Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament believes that Radiohead were disrespected last year when they were not inducted first ballot into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Radiohead will be inducted though into the class of 2019 next year alongside Def Leppard, The Cure, Janet Jackson, Stevie Nicks, Roxy Music, and The Zombies. Alternative Nation transcribed Ament’s comments from a new SiriusXM Pearl Jam Radio show.
“Okay, let’s just talk about how the hell Radiohead did not get in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year on the first ballot. That is insane to me. It leads me to believe that maybe some of those people are still smoking whatever they were smoking back in the 60’s, like the real deal stuff. I don’t know if Radiohead is going show up, I think there was some talk that they might not show up. I think I heard that maybe Colin was just going to show up and play bass, which would be great to. Here is a great bass heavy song by Radiohead, it is called the National Anthem.”
A 2017 interview with Rolling Stone hinted at multiple members not being interested in showing up for an induction ceremony, outside of bassist Colin Greenwood, who said he would show up and play a bass version of “Creep” alone if his bandmates refused to attend.
“It’s a bit like having the free bus pass in the UK when you reach a certain age,” said drummer Phil Selway. “Blimey. Have we got to that point? God knows [if we’ll attend]. We’d have to sit down and talk about it, but it’s probably not at the top of my list of things to do. But who knows? I don’t know.”
Guitarist/keyboardist Jonny Greenwood added, “I don’t care. Maybe it’s a cultural thing that I really don’t understand. I mean, from the outside it looks like … it’s quite a self-regarding profession anyway. And anything that heightens that just makes me feel even more uncomfortable.”
Guitarist Ed O’Brien said, “I don’t want to be rude about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because for a lot of people it means something, but culturally I don’t understand it. I think it might be a quintessential American thing. Brits are not very good at slapping ourselves on the back. It seems very show-biz and I’m not very show-biz. We haven’t even been asked. I don’t want to be rude. But if you ask me what I’d rather be doing that night, I’d rather be sitting at home in front of the fire or going to a gig.”
For his part, singer Thom Yorke added, “It wouldn’t be the first place … don’t ask me things like that. I always put my foot in my mouth.”
Alone in relative enthusiasm was bassist Colin Greenwood. “I’d be grateful if we got in,” he said. “Look at the other people that have been inducted. I don’t know if everyone else will go, though. It might be me just doing bass versions of everything like, ‘Come on, you know this one!’ I’d have to play the bass part to ‘Creep’ five times.”
