If you need further proof that election to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is purely political, just read what Journey manager John Baruck told Billboard.
Asked how “Journey [got] past the gatekeepers and into the Hall of Fame on its first nomination,” he said, “We worked for a long time with the people that make those decisions: the voting membership and the fans. But it was also, like, how can you not have a band as popular or as successful as Journey in the Hall of Fame? …”
Yes, just like the Grammy and Academy Awards, there is a lot of behind-the-scenes campaigning.
In addition to Journey, this year’s inductees April 7th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York will be Yes, Joan Baez, ELO, Pearl Jam, Nile Rodgers and the late Tupac Shakur.