Rock and Roll, Hall of Fame, is the topic of conversation once again, but this time it’s under fire by Courtney Love and author Jessica Hopper for its lack of female representation. The Pretenders‘ Chrissie Hyde gave her two cents about their induction in 2005, which was a complete debacle as she explained that the induction has nothing to do with rock n’ roll.
Even if artists are eligible to be inducted into the Hall of Fame doesn’t necessarily mean that it will go through, especially after Hopper’s research results showcased that women make up only 61 of 719 Rock Hall inductees. Love was particularly bothered because it took Nina Simone and Carole King 30 years to get noticed. At the same time, a band like Foo Fighters could get inducted in no time, which further emphasized her point of immense neglect of female representation.
Hynde, who was inducted alongside drummer Martin Chambers, shared that she didn’t want to be associated with it whatsoever but to make amends with her parents, she went along with the ceremony. The only thing that made the moment special was Neil Young doing the honors; otherwise, it was ‘total bollocks’ in her perspective.
Chrissie Hynde’s words about the lack of female representation in the Hall of Fame read:
“If anyone wants my position in the rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame, they are welcome to it. I don’t even want to be associated with it. It’s just more establishment backslapping. I got in a band, so I didn’t have to be part of all that.”
She added:
“I was living a happy life in Rio when I got the call I was being inducted. My heart sank because I knew I’d have to go back for it, as it would be too much of a kick in the teeth to my parents if I didn’t. I’d upset them enough by then, so it was one of those things that would bail me out from years of disappointing them. (like moving out of the USA and being arrested at PETA protests and my general personality).”
“Other than Neil Young’s participation in the induction process, the whole thing was, and is total bollocks. It’s absolutely nothing to do with rock ‘n’ roll and anyone who thinks it is a fool.”
She wouldn’t mind if the Hall of Fame decided to undo her induction. Instead, she would like it to go to someone that believes in the institution since, in her eyes, the ‘honor’ has nothing to do with rock n’ roll and, most importantly, the musician is entirely behind Love and Hopper’s points regarding the overlook on female representation.
