Groups or individuals are qualified for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Nominees should have demonstrable influence and significance within the history of rock and roll.
Four categories are recognized (as of 2000):
-
- Performers
- Musical Excellence (Influencers)
- Early Influences
- The Ahmet Ertegun Award (formerly Non-Performers)
- Former Categories include Sidemen and Singles, Most Sidemen and Backing Members have been left out of inductions since the beginning and Singles category was only in 2018. A good link to snubbed members of inducted bands is here: Snubbed Members of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Artists Read the comments too for a complete list.
With that we propose the following list that absolutely, positively should be a part of the Rock Hall.
Iron Maiden
Just replace 40+ years in the description (instead of For 35 years, put For 40+ years) (also add) They even have their own font (metal lord) and screams Rock louder than an Eddie T-Shirt!- Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins
If you haven’t heard his hits, you heard a band cover them! Screamin Jay is known as the pioneer of Shock Rock. One of his songs is in the Rock Halls top songs that shaped Rock and Roll so get him in the Rock Hall!! - Billy Idol
From the London punk scene in the late 70’s Billy made it HUGE in the 80’s with his snarling punk attitude and rock hooks. He has multiple #1 billboard hits, awards and he still records and tours today. 
Weird Al Yankovic
The leader of rock parody and always on the cutting edge of pop music this icon cannot be overlooked. Since 1979, “Weird Al” Yankovic has carved a unique career as rock and roll’s premier satirist. Weird Al has created and solidified his own essential niche in rock music, and it’s high time he be honored. He also has his own induction site here: https://www.dohtem.com/al/rockhall/- The Bangles
All Female and one of the most successful rock groups of the 80’s. The Bangles still tour today and have been featured in many movie soundtracks for decades. Their songs remain relevant today as they were when released. - Connie Francis
CONNIE FRANCIS was the ME TOO of the late 50’s till 70’s before it was cool. She paved the way for many female artists with her chart topping hits both on Billboard and internationally. Her song “Where the Boys Are” was a hit that became a movie and introduced the concept of Spring Break! Her songs lead her to star in movies and television. She has recorded songs in 9 languages. 
Devo
Are we not men worthy of Rock Hall fame? These guys were one-of-a-kind, and amongst the great innovators in rock history. They continue to this day in TV shows, animated and commercials we see everyday.-
INXSHailing from Australia INXS has numerous hits, platinum albums and every award on the planet, except and induction to the rock hall! Never considered and totally snubbed this band is a major influence to many bands that came after them. Still touring and recording with singers after the unexpected death of their original lead singer in 1997 Michael Hutchence.
HOME of Induct INXS | Get INXS Nominated & Inducted @Rock Hall. Sign at Induct INXS.com | Induct INXS - The Runaways
The Runaways are one of the first all female bands and has had a HUGE influence on most modern female (and male) bands to come along since. The members such as Joan Jett and Lita Ford have gone on to have long successful careers, along with the other members. Major motion pictures and documentaries have been made about them. They are still currently being played on radio. - Supertramp
A British Prog Rock band that dominated the airwaves in the 70’s and 80’s with multiple top 10 singles. Their songs have endured through the decades, often in soundtracks and covered by modern artists to this day. Are we nothing but a dreamer to get them in the Rock Hall? Bloody Well Right we are! - The Smiths
Morrissey and Johnny Maher were smart, enigmatic and fun and the music they created helped lay the groundwork for independent music and alternative rock in the 1980s and ’90s. - Gordon Lightfoot
Prolific Songwriter has had many top hits with his songs of tales of love and historic events. Successfully heard the world over his songs have been covered by many of the worlds most renown artists about Lovers, Loneliness, Trains, Shipwrecks, Rivers and Highways. 
