Jimmy Page was a surprise performer at the 2023 Rock Hall induction ceremony, Nov. 11, 2023
Willie Nelson, George Michael, Missy Elliott, Sheryl Crow, Rage Against the Machine, the Spinners, and Kate Bush were selected in the Performers category for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Induction Class of 2023. Also inducted, for Musical Excellence, are Chaka Khan, Bernie Taupin and Al Kooper, as well as DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray for Musical Influence, and Soul Train host Don Cornelius for the Ahmet Ertegun Award. (Among the 14 acts that were nominated but not selected were Warren Zevon, Iron Maiden, Cyndi Lauper, the White Stripes, Joy Division/New Order, Soundgarden, and A Tribe Called Quest.) The announced was made on May 3; the 38th Annual Induction Ceremony took place on Nov. 3 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. It aired as a condensed, three-hour special on ABC-TV on Jan. 1, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET. (The full presentation, which ran for over four-and-a-half hours, was made available the next day on Hulu and Disney+.)
The Rock Hall has long defended its decision to broaden the musical scope of the artists it has inducted. A new mission statement was revealed on Jan. 30. “Born from the collision of rhythm and blues, country, and gospel, rock and roll is a spirit that is inclusive and ever-changing.” The Hall “celebrates the sound of youth culture and honors the artists whose music connects us all.” Over the past several decades, major non-rock artists like 2022 inductees Dolly Parton and Lionel Richie, LL Cool J in 2021, Whitney Houston and Notorious B.I.G. in 2020, and so on, have been selected.
The 2022 ceremony featured a marked return to the participation of big names to the festivities with such stars as Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Crow, The Edge, and younger acts like Olivia Rodrigo. The 2023 event included such performers and presenters as Jimmy Page, Elton John, Stevie Nicks, Peter Frampton, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Adam Levine, Olivia Rodrigo, Dave Matthews, New Edition.
The public also cast votes for their choice in an online process, with George Michael the top vote getter in what is essentially a meaningless outcome: the top five artists—Michael, Lauper, Zevon, Iron Maiden, and Soundgarden—comprised a “fans’ ballot” with one vote that were tallied along with the 1000 other ballots to determine the 2023 Inductees.
Among the scores of deserving acts who continue to be ignored by the secret selection committee are such classic rock legends as Zevon, Bad Company, Jethro Tull, Peter Frampton, and Joe Cocker. Meat Loaf and Michael Nesmith of the Monkees, both of whom died in recent years, are among the many other deserving acts who can now only be inducted posthumously.
The nominees are determined each year by a small group of music insiders made up of artist managers, booking agents, musicians, journalists, radio programmers, label executives, and others. Some of the more familiar names are Jon Landau, Steven Van Zandt, Anthony DeCurtis, Dave Grohl and Paul Shaffer.
Each new class is selected by an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, including current living Inductees, historians and members of the music industry, as well as that all-important, single “fan vote.”
Factors such as an artist’s musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation, and superiority in style and technique are taken into consideration.
Related: 100 crucial omissions to the Rock Hall
In order to be eligible, an artist must have made their first recording 25 years prior to the current year.
Can’t believe it! Congratulations to the @rockhall class of 2023! I’m so honored!! #rockhall #RockHall2023 pic.twitter.com/5GEsCXvGFI
— Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) May 3, 2023
.@SherylCrow pic.twitter.com/GzeOYGND9S
— Stevie Nicks (@StevieNicks) May 4, 2023
Related: A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame cynic visits the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In recent years, the Rock Hall has inducted many core rock acts that it had overlooked for decades. Notably, Pat Benatar (and her husband Neil Giraldo) and Judas Priest were finally chosen in 2022. Todd Rundgren was among those selected for the Class of 2021. The Doobie Brothers were in the Class of 2020. In 2019, it was Def Leppard and the Zombies’ turn, with Stevie Nicks as a solo artist. 2018 saw the Moody Blues, the Cars, Bon Jovi and Dire Straits join the fold. Yes, the Electric Light Orchestra and Journey were all members of the Class of 2017.
Related: 100 more crucial Rock Hall omissions
17 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationNot a Serious Hall of Fame if not Jethro Tull. Like a Soccer Hall of Fame without Pelé
I can’t believe the H of F continues to ignore Boz Scaggs!!!!!
Dave Matthews Band are innovators with a unique sound and deep catalog. How is it possible that the rock hall continues to ignore them?
Another absurd collection of nominees. Are we going country now? Still no Tull or Bad Co., no Guess Who, the list is endless. The hall obviously has a prejudice against Canadians. George should have been in years ago as well as Warren. The Hall of Shame rolls on into obscurity.
I can not believe the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame have not even nominated The Guess Who. They had several hit singles and albums both in Canada and U.S. At one time they outsold the Beatles and were nimber one with American Woman. Come Hall Of Fame it’s time.
The Guess Who were Excellent but they do not belong in the same sentence as the Beatles.
So if they want to expand the musical scope of the Hall, why don’t they just change the name to the “Music Hall of Fame”? That way they can at least be more accurate about what they’re doing–because rock ‘n roll isn’t their focus anymore. They’re bringing in country, pop, hip hop, and other types of musicians, so why not change the name to be more inclusive?
Harry Chapin should be in the Hall as well. It’s a total travesty that he’s not.
agree, along with another Harry. Harry Nilsson
Inducting “one hit wonders” is wrong.
It is a joke to call this The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and ignore Rock and Roll.
I will never go to the Hall of Fame as they continue to ignore one of the best live Rock and Roll Bands ever, The J. Geils Band. Manu other Classic Rock Bands are/were much better than the lesser bands that have been enshrined not to mention the NON-ROCK bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is a farce. They can continue to pat themselves on their collective backs while most rockers can see what a sham they truly are.
The list of bands and artists that have been ignored is larger than the ones who are in that has little to no relationship to rock and roll.
I can see certain country/rockabilly going in as they were influential in the early days if rock, but rap and hip hop, not so much especially as more worthy artists (to many to name) are excluded year after year.
Why are we still waiting for Little Feat to be recognized ???
Another massive oversight!
Willie is a music legend, but he’s not really rock and roll. Still, you could make a case for him. Other than that. Warren Zevon is more deserving than any of the rest of this year’s inductees.
No disrespect to anyone but Cher is not even given a thought for the Hall. That is simply wrong!
The saddest thing is that Wikipedia (on their Deaths page) now lists R&R HOF honorees as “Hall of Fame” singers/performers rather than rock singers/performers. This lends the impression of the R&R HOF having more of a place in the entertainment world than it has ever deserved.
Might as well put Kenny G in now…