The self grandising corporate institution that is 'The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame' has at last nominated guitar legend Link Wray for the 2014 awards, and that is only nominated you'll understand. It has to be said that's rather an unfathomable lack of awareness over the last half century of rock from those in office at TRARHOF.
As one disenchanted commentor on the whole business said
"Mr. Wray should have been inducted into this hall of fame the very first year for 'Rumble' (1958)... I don't get it. Rock N Roll. R.I.P"
Well quite.
Link Wray whether you know of him or not was the man who changed the sound of an electric guitar with his overdriven fuzz created by punching holes in the speaker, and hence "influencing everything from Keith Richard’s “Satisfaction” riff to The Ramones, The Cramps, Jimmy Page and beyond" (Marc Campbell. Dangerous Minds.).
This nomination coming some 8 years after his death and a further 55 years after his sound breaking instrumental single "Rumble" could almost be described as willful neglect.
"Rumble" was released and subsequently banned for "inciting teenage hormones", yes folks it was 1958, and that has never happened since or likely to again, but you feel it sort of black-holed Wray from any mainstream rock acceptance. Not a bad thing in itself, John Lydon and Nick Cave have recently told them to place their awards elsewhere, although naturally one more politely than the other, but for those that feel artistry over commerciality should be recognised Link Wray's omission is a pretty raw deal in the roots and history of rock and roll.
If you like this sort of glad handing award thing here are the nominees you can vote for by December -
Nirvana, Kiss, Peter Gabriel, LL Cool J, Linda Ronstadt and Cat Stevens, Hall and Oates, the Replacements, Deep Purple, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, the Meters, Chic, Yes, The Zombies and of course Link Wray.
We'll all note the not so deserving amongst that lot are lucky to be included in a broom cupboard let alone a Hall of Fame. We also can only see it's doubtful whether Link Wray's name will rise above the list given the awards past record of inclusion. Let's see in December.
So here is a great rumble by Link Wray live in Winterland,SF. Nov. 19,1974. Part two of this gig is here.
And below that, our tribute to the man came a couple of years back by way of a track recorded here at The Garage called 'Big Foot'. And if you don't get the meaning, try 'The Missing Link'.
