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Carthago delenda est

Lars Ulrich commented to the Rolling Stone magazine on this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame thingy. And he was nailing his point down quite hard:

I’m not gonna get into the politics or all that stuff, but I got two words to say: ‘Deep Purple’. That’s all I have to say: Deep Purple. Seriously, people, ‘Deep Purple,’ two simple words in the English language. But definitely, Nirvana is a no-brainer for the first year and I’m glad that Kiss is getting the long-overdue recognition that they deserved for everything that they pioneered, and then I got two words, ‘Deep Purple!’ Did I say that already?

Thanks to Andrey Gusenkov for the info.



30 Comments to “Carthago delenda est”:

  1. 1
    Rock Voorne says:

    Lars appearantly has lost his head and his ears. Deep Purple themselves have said over and over again that they feel not honoured by such a ridicilous institute.

  2. 2
    Lewis Dolgin says:

    The rock and roll hall of fame a big joke! deep purple should be in before metallica or madonna!

  3. 3
    al says:

    old news Lars,this clowns of a magazine don’t even know DP !

  4. 4
    Andy Thompson says:

    Hall of fame ?! Who do they think they are ?!

  5. 5
    Andrzej Dziuniek says:

    It would be an insult to the Deep Purple, because they are like a pantheon of gods. Fuck rock and roll hall of fame !!!

  6. 6
    Deacon Crowley says:

    Right on brothers.
    If you see who has been inducted before its really a huge insult.

  7. 7
    Mark Hodgetts says:

    deep purple family is the hall of fame

  8. 8
    James Gemmell says:

    When I interviewed Ian Gillan on WJRW in October 2012, he said the Hall of Fame nomination was more for the band’s friends and family – that it was important to them. The Hall of Shame, as I call it, is an embarrassment to us Americans. Not the facility itself; I’ve been there, it’s fantastic, you’ll love every second in Cleveland. Until last year, the public vote wasn’t even taken into consideration. And even now, only one band that wins the fan vote each year gets inducted. The rest are chosen by a panel of board (bored?) members who have political and monetary investments in seeing that certain acts – many of whom none of us has ever heard of – get enshrined. It’s certainly not well-thought-out like the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Baseball is like a religion in America, statistics on every nuance of the game , chronicled in glorious texts like the Elias Sports Bureau’s 2014 Baseball Records Book. Sure, there are occasional disagreements about whether a certain player deserves to be enshrined, but EVERY SINGLE PLAYER in the Baseball Hall of Fame was an outstanding player. There are no “garbage” players. Same with the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, another amazing place. Then you have this joke called the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Some idiot on the Hall of Shame’s panel was quoted as calling Purple a “one-hit wonder” band. Absolutely amazing that a group with, arguably, the most talented and classically trained keyboard/organ player ever, could be lumped in with that sentence (Jon Lord), or his replacement, Don Airey – another all-time great whose resume is staggering. Ian Gillan? All he did was sing the part of Jesus in the legendary Jesus Christ Superstar album, and front not only Purple, but Black Sabbath and his own bands. He’s not good enough?! Then you have two of the best blues/hard rock guitarists ever – Ritchie Blackmore and Steve Morse (not to mention, Tommy Bolin) – an accomplished bass player and producer in Roger Glover, etcetera – and no fewer than 50 million certified records (and probably a lot more)…..and they’re a one-hit wonder??? . The truth is, only a small percentage of people under 40 in America listen to rock music, anymore. But everyone older lives and breathes it.

  9. 9
    Sam Williams says:

    So true Mark. Just look at the DP family true.

  10. 10
    henrik h says:

    Ha ha…Carthago delenda est.

    Too cool. Somebody knows their classics!

  11. 11
    Jose Arce says:

    Sod the RRHOF. I’d like Purple to reject it of ever invited.

  12. 12
    paul anderson says:

    although Purple have stated their thoughts on the RRHF, just reading the snippet above, this to me, is highlighting the pathetic politics of the hall of fame, therefore showing it to be a farce, which it is to me now. And with the Kiss thing going on, think it just makes it less important and more arse licking. I think alot of these so called awards are politics or even label driven. An example quite a few years ago, Carlos Santana. Now a great guitarist and musician, dont get me wrong. He suddenly was given accolades and recognition not long before he started having ‘commercial’ success again, where before he was still ‘underground’ as he had been for many years. And recently in UK Elton John had the same, although with beign ‘commercial’ at the time this was happening, he suddenly had a new CD out, and had several programs being shown about him. One great way to promote an album and artist free of charge!! So I think Lars could be being a tad sarcastic here and highlighting the problems. That is my thoughts. As a fan of music, i used to look at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and other such like accolades with interest. I dont now. It is a sham.

  13. 13
    Drdp says:

    In 2015! we will FINALLY see it.
    The real drama comes from WHO is inducted and JUST WHO will perform. Do we invite Simper/Evans? If so we should surly have David & Glenn. Do Nick & Rod stand in to do “HUSH”? Do Cov’ & Hughes do the same with “BURN”? As much as I love the current line-up and Steve Morse, it really will not be right if he performs Smoke On The Water during the suspected performance/finale. That Honor & Right belongs to Ritchie but as we all know he is supremely resistant to these things.This will be next years Drama!

