Current:Home > FinanceRolling Stone founder Jann Wenner removed from Rock Hall leadership after controversial comments-InfoLens
Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner removed from Rock Hall leadership after controversial comments
View Date:2024-12-23 11:57:35
NEW YORK (AP) — Jann Wenner, who founded Rolling Stone magazine and was a co-founder of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, has been removed from the hall’s board of directors after making comments that were seen as denigrating Black and female musicians.
“Jann Wenner has been removed from the Board of Directors of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation,” the hall said Saturday, a day after Wenner’s comments were published in a New York Times interview.
A representative for Wenner, 77, did not immediately respond for a comment.
Wenner created a firestorm doing publicity for his new book “The Masters,” which features interviews with musicians Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townshend and U2’s Bono — all white and male.
Asked why he didn’t interview women or Black musicians, Wenner responded: “It’s not that they’re inarticulate, although, go have a deep conversation with Grace Slick or Janis Joplin. Please, be my guest. You know, Joni (Mitchell) was not a philosopher of rock ’n’ roll. She didn’t, in my mind, meet that test,” he told the Times.
“Of Black artists — you know, Stevie Wonder, genius, right? I suppose when you use a word as broad as ‘masters,’ the fault is using that word. Maybe Marvin Gaye, or Curtis Mayfield? I mean, they just didn’t articulate at that level,” Wenner said.
Wenner founded Rolling Stone in 1967 and served as its editor or editorial director until 2019. He co-founded the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which was launched in 1987.
In the interview, Wenner seemed to acknowledge he would face a backlash. “Just for public relations sake, maybe I should have gone and found one Black and one woman artist to include here that didn’t measure up to that same historical standard, just to avert this kind of criticism.”
Last year, Rolling Stone magazine published its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and ranked Gaye’s “What’s Going On” No. 1, “Blue” by Mitchell at No. 3, Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life” at No. 4, “Purple Rain” by Prince and the Revolution at No. 8 and Ms. Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” at No. 10.
Rolling Stone’s niche in magazines was an outgrowth of Wenner’s outsized interests, a mixture of authoritative music and cultural coverage with tough investigative reporting.
___
Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
veryGood! (17319)
Related
- Powerball winning numbers for November 11 drawing: Jackpot hits $103 million
- Drivers are more likely to hit deer this time of year: When, where it's most likely to happen
- Judge to hear arguments as Michigan activists try to keep Trump off the ballot
- Idaho mother, son face kidnapping charges in 15-year-old girl's abortion in Oregon
- Glen Powell responds to rumor that he could replace Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible'
- How did AFC North – with four playoff contenders – become NFL's most cutthroat division?
- Liberal and moderate candidates take control of school boards in contentious races across US
- Store worker killed in apparent random shooting in small Iowa town; deputy shoots suspect
- Ariana Grande's Brunette Hair Transformation Is a Callback to Her Roots
- Kansas officials begin process of restoring court information access after ‘security incident’
Ranking
- Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul stirs debate: Is this a legitimate fight?
- A November meteor shower could be spectacular. Here's when to watch and where to look.
- 3 charged with running sex ring that catered to elected officials, other wealthy clients
- 198-pound Burmese python fought 5 men before capture in Florida: It was more than a snake, it was a monster
- Man killed by police in Minnesota was being sought in death of his pregnant wife
- Olympic skater's doping saga drags on with hearing Thursday. But debacle is far from over.
- Tennessee’s long rape kit processing times cut in half after jogger’s 2022 killing exposed delays
- 3 charged with running sex ring that catered to elected officials, other wealthy clients
Recommendation
-
Certifying this year’s presidential results begins quietly, in contrast to the 2020 election
-
More Bukele critics join effort seeking to nullify El Salvador leader’s candidacy for re-election
-
How did AFC North – with four playoff contenders – become NFL's most cutthroat division?
-
Patrick Dempsey named People's Sexiest Man Alive for 2023: 'I peaked many years ago'
-
Blake Snell free agent rumors: Best fits for two-time Cy Young winner
-
So you want to be a Guinness World Records title holder? Here's what you need to know
-
House Republicans will subpoena Hunter and James Biden as their impeachment inquiry ramps back up
-
Patrick Dempsey named People's Sexiest Man Alive for 2023: 'I peaked many years ago'