The Pretty Things: Rock Stars in The Rock Hall of Fame?

When it comes to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame I’m a vocal critic of how they continue to induct (& Nominate) 1960s originated rock acts. This year we've see a fair few (Steppenwolf, The Zombies, Joan Baez, etc) being nominated despite not necessarily deserving to be in the hall.

So that made me think ‘Have they ran out of credible 1960s artists to induct?’ The answer I thought would be yes, I think the Monkees deserve a nomination not an induction, but there is one act who it is amazing have not yet been inducted.

They were formed by a Rolling Stone, they were admired by David Bowie and were friends with Bob Dylan, those 3 things alone should of inducted them in the 60s-obsessed hall voter's eyes.

Photo Credit: Derek Jensen

I’m talking about The Pretty Things who were one of the best acts of the 1960s, who helped form the sounds of Psychedelic Rock, Proto-Punk and also had the first concept album in rock.

So let’s say why they belong in the hall.

Influence

The Pretty Things are neither The Beatles nor the Stones, but they were still an influential band. Probably the biggest person to name check them is David Bowie who was heavily influenced by vocalist Philip May’s vocal style.

The band also influenced a lot of UK 1970s punk,, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Faces, Roxy Music, Alice Cooper and Tame Impala have all mentioned The Pretty Faces as influences. 

Traffic are also a band who were influenced by The Pretty Things

Music

Did they create good enough music to induct them? Well let's put it like this, they created psychedelic albums to rival Love, The Doors and so many more

I’d recommend their Get The Picture?, S.F. Sorrow and Parachute albums to anyone. Each of them are fantastic moments in Rock and each are  a perfect example of either psychedelic rock or garage rock.

S.F. Sorrow their most critically acclaimed album.

However ignore their albums and you still have a discography worthy of induction. Listen to Rosalyn, Midnight to Six Man and Come See Me to hear perfect examples of the Garage Rock/Freakbeat sound they created in the mid 60s.

If psychedelic is more your taste then put on Deflecting Grey, Private Sorrow and Talkin’ About The Good Times. 

And the band is still going too, and they're putting out better albums than The Rolling Stones are at least.

The band in 2016.

Legacy

What the hell do I mean by legacy? I mean how do they hold up all these years later, but also I mean fame, credibility and also all the odd bits that aren't music or influence.

As far as fame goes they are practically unknown to the wider audience, people only know of them because they are music lovers or because of The Rolling Stones connection, however they are more known nowadays then they were at their creative peak in the 1960s, and an induction would place them rightfully in the public eye.

Despite the lack of fame, critics loved them, and they still do. Check out any sites' review of their classic albums and singles, and you'll find acclaim to be synonymous with The Pretty Things.

The band has had over 20 members over it's lifetime

So what about other bits and pieces? Well… 

They appeared in court on 27 separate occasions in 1965, and they also got arrested for pulling out a sawn off shotgun mid way through the gig.

The band even got banned from New Zealand and Australia after trying to light their plane on fire mid air. Oh and they also wore long hair far before The Beatles.

But theres also their wildcard that is there best chance, Dick Taylor, their guitarist, was a founding member of the Rolling Stones, oh yeah, Bob Dylan also name checked the band in Tombstone Blues.

Their best single

So do they belong in the hall?

Influence: 3/5

Music: 4/5

Legacy: 4/5

If you're asking me, yes.