"Rock Hall of Fame Names Inductees" By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY
NEW YORK (AP) - The Ramones and the Talking Heads, two bands that helped
define the punk sound, are among the artists inducted into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame for 2002.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Isaac Hayes, Brenda Lee and Gene Pitney
were also inducted. The announcement was made Thursday by Suzan Evans,
executive director of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.
The induction ceremony, scheduled for March 18, will take place almost a
year after Joey Ramone, the Ramones' lanky, leather-jacketed lead singer, died
of lymphoma at age 49.
The Ramones, the New York City-based quintet who all adopted the same last
name, are considered the founding fathers of punk. Their sound was defined by
Joey Ramone's yelp and the band's three-chord thrash. Bruce Springsteen, U2 and
Patti Smith are among those who've been inspired by the band's sound.
The Talking Heads were contemporaries of the Ramones, but their sound was
defined more by their experimentation with different genres, including world
music. Quirky lead singer David Byrne, the band's most readily identifiable
member, left in 1991.
It's the first time the hall has honored members of the first punk rock
generation, and voters pointedly snubbed Britain's Sex Pistols in favor of two
New York bands.
Hayes got his start as a sideman in R&B groups. Playing keyboard, he
backed up artists such as Otis Redding, but later became a solo artist. He's
best known for scoring the 1971 blaxplotation film ``Shaft,'' with its funky
theme song highlighted by his signature deep vocals. He's now a disc jockey on
WRKS in New York City and the voice of ``Chef'' on the animated TV series
``South Park.''
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers mixed classic rock, folk and Southern rock
for 26 years. Their hits include ``Free Fallin','' ``Don't Come Around Here No
More'' and ``The Waiting.''
Lee, a smoky-voiced singer of the late '50s and '60s, is perhaps best
known for hits such as ``Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree'' and ``I'm Sorry.''
Pitney, a rock singer with country influences, has recorded hits such as ``Only
Love Can Break a Heart,'' ``(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance'' and ``It Hurts
to Be in Love.''
Guitarist Chet Atkins, who died in June, is this year's sideman inductee.
Atkins' unusual finger-picking style influenced generations of other
guitarists.
The non-performer inductee is Jim Stewart, co-founder of Stax records. Sam
and Dave and Otis Redding are among the artists who performed on the
independent music label.
Artists are eligible to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
after at least 25 years have passed since their first record was released.
Nominees are selected by a group of rock historians, and inductees are chosen
by about 1,000 rock experts across the globe.
The ceremony will be held in Manhattan on March 18, and will be aired by
VH1 two days later.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is based in Cleveland.On the Net: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Web site: http://www.rockhall.com.