On April 27, 2025, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the inductees for its Class of 2025. Included were such legends as Joe Cocker, Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden and Warren Zevon, all of whom had been listed in our two-part “Crucial Omissions” articles.
In Fall 2016, we put together our initial list of artists that we felt deserved consideration for induction. Since that time, many core rock acts that had been overlooked for decades have finally been chosen. Notably, that list includes Peter Frampton (2024), Foreigner (also 2024), Pat Benatar (2022), Todd Rundgren (2021), the Doobie Brothers (2020), Def Leppard, the Zombies and Stevie Nicks as a solo artist (2019), the Moody Blues, the Cars, Bon Jovi and Dire Straits (2018), and Yes, the Electric Light Orchestra and Journey (2017). We update the list each year, deleting those that have made the cut and replacing them with other deserving names.
But, as many readers often let us know, even our first list of 100 omissions barely scratched the surface. So we went back to work and compiled this followup list of 100 more omissions by the Hall.
We could probably put together a third list but we’re going to leave it at 200. If we’ve forgotten someone you feel is worthy of inclusion in the Rock Hall, we’d love to know about it! (But please check the first half of the list before you give us hell about leaving out your favorites!)
Our reasons vary for selecting the artists we did. One factor we considered in particular is whether they were important in their own time, not only how they are regarded today. Some of these artists will eventually make the Hall’s cut, others never will, and that’s just how it is.
In order to be eligible, an artist must have made their first recording 25 years prior to the current year (for the 2025 class, that meant 2000).
One other note: This list considers only artists who recorded primarily under their own names. This is the only category that is submitted to the voting body each year. Thus it does not include musicians who have served primarily as “sidemen” or “sidewomen.” Some of the greatest musicians in rock history have never received the recognition they deserve because they contribute mostly to others’ recordings. The Hall of Fame has a separate sideman category (which seems to be known now as the Award for Musical Excellence), to which it occasionally appoints names its executives deem worthy. As those artists are not submitted for consideration to voters, we are not concerning ourselves with them here.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland
Names are listed alphabetically
Alice in Chains—Part of the Seattle grunge movement, they were hugely popular in the ’90s, and remain so today.
America—Many fans of harder rock may cringe at the kind of soft-rock America delivered, but there is no denying their contribution to that genre with hits like “A Horse With No Name” and “Sister Golden Hair.”
The Bangles—Is there anyone who doesn’t love the Bangles? With hits like “Walk Like an Egyptian” and “Manic Monday,” they were huge in the ’80s and remain influential today.
Big Star—A classic example of a cult favorite, this ’70s Memphis band led by Alex Chilton (ex-Box Tops) had no real hits but has been enormously influential posthumously.
Blue Cheer—Although known mainly for their cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues,” this San Francisco trio was one of the prototypes of heavy metal.
Roy Buchanan—The blues-rocker exerted enormous influence on many other guitarists but is sadly overlooked today.
Tim Buckley—With his ethereal voice and complex compositions and arrangements, the late singer-songwriter (father of Jeff Buckley) left behind a body of work that’s still being discovered by many.
Johnny Burnette—Before he had soft-pop hits like “You’re Sixteen” and “Dreamin’,” the late singer and his Rock & Roll Trio were a sizzling rockabilly outfit.
Jerry Butler—Already in with the Impressions, but like Curtis Mayfield the R&B great’s solo work is vital.
The Cadillacs—From uptempo R&B novelty hits like “Speedoo” and “Peek-A-Boo” to their exquisite ballad “Gloria,” this doo-wop group was one of the finest of the 1950s.
The Chambers Brothers—They started out as a gospel group and then, as their signature tune “Time Has Come Today” put it, their souls became psychedelicized.
Related: When the Chambers Brothers’ “Time” had come
The Chantels—One of the first Black girl groups, their hits of the ’50s, among them “Maybe” and “Look in My Eyes,” featured the soaring vocals of Arlene Smith.
Petula Clark—Although a bit older than the other British invasion chanteuses, she rode that wave to the Top 10 with “Downtown,” “My Love,” “I Know a Place” and others.
Related: Many of these artists are still touring – Links for 100s of tours
The Cramps—Whatever it is that they did—minimalist rockabilly punk?—they were the first to do it, and they influenced many other bands.
The Damned—The first bona fide British punk band, who later expanded their sound.
Devo—They injected a high-art, conceptualist spin into the new wave movement, and gave us at least one classic with “Whip It.”
