Sabbath and Pistols make Hall of Fame

They called the institution meaningless, irrelevant and geriatric — and now they’re part of it. The Sex Pistols and Black Sabbath, two bands that have criticized the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, were announced yesterday as official inductees. They round out a list that includes Blondie, Lynyrd Skynyrd and jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, founders of A&M Records, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in the non- performer category. The ceremony is scheduled for March 13 at Manhattan’s Waldorf- Astoria hotel.

Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after releasing their first record. Critics of the hall had accused it of bypassing Black Sabbath, the band that helped create heavy metal, in favour of safer, more palatable acts. Singer Ozzy Osbourne has frequently expressed disdain for the hall, calling it “ irrelevant” and “ meaningless” and asking to be removed from consideration.

Equally surprising are the Sex Pistols, who kick- started the punk movement in the late 1970s. It seems unlikely that the band would obey the unwritten hall of fame rules of showing up, playing a few songs and generally behaving. Ruminating over his possible induction a few years ago, singer Johnny Rotten said, “ It’s such a geriatrics’ ball, so smug and self- congratulatory. I’ll tell you this much: I ain’t going.”

Miles Davis becomes the first jazz musician to be inducted as a performer, though other jazz artists have been included in the Early Influences category.