NO.579
2004/03/17 (Wed)
Prince, Dells Inducted Into Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame
殿堂。 プリンス、デルズ、ジョージ・ハリソン、トラフィックなどが、19回目を迎えるロックンロール・ホール・オブ・フェイム（殿堂）入りを果たし、1５日、ニューヨークのウォルドルフ・アストリア・ホテルでその授賞式が行われた。 プリンスは、3時間におよぶショウのトップバッターとして登場、「レッツ・ゴー・クレイジー」、「サイン・オー・タイムス」、「キス」の3曲を演奏。大好評を博した。彼はまた、ショウの最後、ジョージ・ハリソンへのトリビュート「ホワイル・マイ・ギター・ジェントル・ウィープ」のところでも、参加した。このほかに殿堂入りしたアーティストは、ボブ・シーガー、ＺＺトップ、ジャクソン・ブラウンなど。 プリンスはステージで、「デビュー当初は、かなり（クリエイティヴな）自由を獲得することに執着していた。僕は自分が思った以上に、すばらしい音楽の旅をすることができた。若いアーティストに一言アドヴァイスをするのであれば、精神的な導き（支柱）がなければ、時として、あまりに多くの自由は精神性（ソウル）を失わせることにもなる。若いミュージシャンのみなさんも、このすばらしき音楽の旅が最高のものになるように。旅は終わらないから」と語った。そして、こう付け加えた。「本当の友人や、メントゥアー（恩師、尊敬できる人、師匠）は、自分が給料を払っている人物の中にはいないものだ」 プリンスは、この授賞式の後、ＮＰＧファンクラブのメンバーのために、ニューヨークのクラブ・ブラックでライヴ・パフォーマンスを見せた。 「オー、ホワット・ア・ナイト」や「ステイ・イン・マイ・コーナー」などの大ヒットを多数持つヴェテランＲ＆Ｂグループ、デルズはハイスクール時代の友人同士が現在も同じメンバーの長寿グループ。50年以上の歴史を数える。デルズのメンバー、チャック・バークスデールは、「この賞がオージェイズやマンハッタンズ、ウィスパーズ、チャイライツなどにも与えられればいいと思う」と述べた。さらに、彼らは「私たちはたくさんのヒットをだした。だが、そのほとんどで、私たちは金をもらっていない。だから、今そこにいる皆さん方は我々に印税の借りがあるということだ。我々はみなさんのところに集金にうかがうつもりだ」　この後、彼らは「オー、ホワット・ア・ナイト」を歌った。 『殿堂入り』する条件は、初のレコードリリースから25年以上たっているということ。この条件にあてはまるアーティストが候補としてあげられ、そこからさらにノミネートが絞り込まれ、受賞となる。またビートルズのメンバーのうち、これで、ジョン、ポールにつづいてジョージも獲得。残るはリンゴだけとなった。 http://www.rockhall.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 先輩。 プリンスが若いミュージシャンに向けて、ということでスピーチをした。そうかあ。デビューして、もう25年たつんだ。はやいなあ。デビューしたときは彼が若いミュージシャンだったのに、って、当たり前だ。しかし、「本当の友達は、自分が給料を払っている連中の中にはいない」というのは強烈だ。よほど、今まで痛い目にあったのだろう。 それにしても、このスピーチからは、プリンスも丸くなったなあ、というか、変化したなあ、ということを感じた。あれだけ、クリエイティヴ・フリードムを必死になって獲得しようとして、そして、実際獲得したものの、それでもまだ、ぶつかって、飛び出して、試行錯誤を繰り返してきた。 僕は前回の来日（2002年11月）の時、ずいぶんミュージシャンであることをエンジョイしているなあ、と感じたものだが、こういう心境の変化があったわけだ。妙に、なるほどと思ってしまった。 デルズは1952年頃に結成されたが、1960年以来メンバーは代わっていないという。それも奇跡である。 On the Net: http://www.rockhall.com New York Times: Billboard: Prince Inducted Into Rock and Roll Hall (AP, 03/16/2004 7:41 AM) By David Bauder Prince burst into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Monday with some blistering funk, joined by the regional stew of Bob Seger 's heartland rock, ZZ Top's Texas boogie and Jackson Browne 's California smoothness. George Harrison became the third ex-Beatle inducted for his solo work. British jam band Traffic and the '50s harmony group the Dells were also honored. It was clearly Prince's night, though, as he opened the ceremony with a trio of 1980s hits and came out later to upstage Tom Petty , Jeff Lynne and Harrison's son, Dhani, on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Dressed in a white suit and displaying nimble dance steps, Prince performed three songs that caught the breadth of his work: the rock anthem "Let's Go Crazy," the topical "Sign O' the Times" and funk groove of "Kiss." A restless perfectionist, the Minneapolis-based singer often played every instrument on his discs. He said he was preoccupied early in his career with maintaining his freedom. "I embarked on a journey more fascinating than I could ever imagine, but a word to the wise to the young artists ? without spiritual guidance too much freedom can lead to spiritual decline," he said. He also warned youthful musicians: "A real friend and mentor is not on your payroll." Chart-topping rappers OutKast and soulful singer Alicia Keys both cited Prince as influences. "There are many kings," Keys said. "King Henry VIII, King Solomon, King Tut, King James, King Kong and the three kings. But there is only one Prince." Browne co-wrote "Take it Easy" for the Eagles, then was successful on his own with "Doctor My Eyes," "The Pretender" and "Running on Empty," chronicling the turn of the 1960s utopian dream into the cynical '70s. The "No