'n' roll were no longer compatible.

VAN HALEN

Among the first bands of the 1980s to cash in on the melding of pop and metal, Van Halen came to the fore largely on the merits of the decade's greatest rock guitarist (Eddie Van Halen) and the brazen sexuality and playful mischievousness of lead singer David Lee Roth. Hook-laden anthems like "Jump" and a rollicking cover of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me" shot VH to the top of the charts in the mid-'80s before Mr. Roth was replaced by Sammy Hagar, who guided the band to continued success in the 1990s.

THE RONETTES

Known as much for their association with the groundbreaking producer Phil Spector as for their heel-clicking harmonies and beehive hairdos, the Ronettes enchanted radio land for seven rollercoaster years. Comprised of sisters Veronica (aka Ronnie) and Estelle Bennett and their cousin, Nedra Talley, the Ronettes floundered with minor singles until being discovered by Mr. Spector, who propelled them into the stratosphere with the 1963 hit single "Be My Baby" — one of the first and maybe the greatest example of Mr. Spector's "Wall of Sound" production technique, in which he layered multiple instruments with echo effects.

PATTI SMITH

Known to some as the "Godmother of Punk" and to others as rock's poet laureate, Patti Smith emerged from the grimy New York clubs of the mid 1970s to present the most exhilarating blend of rock and wordplay since Bob Dylan took the city by storm more than a decade earlier. Androgynous, bold, and uncompromising, Ms. Smith utilized a combination of avant-garde niose and romantic melodies to lure her listeners. Her 1975 debut album, "Horses" (still her best) portrayed a thoroughly modern and independent woman who was equally at home with the Stooges and French Symbolism.

GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE

Hip-hop's greatest innovators to this day, Bronx native DJ Grandmaster Flash and his group were responsible for transforming hip-hop from lightweight party music into a potent voice for the urban centers of America in the late 1970s. Grandmaster Flash also pioneered countless technical hiphop trademarks, from back-spinning records to cutting from one track to another mid-song while keeping the beat. Taking the group's lyrical, musical, and technical innovations together, it is no exaggeration to say that every hiphop and rap act in the last 25 years was directly and profoundly influenced by Grandmaster Flash.

Five To Be Enshrined In Rock Hall

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