Mott The Hoople
Some of the biggest rock songs and most covered rock songs in history come out of this band along with Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson among others. A Glam Band from the 70’s their songs have survived through decades and are always heard on soundtracks, streaming, and covers. A huge influence to many artists who came after them they are long overdue for the hall!- SugarHill Gang
Founders of Hip Hop and Rap. This pioneering group inaugurated the recorded history of rap music with their single “Rapper’s Delight”, a multi-platinum seller in 1979. First Rap to appear on America Bandstand. - Tom Jones
British Pop Star that sang hits for James Bond and many other movies. He has 36 top 40 hits, 19 in the top 10. Still a sex symbol and recording artist, he has sold more than 100 million records over the last 6 decades and was so popular he had his own TV show. Recognised by many Rock Stars and the influence of generations of Rock Stars he was knighted in 2006 for his contribution to music and now is Sir Tom Jones. - Tommy James and the Shondells
Eligible since 1991 and their hits including 2 #1 hits and 12 others in the top ten are covered again and again its a surprise that these guys have never been considered to the Rock Hall. They did it all from Bubble Gum to Psychedelic and are a straight forward rocking band. Still pops up from time to time on tours today. This is a cornerstone band that has been overlooked way too long. - ACCEPT
German Heavy Metal Band that played an important role in the development of Speed Metal, directly influencing bands like Metallica. They have sold millions of albums worldwide and are still recording and touring to this day. A favorite of Guitar Hero and many of their songs are featured in movies and TV shows. - Saxon
Part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal they are one of Europes biggest acts, also having singles in the US, Japan and other countries in the world. 
Scorpions
German Heavy Metal Rockers have sold over 100 million albums worldwide. They have performed all over the world including Soviet Russia. The songs are always well written and they have received many awards worldwide. A major player in Guitar hero their songs will live on well into the future. Lets Rock them like a Hurricane into the Rock Hall.- SWEET
British Glam Rockers had over a decade of hits all over the world and continually are played on radio today. Many hits are still being covered and used in many hit movies. The influence of this band is immeasurable and their induction is long overdue. - Slade
English Hard Rock / Glam band whose hits are still being copied and songs still played on the radio. - Thin Lizzy
Major international Rock Band whose hits still played regularly on hard rock and Classic Rock radio stations. - Humble Pie
Humble Pie formed as a supergroup in the end of the 60s and went on to produce music that influenced many artists and top rock hits that are played to this day. Members were entertaining and extremely talented that went on to do so much more in the rock industry. - Slayer
Who hasn’t gone to a concert in the last 30 years and heard someone in the crowd yell “Slayer” for a request. Godfathers of thrash metal are two time Grammy winners and the winners of multiple music awards has made them the must have in every music fans collection. - The Replacements
Post-punk poets from Minneapolis blazed the trail for every alternative-rock band to come along since. Gets my vote on the strength of “Here Comes a Regular” alone. - Toto
Awarded several Grammy awards and in the Musicians hall of fame this band has always been around selling millions of albums. - The B-52s
New Wave innovators from Athens, Ga. “Love Shack” baby! 
The Carpenters
Siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter lit up the charts with number one hits in the 60s and 70s. Stopping in 83 with the sudden death of Karen their songs still endure to this day. Covered by many and influencing many artists The Carpenters are still considered one of the top greatest duos of all time. Rolling Stone has Karen as one of the greatest vocalists of all time. In all the Hall of Fames except this one, and long overdue!- Jethro Tull
Formed in 1967 with their flute playing front man Ian Anderson Jethro Tull has been overlooked for too long by the Rock Hall. Songs like Aqualung, Teacher, Bungle in the Jungle and others are true classic rock and are known worldwide. These grammy winners are still touring to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary and have a new studio album coming out. - Joe Cocker
Dude was at Woodstock. One of rock’s great interpreters. His gritty rendition of “With a Little Help From My Friends” is more memorable than the Beatles’ original. And his cover of Randy Newman’s “You Can Leave Your Hat On” is a bona fide classic. - Motley Crue
Hard living band since 1981 that continues to influence Rock and Roll today with radio and reality shows. Everyone from babies to Grannies know this band. - The Raspberries
Eric Carmen and the boys burned hot and bright in their short time together and left us some of the best pop-rock music ever. Besides, Bruce Springsteen thinks they should be inducted into the Rock Hall, and who are we to argue with The Boss? Wally Bryson is an influence to Slash from Nominated Guns and Roses . - The Guess Who
“American Woman,” “These Eyes,” “No Sugar Tonight.” One of the great ’60s pop-rock outfits. - J. Geils Band
Who doesn’t know their song centerfold? Nominated once for the 2010 inductions, they were snubbed. The wooba gooba with the green teeth, needs to be let in. - Los Lobos
Their cover of Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” put them on the commercial map. But these L.A. rockers are a creative force in their own right and one of the best live bands in rock. - Motörhead
Motörhead’s overwhelmingly loud and fast style of heavy metal was one of the most groundbreaking styles the genre had to offer in the late ’70s. Though the group’s leader, Lemmy Kilminster, had his roots in the hard-rocking space rock band Hawkwind, He left taking the Progressive Space rock and melting it in with Biker Punk rock to be the first metal band to harness that energy and, in the process, they created speed metal and thrash metal. Formed in June 1975 they have sold over 16 million albums worldwide. - Jan and Dean
We all know the songs Dead Mans Curve and Little Old Lady From Pasadena, besides the other iconic songs the duo of W. Jan Berry and Dean Torrence sang with the iconic sixties west coast sound. Active from 1958 till Jans death in 2004 they toured and recorded, and went on to produce rock music through the decades. Known for an anti-establishment attitude toward the music industry they still recorded their music with a high level of craftsmanship. 
