Could "One in a Million" keep GNR out of the Hall of Fame?

[Freddie Mercury's Ghost]

Didn't realize until yesterday that Jann Wenner, who heads Rolling Stone and also the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is gay:

http://www.out.com/power50/index.asp?slideshow_title=Fifth-Annual-Power-50&theID=18

17. Jann Wenner

PUBLISHING MAGNATE, 65

In an age when pundits say print magazines have no weight, Wenner’s Rolling Stone set the world alight with the now-famous General McChrystal interview last year. The piece embarrassed a president, cost the general his job, and arguably shifted the focus of the war in Afghanistan. Previously 16th

Wenner made a comment a few years back saying that "the only thing that would keep Guns N' Roses out of the Hall of Fame is Axl Rose". He then went on to say that it would be a shame if GNR didn't get in, because Slash has done so much for rock music and deserves to be in there.

Do you think maybe Jann still resents "One in a Million" and Axl's homophobic reactions to criticisms of the song in interviews many years ago?

Maybe that's why KISS isn't in yet. Gene Simmons isn't exactly a gay-friendly individual:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gene-simmons-adam-lambert-shut-gay-article-1.378665

Gene Simmons to Adam Lambert: Shut up about being gay

BY LAUREN JOHNSTON

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Friday, June 12 2009, 1:55 PM

Adam Lambert opened up about his sexuality for a Rolling Stone cover story this week - confirming that he's gay after weeks of fan speculation - but at least one person wishes he would shut up about it already: Kiss rocker Gene Simmons.

Lambert performed with Kiss on the "American Idol" finale show and while Simmons is a fan of his voice, saying Adam has, "a future if he wants to sing in Queen or be on Broadway," in a recent TV interview with a Fox Philadelphia Fox - he said he thinks it's time to pipe down with the sex talk.

"Mostly he should shut up about his sexual preferences. We, America, the rest of the world, really don’t care," Simmons said, adding, "I mean, if the story becomes ‘I prefer farm animals to,’ you know, who cares?"

[Guest NewGNRnOldGNR]

Axl partied at a gay bar, wears tees displaying communist icons and has communist symbolism on both GN’R’s latest album and their stage production. He’s not that immature kid championing his conservative background anymore.

[Freddie Mercury's Ghost]

Axl partied at a gay bar, wears tees displaying communist icons and has communist symbolism on both GN’R’s latest album and their stage production. He’s not that immature kid championing his conservative background anymore.

But explain that to Jann, who has put Madonna and a bunch of disco acts in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame over KISS, Rush, and a jillion other deserving Rock and Roll acts.

[Snowmass]

That song was written what, 25 yrs ago +/-. It's pretty obvious he's moved on. Axl's main idols (Freddie/Elton) were/are gay. And didn't Axl take that song off all future copies of Lies? Pretty lame reason to keep a band out for a single song 25 yrs ago written by a 20 something yr old Indiana kid suddenly on the Sunset Strip. It's what he saw/lived/experienced. He figured it out and grew up in that sense.

[packersnroses]

That's probably why people think HOF is a crock of shit. Bands get in based on the personal opinions and beliefs of one person.

Gene Simmons is right, tho. No one gives a shit if you're gay. It doesn't make you special.

Edited November 3, 2011 by packersnroses

[Ions]

Axl was the presenter and Elton John's induction. Elton, by all accounts, is a gay man. Case closed?

[Coma16]

That song was written what, 25 yrs ago +/-. It's pretty obvious he's moved on. Axl's main idols (Freddie/Elton) were/are gay. And didn't Axl take that song off all future copies of Lies? Pretty lame reason to keep a band out for a single song 25 yrs ago written by a 20 something yr old Indiana kid suddenly on the Sunset Strip. It's what he saw/lived/experienced. He figured it out and grew up in that sense.

Not that I am aware of. Maybe in record shops in NoCal?

