"Little Steven" Van Zandt, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee member, let loose his opinions about the musical legacy of the 80's. While espousing the awesomeness of the video game Rock Band, and how it will create new drummers, he says, "Let this be the deathblow to those evil drum machines hanging around from that bloated era of musical horror we refer to as the '80s."

Van Zandt has already let it be known that he will be pushing for more '60s bands to be inducted into the Rock Hall next year. But these statements leave the impression that he will actively oppose bands who incorporated electronic music into their sound during the '80s (or even beyond). Not exactly what the Rock Hall was hoping for when it restructured the Nominating Committee two years ago.

Thanks, Casper.

Fred Schneider of the B-52's recently spoke out about his band's musical credentials and why he believes they deserve a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"We've done tours with the Pretenders, the Go-Go's, Tom Tom Club, Blondie," Schneider says, rattling off several of B-52's' musical era contemporaries.

"Each time, each band had a new album out, so it was groups from the past with new records," he says. "It wasn't like an oldies tour. Well, except for us."

What most of those groups also have is a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (The Go-Go's the one exception, with the Tom Tom Club in through the back door as members of Talking Heads.)

The B-52's were eligible for the hall in 2004 – 25 years after their debut album appeared – but have so far been ignored by the nominating committee, possibly because their songs were always frothy, fun party music.

"We created our own genre," Schneider notes, which should count for something in Hall of Fame consideration. "We should have been in four years ago. The most recent years, (the acts) who got in are sort of our peers.

"But what can you do? Hopefully I'll be in there (some day) so my mother can have this plaque or something on the mantle.

Actually, the Nominating Committee has not completely ignored the B-52's, but they still haven't made it to the final ballot.

Future Rock Hall projects that the B-52's have a 44% chance for induction.

Neil Diamond has been in the news lately, with the release of his new Rick Rubin-produced album and his cameo on American Idol. So it's not surprising that a reporter asked him about his absence from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The star is disappointed he is continually turned down by the panel - even though he thinks he has made a very significant contribution to the industry.

He says, "It makes me wonder. I've paid my dues, I think, and I think I've done good work. I'd like to be in there with my peers.

"Maybe you just have to keep doing it and I'll get in there some day."

Diamond has been eligible since 1988, and at some point over the past 20 years, the Rock Hall Nominating Committee has seriously discussed his credentials, but he has never appeared on final ballot.

The vast majority of Future Rock Hall voters (87%) are confident that Neil Diamond will one day be inducted.

Thanks, David & Tom