Twisted Sister
I don’t know anyone who has not heard of their well-known hits Were Not Gonna Take It and I Wanna Rock.
Dee Snider should be in the Rock Hall because he testified against the PMRC alone! (Along with John Denver and Frank Zappa)- THE TUBES
Majorly Influential since 1975 this band is considered to be one Rocks most creative masters of lyrics for the Rock/New Wave and hard rock genre. Still touring the band has survived to this day. - Uriah Heap
One the most influential bands of the 4 cornerstones of Heavy Metal and an AOR radio favorite. They have been an influence to many progressive rock bands and vocalists. Their induction cannot be overlooked.
Bonus Tracks!!!
UFO
Heavy British Rock Band with many influential members, this band cannot be overlooked or its “lights out”. The Band continues to this day to release critically acclaimed albums.- Leslie Gore
At just 17 she had iconic hits like It’s My Party and You Don’t Own Me. Her songs have been trailblazing for women in Rock. She’s way overdue for induction. - Mariah Carey
The Songbird Supreme with a 5 octave voice has been on the charts for over 3 decades. Too many awards to list here she has sold over 200 million records worldwide, making her one of the biggest selling artists in music history. Carey has spent 82 weeks at the number-one position on Billboard Hot 100, the greatest number for any artist in US chart history and accumulated 19 number-one singles. Versatile singer and actress we will hear from her for decades to come. - Matthew Sweet
Matthew has had many popular releases and has been featured on TV and Movie soundtracks. His original and unique style has won him legions of fans and praises from critics since the late 80s. - The Monkees
Who can’t resist loving the TV band that made many top 40 songs from the late 60’s? These guys still influence lives to this day. The Mikes are still touring, and still major producers in the business. If you google “Monkees Influence” you will see pages about their influence in Rock and Roll, videos and Hollywood. Sadly they have been on our list for so long we have lost 2 members since we started this list: Davy Jones and Peter Tork. Lets get them in before they are all dead! - Johnny Rivers
In the 60s and 70s radio hits always had Johnny Rivers songs on the charts, many to hit #1. His songs have been performed and covered by many bands and are featured in TV and movies till this day. - Blue Oyster Cult
This Rock band sold out stadiums, and still sells shows out to this day. BOC started in 1967 and had chart toppers throughout the 70s and into the 80’s. Induct them before Godzilla comes out of Lake Erie for you. - The Cult
The Cult has had many hits from the Goth/Punk/Rock British band. The Cult have had various line-ups; the longest-serving members are vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy the band’s two songwriters. Their popularity is worldwide and still requested on radio and many online streaming services. - Sir Douglas Quintet
The Sir Douglas Quintet was an American rock band, formed in San Antonio in 1964. Formed by Doug Sahm, They had their first hit in 1965 mixing R&B with Tex Mex and psychedelic rock. The Sir Douglas Quintet is considered a pioneering influence in the history of rock and roll for incorporating Tex-Mex and Cajun styles into rock music. Many of their hits are featured in movie soundtracks from 1967 easy rider to today. - Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night scored a succession of 21 hit singles, including eleven Top Tens, and twelve consecutive gold albums from 1969 to 1975, thanks to the slick, sometimes soulful vocal harmonies of singers Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron, and Cory Wells and an excellent ear for quality material. Their vocal harmonies and pop licks have influenced many vocal bands in rock and pop till today.
