I realize that you find that prejudicial. However, we are talking about something called the Hall of Fame. Some of those "artists with a message" that we are talking about, their music has depth. Yes, you can just listen to it and like it, or you can get a message from it, or whatever - there are multiple layers to it, not just something to listen to in the car.
I love KISS, but there is no depth there. It is surface level enjoyment. And that's fine, there's nothing wrong with that. But are they just as deserving for inclusion in a Hall of Fame that ought to recognize real achievement in the art form as, say, U2 or Bruce Springsteen (just to throw some names out)? I would think not, if I were ranking them. And I like KISS.
Same thing with Maiden. Are they a great metal band? Yes, I would say so (although personally, I don't care for them). But that alone doesn't make them Hall-worthy, IMO.
The Oscars are kind of like the Hall of Fame, in a way. Is the biggest and loudest movie going to win an Oscar? No, not normally; it will normally go to a film that emphasizes nuance and craft over bombast. But it will make its fans happy and the actors and director will make a shit ton of money.
That's kind of how I see this. It's not a perfect analogy, but it works for me. And I'm not saying that's the case with all of the people that are late getting in (for example, Journey, Rush, Yes, etc), but that is one part of it.
TBH, I am shocked that KISS got in.
But, and I mean this respectfully, in the spirit of the discussion, and not at all personally, you're proving my point. You just happen to agree with Wenner's bias. "Political activism" is just one criteria, and Wenner is PREJUDICIALLY weighing that criterion. There are countless criteria:
- records sold
- longevity
- creative advancement (I'm thinking something that created a new genre)
- influence
- political activism
- subjective "talent" (I'm thinking someone that was just supernatural in what they did; McCartney)
- instrumental advancement (I'm thinking someone like a Van Halen who did something no one else really did before)
- industry advancement (I'm thinking like Zeppelin, who revolutionized the business)
Kiss loses out on ONE CATEGORY. Maybe two (instrumental; they're not exactly Van Halen). Kiss has the most gold records of any American band EVER. They're on their 43rd year of active touring/recording. Creatively, there is no one out there even close to them in terms of showmanship and whatnot. They, specifically Ace, have influenced multiple generations of players; ask Coz! (But also McReady of Pearl Jam, Cobain, Dime, Motley, Anthrax, Portnoy, etc.). I wouldn't call them "supernatural" in their talent, but they are way underrated as songwriters. Look at the Kiss thread here; there are top 20 lists that only have a handful of overlapping songs. And as for the business, they changed touring, they changed how bands look, they changed how bands market and sell their records, they changed how bands make money, they changed how shows are staged; it's a little known fact, but their road crew(s) are legendary for how they handled the early years, pushing back against the old-school "hard ass opening acts". They staged their own shows when others wouldn't have them on the bill. And they were notoriously kind to THEIR opening acts (Rush for one).
What did Jackson Browne do? Wrote a couple hits (quick: name one besides "Running On Empty", "Tender Is The Night", and that song about the roadies that no one knows the title to ("The Load Out") and that ends with the squeally annoying Frankie Valli impression ("Stay")). Hey! Did you see that shredding guitar solo he laid down at that RnRHoF ceremony? No? No. Because it didn't happen.
There are PLENTY of acts in there that are deficient in easily half of them, but they have the all-important "political activism" side down, and so they get in. And I think that emphasis, that trump card, is wrong. Dimebag Darrell had a full face of Ace Frehley tattooed on his leg and he was buried in a Kiss Kasket. How many people have Jackson Browne tattooed on their leg? Not even Jackson Browne's mom would do that.