Related: A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Cynic Visits the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Dominoes—Also known as Billy Ward and the Dominoes, they cut the R&B classic “Sixty Minute Man” and gave us vocal greats Jackie Wilson and Clyde McPhatter.
Lee Dorsey—The great New Orleans R&B hitmaker. Induct him for “Working in the Coal Mine” alone.
Brian Eno—After serving as a member of Roxy Music, Eno produced U2, Talking Heads, Coldplay and others, and his own ambient music albums were groundbreaking.
Fairport Convention—Two words: Richard Thompson. Two more: Sandy Denny. No other band defined English folk-rock like Fairport.
5th Dimension—Popularizing songs by Jimmy Webb, Laura Nyro and others, their mix of soul and R&B was extremely popular in the late ’60s/early ’70s.
Foghat—The British blues-rockers have been purveying the endless boogie for more than four decades, with several gold and platinum albums to their credit.
Connie Francis—By today’s standards, the pop singer may not be considered rock, but teens were buying up records like “Lipstick on Your Collar” and “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” in the ’50s/’60s.
The Fugs—They never had a hit record, but their over-the-top irreverence inspired many who followed to experiment without fear.
Rory Gallagher—Not everyone knows his name, but ask fans of pure guitar mastery and this late Irish virtuoso is always near the top of the list.
Arlo Guthrie—He could get anything he wanted at Alice’s Restaurant, except, it seems, induction into the Rock Hall.
Tim Hardin—The singer-songwriter’s tunes, including “Reason to Believe” (Rod Stewart cut a definitive version), were covered by numerous artists. And his own recordings were always honest and insightful.
Slim Harpo—A virtuoso on the blues harmonica, and a dynamic singer, he was a favorite of the Stones and many other blues-rock bands.
Hawkwind—They found a sweet spot where edgy psychedelia, hard rock and space-rock met, plus they gave the world Lemmy. Truly adventurous musicians.
Hot Tuna—When Jefferson Airplane began to crash, guitarist/singer Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady explored their love for blues. More than a half-century later, they’re still at it.
Related: The Rock Hall opens in 1995 with a concert for the ages
The Jam—Often compared to the Who and the Kinks, the English trio—led by singer-songwriter-guitarist Paul Weller—incorporated a strong soul influence into their punk/Mod sound.
Rick James—The late funk great was one of the last stars to emerge from the Motown empire; his riffs were sampled by countless rappers.
James Gang—The Cleveland-based hard-rock band is best known for its early incarnation featuring future Eagle Joe Walsh, but continued to make solid music after he left.
Jan and Dean—The surf duo was overshadowed by their colleagues the Beach Boys but for a few years they were massive.
Joy Division/New Order—Fronted by the charismatic Ian Curtis, who would commit suicide a few years into their run, the British Joy Division didn’t last long but influenced many with their two brilliant albums. The survivors formed New Order, which has been a major creative force ever since. (The Hall combined them into one entity when nominating them, so we’ve done the same here.)
Kansas—The Hall has always been standoffish about prog, but there’s only so many years that they can ignore the popularity of tracks like “Carry on Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind.”
Kingston Trio—The folkies sold millions of albums and influenced many singer-songwriters and folk-rock groups.
Lenny Kravitz—A true keeper of the rock ‘n’ roll flame, this singer-songwriter-musician was nominated with the 2024 class but did not make the cut. Better luck next time.
LaBelle—Originally a ’60s girl group called Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles, they reincarnated in the ’70s and tore up the charts with funky hits like “Lady Marmalade.”
Loggins and Messina—They were one of the most successful duos of the ’70s (“Your Mama Don’t Dance”), and Kenny Loggins became even bigger after they split up.
Lonnie Mack—One wicked guitar player, championed by the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck and Duane Allman.
Manfred Mann—From their initial run as an R&B-heavy British Invasion band (“Do Wah Diddy Diddy”) into their reconfiguration as Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (Springsteen’s “Blinded By the Light”), they created a solid string of quality singles and albums.
Related: Our feature story on the mighty Manfred Mann
The Marvelettes—One of the few major Motown groups yet to be inducted, they had more than 25 hits, including their #1 Billboard debut, “Please Mr. Postman,” covered by the Beatles.
Megadeth—Formed in the early ’80s and still going strong, they’ve been one of the most consistently influential and popular metal bands.