MY ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION SPEECH FOR CHICAGO
The year was 1966, and the place was Chicago’s DePaul University. That was where a saxophone, clarinet, and flute player named Walter Parazaider got together with a drummer named Danny Seraphine, a guitar player and singer named Terry Kath, a trumpet player named Lee Loughnane, and a trombone player named James Pankow. Then in 1967, they met a piano player and a singer named Robert Lamm, from Chicago’s Roosevelt University, who was performing at a local night club, and they asked him to join their band, which he did. The band would be called The Big Thing, and The Big Thing would play on the Midwest club circuit, building a following. An engagement during the second week of December 1967 proved to be an important gig. The Big Thing was an opening act at Barnaby’s in Chicago for a band called the Exceptions, which was the biggest club band in the Midwest, and they stuck around and listened to them. If The Big Thing had stayed late to see the Exceptions, one of the Exceptions had come early to see The Big Thing. That night, singer and bass guitar player Peter Cetera would leave the Exceptions and join The Big Thing as its seventh member, and big things were about to happen.
James William Guercio, who had been a DePaul University student of music as well, moved the band out to Los Angeles and he would become their manager and producer. The Big Thing would become The Chicago Transit Authority, and then simply, Chicago. The plan from the beginning was to start a horn centered Rock and Roll band. A Rock and Roll band with a horn section. A Rock and Roll band with horns that were an integral part of the music. A Rock and Roll band whose horn section formed the heart of the band. A Rock and Roll band with a horn section that was another lead voice dancing with the vocals. Chicago’s use of brass and woodwinds was like no other band. They took what is called a “melodic” approach to the horns rather than a “harmonic” approach. The horns actually acted as an additional vocal line, not just performing fill rifts. This is what was innovative about Chicago. Chicago was a rock ‘n’ roll band with horns, and a band way ahead of its time.
True to the need of the album-oriented rock format that launched them, the first four albums released by Chicago between 1969 and 1972 comprised three double albums and one quadruple album. That’s 10 albums in three years. Chicago’s next five albums: Chicago V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX all hit number one on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart. Chicago took America and the world by storm without the help of their faces. Total subjugation of individual ego to the collective good of the group was the rule in Chicago, even to the point of using a logo rather than a picture of the band on all of their album covers. Chicago refused to emphasize celebrity over the music. The group turned its anonymous, professional air into a virtue and a marketing strategy. They were the faceless band behind a logo. Chicago’s logo and its facelessness were very much in keeping with the style of the late ’60’s that valued group effort over individual ego. The group would come to be identified by a logo, and that logo, designed by Nick Fasciano, would become the most famous logo in Rock and Roll history. Inspired by classical music, Chicago also chose to number most of their albums instead of giving them full names. As the 70’s became the 80’s and the demands of the music industry started to change, Chicago was dropped by their record label. During Chicago’s search for a new record company, one label said to them, “If you get rid of the horn section we’ll sign you,” to which Chicago responded, “Go fck yourself!” Telling Chicago to get rid of the horn section is like telling Elton John to get rid of the piano, as trombonist James Pankow once said. Chicago would go on to sign with a new record label and the horns stayed and the band played on for forty more years, but their approach to the horns changed from melodic to harmonic for the most part.
Chicago’s first 11 albums consisted of songs that were just under 10 minutes long, and songs and suites that were over 10 minutes long. These albums all showcased the impeccable musicianship of all the members of the band. At first, Chicago’s sound was a hard sell. Radio stations wouldn’t play their songs. Chicago’s music was not easily identifiable what it was. Chicago could not be pigeonholed. Their sound met with resistance. Record executives turned to Guercio, and Guercio edited a number of Chicago’s songs and suites to make them shorter and more radio friendly. It was a compromise to be on the radio, and it was what it was. You can still listen to all of the band’s songs and suites in their entirety on all the early Chicago albums; it’s the radio versions of the songs that are shorter. The first track that got edited was the 12-minute suite called Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon, which was written and arranged by Chicago’s trombonist James Pankow, from the 1970 Chicago album (A.K.A Chicago II). From Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon came two hits: Make Me Smile and Colour My World. So, basically, the songs were made shorter because (as Robert Lamm so eloquently put it) Chicago’s music wasn’t for people with Attention Deficit Disorder. You know, because those are the people who listen to radio–people with A.D.D.
