Ask the Critic: Robert Hilburn

Questions: Do you think Devo has a shot at being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? They practically invented the music video, were one of the few original voices of the New Wave and were an excellent live act.

Dan Ductor

Santa Monica

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Can you tell me why the Moody Blues are not in the Hall of Fame?

Tom Ahearn

Redlands

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What chance does Pearl Jam have of being inducted?

Kevin Ryan

Ann Arbor, Mich.

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Hilburn: Dan and Tom, I’ll try to explain why Devo and the Moody Blues aren’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame if you’ll try to explain to me why Gram Parsons, Patti Smith, the Sex Pistols and Randy Newman (among others) aren’t in.

I’m serious.

Even though I’m a member of the Hall of Fame nominating committee, it is dumbfounding to me that music industry voters (critics, record executives, musicians, etc.) have such a hard time recognizing excellence.

Over the years, we’ve seen some artists elected just because they had a lot of hits (Billy Joel and the Four Seasons) or others elected for sentimental reasons (Carl Perkins and the Moonglows are among the many rock-R&B; pioneers who have been elevated beyond their contributions). At the same time, it took voters years to get around to electing such towering figures as Bob Marley, Joni Mitchell and David Bowie.

All I can tell you is how I vote. I look at, first, the quality of the artist’s work, including its originality and ambition, and then at the artist’s influence.

On that scale, I wouldn’t put Devo or Moody Blues high on my list, though I’d put Devo higher because Devo’s originality and influence outscore the Moody Blues’, despite the English group’s lovely (if dated) sound and its considerable number of hits.

Now to Kevin’s question. I would put Pearl Jam high on my list because I think it was one of the best rock groups -- one in a series of great early ‘90s bands, including Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails and Rage Against the Machine. I think Pearl Jam, greatly inspired by the Who, really did become a sort of musical conscience of a generation. I love such passionate songs as “Not for You,” “Wishlist” and “Long Road.”

But the group won’t be eligible for about a decade (eligibility begins 25 years after the first record).

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