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Eurythmics and Duran Duran inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame

News and reaction

By Paul Sinclair

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78

At the second time of asking Eurythmics have been inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox were shortlisted in 2018 and actually actively promoted for their induction while Sony managed a vinyl reissue campaign… but it came to naught. However this year, without making the same kind of effort they are now one of seven inductees in the ‘Performer’ category.

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Stewart gave his reaction to Billboard saying “It’s part of being English or Scottish to play everything down. It’s not sort of cool to leap around and go, ‘Wow!’ But underneath all that, we’re both really excited and honoured, actually.”

Duran Duran are also inducted and were suitably pleased with Simon saying “It’s one thing to be nominated – but a totally different thing altogether to be actually voted up for induction into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which is to my mind the closest thing you’ll ever get to a rock & roll knighthood.””

See the band ‘reaction’ video below:

Other inductees in the performer category were Pat Benatar, Dolly Parton (despite her reluctance), Eminem, Lionel Richie and Carly Simon. There were some special categories, so for example. Judas Priest and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis got in under the ‘Musical Exellence’ banner.

The likes of Beck, Kate Bush etc. didn’t ‘make it through to the next round’ but certainly Kate will not be bothered. She’s literally not even mentioned her nomination once!

The induction ceremony will take place on 5 November this year at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles

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78 Comments

78 thoughts on “Eurythmics and Duran Duran inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame”

  1. Awards are bollocks really. I don’t understand why some fans are so into it.Good if the artists are happy to be recognised I suppose. I do rather feel the whole thing may peter out eventually. I do rather have the perception of slightly less credible/revered artists winning than previous years as time goes on- from the view of award organisers- not me. For example The Cure or Depeche being more “serious” (no pun intended) music than Duran. Which all of course adds to the nonsense.
    As for people complaining about artists winning who aren’t rock n roll is a little irritating and tedious. If that was the basis then the whole thing would probably be done with by now

    1. Because Rock And Roll is the only “real” and “cool” music according to the industry people, Rolling Stone etc being apparetly sadly the only “proper” publication, and they are mostly into male artists from the rock side of things. So while a lot of people disregard these institutions because they do not represent the population, they do like when they finally show some appreciation for other acts.
      They are a bit the republicans of music.
      I mean, when you read up on artists and publications that have been around for ages, what do they refer to to show importance of the act? They certainly don’t quote “Classic Pop” or (I won’t mention pop forums), they will quote Rolling Stone or NME.

  2. Dolly Parton, Eminem, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis… this shouldn’t be called The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Maybe The Popular Music Hall of Fame? Nothing wrong with any of these artists, or the fact that they’re being inducted to the Hall of Fame, but their music can’t be called rock and roll. Oh, well…

  3. Eminem being inducted the same year as Eurythmics? Carly Simon? Lionel Ritchie? What have they been smoking? Is this like the World Music Awards where basically they give it to anyone they want?

  6. Not a fan of Duran Duran but they are certainly worthy (the crime was that it took Roxy Music-a seminal influence-took so long to get in) and Eurythmics deserve it as well. They should have gotten in on the first attempt.

  7. Rightfully so. Duran Duran and Eurythmics ruled the 80’s music scene with the most amazing singles and albums. I was at the induction of Prince many years ago. The guitar solo at the end of the jam is still legendary. The RnR Hall of Fame is a bit of a joke though. It took I don’t know how many nominations for Nile Rodgers to finally be inducted. There are few people who were more influential than Nile Rodgers. Another one of my heroes Giorgio Moroder has never even been nominated I believe. His synths on I Feel Love alone should get him nominated. At the time, that sound was nothing short of revolutionary.

  9. Now, if only the record companies which own the Eurythmics and Diran Duran catalogs (Sony & Warner respectively) would show some interest in these catalogs again, and give us some Super Deluxe editions. 12 years have passed since EMI’s horrible sounding 2-CD + DVD editions of “Duran Duran”(Debut) and “Seven and The Ragged Tiger”. EMI refused to acknowledge the sound quality problems or correct them. It’s time for the present day owner to rediscover the group’s catalog. As for Eurythmics, when there were expanded editions of eight of the group’s albums, Sony declined to issue them in North america, which left Dave Stewart embittered. He later sold off all future artist royalties, and as a result, he would have no reason to cooperate with any future archival projects.

    1. Hooray!! Yes, what about the wonderful Grace Jones??!! What an amazing body of work and what an amazing personality. Still waiting for the deluxe edition of stupendously good ‘Living My Life’, plus the totally underrated ‘Inside Story’ and ‘Bulletproof Heart’ really need the full polished reissue treatment. Perhaps one day even her unreleased material in the 90s might get a release……. but perhaps I’m dreaming…! Anyway, if any record bods are reading this, please wake up and give us more Grace!!

  12. Just finished watching the ‘Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music’ series on blu-ray which aired in the US on PBS which features both Annie and Dave in several segments and episodes. Was interesting to hear Annie talk about how they felt they were an art band and yet everything blew up so massively in terms of their popularity. Would recommend the series to anyone who hasn’t seen it. Also features George Martin, Elton John, Don Was, Eric Clapton, St. Vincent, Brian Eno, Questlove, Bonnie Raitt, Giorgio Moroder, Nile Rodgers, Q-Tip, RZA, Debbie Harry, Tom Petty, members of The Bealtes, The Who, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Public Enemy etc.

