Often criticized by fans for not including enough actual rock and metal bands, The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has announced their nominees for the class of 2021. Among the included artists and bands are Iron Maiden, Foo Fighters, Rage Against The Machine, Tina Turner, Jay-Z, and New York Dolls, The Go-Gos, Todd Rundgren, LL Cool J and others. The Hall has always been inclusive of other genres of pop music such as Rap and Jazz even. RATM was denied last year after being a finalist and other heavy acts like Judas Priest and Soundgarden, mounted big campaigns, but ultimately fell short. The top vote-getters will be announced in May and inducted in a Cleveland, Ohio, ceremony in the fall. To be eligible for this year’s ballot, each nominee’s first single or album had to have been released in 1995 or earlier.
Tag Archives: Ohio
ALBUM REVIEW: Black Spirit Crown – Gravity
Black Spirit Crown’s first proper album sits right on the line between Doom and Stoner Metal with hints of Prog seeping through. The fuzzy riff work is rooted in Sleep and Electric Wizard tradition, the hustling tempos remind me of Orange Goblin, and the tripped-out atmospherics and vocal filters echo Howling Giant or Mastodon. These traits were already distinct on the Red Sky EP released in 2017 and the Cleveland group takes them to even further extents with Gravity (Self-Released).
Rock on the Range Live at Mapfre Stadium
What began at Crew Stadium in 2007 as a one day festival with 14 bands has evolved into a three-day festival with around 60 bands each year. Since its humble beginnings of Rock on the Range, it has sold out. In 2007, the fest sold out at only 30,000 tickets compared to this year’s 140,000 tickets. ROTR has become the “mecca” of rock fests on the east coast. Rockers AKA “Rangers” migrate by the thousands to Mapfre Stadium in Ohio from across the globe to attend. A spiritual pilgrimage of sorts for die-hard rock fans perhaps? I can only speak for myself, but it is an amazing experience to embrace the many cultures.


