VH1's Rock Honors: A Hard Rock Fan's Hall of Fame?

Tonight, VH1 is broadcasting the 2008 version of the Rock Honors series. This is the third edition of the broadcast, and over the first couple of years it was interesting that most of the honorees were notable Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snubs. Some feel that Rock Honors serves as an alternate award to the Hall of Fame, that perhaps better reflects the fans' hard rock heroes.

In 2006, Rock Hall snubs KISS, Def Leppard and Judas Priest were all honored (as well as Hall of Famers Queen). In 2007, three more Hall of Fame outsiders, Heart, Genesis, and Ozzy Osbourne were featured (ZZ Top too). Going in a different direction this year, the show focuses exclusively on The Who (inducted into the Rock Hall in 1990).

It's not hard to imagine that future years of Rock Honors could pay respects to Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden, Rush, Motörhead and others who probably aren't going to get much attention from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame anytime soon.