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):
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- 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.
The RRHoShame told me that it’s not about fame, or record sales, or popularity. But they didn’t say what it’s about. I suspect it’s snob appeal, or how only they know who is worthy and it certainly isn’t what you or I think. I told them if the Baseball Hall of Fame operated that way, they’d induct the inventor of the aluminum bat and snub Babe Ruth. If you can’t rely on metrics like records sold, longevity, stadiums filled and air time (or downloads), then all you have left is subjective opinion.
Totally agree! Its a joke!!
I’m pretty happy with the groups everyone mentioned. Why does the rrhof suck? Why do they induct lesser quality groups when there are so many awesome groups not inducted? Come on, Madonna, are u serious? I can’t imagine rock without, Scorpions, Foreigner, Styx and so many more. The rrho shame is a joke.
The mere musicality of some of the previous mentioned groups. You have to ask yourself why Steely Dan? and not The Carpenters, The Association, Toto, Yes, Chicago. I know different people have different taste in music, but like I previously mentiond in my first post, I would would really like to know the criteria for selection.
I totally agree about Styx. That song, and album ruined them for me. I get DeYoung was trying to be creative, but it failed miserably.
Come on! Really????
Totally agree with previous mentioned groups. The Guess Whos lead guitar player Randy Bachman later started his own group (Bachman Turner Overdrive). You could say it was spawned from the Guess Who. Mary Wells from the early Motown era has also been very much overlooked. She was the female headliner for them at the time with many big hits. Carole Kaye sessions musician for many years has also been overlooked. She is an incredible musician and was very instrumental in the development and sound of The Beach Boys (Brian Wilson) Pet Sounds Album. Considered now a Rock and Roll Masterpiece.
Styx, Boston, Journey, Cheap Trick, Kansas, Def Leppard, Moody Blues and BOC.
If you want hard rock then these should be at the top:
Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Scorps!
Wow…Green Day gets in but these bands don’t?
Styx should have fired DeYoung prior to Mr. Roboto…I think the HOF is keeping them out because of that song alone. They never play it in concert and just stick with the rock and roll…
The Guess Who’s front-man, for all of his pianistic virtuosity and what is arguably the most mellifluous and tunefully explosive voice to have ever graced rock and roll – a voice for which one would have to cross genres to find qualitative parallels – seems to just slip through the cracks in the arcane proceedings of the Hall’s induction process. It’s as though his exceptionality counts as nothing more than extraneous, even pretentious ornamentation. Maybe the process warrants a little input from the professionals, the people who make and have an ear for the music, rather than a sycophantic penchant for the coolest picks.
Journey is garbage. I don’t care how many albums they sold.
Today is Burton Cummings 67th birthday. I am sure there are others that feel that he along with the other Guess Who members should be squarely planted in the R & R Hall. What a fantastic body of work after nearly 50 years and still thriving! Come on, Hall! Get with it!
I don’t care that there are some “non-rock” artists in the RR and R&B HOF. yes, it is the RR and R&B HOF. some of the big artists “ROCK”. the problem I have is that certain types of music have been snubbed. the “hard rock” artists used to get snubbed, but are finally getting in. last year, the “singers and songwriters” type of music of the 70s got some love, but there are a few more that should get in before the “pretty boys and girls” of the 80s get their shot…the R&B vocal groups of the 70s are not in…come on now, give the spinners some love! there are others not in yet either. and finally the PROGGY groups. They have been snubbed the most. the moody’s and deep purple should be in as well as yes and jethro tull. and how about the alan parsons project! (think cirrus, eye in the sky, time, games people play etc” art rock is rock, why the snub…ELO, ELP king crimson, supertramp…etc. and where are tommy james, the raiders and other 60s rock and roll? keep the late 80s and 90s groups out until a few more groups who made their start in the 60s get in. oh, and one more thing, joe cocker is a shoe in for next year. the RR and R&B HOF love to wait until people are dead before they induct them.
