What “Uncle G” Thinks – The Schmucks In Cleveland (2026)

20 April 2026

Uncle G’s FUN Opinion Pieces
The Schmucks In Cleveland

By Gary Brown, aka Gary “Uncle G” Brown
GaryBrown@garyunclegbrownarchives.com

Doing some quick research into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, one finds a story about how the founder of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun, established it on 4/20/83. April 20th! Cannabis consumers are smiling while reading this. Anyway, in 1986 (I don’t know the exact day), it was decided that Cleveland would be its home. In September of 1995 (I do know the exact day, but am withholding it for kicks), the doors were opened to the general public. Oh boy, oh boy!

Jann Wenner co-founded the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was part of a team that Ahmet put together. Jann is a journalist. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find out that this now 80-year-old co-founded Rolling Stone Magazine. He sold his stock in or around 2017. Then the man wrote a book.

His big-time association with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was terminated after he made disparaging remarks about females and blacks in the music business. He said that intellectually, they were not on the same playing field as the seven white guys he featured in his new book, The Masters: Conversations with Dylan, Lennon, Jagger, Townshend, Garcia, Bono, and Springsteen. Wenner ended up making a public apology.

The influence of Rolling Stone Magazine, a left-wing propaganda publication, has always been there. Look who’s in the Hall, and who’s not. They are extremely biased when it comes to who gets nominated. And even after letting the general public vote, it still will have the final say. Reeks of favoritism.

They have rules, and then break them. For example, it was enforced that only the original members of a band/group would get inducted. In the beginning, that was it. Period! And then one day, the group Yes was inducted, without an original member; the guy who named the band, guitarist Peter Banks. Posthumously. Very disrespectful! If there was a face to smack, I’d do it. YesBusiness is not my business. Boogles the mind! Just using this as an example. Disappointing for those who appreciated Peters’ contributions.

Not everyone nominated wants the so-called honors. Here, in part, is the Sex Pistols rejection letter, exactly as written, with spelling errors and poor grammar. It is, after all, The Sex Pistols. It starts with:

“Next to the SEX-PISTOLS rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain. Your museum. Urine in wine. Were not coming.”

Let me make this clear: to get nominated and then inducted isn’t a bad thing. I congratulate all those who were inducted. It helps sales. Afterwards, it’s always the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Recording Artist(s) (fill in the blank). Looks wonderful in ads. A lot of the time, not all, whoever it is, leans the same way politically as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s most influential board members. It’s just something a person notices. I’m not the only one.

Back to Rolling Stone Magazine, you entice those young minds with stories about musicians that they like, and once you have their attention, hit them with how fantastic Barack Obama is. Or Joe Biden. Kamala Harris? Over and over and over again. A story by Sean Penn on how wonderful it is to be a communist? Politics front and center. Whatever the liberal cause. Republicans to the back of the bus. If there’s a good guy, there has to be a villain.

I‘ll summarize by saying that we have a business that is heavily influenced by left-wing politics. Obvious?

I have not been there in person, but research shows the Hall to be not all bad. Lots of cool exhibits. It’s a real museum. Find out a little about it. Don’t be afraid to question. You can ask; Why was Pink nominated, when there is a long list of others who deserve to go in front of her? Is Pink rock and roll? That’s another one! No, she’s a pop act. Sells a ton of music. Congrats to her! Politically, she does not like people who support the United States current president, Donald J. Trump. Doesn’t like MAGA listening to her music or going to her shows. She’s been nominated before Styx, Boston, and Kansas, just to name a few. They are more rock and roll than she’ll ever be. Now, I don’t know their opinions on the president. Mine are favorable. I digress. Pink’s NOT getting inducted this year (2026). Within 5 years? Yes, I’d take that bet. Probably before Jethro Tull, or Alice Cooper (solo). Alice is inducted into the Hall as a band member of the group, Alice Cooper. There is a difference. Alice deserves it, based on his own accomplishments. The same as Phil Collins. I’m glad he’s being honored this year. An amazing musician! Like Alice, he has already been inducted for his participation in the group, Genesis. Not many progressive rock acts are in the Hall. I mentioned, Yes. Pink Floyd was inducted in 1996. Reality is, not everyone inducted is really what you would call rock and roll.

Led Zeppelin is rock and roll, and was inducted back in the 1990s. Cher isn’t rock and roll. No more than Whitney Houston. Both of whom were inducted, along with Dolly Parton. God bless her! But is she a rock and roll act? Madonna! A part of me likes her. The Queen of pop/dance music, not rock and roll. Meatloaf, Emerson, Lake, & Palmer, Bachman Turner Overdrive, not even nominated. Does Grand Funk Railroad deserve it? Of course they do. Sadly, I could go on with more names, such as Supertramp.

My points are made. I can sum this shit up in four words: Private business. Rampant partiality.

One day, I’m sure they will play catch-up and induct those who should have been, by now. Why continue to piss off potential customers? Admit fault. Make amends. Honor Three Dog Night, the way it should have been, decades ago. How many records have they sold since the 1960s? Open the door to King Crimson, and make the world a better place.

In the meantime, if you don’t regularly get upset when other businesses, which operate under the pretense of being a service of society, lack whatever it is that you feel would make it legitimate, I’d suggest looking for it somewhere else.

For those who love the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, hook, line, and sinker, I salute you. Some might say that you are seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. I have dark lenses, mostly due to my being light-sensitive. My thoughts about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are that most people take what they like and leave the rest. Are not political. Intelligent enough to realize things, but simply not giving a shit. So we do see things differently. Deep down, we all enjoy/like music. Attracted somehow, if not just for the money.

End of Article

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Blue-Collar Journalist, Gary Brown, nowadays lives in the great state of Nevada. Besides writing, Gary enjoys attending concerts, staying home watching movies/TV shows, caring for plants, vaping cannabis, reselling Hot Wheels for FUN and profit, and a few days a week of light exercising.

Gary Brown AKA Gary “Uncle G” Brown – Photo Selfie by GB – Everything else Grok (X)