Melanie—A star of the Woodstock festival, the late singer-songwriter was a radio favorite with hits like “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” and “Brand New Key.”
Related: We talked to Melanie about both of those songs
Moby Grape—Some said that they were the greatest of the ’60s San Francisco bands, with a triple-guitar front line and well-crafted songs.
Mötley Crüe—One of the most popular (and most headline-generating) metal bands of the ’80s and ’90s, Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, Tommy Lee and Mick Mars were known for their splashy live shows and records that sold in the tens of millions.
The Move—Before there was ELO, there was the Move, featuring Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne. They never caught on in America but their psychedelic sound influenced many.
Related: Many of these artists are still touring – Links for 100s of tours
Olivia Newton-John—The Australian pop star enjoyed a steady run of hits throughout the ’70s and into the early ’80s, culminating in a high-profile star turn in the film version of Grease.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band—They started out as a country-rock band in the mid-’60s, then became one of the first to introduce bluegrass and other core Americana to the rock audience.
Ted Nugent—His outspoken political views often grab the headlines, but there’s no denying that from his time with the Amboy Dukes through his long solo career, “The Nuge” has made some memorable hard rock.
Sinéad O’Connor—Nominated for 2024 but not elected, this Irish singer-songwriter, who died in 2023, enjoyed phenomenal early success and courted controversy by always remaining true to herself
Phil Ochs—The late singer-songwriter gets stereotyped as a political/protest artist and for sure there was that side of him. But Ochs also wrote insightful love songs and was a keen observer.
Graham Parker—After leading his band, the Rumour, for five well-received albums, the great lyricist from East London has forged a solid solo career.
Gram Parsons—He should be inducted with the Flying Burrito Brothers and as a solo artist! Synonymous with country-rock.
Teddy Pendergrass—Both with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes and on his own, he was one of the most dynamic R&B singers.
Peter, Paul and Mary—Amidst the individual singer-songwriters, they were the most popular of the ’60s folk revival groups. Their #1 “Leaving on a Jet Plane” was one of several big hits.
The Pointer Sisters—Their versatility has been proven repeatedly over four-plus decades, resulting in a string of hits including a great cover of Springsteen’s “Fire.”
Suzi Quatro—One of the first female rock stars who wasn’t just a singer but also played an instrument, this glam heroine was an inspiration to Joan Jett and others.
Raspberries—They were one of the bands that invented power pop, and although their only hit single was 1972’s “Go All the Way” they inspired many other bands to forego the excess and return to rock and roll basics. Leader Eric Carmen died in 2024.
The Replacements—The Minneapolis quartet came out of the local punk scene and developed its own brand of lovably chaotic, sloppy but often brilliant rock.
The Runaways—Joan Jett is already inducted as a solo artist but this is where it all began for her, and where it began for women’s role in shaping the forthcoming punk deluge.
Otis Rush—The Chicago blues great, who died in 2018, was a major influence on guitarists like Eric Clapton, Michael Bloomfield and Peter Green.
Bobby Rydell—Among the many squeal-inducing ’50s/60s pretty-boy pinups, the late singer made some of the best records, all for Philadelphia’s storied Cameo label.
Savoy Brown—Fronted by guitar-slinger Kim Simmonds, who died in 2022, they were the most durable of the British blues revival bands.
The Searchers—You think there was only one great band to come out of Liverpool? This quartet’s harmony-rich tunes like “Needles and Pins” and “Love Potion Number Nine” were keepers too.
The Shangri-Las—They were the toughest of the ’60s girl groups, and their hits like “Leader of the Pack” reflected the angst of growing up teenage and female in their era. Here they are singing “Give Him a Great Big Kiss.” Lead singer Mary Weiss died in 2024.
Ravi Shankar—No, he wasn’t a “rock” artist, but look at all of the ones he influenced. And he played Monterey Pop, Woodstock and the Concert for Bangladesh. Can anyone else claim that?
Sir Douglas Quintet—The Texas band that revolved around singer-guitarist Doug Sahm had only a few hits but their impact on the Americana movement was felt long after their chart reign ended.
The Smiths—Led by singer Morrissey, with fine guitar work by Johnny Marr, they were one of the most popular British bands of the early ’80s.
Sonny and Cher—Before Cher, who was elected to the Hall in 2024, broke out on her own (and her ex, Sonny, became a U.S. congressman), they were a major success together on radio, television and the stage.
