Deep Purple was nominated as a candidate to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—the band did not get in. But if you ask the band, it does not appear to be much of a loss—at least to them personally.
Keyboardist Don Airey made it quite clear, stating simply, "I don't think the band really care, actually. It'd be nice but there's been no 'awwwww', no disappointment".
The gig's the thing with this band, the next concert. That's what it's all about and we're looking forward to Singapore.
Newman's fantastic but he's not really a rock act, is he? Neither is Donna Summer, although she made one of the greatest records I've ever heard. If you're going to have a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, let's have some rock and rollers in there…There was a kind of ripple of excitement, like 'Oh, we've been nominated!' Then Ian [Gillan] said, 'don't worry, we won't get in'.
Gillan, as the other members, was very much of like mind. He added the following after being asked about the band’s failure to be inducted with this year’s class:
I fought against, all my life, becoming institutionalized. So it really does not affect me. But on the other hand, my family and friends and everyone that has stuck with us all these years, it means something to them. They love that recognition.
To analyze it, and I'll try not to sound cocky or anything, I will say it as respectfully as I can, it's sort of like the Oscars and Grammys and the other awards like that — in the States, just like it is in England, and other places — these awards and honors are usually not decided by the fans, but by a cartel of influential people. These are the same people that decided The Monkees were America's answer to The Beatles.
So I'm not too concerned about it. Maybe it will happen one day, bit if not, my diary is full and I'm very happy. It hasn't affected our career but it does concern the fans — that's who I feel for.
There is little dispute that Deep Purple is not only a seminal, but a highly influential, hard rock act that is most certainly deserving of being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It will almost assuredly happen eventually, but when it does, don’t expect the band to jump up and down over the accolade.
In the meantime, one prestigious and influential rock group is actually being inducted into the Hall this year, that being the Canadian progressive rock group Rush. The induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 18 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
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