Alice Cooper: Not ‘the Peter Rose of rock’ anymore

“It got to the point where I was saying, ‘OK, I’m the Pete Rose of rock ‘n’ roll!’ So now that it’s a reality, it’s a different take on it,” he tells Billboard . “Now I sit there and go, ‘Wow. With any hall of fame, there are always going to be arguments about who belongs in and who doesn’t, and there will typically be outrage about people who have been overlooked. We’ve got to really get up and play, and assume the position of being in the Hall of Fame.’ It’ll be great.” Cooper says the only time he was upset about not being on the ballot was in 2009, when Kiss was nominated before him. Five other musical acts will.

It was announced today that the pair have been drafted into the organisation, along with Darlene Love, Dr. John and Tom Waits. LL Cool J is still waiting. Geils Band, Donna Summer and Chic. Diamond, Alice Cooper, Darlene Love, Dr. John and Tom Waits will be enshrined in the Cleveland hall. “You know it crosses your mind, but then you think of all the guys who aren’t in there, some of them before you,” he said. Pianist Leon Russell , the first recipient of the new Award, has been an in-demand session performer since the ’60s, and lately recorded an album of duets with Elton John. The third time was the charm for Love, who had been nominated twice before. “You realize that it’s a waiting game.” Other eligible musicians for induction this year, like Bon Jovi, LL Cool J and Donna Summer, will have to wait until next year.  

Tulsan Leon Russell was honored with a musical excellence award, previously the sideman category. Meanwhile, people like LL Cool J got left out in the cold. All were nominated but denied entry into the hall for 2011. Unlike a lot of early hip-hop crossovers, LL came from a background that was heavily focused on lyricism (rather than samples or one-off novelties). Are we invisible here, or what?’ ” Cooper, along with Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Darlene Love and Tom Waits are the class of 2011, who will be inducted on March 14 in New york. Among the acts not making the cut this time: First-time nominee Bon Jovi, as well as multiple nominees LL Cool J, Donna Summer, the Beastie Boys, J.