Sonic Youth—The New York post-punk band was relentlessly experimental, using noise and unorthodox tunings, inspiring other indie bands to take their music to the edge.
Joe South—Although mostly known for his biggest hit, 1969’s “Games People Play,” he was also a prolific songwriter (Deep Purple’s “Hush”) and session guitarist (Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde).
Sparks—L.A. brothers Ron and Russell Mael never found huge commercial success but their fans were insanely loyal and the band proved highly influential.
Spirit—One of the most underrated California bands of the ’60s, led by guitar whiz Randy California, they created a series of fine albums like The Family That Plays Together.
Status Quo—Another great example of a band that was huge at home—England—but had only minimal impact in the U.S. They’re still boogieing after more than six decades.
Al Stewart—The Scottish singer-songwriter has a commendable body of work that holds up well, including songs like “Year of the Cat” and “Time Passages.”
The Sugarhill Gang—The Hall of Fame has been actively inducting rappers but has inexplicably ignored this seminal old-school group.
Supertramp—With the massive success of albums like Breakfast in America and a string of hit singles like “The Logical Song,” this British band was a major presence in the late ’70s/’80s.
Tears for Fears—If only for their ubiquitous 1985 hit “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” we might still believe they are worthy of inclusion. But this English band has been hugely successful internationally for decades and there’s a lot more to them than that.
Joe Tex—Another super soulman of the ’60s who has been unjustly forgotten.
The 13th Floor Elevators—One of the first bona fide psychedelic bands of the ’60s, these Texans, led by the mercurial Roky Erickson, are revered by many for their unique, uncompromising approach.
Carla Thomas—Like her dad Rufus Thomas (also yet to be inducted), this Memphis soul great turned out hit after hit in the ’60s.
Irma Thomas—A true legend in New Orleans, this soulful vocalist sounds as great today as when she was turning out hit records like “Time Is on My Side,” covered by the Rolling Stones.
Toots and the Maytals—If Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff can be inducted, then why not this pioneering, dynamic reggae band that openly acknowledged its debt to American R&B?
Peter Tosh—And as long as we’re talking reggae, this former Wailers-mate of Marley’s made a strong impact with his songs advocating Rastafarianism, equal rights and weed legalization.
Tower of Power—The Bay Area funk organization has been going strong for more than 55 years and includes one of the most in-demand horn sections in all of recorded music.
Triumph—The most popular Canadian trio that isn’t Rush is often overlooked, but these guys, led by the guitarist Rik Emmett, have won countless awards in their home country and deserve some Hall of Fame love too.
Uriah Heep—The English rock band, formed in London in 1969, was a steady presence on the U.K. charts throughout the ’70s, and earned their biggest hit in the U.S. with 1972’s “Easy Livin’.”
Luther Vandross—After serving as a backup vocalist for the likes of Bowie and Diana Ross, he went solo and racked up a long string of huge modern R&B hits, plus several Grammys.
Vanilla Fudge—Noted primarily for their creative way of reinventing a cover song, the New York-area ’60s band included the great drummer Carmine Appice and bassist Tim Bogert, both of whom would later play with Jeff Beck.
Bobby Vee—The now-deceased singer started out as a Buddy Holly protégé and then found his own groove with AM radio classics like “Take Good Care of My Baby” and “Come Back When You Grow Up.”
Mary Wells—Another Motown star who’s been unjustly ignored by the Hall, her hits included “Two Lovers” and the #1 “My Guy.”
Tony Joe White—The late master of swamp-rock had a big hit with “Polk Salad Annie” in 1969 and wrote “Rainy Night in Georgia” for Brook Benton.
Larry Williams—Just ask the Beatles if you don’t know who this ’50s singer was: they covered his “Dizzy Miss Lizzy,” “Bad Boy” and “Slow Down.” His other hits included “Short Fat Fannie” and “Bony Moronie.”
Sonny Boy Williamson (II)—There were two blues greats with this name. The second—also known as Rice Miller—was a harmonica master and singer who had a huge influence on the Stones, Yardbirds, John Mayall, Animals, etc.
Chuck Willis—This long-gone R&B singer was nominated for five consecutive years by the Hall and then forgotten. He still deserves recognition for “C.C. Rider” and “What Am I Living For,” among other sides.
Wishbone Ash—Although many members have come and gone, and they never caught on in the U.S. as strongly as they did at home, this prototypical British heavy-rock band is still led by guitarist Andy Powell after more than five decades.
