Hall Monitors

Hilburn’s annual forecasting of future Hall of Fame recipients displays great optimism, especially for alternative acts. While it would be inspiring to see Elvis Costello and Tom Waits be inducted, neither has ever had a Top 10 pop single (which, save for R&B; acts, seems unfortunately to be the general criterion).

Looking ahead to such nominees as Guns N’ Roses in 20 years leads one to wonder what will even be considered rock ‘n’ roll by that time, and whether their contributions will have had a chance to make a difference. Some of these acts may be providing a foundation for a future but will not receive their due when that future bears no resemblance to rock ‘n’ roll as it has now come to be recognized.

FRANK BEESON

West Los Angeles

Other readers wrote to complain about the omission of such personal favorites as Earth, Wind and Fire, and Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull--and to point out the mistaken listing of this year’s inductee Van Morrison as a “virtually certain” future nominee.