In 1969, Chicago released their first album, and to this day, it is considered to be one of the greatest groundbreaking albums ever produced in the history of Rock and Roll; that album being The Chicago Transit Authority. It was a blend of jazz, classical, and straight-ahead rock and roll. It included an unheralded synthesis of electric guitar rock and roll to more deeply rooted jazz influences and arrangements. It was funky, melodic, emotive, politically intoned and avant-garde. I’m guessing most people in this room have never listened to The Chicago Transit Authority. You can not buy a Chicago greatest hits record and understand what I’m talking about, but there are so many people that I am speaking for tonight who know exactly what I’m talking about. When The Chicago Transit Authority was released in 1969, it seemed to be the perfect synthesis of everything that was diametrically opposed. It had smooth, lush harmonies, it had the distorted feedback-drenched guitar works of Terry Kath, it had the Beatles-meet-Motown bass works of Peter Cetera, it had the Buddy Rich-meets-Mitch Mitchell drum works of Danny Seraphine, it had the churning Hammond organ and classical piano works of Robert Lamm, and it had those powerful horns of Walter Parazaider, Lee Loughnane, and James Pankow weaving in and out of the arrangements, ending up toe-to-toe with everything else. And it all worked. The dynamics were perfect. The Chicago Transit Authority seemed to have everything in the right place. The horn section, the vocalists, and the rhythm section were tight and unified. Individually, the members of Chicago were all outstanding on their respective instruments. Unlike many bands of the era that utilized session musicians for their recordings, Chicago was completely self-contained.
Question: What do you get when you mix the voice of Ray Charles with the voice and the guitar playing of Jimi Hendrix? The answer is Chicago’s first lead singer and lead guitarist, Terry Kath. During his time with Chicago, Terry Kath wrote 25 songs for the band. He had a soulful quality to his voice, and his guitar playing was considered to be better than the guitar playing of Jimi Hendrix. Jimi Hendrix himself asked Chicago to tour with him, which they did, after he heard them playing at the Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles and said, “I’m pretty good man, but this Kath blows me away”, “Your guitar player is way better than me, and the horns are like one set of lungs.” When Jimi Hendrix says, Terry Kath is a better guitar player than Jimi Hendrix, that means, Terry Kath is a better guitar player than Jimi Hendrix. In a group known for its horns, it was Terry Kath’s hard edged guitar and soulful vocals that kept the band rooted in rock and roll. Chicago’s line-up for such a large band was astonishingly stable, broken after eleven years and eleven albums only by the death of Terry Kath. After Terry Kath’s tragic death in 1978, Chicago could have gone on to produce albums under a different name, they could have dissolved their band completely with each member going off to do other musical projects, or they could have just left the music business altogether and done other things with their lives, but they didn’t. Chicago soldiered on for another forty years with the help of other notable lead rock guitarists, from Donnie Dacus and Chris Pinnick, to DaWayne Bailey and Keith Howland.
Chicago’s second lead singer was Robert Lamm; an ambitious composer/pianist/keyboardist. Robert Lamm wrote 75 songs for Chicago (the most out of all the members in the group) and his songwriting talents made him the default leader of the band in the early years. The Robert Lamm-penned hits included, Beginnings, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, Questions 67 & 68, Saturday in the Park and 25 or 6 to 4. His clear baritone voice was an asset, as were his stylized keyboarding skills. The International press portrayed Robert Lamm as Chicago’s social conscience, and many of his best songs (Dialogue, Free, Harry Truman, State of the Union) all espoused political themes. Some of Robert Lamm’s compositions had a swing feel to them as well. Frank Sinatra could have handled Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? very well. Actually, as the story goes, it was Colour My World, a portion from Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon, one of 35 Chicago songs that was written by the band’s trombonist James Pankow, that Frank Sinatra wanted to do a remake of. It never happened though because Frank Sinatra wanted James Pankow to write a few more verses for the song, and James Pankow wouldn’t do it. You don’t mess with a classic, even if the chairman of the board himself asks you to. Other Chicago songs penned by James Pankow included the hits, Old Days, Just You ‘n’ Me, I’ve Been Searchin’ So Long, and Feelin’ Stronger Everyday. That last one, by the way, was written by James Pankow and Chicago’s original bass guitarist and third lead singer, Peter Cetera; the elastic tenor voice who was brought in to hit the high notes and keep up with the horn section, which the baritone voice of Robert Lamm and the gruff voice of Terry Kath couldn’t.