  14. 14
    Paul Flewitt says:

    I agree with Jose…after so long being ignored it’d be huge if all the members, both current and former, told the RRHoF to do one and refuse it…

  15. 15
    Scott W. says:

    Great post James!
    I think what Lars is really trying to say is ” We (Metallica) are in the Hall of Lame so DP should have been in long before us (Metallica)! Lars has the utmost respect for DP, they along with Sabbath, inspired him to pursue a R&Roll career!

  16. 16
    Ivica says:

    Again, “this house”
    ” Keepers of the house”
    look at the names that are involved
    playing and singing
    Deep Purple
    “A Tribute album Machine Head”
    Artists broad musical expression ..
    Metallica, Iron Maiden, Carlos Santana, Joe Bonamassa, Steve Vai, Chad Smith / RHCP / Jimmy Barnes, Joe Elliot / Def Leppard / Duff / GNR / Steve Stevenson, Matt Sorum / The Cult, GnR.. /Brad Whitford /Aerosmith/Gibby Haynes,Joe Satriani,Sammy Hagar and Michel Antony /ex Van Halen/ The Flaming Lips, Black Label Socety ….
    about the impact and importance

  17. 17
    oleg says:

    DP, Zeppelin, Sabbath, Uriah Heep are most important hard rock bands forever and influenced each hard rock/ metal band by their special sound and etc.

  18. 18
    Chip says:

    They don’t care…but in the future…it would be a shame if they weren’t inducted. It’s a legacy thing. And it is ridiculous and regardless of how much RS sucks….it would be good for the band to get them inducted.

  19. 19
    Kidd Purple says:

    two words: DEEP PURPLE !?!!!!

  20. 20
    Jack says:

    I truly appreciate Lars’ words, claiming for a Deep Purple induction, but to be honest, the band’s too big to be part of this mockery named Rock and Roll Hall of Shame. Deep Purple´s too big!! (Hey didn’t I just said that?) Ritchie Blackmore clearly stated “I couldn’t care less”. And also…Rolling Stone magazine is a stinky snobby piece of rancid shit!!

  21. 21
    Jack says:

    Michael Jackson? Madonna? How could you take that RRHOF seriously with those names included? What a joke!!!

  22. 22
    Deeperpurps says:

    Forget the whole RRHOF thing! It is driven by HYPE, politicking and money. REAL artists such as Deep Purple do not need validation by a sham institution such as it.

  23. 23
    Jack says:

    They were making too many waves of the so called “The Big 4” (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth & Anthrax), but you know? The Real and Original Big 4 are Zeppelin, Purple, Sabbath and Heep!! ‘Nuff Said!! These bands are sacred!!!

  24. 24
    Les Hedger says:

    They are one of the biggest selling Rock artists of all time!! They have more talent in their little fingers than most of those already inducted have in their entire bodies. Rolling Stone magazine hasn’t been relevant since the 1970’s. DP doesn’t need them!!

  25. 25
    al says:

    @23

    different periods Jack,don’t get caught in the hype and journalistic names.Big3,big4,big5 whatever!

  26. 26
    M Other Black says:

    Make it ‘Carthaginem esse delendam’, and I could agree 🙂

  27. 27
    Ivano Bosello says:

    Lars is European, and he understand…

  28. 28
    HZ says:

    RRHOF is irrelevant institution nowadays, just like RS magazine… It’s merely American lowbrow thing. 🙂

    I’m glad for Lars and Metallica that they’re doing good in USA as well, it’s good for sake of the business, but Deep Purple is European thing today, and will be even if they disband tomorrow. Americans of 70s loved it, but pop commoners of today (read RRHOF and RS mediocre scribblers) are quite limited indeed.

    Hopefully DP never enter RRHOF, nor Blackmore as artist, even though he inspired many, not to say a lot of inductees and winners. In the end such development might help this “institution” to be placed where it belongs – side by side with America’s Got talent. 🙂

  29. 29
    MacGregor says:

    Jack@23- Yes indeed, Uriah Heep are in that 4 when we are talking the early 70’s! Demon’s & Wizards & The Magicians Birthday are superb mind blowing albums, Look At Yourself also has some classics on it!! Ken Hensley is a very under rated songwriter, not to mention his multi instrumental prowess! Those 4 bands were often featured together back in ‘the good old days’! Ah nostalgia eh, can’t beat that feeling! Cheers!

  30. 30
    RB says:

    It’s much more than 50 million. It’s regularly quoted that Purple have sold in excess of 100 million, but I remember when I bought the California Jam on VHS back in the 80s the blurb on the back stated it was closer to 140 million. Bands who have sold far less and had less influence are inducted by this ridiculous institution so the whole process shouldn’t be taken too seriously, the RRHOF just isn’t worth it.

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