Tesla’s founding bassist, Brian Wheat, didn’t hold back when discussing the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in a recent interview on The Seth Williams Show. While acknowledging the Hall’s prestige, he questioned how inductees are chosen and whether Tesla should be considered.
Is the Rock Hall a Popularity Contest?
Wheat was blunt in his assessment: “I think it’s a bit of a popularity contest.” He noted that the Black Crowes, a band he respects and has “loved since day one,” were nominated this year. However, he couldn’t help but wonder why Tesla hasn’t been considered, given their impact on rock music.
He pointed specifically to Five Man Acoustical Jam, Tesla’s 1990 live album, which he argued was groundbreaking. “The thing that [Tesla] did was we had the first successful acoustic live album—before Rod Stewart, before Eric Clapton, before Nirvana.” The album helped spark the ‘unplugged’ trend that became hugely popular in the ’90s. Wheat questioned whether that contribution alone was enough for Hall of Fame recognition, adding, “You can make that argument for a lot of artists that are in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.”
‘Pretty Soon, It’s Not Gonna Mean Anything’
Wheat also brought up Bad Company as an example of a band that should have been inducted sooner. “My question with Bad Company is, why so long? Why have they waited so long? Bad Company should have been in there before a lot of bands.” His comments reflect a broader frustration among musicians and fans who believe some legendary acts are unfairly overlooked while others get fast-tracked.
Like many rockers, Wheat is skeptical of the Hall’s long-term relevance. “Pretty soon it’s not gonna mean shit, because everyone’s gonna be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” he remarked. “There’s gonna be more people in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame than aren’t. [They’ll] have to come up with a new one.”
He joins a long list of artists who have criticized the Hall’s selection process. Even inductees like Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, and Def Leppard have openly questioned the institution’s decisions.
Would He Accept an Induction?
Despite his skepticism, Wheat wouldn’t reject an invitation if it ever came. “If they called and they wanted to put us in there, would I turn it down? No. No,” he admitted. However, he made it clear that his true measure of success lies elsewhere. “Am I gonna be heartbroken if Tesla never gets in the fucking Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? Absolutely not.”
For Wheat, what really matters is Tesla’s lasting connection with fans. “Forty years later, people are still paying their hard-earned dollars to come and see us play by the thousands,” he said. “That’s the one that I’m most proud of—when I look out there and see 2,500 people singing our songs, and there’s three generations of people.”
At the end of the day, awards and accolades might be nice, but for Wheat, the real honor is knowing that Tesla’s music still resonates with fans after all these years.