During his time with Chicago, Peter Cetera wrote 33 songs for the band, but if you were to ask any Chicago fan or Rock music historian to name the first two Chicago songs they think of when they hear someone say the name Peter Cetera, they will all tell you the same thing, what else but the smoochadelic classics, If You Leave Me Now from the 1976 Chicago X album, and Baby, What A Big Surprise from the 1977 Chicago XI album. The sexiest, the sweetest, the most distinctive tenor voice in all of Rock And Roll history belongs to Peter Cetera mthrfckrs! There is no comparison. “High above shimmering, echoing ballads and rock-solid choruses that aim for the bleachers, Cetera’s tenor voice soars like a bird in flight. If it doesn’t strike you deep in your heart, it’ll at least stick deep in your head.” That’s what an unknown source from Rolling Stone Magazine’s website once said about Peter Cetera. Well Peter, I would like to tell you tonight on behalf of all your fans that your voice has actually done both for us. Your voice has struck us deep in our hearts and it is stuck deep in our heads and that is where we want it and that is how we like it! The two most covered Chicago songs of all time were Chicago’s first two number one hits, both written by Peter Cetera: The Grammy award winning If You Leave Me Now, from the 1976 Chicago X album, which I mentioned earlier, and Hard To Say I’m Sorry, from the 1982 Chicago 16 album, which was co-written and produced by David Foster.
In May of 1985, after 18 years with the band, Peter Cetera left Chicago for a solo career. Let’s just say that things got really ugly. It was like a divorce, as Peter would say, and that’s all I’m going to say about that because it’s none of my gddmn business. So, out walks Peter Cetera and in walks singer/songwriter and bass guitar player Jason Scheff, the son of Jerry Scheff, who was a bass guitar player for Elvis Presley. Jason Scheff has been with Chicago for over 25 years now and he has written 19 songs for the band’s last 7 studio albums. Now, to tie this whole thing together, I have to take you back to 1981 because that was the year that singer/songwriter, keyboard player and guitarist, Bill Champlin, the lead singer of the late 60s and 70s psychedelic rock band, the Sons of Champlin, joined Chicago. During his 28 years with Chicago, Bill Champlin appeared on 9 of the band’s studio albums and he wrote 21 songs for the band and his husky voice was the perfect complement to both, Peter Cetera, on the top 5 hit, Hard Habit To Break, from the 1984 Chicago 17 album, and Jason Scheff, on the top 5 hit, Will You Still Love Me, from the 1986 Chicago 18 album. Bill Champlin would go on to sing solo in 1988 on Chicago’s third number one hit, Look Away, from the Chicago 19 album.
Chicago’s original drummer; its backbone, was Danny Seraphine. During his time with Chicago, Danny Seraphine wrote 18 songs for the band and he played drums in a style that, ironically perhaps, can best be described as lyrical. To be a good drummer one must develop his own technique. Good timing and good taste is essential, but it is the technique that sets the truly great drummers apart from the rest, as Danny Seraphine once said. In 1973, Chicago brought in percussionist Laudir De Oliveira from Sergio Mendes. For seven years, Laudir De Oliveira added Latin flare to the band’s music and his percussion work was the perfect compliment to the drum work of Danny Seraphine. After 25 years with the band, let’s just say a little more drama ensued, and Danny Seraphine was replaced by drummer Tris Imboden, who has been with Chicago now for over 25 years.
And that folks was Chicago. 50 years, 50 albums, 5 number one albums, 130 million albums sold worldwide, 50 hits, and 3 number one songs later, Chicago is being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Now I am going to present you with information that will make your head spin. This must be stated! According to Billboard chart statistics, Chicago is second only to the Beach Boys as the most successful American Rock and Roll band of all time, in terms of both albums and singles. The number one charting Rock and Roll band of the 1970’s on both the Billboard Top 40 Albums Chart and the Billboard 200 Albums Chart was Chicago! But number one overall was none other than (who else) Elton John! Yeah, that’s right, Chicago couldn’t top Elton John. And now, ladies and gentlemen, the list of the Top 4 charting Rock And Roll bands of all-time on both, the Billboard 200 Albums Chart, and the Billboard 100 Singles Chart. They just happen to be the same four bands on both lists, so I’m only going to say this once. Are you ready?! I said, are you ready?! Wait, let me get into my dramatic announcer voice. Number 01. The Beatles! Number 02. The Rolling Stones! Number 03. The Beach Boys! And at Number 04., Chicago! And in case you are wondering who’s at number 05., it’s The Bee-Gees! And that says it all right there folks! And up until tonight, Chicago was the only band on those lists who had not been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame yet.