X—The U.S. produced dozens of great punk bands and X was one of the most important. Their debut album, Los Angeles, was a landmark of the genre.
The Youngbloods—Worth remembering for their big peace-and-love anthem “Get Together” but more than that too: singer-songwriter Jesse Colin Young, who died in 2025, was a talented force.
If you’re a new Best Classic Bands reader, we’d be grateful if you would Like our Facebook page and/or bookmark our Home page.
- ‘Brandy’ by Looking Glass (It’s a Fine Song) - 05/18/2025
- When Liberace Was “Feelin’ Groovy” - 05/16/2025
- Wavy Gravy—The Hippie Icon Who Fed the Crowd at Woodstock - 05/15/2025
81 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationThe Hall of Fame hasn’t even inducted the Dolls yet!
Bauhaus.
It’s never a good idea trying to second guess how the nominating committee comes up with its picks, but our guess is that they just don’t consider Fogelberg to be important enough.
First of all, it’s the Rock n Roll hall of fame! Not the Pop, Country, Folk, or Top 40 hall of fame so people like Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Peter, Paul and Mary, Charlie rich should not even be anywhere near this list! And no mention of The Pixies or Link Wray???
Bread!!!
Weird Al!
What about “Eddie Money”?
Dare I say “Atomic Rooster”? This British band barely made a dent in the US market, but was influential.
They were able to come up danceable prog rock(“Tomorrow Night”) some really dark sounding stuff(“Death Walks Behind You”), and even new wave-like material(“Where’s the Show”).
They had a number of personnel changes, but somehow, leader Vincent Crane was able to make the best out of what the musicians had to offer, in each edition of Rooster.
This was also Carl Palmer’s band before ELP got started…..so a sense of “historical
significance” much like Spooky Tooth, Humble Pie, or the Move….which shaped things to come…..
Since many of the acts listed here are people or groups that I never have heard before, I would like to add a group from Detroit called the Rockets, Pulled together by some of Mitch Ryders group the Detroit Wheels, Johnny “Bee” Bandajek and Jimmy MacCarty, they had what some have called the best version of Peter Greens hit with Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well” with a blistering solo by Mac Carty, but also had some hits of their own that never really got the recognition they deserved, Hits like “Desire”, “Turn Up the Radio” “Takin It Back” and they were also a killer live band, that rocked the house.
Still missing the great Jack Scott and The Pretty Things
The Beastie boys suck, rage against the machine has no real hits and Foghat was a great band with ,handy hits like Bad Company. Are you letting 4th graders vote? I will never visit.
why arent the 5th dimension , tommy james and the shondells , the turtles in the rock and roll hall of fame do you know how many hits those 3 groups have ,
1) THE BYRDS – PART TWO:
CLARENCE WHITE, GENE PARSONS,
SKIP BATTIN & ROGER McGUINN
2) CHRIS REA
3) ALBERT LEE
4) GENE CLARK (solo)
Elliott Murphy have written and released as many great songs as the real big ones like Beatles, Stones, Neil Young and Springsteen. Still activ and a superb live artist. Springsteen has said that “Elliott Murphy” have never made a bad song. That’s true!
Weird Al Yankovic .Insanely great musician, superlative lyricist, unique in rock music with a 40 year career and many Grammy’s
I hope that eventually the Cranberries will get mentioned
Wish List- Induct- BOSTON, Grass Roots. America. The Carpenters, Seals and Crofts. Firefall, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Helen Reddy
With all due respect, England Dan and John Ford Coley will not be getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Nor will Helen Reddy.
One person definitely missing who should be in there as an Early Influencer must be Ella Fitzgerald.
I have never understood why Meatloaf has not been inducted. One of the greatest rockers ever. Thanks for including him on your list!
brian wilson as producer, songwriter, music arranger, vocal arranger.
Rare Earth
How could Tull have detractors? Is it because they won the metal grammy? Just for the back to back albums Aqualung and Thick as a Brick they should be in. All their albums are great, performed for 50 years to sell outs constantly, melded rock, metal, fold, quirkiness, somehow the flute, old English tunes, irony, great guitar and Anderson’s theatrics, etc. No one has mentioned this group and if you know their music you would vote them in before Yankovic, They Might Be Giants, biting lyrics, memorable melodies and nobody is similar.
