Prolific recording bassist Carol Kaye has said she’s “turning down” her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction.
The 90-year-old was set to receive the Musical Excellence Awards at the ceremony later this year; Kaye has played on an estimated 10,000 recording sessions with legends like the Beach Boys, Phil Spector, the Monkees and more.
However, in a Facebook post, Kaye revealed that she wouldn’t be attending this year’s ceremony. “I am declining the [Rock & Roll Hall of Fame] awards show” she wrote, adding that she was “turning it down because it wasn’t something that reflects the work that Studio Musicians do and did in the golden era of the 1960s Recording Hits.”
Kaye continued that she took issue with the ‘Wrecking Crew’ label that she was associated with. The Wrecking Crew were a loose collective of studio musicians in the 60s and 70s who would play on countless Top 40 hits of the time. “You are always part of a TEAM, not a solo artist at all,” she continued in her post.
“There were always 350-400 Studio Musicians (AFM Local 47 Hollywood) working in the busy 1960s, and called that ONLY,” she continued. “Since 1930s, I was never a ‘wrecker’ at all… that’s a terrible insulting name. See Kaye’s full statement below:
This year’s Rock Hall inductees were revealed in April, with The White Stripes, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast and Soundgarden amongst the names being honoured this year.
Bad Company, Thom Bell, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Nicky Hopkins, Carol Kaye, Salt-N-Pepa, Lenny Waronker and Warren Zevon are also being honoured this year.
Though Oasis were part of this year’s longlist, it was revealed the Britpop legends didn’t make the cut – marking the second time they had been snubbed from induction.
Mariah Carey, Phish – who won the fan vote but still won’t be inducted, Billy Idol, The Black Crowes and Joy Division/New Order were also notably snubbed from the induction this year despite making the longlist.
In other news, the Rock Hall chairman has explained why the Hall of Fame won’t be renamed.