And you know what’s funny? First, a Chicago politician named Barack Obama is elected the first black President of the United States of America in 2008. Then, in 2010, the National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks win their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history, but their first Stanley Cup since 1961, the year of Barack Obama’s birth. Then, what do you know, Chicago, the band, is finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 20??, during a Barack Obama presidency, but Chicago the band isn’t black, but they did play Rock and Roll, which stems from the blues, which is the music of black people as Jann Wenner said at the 2008 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in reference to the induction of Little Walter. Well, you know what they say, things always happen in threes. And all I have left to say is that it’s about fckng time Chicago got inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame because this is Chicago mthrfckrs! This isn’t Boston or Kansas, if you know what I mean! So, without any further ado, ladies and gentlemen, CHICAGO!!!
THE CHICAGO INDUCTEES
THE CHICAGO MEMBERS WHO WILL BE INDUCTED
01. Walter Parazaider (1967-Present: saxophone; clarinet; flute; songwriter)
02. Lee Loughnane (1967-Present: vocals; trumpet; flugelhorn; songwriter)
03. James Pankow (1967-Present: vocals; trombone; songwriter)
04. Robert Lamm (1967-Present: vocals; piano; keyboards; songwriter)
05. Terry Kath (1967-1978: vocals; guitar; songwriter)
06. Peter Cetera (1967-1985: vocals; bass guitar; songwriter)
07. Danny Seraphine (1967-1991: drums; songwriter)
08. Bill Champlin (1981-2009: vocals; keyboards; guitar; songwriter)
09. Jason Scheff (1985-Present: vocals; bass guitar; songwriter)
THE CHICAGO MEMBERS WHO MIGHT BE INDUCTED
10. Laudir De Oliveira (1973-1980: percussions; songwriter)
11. Donnie Dacus (1978-1980: guitar; songwriter)
12. Tris Imboden (1990-Present: drums)
WHE-E-E-W!!!!!!!! What was we talkin’ about?
Oh, Little Nicky the movie.
Chicago
Are you kidding me? They aren’t in yet? The leading US singles charting group during the 1970s and have sold over 38 million units in the US. Even Little Nicky thinks they are cool.
Who is Little Nicky?
Come on…nobody is even mentioning one of the greatest bands of all time…who also sold out a billion stadiums…Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Rock n roll hall of b.s…………..no e.l.p. no tull no procul haram no j.giels no deep purple but you put in that clown act kiss first what a joke
Of this group, my top 10 is: Rush, Deep Puple, Blue Oyster Cult, Judas Priest, T. Rex, Sweet, Peter Gabriel, Yes, UFO and Kiss. Needed on this list is Link Wray, Dick Dale, Paul Revere and the Raiders, MC5, X, The Cramps, and qualifying this year for induction: Jane’s Addiction and the Pixies. The Sugar Hill gang and Jimmy Buffet should be taken off this list
No way is Kiss the biggest snub.
That honour would got ot kraftwerk, creators of modern electronic music.
Oh yeah, and to people saying they shouldn’t be in because they are elctronic and not rock, the hall has inducted tons of soul singers. I mean, would you call Diana Ross And The Supremes a rock band? or
I am really surprised that most of the bands listed are not already in…. But Duran Duran??? Give me a break. Mott the Hoople…. AND Ian Hunter…. The man WROTE Cleveland Rocks for christ’s sake and he is the only artist to get TWO keys to the city of Cleveland…TWO!!! He still loved Cleveland when the rest of the country referred to it as “the mistake by the lake” ….. I used to live there myself…. Wow talk about SNUBSVILLE…. .???
Pretty sure Kate Bush needs to be at the top of this list – she is an absolute music legend, and I cannot believe she hasn’t been inducted already!!!
Its a crime that at least half if not more of these bands have not been inducted yet! I have been a fan of Def Leppard since I was 12 and am now 40 and that is music at its finast!! Wake up HOF and get your heads out of your arses!!!
