Chrissie Hynde blasted the lack of diversity within the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame yesterday on Facebook saying, “If anyone wants my position in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame they are welcome to it. I don’t even wanna be associated with it. It’s just more establishment backslapping. I got in a band so I didn’t have to be part of all that” calling it, “total bollocks.”
Hynde’s post comes in response to Courtney Love who wrote an article for The Guardian yesterday (17th March) asking, “Why are women so marginalised by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?’” saying, “Barely 8% of its inductees are female. The canon-making doesn’t just reek of sexist gatekeeping, but also purposeful ignorance and hostility.” Love continued,
“If so few women are being inducted into the Rock Hall, then the nominating committee is broken. If so few Black artists, so few women of colour, are being inducted, then the voting process needs to be overhauled. Music is a lifeforce that is constantly evolving – and they can’t keep up.”
Referring to the first Rock Hall in 1983, she explained how legendary Black singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe was omitted from the list of inductees that year, and how there was “not a woman in sight” saying that the hall was “publicly shamed into adding (her) in 2018”.
“If the Rock Hall is not willing to look at the ways it is replicating the violence of structural racism and sexism that artists face in the music industry…..then let them go to hell in a handbag”
Chrissie Hynde, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the Pretenders in 2005 said,
“If anyone wants my position in the rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame they are welcome to it. I don’t even wanna be associated with it. It’s just more establishment backslapping. I got in a band so I didn’t have to be part of all that. I was living a happy life in Rio when I got the call I was being inducted. My heart sank because I knew I’d have to go back for it as it would be too much of a kick in the teeth to my parents if I didn’t. I’d upset them enough by then, so it was one of those things that would bail me out from years of disappointing them. (like moving out of the USA and being arrested at PETA protests and my general personality).
Other than Neil Young’s participation in the induction process, the whole thing was, and is, total bollocks,” adding, “It’s absolutely nothing to do with rock ‘n’ roll and anyone who thinks it is is a fool.”
The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame’s 2023 inductees will be announced in May, with the ceremonies due to take place in the autumn with many hoping that there will be a more balanced list going forward.
Hynde and The Pretenders recently did an intimate tour of the UK in support of Independent Venue Week. The Pretenders are due to release their 12th album, Relentless’ this year following 2020’s Hate for Sale.
