For the first time, the Ronettes are one of the nine nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Having become eligible 18 years ago, why did it take so long for them to get nominated? Ronnie Spector confirms the long-held rumor:

“We have been nominated before, but this time we might make it. People finally have caught up with what my ex [Phil Spector] was doing all those years. Now everybody sees what was going on.”
Asked to elaborate, Spector says her ex had written a letter in 1994 telling Hall of Fame voters not to nominate the Ronettes, because the group was his creation. “My [current] husband (Greenfield) was given a copy of the letter by a business associate,” says Spector.

Phil Spector is currently free on $1 million bail while he awaits trial for murder. Presumably, he no longer has any influence on the Rock Hall proceedings.

Keeping in mind the large number of voters that are products of the 60's, and the lack of other similar artists on this year's ballot, this may in fact be the year that the Ronettes get inducted.

If you haven't already voted in the poll for the 2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, take a moment and put yourself through the exercise. It may be easy for you to pick five worthy candidates from the bunch, but it's more likely that after choosing the first two or three, it will start to become pretty difficult. You might even wish you didn't have to pick five. But you do, just as the Rock Hall Voters have to.

At Future Rock Hall, we believe that our polling numbers will be an accurate indicator of the actual voting scores. We'll know for sure in January when the 2007 inductees are announced.

Vote now!

Future Rock Hall has learned that voters are required to vote for exactly five of the nine nominees on the 2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot. This will insure that the five inductees will each have more than the required 50% of the vote. Winners will be announced in January.

Eddie Van Halen has announced that his 15 year-old son, Wolfgang, will be joining Van Halen as the new bassist, replacing original member Michael Anthony. Van Halen has yet to officially name their lead singer, but it has been rumored for months that David Lee Roth will be rejoining the band for a reunion tour in 2007.

"Wolfie" has already been jamming in the studio with his father and uncle (drummer, Alex Van Halen), rehearsing for the tour. Wolfgang certainly has the musical genes to make a great bassist, but will he be able to fill-in for Michael Anthony's key harmonies? Maybe if he hasn't hit puberty yet.

This has all the makings for a fantastic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on March 12th, if Van Halen gets inducted. Imagine the tension in the room when an estranged Michael Anthony (and also Sammy Hagar?) make their acceptance speeches, then have to sit in the audience to watch a teenager perform with their old bandmates. All of this -- plus -- David Lee Roth's ego. Amazing.

The San Antonio Express-News ran an editorial Friday, whining about the quality of this year's nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They lament that ever since the Beatles were inducted in 1988, there has been a steep decline in quality of the inductees.

Some people are rightfully upset about the editorial, but occasionally you have to just smile watch the old timers sink into irrelevance.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame voting committee members will be receiving their 2007 ballots in the mail this week. So what does the Rock Hall Foundation provide them so they can make an informed vote? How about an exclusive CD with one song from each nominee. Check out the 2002 edition:



Maybe this year they can fit two songs per nominee since there are only nine of them. That should cover it.