Nukes" concert organizer has mixed the political with the personal throughout his career. "I want to thank you for allowing me to put my personal politics in my songs," he said. "Music is a very empowering thing. I'm thankful for having had a lifetime doing it. Thank you for this job." Bruce Springsteen inducted Brown, noting with some jealousy that while he and his E Street Band usually drew an audience filled with men ? and not particularly good-looking men ? Browne was a magnet for women. Springsteen called Browne a "bona fide rock 'n' roll sex star." "Jackson was drawing more women than an Indigo Girls show," Springsteen said. Browne performed "The Pretender," paused to thank his manager, then sang "Running on Empty." Seger, who still lives in the Detroit area, burst from regional to national fame with the hits "Night Moves," "Old Time Rock & Roll" and "Like a Rock," the latter a longtime Chevy commercial theme. Fellow Michigan singer Kid Rock inducted Seger, calling him one of music's most overlooked performers. In the Detroit area, Seger is God, Rock said. "Bob Seger's music not only influenced me, it taught me to be proud of where I come from. I still am," he said. "He set the bar for all of us who came from the Midwest." Seger brought up his Silver Bullet Band for their first public performance in nine years. They sang "Turn the Page" and the wedding staple, "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll." Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, two fellow members of the Traveling Wilburys, were on hand to salute Harrison. The guitarist joins John Lennon and Paul McCartney as Beatles also honored for their solo work. Harrison's biggest hit, "My Sweet Lord," came in a burst of pent-up creativity following the Beatles' breakup. He recorded infrequently in the decade before his November 2001 cancer death, but a well-received posthumous disc came out in 2002. "He often said he wasn't pursuing a solo career," Petty said. "He never hired a manager or an agent. He just loved playing music with his friends." For all his solo albums, he was saluted with two group efforts, the Traveling Wilburys tune, "Handle With Care," and the Beatles song, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Hirsute blues-rockers ZZ Top were an early MTV staple with the boogie hits, "Legs" and "Sharp-Dressed Man," helped by the presence of little-dressed women in their videos. Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards gave a semi-coherent induction speech, praising the band's consistency and longevity. Richards wore a colorful headband and what appeared to be a collection of jewelry and fishing lures hanging from his hair. Traffic featured teen prodigy organist Steve Winwood , who later went on to solo success. The pastoral, jazzy Traffic had hits with "Glad" and "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys." Although former Traffic member Dave Mason was inducted, he didn't perform with the band. The Dells, a vocal harmony quintet that hit with "Oh What a Night" in 1955, were the inspiration for the film "The Five Heartbeats." With only one personnel change, a group formed in high school is still performing together more than 50 years later. Dells member Chuck Barksdale said he hoped the hall would open its doors to other vocal groups, like the O'Jays, the Manhattans and the Whispers. Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner also received a lifetime achievement award. Highlights of the awards ceremony will be shown on VH1 on Sunday. ___
Diary Archives by MASAHARU YOSHIOKA

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