Perhaps it’s personal, those glaring omissions. Or maybe it’s simply a matter of us not “getting it”. Take, for example, the Canadian band The Guess Who, with its seemingly interminable string of memory-etching ballads and rockers: These Eyes, Laughing, Undun, No Time, American Woman, No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature, Share The Land, Hand Me Down World, Bus Rider, Albert Flasher, Rain Dance…; maybe it just never rose to the level of musicality and renown worthy of the Hall’s recognition. Surely the Hall’s modus operandi is to exercise exceptionally nuanced and unbiased judgment, a level of discernment commensurate, as one would expect, with notably lofty standards – standards that were plainly on display in its induction of Green Day, Rush, Beastie Boys, Abba, and Blondie, each and all at the exclusion of The Guess Who. There is cause for doubt. Consider another supernally talented group, The Moody Blues. As is the case with The Guess Who, this band, according to the Hall, doesn’t pass muster, and thus, still resides in the exurbs of Halldom; this, despite their giving genesis to a genre that melded classical music with rock and roll and yielded a number of entries on their laundry list of wildly popular melodic gems. Call me a rock-sheltered hayseed, but the exclusion of The Moody Blues from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in favor of the noted, pronouncedly less contributive, less notable entrants is, well, somewhat irrational. It would seem the Hall’s admission criteria are years overdue for an evolutionary spurt – a particularly radical one if it has been using criteria that weigh more heavily on what’s “cool” or palatable to present-day popular tastes, or the Hall’s personal tastes (or distastes)…anything that deemphasizes that which matters most: the music we have loved most. But, mutative progression aside, one would hope that, in the near term, the Hall would, at the very least, right what needs righting concerning the two rock and roll marvels at issue. I can think of at least one scenario that would satisfy the avenging poet within: the Hall issues a groveling apology and, by way of a monetary mea culpa, pays The Guess Who and The Moody Blues for the privilege of admitting them retroactively, setting their dates of entry at twenty-five years subsequent to the release of their respective first records. But who heeds the poets?
http://www.gofundme.com/University-of-Rock
A $2.00 donation…that’s all we ask to get us started.
What the author of this article said about the band YES is not true. They were nominated in late 2013 for possible 2014 induction but did not get in. Deep Purple were in the same boat but also did not get in. It seems that ultimately the R&RHOF is concerned about what bands are cool and hip. It’s as if they only want to nominate bands or artists who have sold tons and tons of albums and played in football stadiums or appeal to hipsters. They don’t like heavy metal, arena rock, hard rock or progressive rock(especially not the latter it seems). Quite frankly I was a bit surprised Rush got in but I think their massive fan support played a big role in that. I think none of us should take the R&RHOF too seriously since it obviously has more to do with image and what bands are seen as “cool” by insiders and not so much about musical talent or lasting influence or even “rock n roll” much of the time.
Ozric Tentacles, without a doubt, deserves an induction. A hugely talented band. And I find it hard to believe that iconic prog-rock bands like Kansas and Styx were summarily snubbed. Further, possible inductees should be classified according to their respective genre. For example, how could you musically compare Madonna to Yes? Personally as a critic, I would need 2 shots of Tequila (no shaker) after listening to a masterpiece like “Tempus Fugit” and then have to compare it to “Like A Virgin”.
Visiting the Hall has been on my bucket list. But after reviewing all the deserving artists who are not in the Hall: Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, Chicago, ELO, etc., in comparison to some inductees that make little sense; perhaps I’ll forgo a trip to Lake Erie and head to a warm Florida beach instead.
Whitney Houston – I don’t believe there are too many young girls in America that were not influenced by her, and some are great performers today. And speaking of that, where is Whitney’s influence – Dionne Warwick? It’s all political hogwash.
Come on! Really????
I grew up listening to Chicago and Grand Funk Railroad. Forty years later I’m still listening to them. I am not sure what the selection criteria is or who the selection people are, but it sure is a shame these groups are not even considered.
I totally agree that Grand Funk (I’m from Flint, MI too), the Scorpions and Deep Purple are all worthy. I would add some of the Progressive bands like ELP, Yes, The Moody Blues and Jethro Tull as well.
However, since they opened it up to unworthy musicians, I’m guessing Milli Vanilli will get in before any of those.
Without these three bands, I can’t even begin to give RR HoF any credibility.
Grand Funk Railroad
Scorpions
Deep Purple
I don’t believe every great band should be in the RR HoF; I believe there are just too many great bands. You need to be a band that also influenced the musical direction of many others. That’s why I would say no to Doobie Brothers, Cars, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick etc. I’d love to see them and they many great songs, just not RR HoF material for me.
Having said that, the RR HoF has already ruined their HoF status by inducting people/bands that just don’t belong. It’s like steroids in sports, you can’t undo the past but it’s no less a shame that it happened.
Since you list the likes of Duran Duran and Weird Al Yankovick and The Monkees, I’d like to see an entry for Janet Jackson. Janet has a very strong argument for induction and should be considered.
Thanks!
Shes hot but not worthy of hall!
I’ve seen Kansas 10 times. When rush got in I couldn’t believe it. They were Kansas back up in at least 3 of the shows I saw. What a crock!!!!
Also Yes is probably one of the greatest bands ever. Totally absurd to leave them out
I hear ya, I just googled why Journey, even Def Lep arent in hall as its been bugging me for years and I came across this site. Yours was one of the latest comments i thought Id reply to. I think even Green Day has gotten in!!! No dif than our fav groups never getting a Grammy! Crap does all these years now! Warning: I heard beyonce is eligible for the hall I think 2023, I’ll say it….Gag me with a spoon! And a guy above called journey garbage, yeah whatever! I was at hall a few years ago, but looking back, I’m really bummed well deserving people aren’t in it! Time for hall to have a huge amount of inductees to catch up with the ones they snubbed!