If I hear one more brainless person say “The Rock Hall should be for Rock ‘n’ Roll only”, I swear I’m going to have a conniption! That leaves it to the 1950s and the 1950s alone. Rock came from Blues so Blues MUST be in there. All derivatives from Rock as well. NOT RAP. Disco IS debatable. That’s why it’s Rock and not broken down into genre at the record shop. Bands who MUST be inducted: Joy Division, New Order, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Rush, Roxy Music, Peter Gabriel, Pat Benatar, Go-Go’s, B-52s, Def Leppard. I’m sure I’m missing some. This is just off the top of my head. It really should change it’s name to the Music Hall of Fame.
Agreed
Frank Zappa? How about King Crimson? And if you’re into stretching boundaries a bit, what about Miles Davis, Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Todd Rundgren (& Utopia), Gary Numan?
Frank Zappa’s already in-got inducted YEARS ago, in fact…
There will always be bands that deserve to be inducted into the R&R HOF. However, this list, in my opinion contains very few names that are deserving of the honor. Kiss is a fine band and a unique spectacle to behold, but they really have few songs that should be considered historically significant. “Rock and Roll All Night” is one of them… but what else do they have on THAT level? Deep Purple, same story: “Smoke on the Water” is an anthem, but what else? “Frampton Comes Alive” is a wonderful LP, but what else? Duran, Duran? PUHLEEZE! Are they on the level with the Rolling Stones and The Beatles? No way. Most of these bands on the list have a few hits, but they just don’t have enough knock-out punches.
You are a wanker for that idiot post.
And that my friend is exactly how the panel making the decision thinks. Historically significant songs should not matter. That would be one persons opinion, and thats exactly how the Rock Hall panel thinks.
So an artist that has sold out every concert for 20+ years, should NOT be considered? An artist that has only one #1 song, yet has sold 75 million albums, should not be considered?
If any band has been playing 20 years together, do you not think they have had an influence on music? Because they do not get main stream radio play, does not mean they have not had any hits, or an influence of the history of music. It is not just about the hits songs.
Right on!
Really tired of this, what about Depeche Mode? The Cure, who I love, ripped of Gahan/Gore for years. Tired of Depeche getting snubbed.
Yes very tired of depeche mode not getting any recognition wtf
The cure ripped off the mode? News to me. Love them both.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Beastie Boys and The Cure have finally been nominated! Woo hoo!
You gotta move Priest into the top 5
there are certainly a ton of great bands that really should be in the hall already…without a doubt.
however, weird al yankovich has absolutely NO place on this list…sorry.
I disagree.I believe Wierd Al belongs.He has his own niche.Also,consider that Randy Newman has been inducted.Compare.
While I agree the Rock Hall inductees suck for the most part, I don’t think this list is much better… Plus, no Captain Beefheart?
Were we separated at birth?
Being that I am a Virgo, I make lists for EVERYTHING!
In 2002, I started compiling a list of NON HALL-of-FAMERS and our lists are similar.. I have them all, cept for 8. Los Lobos, Zevon, SHG and Buffet, just to name half…lol THE MAJOR GROUP, you did NOT mention,that is on my top 5, and MOst certainly a shoe-in,is
CHICAGO
Absolutely AMAZING that these bands aren’t in the Hall. What IS the criteria? Many of these seem like no-brainers.
So sorry I missed Duran Duran and Weird Al from the top 40 but there are so many SNUBBED bands its overwhelming. Please feel free to contact me with any more links to any of the bands for getting them in the Rock Hall and PLEASE post this site to any social/music pages and e-mails.
Thank you!
Some great bands on here. But the #1 on this list has to be Chicago. When you look at the number of hits over several decades and the influence they had over music (I mean late 60’s and in the 70’s), it is one of America’s great bands. Terry Kath was one of the greatest musicians of all time, and was lost too early. How Chicago hasn’t even been nominated is stunning, until you realize the whole reason is a long time personal grudge that Jann Werner of the committee has against them. Stuff like this calls into question the whole legitimacy of the Hall of Fame.
I totally agree with you about Chicago. I was big fan of there music in the 80s but it was not until I heard dialogue 1 and 2 that really made me an afficionado. that song in itself opened American college graduates eyes on the choices they have to make once they leave the ivory tower. My professor recommend that song to me. He said basically anything to do with Chicago and Terry KatH
Interesting!But,I think Jim Croce,Hall & Oates,,3 dog night,Barry White,Rick James,Foreigner should be in.