I’m glad to see Suzi Quatro on the list, she was such a major influence to acts like Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, etc. that her not being inducted is ridiculous. Slade is another glaring omission, and somehow they are not on the list, even though they were very influential, and often covered by metal bands in the ’80s.
The Sweet.
The Buzzcocks.
Doctor Feelgood.
Montrose.
ALL deserve entry!
Buzzcocks, XTC, Stranglers, Ultravox, Gang of Four, Echo and the Bunnymen, PFM, Focus, Caravan, Black Flag, Minor Threat, Bad Brains, Circle Jerks, Dead Kennedys, Jellyfish, The Specials, English Beat, Split Enz, Gentle Giant.
What about Gary Puckett and the Union Gap? number one hits, bunch of top 10 hits. Young GIrl, Woman Woman, Lady Willpower
I didn’t see 70’s glam/hard rock band, Sweet, on either list.
The band that gave us Ballroom Blitz, Fox on the Run, No You Don’t, Action, A.C.D.C., Set Me Free, Love is Like Oxygen, and many other catchy, yet edgy, rock tunes is forgotten by almost everyone it seems and that’s a damn shame.
Any love for Teena Marie? Maybe her resume makes her borderline; she didn’t cross over to pop as often as she probably deserved. But taking a stand like she did, to escape her Motown contract in one of the most important entertainment law cases of the seventies, should tip her into the Hall. She paved a path in music just as important as Curt Flood did in baseball.
Status quo,,,always seemed to robbed,,,best band in the world by a longshot,,been going nonstop since 1962,,its the music that keeps us fans from loving them for so long,,Matchstick men was their only hot in America,,but the rest was all over the world,,long Quo
Yes, you missed it. They’re in this story: https://bestclassicbands.com/rock-hall-omissions-12-13-1777/
Still some glaring omissions: Bir Brother and the Holding Company and .38 Special. Why not throw in Night Ranger and Michigan bands–SRC and The Frost?
“The Outlaws” are still playing since ‘74. There Goes Another Love Song, Green Grass and High Tides, etc. Come on!
It was nice to see Joan Jett bring Tommy James out to perform with her at her induction. Now put him in already! Thank you for your list. Carole King deserved to be the first 2 time woman inductee over Stevie.
I’m glad to see that Spirit made the 2nd list, should have been on the first list. I only saw them once, but it was a great show they put on, with tunes like “Fresh Garbage”, “I got a line on you” “Natures Way”, Mr. Skin” and many, many more, they deserve to be in. Randy California wrote some great Rock and Roll. and they were all great musicians.
Good lists! Delaney and Bonnie, Taj Mahal, Irma Thomas, The Meters, Chaka Khan, Ry Cooder, Carole King, Hot Tuna top my list. One big omission from the lists and the Hall is the Neville Brothers!
Validity of HOF in question….Where are super groups like TRAVELING WILBURY’s or BLIND FAITH ??
Darlene Love, although great, was never a member of The Crystals. Phil Spector put her name on a few of their hits. La La Brooks sang lead on their biggest hits.
Thank you for putting up this list of bands and artists that are not in the rock n roll hall of fame, I never really new all the artists that we’re in & the artists that weren’t in. One of my favorite bands of all time I believe just got into the Hall last year or the last time and that was “YES” and I thought they were in all this time. They should have been in the hall many years ago as so should a lot of these artists on this list. I’m just going to run off a couple of artists that should have been in the hall already, Bad Company, E.L.P., Jethro Tull, Thin Lizzy, King Crimson, Ten Years After and Steve Winwood. I guess Steve Winwood should be glad he’s in the hall with the band Traffic but the others I just named , it should be a crime that these bands aren’t already in. It’s a great idea to have the Hall of Fame but they must remember that these words “Rock N Roll” are in front of “Hall of Fame” which means don’t wait until these guys pass away before being admitted, that would be very unjust, get them in ASAP no matter how, even if you have to add a large group of them now by bending the rules because it’s a tremendous award to these talented artists and they get so overwhelmed by this that they should get this award while they are still living so they can be with their rock n roll family and give an awesome speech an we can see the emotion in their faces when they are announced. All I am saying is these brilliant people aren’t getting any younger and some have already passed so please bend the rules or make an exception to the rule and get as many of the older rock n rollers who deserve it so bad in there while they are still with us and you will see a lot of old people cry, scream, jump, yell & smile but also say some words from their hearts about how great this night is for them and how happy they are as this is most likely the icing on their cake and their amazing career’s. Thank You very much & I apologise for talking so much but I love rock n roll music and the people who create it, peace !
