Ian Paice: ‘Deep Purple Hall of Fame induction could be a punch-up’

Deep Purple rocker Ian Paice fears the group have been left out of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for so long because there are too many members to induct.
The fact that the heavy rock legends have failed to make it into the Ohio museum has become a longstanding music industry joke, but drummer Paice accepts it might just be too complicated to include the group’s past and present members at a ceremony.
“Who would they induct?” Paice asks Classic Rock magazine. “There have been so many members of this band, even if they say it will be core members, who would it be? You also have to bear in mind, that if some people are inducted together, it could end in a punch-up.
“I don’t need to tell anyone certain key members and former members of this band do not get on. Personally, I think they would be better off inducting us individually. That avoids the problem… It could be a mess.”
And Paice also fears Deep Purple have become an embarrassment for Hall of Fame bosses, who have snubbed the band year after year, while inducting acts like Madonna, the Beastie Boys and Grandmaster Flash.
“The Hall of Fame should be embarrassed for not inducting us already,” he adds. “Look at some of the non-entities who’ve got in. I won’t name them, but just have a look at some of those names, and you’ll know who I mean. What have they ever done for rock ‘n’ roll? Nothing. Having these artists in before Deep Purple undermines what it is supposed to represent.”
Deep Purple are on the ballot for induction in 2016, alongside The Cars, Chic, Chicago, Cheap Trick, Janet Jackson, Chaka Khan, Los Lobos, Steve Miller, Nine Inch Nails, N.W.A, The Smiths and Yes. The official shortlist will be announced in the new year.
This year’s inductees included Green Day, Lou Reed and Ringo Starr.