How George Harrison and The Beach Boys Defied the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Jinx

In the rock sphere, there is an established “curse” that conflates a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction with the end of one’s career. Though that honor is certainly indicative of prestige, most inductees are either “over the hill” or are being inducted posthumously. There haven’t been many inductees who are still at the top of their game when they get the Rock Hall call. George Harrison and the Beach Boys are a part of that elite group. Find out how Harrison and the West Coast rockers defied the Rock Hall jinx, below.

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How George Harrison and The Beach Boys Defied the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Jinx

I got my mind set on you
I got my mind set on you
I got my mind set on you
Got my mind set on you

But it’s gonna take-a money
A whole lotta’ spending money
It’s going to take plenty of it
To do it right, chile

Both the Beatles and the Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock Hall in 1988. While their inductions falling on the same year seems destined for many reasons–i.e. both band’s deeply influential status in rock–the main one involved Harrison and the Beach Boys’ current hits.

Harrison had recently released his cover of James Ray’s “Got My Mind Set On You” at the same time the Beach Boys shared “Kokomo.” Both tracks topped the charts and became each artists’ calling cards. These releases proved you didn’t have to be “past your prime” to be considered for the Rock Hall.

Moreover, both songs came as a surprise in each artists’ career. The success of “Kokomo” came out of nowhere for the Beach Boys (who hadn’t had a No. 1 in over two decades), while Harrison’s cover became the last No. 1 song for any Beatles member. Needless to say, both of these tracks breathed new life into their respective artists’ careers.

Though their late-stage success hasn’t been replicated by many Rock Hall inductees, it proved it was possible to overcome “the curse.” Revisit Harrison’s “Got My Mind Set On You”, below.

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take ya
Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego
Baby, why don’t we go?
Jamaica

Off the Florida Keys
There’s a place called Kokomo
That’s where you wanna go
To get away from it all
Bodies in the sand

(Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images)