[Guest NewGNRnOldGNR]

But explain that to Jann

If such a pretentious, begrudging character is part of selection then it speaks volumes of the Rock Hall at present… a shadow of its former self in terms of weight and stature.

Edited November 3, 2011 by NewGNRnOldGNR

[seely]

That song was written what, 25 yrs ago +/-. It's pretty obvious he's moved on. Axl's main idols (Freddie/Elton) were/are gay. And didn't Axl take that song off all future copies of Lies? Pretty lame reason to keep a band out for a single song 25 yrs ago written by a 20 something yr old Indiana kid suddenly on the Sunset Strip. It's what he saw/lived/experienced. He figured it out and grew up in that sense.

Not that I am aware of. Maybe in record shops in NoCal?

Axl said in 1999 (I believe) that he was going to remove OIAM and also Look At Your Game Girl from The Spghetti Incident in future pressings, but it's never happened.

[Drifter]

Don't think that song should keep them out of the Hall of Fame, Axl was young when he wrote that song, I think he new that it would draw attention, and he was right fair enough it drew attention in the wrong way but none the less it got people talking about GnR, but i genuinely don't think he ment any harm by it

[Coma16]

OIAM is in my top 5 GNR songs! I do understand why it is not played live anymore though....

[axlslash]

For the record: KISS aren't out of the HoF because of anything anyone said. They're out of the HoF because they are terrible.

[Ak1nney]

For the record: KISS aren't out of the HoF because of anything anyone said. They're out of the HoF because they are terrible.

Nope. KISS is a classic band that should easily be in. They've done a lot for music and the live show.

Anyways, one in a million isn't going to keep them out. All of the photos of Axl wearing those spandex shorts should persuade him.

[Mastodonny]

Kiss is not worthy of the hof. They hide behind gimmicks because they don't have the chops. Ace was the only one with talent.

[saber_]

Jesus Christ, is the opening poster even a fan? Did you even read or see Axl's explanation?

Just because you use a word doesn't mean you're a card carrying member of homophobes r' us. For fuck's sake.

Were the terms offensive? Yes. Was it perhaps naive of Axl to think that people would understand the meaning behind the words in the context of the song? Maybe.

The fact is- using a homophobic term doesn't mean you're some evil, bad person. Guess what? AXL'S AN ARTIST. He was EXPRESSING HIMSELF. Sure it sounds cliched, but it's fuckin true. Don't forget some guy tried to rape him on his way to L.A.

It's so annoying when so-called fans can't even be bothered to research what Axl's response was to the whole situation. It was one song. Two offensive words. While there is room for some valid criticism of Axl, to try to portray him as some raging racist and homophobe is fucking ridiculous.

HE FUCKING PLAYED WITH ELTON JOHN AND HAS A BLACK DUDE IN THE BAND RIGHT NOW.

If Elton and Frank can look past two words and understand the MEANING behind them, then so should you, a so-called fan.

For the record: KISS aren't out of the HoF because of anything anyone said. They're out of the HoF because they are terrible.

Perhaps one of the dumbest things I've ever read. You don't know jack shit about rock n roll. But what do I expect from some guy who has a professional wrestler in his sig on a music website.

[axlslash]

For the record: KISS aren't out of the HoF because of anything anyone said. They're out of the HoF because they are terrible.

Nope. KISS is a classic band that should easily be in. They've done a lot for music and the live show.

Anyways, one in a million isn't going to keep them out. All of the photos of Axl wearing those spandex shorts should persuade him.

By your logic, the little person that Bill Veck let pinch hit should be in the baseball Hall of Fame for being an innovative spectacle. The RnR Hall is already a joke, KISS would just delegitimize the same way they delegitimized hard rock in the 1970's.

[Apollo]

For the record: KISS aren't out of the HoF because of anything anyone said. They're out of the HoF because they are terrible.

Nope. KISS is a classic band that should easily be in. They've done a lot for music and the live show.

Anyways, one in a million isn't going to keep them out. All of the photos of Axl wearing those spandex shorts should persuade him.