    Blu-ray.com summary of the series: ‘An eight-part TV documentary surveying key moments in recording history from the Beatles’ groundbreaking use of multitrack technology to the synthesized stylings of Stevie Wonder, from disco-era drum machines to the modern art of sampling.’

    1. Thanks for the heads-up Glenn, this sounds like a great watch. It’s available on Sky Arts (on demand) in the UK for anyone else who’s interested.

      1. You’re welcome Paul. Nice to see it is available on demand in the UK. I had caught a couple of episodes when it aired several years ago (was released in 2016) including the one about formats (vinyl, cassette, CD, digital) which was really interesting. Just found it used on Blu-ray at a record store a few weeks ago and really enjoyed watching all of the episodes. The series features over 150 original interviews and well worth watching. The blu-ray set includes ~30 minutes of bonus features including Ringo giving a drum lesson and Rosanne Cash talking about taking her teenage sun to the Sun records studio to see where his grandfather worked. Great stuff.

  13. Delighted for Eurythmics – recognition for their amazing achievements in the ’80s is long overdue in nearly all arenas, especially as their catalogue has been so poorly managed. But gotta be honest, never understood this Hall of Fame palaver…

  14. Opened the SDE webpage, saw the ‘Touch’ cover, and got really excited that a deluxe edition was being released! Then I read the heading. Oh, well. Happy for them anyway.

    1. Inducting John Lennon and not doing Paul on the same year was pretty unsavoury. Paul was dignified when he did his speech for John which was clearly from the heart and not the usual whacky-thumbs-aloft-type thing.

          1. I agree. They should have been inducted as solo artists the same year. The magic and symbolism of “Lennon/McCartney” as a writing TEAM (even if they wrote less and less together in the Beatles as the years rolled on). Macca had to wait 5 years (!) after John was inducted (1994 vs 1999). There wasn’t a five year difference between solo debuts, and if we are getting technical, didn’t Paul write the score for The Family Way movie in 1966?

          2. I thought the rule for eligibility for solo acts who were previously in bands was whatever the number of years is (is it 25?) from the release of their first solo release. So, for instance, The Ike and Tina Turner Review would have been eligible after the eligibility window opened from their first album, but Tina as a solo artist wouldn’t have been eligible until after that period of time from Tina Sings Country.

          3. No idea, to be honest, but since ‘McCartney’ came out *before* ‘Plastic Ono Band’ (both being each artist’s first proper solo album) it still doesn’t make sense even if that is the rule.

    2. I think you have to take any honour system with a pinch of salt that there’s going to be artists who have never been inducted yet you think should have been years ago.
      The Brits give out knighthoods (eg in music – Sir Macca, Sir Elton, Sir Rod the Mod) yet so many past celebs and sportsman who’ve died have never received one. These days you only have to win a a couple of gold medals at the Olympics and it’s an automatic knighthood. As you may tell, I’m not a fan of the tradition.
      As much as any honour system can be baffling, at least the RARHOF keeps music history alive. I’ll be visiting the museum in July, it’s been over 20 years since my last visit so I’m looking forward to seeing the changes.

      2. The knighthood dies with you when you die, therefore not an option. (I’m sure that I remembered this correctly when there were cries of “revoking” it from Jimmy Saville and the palace gave the above reason for not doing so.

  16. Happy for Eurythmics: I think that Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart are not getting the recognition they deserve for the music they recorded together. The RRHOF induction maybe can be the beginning of a change! Not surprised about Kate Bush – and about the fact she did not even mention her nomination. A great and unique artist that plays her own game.

  18. I find the whole focus on the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” to be absurd and pointless, but my only hope is that this might mean some activity on the reissue front from Duran Duran. Something beyond a rehashed version of Greatest or another pressing of Rio. Still, I expect they probably won’t try to capitalize with any further musical product at all.

    1. If I had to place a bet, I’m thinking a lackluster greatest hits from the label with zero participation from the band and a sticker on the front that mentions the induction. If the label is feeling really lazy, they’ll reissue the most recent greatest hits with a repress of the video collection.

  19. Sad to see yet again the New York Dolls and the MC5 get snubbed…..personally I dont think Duran would have gone in if it wasnt for the fact they were the “fan favorite” this year….just like the Go-Go’s last year. In fact its only been a few years now that they have actually let “the fans” vote on the nominees…..if you go to the Hall, there is a room where you can vote on who you think should be nominated, and Tull is almost always in the top 10 but every freaking year they get snubbed. There are some very “elitist” members on that board, one in fact springs to mind. I think its one of the reasons that so many deserving bands arent in. Supposedly if this guy would have had his way, Queen wouldnt even be in because he thought they were a “fascist” rock band!!!

    1. I think The Go Go’s deserved to get in. Just because other deserving bands did get in doesn’t mean the others that don’t meet one’s personal taste don’t deserve to go in.

