During his recent conversation with Rock Of Nations with Dave Kinchen, Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner shared his thoughts and feelings about the band’s nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame revealed its nominees on February 2022, and it includes seventeen artists that are influential in their genre. Therefore, Pat Benatar, Kate Bush, DEVO, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Judas Priest, Dolly Parton, Rage Against the Machine, and many more can be inducted to the Hall if they have enough votes this year.
However, country legend Dolly Parton recently stated that she couldn’t be a nominee because she never released a rock album, and many musicians thought she did the right thing. Faulkner defined Parton’s actions as a classy move and then criticized the committee during a recent interview.
The guitarist highlighted that it’s weird not to induct an iconic band like Judas Priest. They can’t call themselves ‘Rock Hall’ without inducting rock and metal legends like Iron Maiden, Motörhead, and themselves with others. According to him, it’s shocking not to see any proper rock bands be nominated to a hall that has rock and roll in it.
Faulkner said in his interview that:
“I think it was a classy move. I think Dolly Parton recognizes her brand, and it didn’t necessarily fit into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I think it raises questions as to what the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s brand is as well.
To call it the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and not have bands like Judas Priest in it from day one, I think, is a weird thing. I’ve said this before. It’s shocking. I don’t know how you can call it the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame without having bands like that in it as default; they sort of spawned the genre.
However, you know, I’m not eligible, so I can sort of say what I want about it I think bands like that Iron Maiden, Judas Priest Motörhead, there’s a few bands that are not in, and a few artists that are, maybe it shouldn’t be called the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I don’t know.”
You can listen to the interview below.