By your logic, the little person that Bill Veck let pinch hit should be in the baseball Hall of Fame for being an innovative spectacle. The RnR Hall is already a joke, KISS would just delegitimize the same way they delegitimized hard rock in the 1970's.

Your comparison doesn't work at all. Not even remotely.

I don't even like Kiss, especially Stanley and Simmons. I own zero Kiss albums and only have one Kiss song on any of my computers or IPODS. God Gave Rock and Roll To You - or whatever it is called. And mainly just because of how cheesy it is.

But they have influenced hundreds of "name" bands as well as thousands of no-name bands/musicians - with their albums and with their live performances.

The midget pinch-hitter didn't change the game in the least bit. No other owners were influenced by that particular move. You are right, it was a 'spectacle" but in no way shape or form was it "innovative."

Poll the Peers. Bring in 1000 mlb baseball players/coaches/owners and ask them if Veck's midget influenced them at all in their careers. Your response would be 1000 "no" and zero "yes" answers.

Bring in 1000 professional musicans that have had success and ask if Kiss insipred or influenced them at all. Or if they thought Kiss belonged in the Rock n Roll hall of fame. You'd have probably 800-900 yes responses.

Big difference.

[Eu4ic]

When it all comes down to it, Gnr is far more interesting than any band that could be nominated, they epitomized rock and roll, and they generate $. End of story. Nobody gives a crap about the Hof anymore. It's gone from the Yardbirds to Run DMC. In fact, I hope they dont get in so that Rolling Stone can itself dig deeper into the grave of irrelevancy.

[Drifter]

Jesus Christ, is the opening poster even a fan? Did you even read or see Axl's explanation?

Just because you use a word doesn't mean you're a card carrying member of homophobes r' us. For fuck's sake.

Were the terms offensive? Yes. Was it perhaps naive of Axl to think that people would understand the meaning behind the words in the context of the song? Maybe.

The fact is- using a homophobic term doesn't mean you're some evil, bad person. Guess what? AXL'S AN ARTIST. He was EXPRESSING HIMSELF. Sure it sounds cliched, but it's fuckin true. Don't forget some guy tried to rape him on his way to L.A.

It's so annoying when so-called fans can't even be bothered to research what Axl's response was to the whole situation. It was one song. Two offensive words. While there is room for some valid criticism of Axl, to try to portray him as some raging racist and homophobe is fucking ridiculous.

HE FUCKING PLAYED WITH ELTON JOHN AND HAS A BLACK DUDE IN THE BAND RIGHT NOW.

If Elton and Frank can look past two words and understand the MEANING behind them, then so should you, a so-called fan.

Thats EXACTLY what i wanted to say but couldn't put it into words, thanks and well said!

[Freddie Mercury's Ghost]

Jesus Christ, is the opening poster even a fan? Did you even read or see Axl's explanation?

It doesn't matter what I think - it matters what Jann Wenner thinks.

That's what this thread is about, you fool.

[Guest NewGNRnOldGNR]

Did you even read or see Axl's explanation?

The OP’s point is the judge in question probably hasn’t and therefore might hold a prejudice.

[Powerage5]

GNR get in. It would be the best publicity for the Hall of Fame since Van Halen were inducted. Bigger even because there's the potential for so much drama, which we all know makes for good television.

Iggy & The Stooges and Alice Cooper beg to differ. Seriously, 2 of the most important inductions to date occurred in the last 2 years.

[JONEZY]

John Lennon had a song called "Woman is the 'N-word' of the world", or something like that. And he is in the HOF, as a Beatle. He might be in as a solo artist, not sure. Anyway, GnR will get it the HOF no matter what. Jann Wenner wants them in, they'll get in.

[SunnyDRE]

they won't get in next year, but it won't be because of this song.

[Guest NewGNRnOldGNR]

Iggy & The Stooges and Alice Cooper beg to differ.

lol