  21. Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo are being inducted as a duo. The RRHOF gets so many things wrong, so I’m glad to see they recognized Neil’s importance to his wife’s career.

        1. Yeah, I’m not doubting it, just pointing out that Neil wasn’t mentioned in the video. I don’t actually get it, to be honest. She’s the artist, she’s the “performer”. Doesn’t mean he hasn’t been important to her career, but I know her as solo artist not as part of some duo.

        1. Yeah but even Elton John has band members who have been with him since the 70’s,playing on all his tours and most of his lp’s but he is still definitely a solo artist,just as is Pat Benatar!The clue is in the name of the act/artist on the recordings! i e is does not say the Pat Benatar band does it?

          1. I don’t know the specifics of what the Hall might have been thinking on this, but I would assume it has to do with him also co-writing almost all her songs since the beginning as well. She wanted her albums to be by The Pat Benatar Band (I think there was another name they considered too, but it’s been a long time since I read the interview), but Chrysalis felt it was easier to market her as a “solo” act.

            Additionally, they’ve been billed as Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo since the late 90s on their tours, and on all their albums after Go.

  22. The RRHOF is just BS! There are so many other great groups that should be in the hall, and are not! ie: Grand Funk Railroad, Marshall Tucker, Jethro Tull, Slade, Humble Pie, etc. I could go on. Since when is Jimmy Jam and Eminem rock and roll?

    1. To make things even worse, adding artists and groups far from the phrase “rock and roll”. Might as well just rename the thing and called it Music Hall of Fame.

      1. I don’t think anyone should be getting upset or taking the moniker seriously.
        Otherwise anything past the 40s or 50s couldn’t even be considered purist or “rock and roll”…

      2. Yep I agree!! Didn’t see little Richard with a Moog Prodigy!! And where are supertramp in this charade?? Band are up there in the major league with Floyd, zeppelin ( who I hate) dire straits etc, ect and so forth,and I sappos the damned will never get a look in; but a lesser band like the clash will?

        1. Having just discovered Supertramp’s albums after 45 years of collecting music I understand where you are coming from. Most of them have given me a WTF moment in that I can’t believe they are so under the radar. As a body of work they are truly up there with the greatest artists ever.

          2. Yes, I’ve bought everything from S/T through to Famous Last Words. My current favourite is Crime of the Century, but this may change LOL

          3. Crime of the century and Breakfast in America were on constant rotation when I was at school. Keep meaning to give them both another listen all these years later…

            Think I’ll do that this weekend!

          4. You do know that Rogers solo album in the eye of the storm is probably better than any supertramp album don’t you??it is a absolute classic and Roger plays every instrument apart from drums,get it!!!

          6. My favourite too. But I’m also someone who loves Supertramp after Roger left. Brother Where You Bound and Some Things Never Change are extremely good too while the other two Rick-led albums still have their moments. I wrote a lot about them here…

          7. Thanks, I have started to look through that thread. Looks like my wallet will take more hits!

    2. Jethro Tull isn’t in the RRHOF??? That’s insane. No doubt their music is well worth it, but isn’t there some “rule” about having a No. 1 single 25 years after the fact to be eligible?

      1. The industry did have to do what they did with Axl Rose and bring out Elton John to duet with him so he could publicly atone for his homophobia. That is always a special club.

  23. I, for one, am very pleased to see that two of my favorite bands that I grew up listening to and being a fan of in the ’80s (Duran Duran and Eurythmics) has made it into the RRHF. Hard to believe that it’s been over 20 years since the Eurythmics last album. Also, should Duran Duran perform any songs (which odds on they will), I wonder if you’ll have both Andy and Warren on stage performing at the same time or…? Who knows. At any rate, I’m quite happy!

  24. In our misandry world that is obsessed with promoting female efforts and denigrating male ones it is rather odd how the great Kate Bush gets ignored.She is a female artist who has empowered herself to be in total control of her art and has contributed massively to the female music canon,yet gets utterly ignored by the powers that control stuff like this.

    1. Kate Bush isn’t really that well known in America and she clearly doesn’t care. She’s never made any mention of it and she certainly wouldn’t go to the ceremony. I’m actually amazed she’s ever even on the shortlist.

    2. What is this full-on nonsense? Whatever world the OP thinks exists that “promot[es] female efforts and denigrat[es] male ones” is a complete myth, and I am extremely disappointed to see such bilge on these comment pages.

      (Besides, the numbers don’t even remotely bear this out, what with 8 men/all-male-group inductees and 5 female ones.)

      Let’s just celebrate who got in, shall we? Very happy for all the inductees, especially Duran Duran and Eurythmics. Well deserved.

      1. I was thinking much the same, I checked my latest pre-orders and have the xPropaganda and Florence efforts let alone a possible Dubstar punt but none were foisted on me. It just so happens for this fortnight the best efforts are from female fronted bands certainly not due to some agenda sheesh…

    3. Of the nine inductees listed above, just two are female solo artists, while two – Eurythmics & Benatar/Giraldo – are male/female musical partnerships, and the other five are all guys ‘n’ groups. I’m not seeing much evidence of this supposed “misandry” in the Hall of Fame, to be honest.

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