Lets Get Ernie Ball In Hall Of Fame

[Big Poppa]

Knuckleheads and Diehards,

I'm going to try to see if I can round up some support for something that it really important to my family and the team at Ernie Ball. Gettting my father into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

We have tried once and got nowhere. I was thinking of seeing if our forum could create a little groundswell. If you guys and gal's don't feel this is appropiate then just humor me.

It's been 2 1/2 years since my Dad passed away and like many of you who have lost someone close to you they are never far from your thoughts and emotions. I also cant go many hours without thinking of what he created and how his ideas , concepts and determination with no role models enabled him to create products that were used on some of the most important recordings and performances in the last 45 years since Slinky's were introduced.

He was a player. He was a teacher. He was an artist. He was an entrepeneur before it was cool. He was never driven my money, he was driven by a creative fire and a passion for excellence.
He created the strings that were used from the Beatles to Zappa. Stairway to heaven? SLinky's..Sunshine of your love?...Slinkys THe Rolling Stones? SLinky's . ON and on....

Ernie Ball strings were the one constant for more hall of fame inductees than any other string company and we were first. Nobody cared about guitar strings. Rock and Roll strings didnt exist before Ernie.

Shouldnt the important tools and pioneers of rock and rool products be recognised for helping to make that music happen?

Lets see if anyone shares my view and see if so if we can make it happen

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Go for it Big Poppa!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Larry]

I don't know the steps required for this to happen but I'm with you 100% I think this is a great idea.

 

[Sweat]

Hall of Fame

I don't know the steps required for this to happen but I'm with you 100% I think this is a great idea.

This is a great idea just need to know what we formites can do to help.
With some of the acts I have seen get in lately this should be a no brainer.

 

[Axistence]

I'm in! Let's make this happen!

 

[beej]

That's a wonderful idea Sterling. I'm all for it.

What can we do to help?

 

[jazzbo jim]

Knuckleheads and Diehards,



It's been 2 1/2 years since my Dad passed away and like many of you who have lost someone close to you they are never far from your thoughts and emotions.

BP-This Wed will be exactly one year since I lost my Dad-I think of him everyday. I know EXACTLY what you mean. Your dad sounds like he was one heck of a guy.
I agree with your sentiment and if we can help, just say the word.

 

[tristan]

I'm with you !!! ernie ball did so much for history of rock'n roll !!!!

 

[robelinda2]

as if there is any doubt- its a great idea!!!!!

 

[klawn]

Totally deserved, I don't think you will find a lot of people here who do not agree.

 

[roburado]

BP, how do we help?

 

[grumpyoldman]

Give us the word, boss. We're anxiously awaiting our instructions....

 

[fogman]

Sterling,

Your father is without a doubt a huge part of music history and should be remembered and honoured beyond the legacy of his chilldren and great business!
Let us know what we can do to help!

p.s. I can't believe it's been 2.5 years already! I remember clearly the day I heard the news, and it feels like just yesterday.

 

[Quarter]

Hell yea ... tell me how I can help!

 

[MikeVt]

Oh YES! I SOOO agree. Gear has had just as big an influence on the growth and development of Rock and Roll as any writer, and I challenge any writer to claim that they've single handedly had as big an influence as Ernie Ball. Let's go for it...what should we do?

Mike

 

[dmkozak]

Here's the deal.

BP, how do we help?

First, all one has to do is look at the list of people who are not in the R&R HOF to know the "system" and process might not be entirely fair. Plus, rumors in recent years suggest recent nominees most be "known" and "popular" enough to sell tickets to the induction ceremonies and to get people to visit the museum. (Interestingly, I have been looking at the "system" and the process for someone else.)

To start, there is a nominating committee made up of a small number of mostly industry insiders. The good news is these people tend to be older and innovators on their own. (Think Jann Wenner, founder of Rolling Stone magazine, who IS on this nominating committee.) So, one would think Ernie Ball would be known to this group and would be appealing to this group. The nominating committee tends to be fairly broad-minded, although some members are thought to be somewhat opiniated and prejudiced. If Mr. Ball had somehow "offended" one of these members who might harbor a grudge, he might never get nominated. But, in general, the nominees tend to be a fairly wide group of possibilities. TO GET THROUGH THIS FIRST PART, I WOULD SUGGEST FORUM MEMBERS LOOK UP THE MEMBERS OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE ON THE R&R HOF WEB SITE, AND CONTACT THEM TELLING THEM OF MR. BALL'S HUGE AND IRREPLACEABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO AND INFLUENCE ON R&R.

But, the second part may be the biggest problem. There is a group of about 750 actual voters. These people vote on the nominees slated by the nominating committee. Now, there is a set number of inductees each year. So, the top number of vote getters up to the amount of set nominees gets in, so long as everyone has received at least 50% of the total votes cast (the only technical requirement). The problem seems to be these voters are not well educated on the history of R&R or the nominees. (All you have to do is look at the members of the R&R HOF to wonder how anyone gets in.)

If the nominating committee puts Mr. Ball's name on the list, then it would probably require some sort of "publicity" by the Ernie Ball Compan. Possibly, by creating an advertising campaign featuring the history of Ernie Ball and Ernie Ball's contributions to R&R. While designed to sell Ernie Ball products, such an advertising campaign could also serve to educate this 750 member voter mass.

Just a few thoughts.

 

[scottie]

BP,

I've been playing Ernie Ball strings almost as long as I've been playing guitar. Please let us know what we can do to help Ernie Ball get the recognition he deserves.

--scottie

 

[Sigmunds Couch]

I'm not sure as to how the nomination process works but are online petitions acceptable?

If so,

-draft a formal nomination pitch, place it on the EB Home page and other official EB sites and link it to the Ernie Ball Hall of Fame website.
-Pepper the site with stories, facts, history, pics etc. Make the site interesting and fun.
-Recruit Luke, JP, AL, SM, and the other EBMM endorsees to place their endorsements, encouragements on thier respective sites with a link to EBHoF site.
-Lets us knuckleheads place the nomination and the link our websites and other forums (if there really ARE other forums).
-Submit it to the trade rags / and sites.
-Create a poster/ad with the information and the EBHof site and give it to Mr. Albertson to place in his GC's
-Send the ad poster out to the other dealers


There are enough of us about that it should be a slam dunk....

Grass roots push baby. Just my $0.02

 

[lenny]

Just tell us what to do and we will do our best!

 

[dfrady]

I agree with you 110% BP, getting your dad into R&R Hall of Fame sounds Great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!