NEW YORK - Run-DMC once hailed themselves as the Kings of Rock, so its fitting that the pioneering rappers have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Run-DMC joins the heavy metal band Metallica, guitarist Jeff Beck, soul singer Bobby Womack and doo-wop group Little Anthony and the Imperials as this years inductee class.
Though Run-DMC wasnt among the first rap acts, they were the first to achieve widespread mainstream success, and the first to notch a platinum album. The rapping duo of Joseph Run Simmons and Darryl DMC McDaniels plus their DJ, the late Jam Master Jay were raps first rock stars. They had hits with songs like My Adiddas and Its Tricky, but had their greatest success when they remade Aerosmiths Walk This Way with the rock act for a groundbreaking collaboration.
In an interview Wednesday, McDaniels called their induction inconceivable.
Im a rap dude, Im an MC from Hollis (a neighborhood in New Yorks borough of Queens), just rockin the mic, and to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with the Beatles, and (Bob) Dylan, and the rock n roll gods? Its ridiculous! Ridiculous in a good way, he said.
He also gave a nod to the predecessors who paved the way for the groups success: I share this nomination and the induction and the whole award with those cats, everyone from the Bronx and Harlem who started this.
Jam Master Jay whose real name was Jason Mizell was shot to death in his recording studio in 2002. McDaniels doesnt consider the induction bittersweet because Jay isnt here to celebrate doesnt mean hes not partaking in this event but said he couldnt see the duo performing during the April 4 induction ceremony in Cleveland without him.
We cant do it without Jay, he said. I want people to remember the last time they saw us together, the three of us.
Like Run-DMC, Metallica made its debut 25 years ago with the seminal album Kill Em All, and became pioneers in their genre, with their thrashing metal sound, led by the frenetic guitar play of James Hetfield and the drumming of Lars Ulrich. One of rocks more enduring bands, the group has sold upwards of 60 million records in the United States alone, and are still one of musics most successful acts: They are on a top-selling tour, their latest album, Death Magnetic, has sold more than a million copies and has also been nominated for Grammy awards.
Rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson got a nod for the early influence category, and the sidemen inductees are session musician Spooner Oldham and two of Elvis Presleys musicians drummer D.J. Fontana and bassist Bill Black.
"Tell me, does it move you, Does it soothe you, Does it fill your heart and soul with the roots of rock & roll? When you can't get through it you can listen to it with a 'na na na na', Well I've been there before" -"Been There Before" by Hanson
I'm wondering too, LS, when they're going to nominate KISS. They ruled the music scene in the mid to late 70s, early 80s, and IMHO deserve to be inducted.
