The Smiley Smile Message Board

Just curious as to what their rolls were. Did one focus more on lyrics and the other on music? Does anyone know what they each came up with in Here She Comes, Hold On Dear Brother, Leaving this Town and We've Got Love?

Pretty sure Fataar contributed the boss Moog solo on "Leaving". On another note, I think these two guys are shortchanged a bit when it comes to BB history. Did they get inducted into the Hall of Fame with the rest of the guys? If not, what a travesty. But on a whole, I'm sure "people" don't even know the BBs had these two extremely talented guys with them for a while. They add so much to the records they're on; and hearing them harmonize on "Funky Pretty"...its too bad they didn't stick around. It could've been a 7 man super band.

The induction to the R&RHoF is, I think, limited to the 'classic' line up (thus, Peter Gabriel was included with Genesis recently), hence it was Wilson, Wilson, Wilson (deceased), Love & Jardine. I'm guessing that, were they inducted now, you could make a very good case for including David and probably Bruce too.

Who gets acknowledged in the R'n'R HOF has been a point of discussion various times, the most obvious when Smokey Robinson was inducted as a solo artist but the other members of the Miracles (who in many cases co-wrote with Robinson during his time as a Miracle) weren't. I believe the members of the HOF-board issue a suggestion of the individuals that are to be inducted and the groups get to say yes or no. The Rolling Stones for example demanded that the successive guitarists Brian Jones, Mick Taylor and Ron Wood were to be inducted as well as pianist Ian Stewart, who was left out of the original lineup early on in their career. The Temptations have a classic lineup of five, but when they were to be inducted it was decided that longterm member Dennis Edwards were to be inducted as well as the sixth member. Last year all four current members of Metallica as well as two previous bass players (Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted) were inducted. In 1988 it probably was up to Brian, Mike, Carl, Alan and the estate of Dennis to decide whether David, Bruce, Ricky and Blondie were to be acknowledged as well. AGD makes a good call on suggesting David and Bruce would probably be inducted nowadays.

Bruce told me years ago that he'd been inducted as a Beach Boy in a separate, private ceremony. And David played a concert at the RnRHoF and may have been inducted then. I expect Carrie could share more light there...

As I recall David was featured in a Q&A format(not a concert) at the R&R HOF in 2007 after our book's release, and the book was featured and promoted by the Hall in this event and in their gift shop...which is ironic since i railed on them and the BB's in the book for not inducting David in '88. Seems odd when the iconic surf and hot-rod period is deemed era defining and part of why they are inducted, but the guy who was in the band and played on those records is not included. He didn't get the lifetime Grammy either. And never got a gold or platinum record until after the book had raised a ruckus about that too, finally Capitol came through with one for Sounds of Summer and Jeff Foskett made sure he got his rightful Golds for the early LP's. But I don't think he's been "officially" inducted in the R&R HOF to this day, but it was nice they featured him for a day.

Only the original Four seasons, Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi are in the Hall. The others guys and Bob Crewe campaigned to include Joe Long, who replaced Nick on bass in 1965 and played and sang on a lot of hits, but the Hall turned them down. There is (or was) an internet campaign recently to get Joe Long in the Hall, but I don't think it succeeded.

As far as I know and understand it, a group is required to have been together for at least 25 years before being eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame. Bruce was not eligible at the time. He was about two years short. Blondie and Ricky will never be eligible because they were only with the group for a short period of time. The same goes for David.

The criteria for induction is very simple - you become eligible 25 years after the release of your first record (although I hear there are moves afoot to reduce it to 20).

That way they can attract more young'ns.
I hope I don't live to see the day that Justin Beiber is inducted.  :'(

Does anyone have an answer to the original question?  Because it's a good one.  I have no idea, myself.

Got a friend who knows Blondie. I'll see if I can get a few questions answered. I'm thinking that, Ricky being more of a multi-instrumentalist, he probably leaned more towards the music. But that's just me... thinking... which is usually a very bad idea.

It would great to hear what you could find out.

When I saw the Rolling Stones a few years ago I was almost more excited to see Blondie than I was the Stones themselves.

Don't blame you -  saw the Stones in 82 and them rather lame!

That's untrue. The R&R HOF has many inductees who were not in their band or act for 25 yrs. The criteria is solely based on the date of the band's first record release...as AGD stated, nothing more. The overlook of David, Bruce, Blondie and Ricky rests with the band and the Hall. Either could have insisted and it would have happened.

Can the BBs, or BRI, ask the Hall to add someone as part of the group?

From what I've been told what's done is done...the official induction from '88 can't be altered or amended.

Well that blows.  Chalk another one up for ego winning over better judgment.  Sometimes it's hard to like these guys you know?