Drummer Ian Paice of legendary British hard rockers DEEP PURPLE — who have been eligible for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for two decades now — has told Classic Rock magazine that a hypothetical induction of the band’s surviving members “could end in a punch-up.”
PURPLE was recently nominated for Hall Of Fame inclusion for a third time, having been passed over in both 2013 and 2014.
The inductees to the 2016 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame will be announced on Thursday, December 17, four months prior to the induction ceremony, which will take place in New York City this coming April.
Paice tells Classic Rock about the possibility of his band finally getting inducted: “Well, who would they induct? There have been so many members of this band, even if they say it will be core members, who would it be?
“You also have to bear in mind, that if some people are inducted together, it could end in a punch-up. I don’t need to tell anyone certain key members and former members of this band do not get on. Personally, I think they would be better off inducting us individually. That avoids the problem.”
According to Paice, there could be additional problems if DEEP PURPLE is asked to perform at the ceremony.
He says: “As for playing live, again who would be involved? You’d have the same situation as for an induction. This one won’t play with that one — it could be a mess.
“The Hall Of Fame should be embarrassed for not inducting us already. Look at some of the non-entities who’ve got in. I won’t name them, but just have a look at some of those names, and you’ll know who I mean. What have they ever done for rock ‘n’ roll? Nothing. Having these artists in before DEEP PURPLE undermines what it is supposed to represent.”
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They don’t have to attend the ceremony to get the award. If they think they’ll get into a fisticuffs, they shouldn’t go. The Sex Pistols and Guns N’ Roses didn’t go, and only Sammy Hagar attended from Van Halen. They were all still inducted.
I’m sure the Hall has learned from the experience of trying to get Creedence Clearwater Revival to perform together, and will do their homework when assembling the performance lineup.