I agree completely. Connie Francis, Neil Sedaka, Pat Boone, Paul Anka, and Paul Revere and the Raiders need to be inducted while they are still with us!
Paul Revere is actually deceased, as are two of the Raiders, but Mark Lindsay and the others you named are still around.
Would someone start a real rock and roll hall of fame cause it’s obvious there are people out here who know real rock and roll when they hear it, all the suggestions I’ve just read should have been in before some that went in the past few years
Styx, Duran Duran, Foghat, INXS, Toto, REO Speedwagon, Buffet, Billy Idol, John Denver, Brian Eno, and Scorpions should ALL be in. America too but I mentioned them in the other first 100 snubs comments—-That is criminal. As are Styx and Collective Soul!! BUT-/-Thanks for the info to debate. Interesting conversation! I still find it hilarious that the rockers wore those stage outfits that look like they were purchased at the kids section of Spencer’s Gifts or the Gap on asteroids or something stronger. Lol. It’s amazing those artists were small enough to wear those clothes on display. But there is always Meatloaf to offset some of this lopsidedness!! Haha
Air Supply should be added to this list along with Graham Russell as a songwriter.
I don’t see Spandau Ballet nor Howard Jones and I checked parts one and two
Excuse me but Nazareth , not on either list?
I didn’t see:
RAINBOW
MOLLY HATCHET
THE OUTLAWS-the original Florida Guitar Army!
It’s obvious we all prefer to think of it as the Hall of Respect For The Revolutionary Music Of Our Lives because for so many years music was so varied and spectacular and meant so much to us all.
A name I haven’t seen is Nick Drake and I’d also throw Egg in for big respect.
Three Dog Night……..PERIOD.
How can you leave The Smithereens out in the cold??
The great 1980’s “Smiths” ( with Morrissey / Johnny Marr ) were thankfully added here to this important 2nd updated ” Best CLASSIC Bands” list. Yet another most popular ’80’s dominating UK band, which IS still actively creating, recording new albums and performing sold out world-wide concerts today ( year 2023 ! ), the amazing “Cure” ( Robert Smith & band members) were sadly ignored and did not appear to have been included …
I still can’t believe Bauhaus is not even mentioned. They spawned a genre.
Tell you what…..pick 50 each year for the next 4 years and clear up all of the hurt feelings…..I would LOVE to be a judge on that panel……they need some new OLD blood….someone who lived it!!!!!!!!
I was on it for a few years. They kicked me out for telling the truth.
Thanks for telling the truth…I think Larry Williams should be put in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an early influencer
Listen to the first 12 albums of Jethro Tull and tell me if there’s anyone better that isn’t in the Hall of Shame what a joke that they aren’t in
Neil Sedaka?? Come on now…….
.
EVERYBODY IN!
The exception is “one hit wonders’
You know Taylor Swift is going in, before Spirit, Supertramp, ETC.
It is an insult and a crime that some “qualified” elite group gets to decide is the antithesis of rock and roll.
One group I would love to see inducted is the Canadian group Cowboy Junkies-Margo Timmins astounding voice and covers of Lou Reed (“Sweet Jane”) and Neil Young (“Powderfinger”) and some great original songs like “Cheap Is How I Feel” and “Misguided Angel.” Thanks for mentioning Harry Chapin (was fortunate enough to see him in person one time), Jim Croce and Dan Fogelberg.
Thanks for your 200 list that includes The Fugs, Smiths, Hot Tuna, Love, and more.
But what about The Flamin’ Groovies? “Shake Some Action” is the greatest power-pop tune of all time. Their Sire Records LP’s of that era (late 70’s) are brilliant. Before that, in their initial rock/R&B period, Mick Jagger said their 1971 LP “Teenage Head” was better than Sticky Fingers.
Another atrocity omission: Psychedelic Furs. Musically and lyrically groundbreaking and excellent; influential and famous; everlasting hits (Pretty in Pink, Love My Way). What more does HOF want??
No Jethro Tull is the biggest travesty ever the albums Tull from 1969 to current Is criminal that they’re not in not to mention there wasn’t a better live band in the 70s through 80s then Ian Anderson and his band of Pirates those assholes put them in once they’re all dead. I hope not.
How about Molly Hatchet
Grand Funk Railroad. ELP, Robin Trower ,King Crimson. Not mentioned once
Bob—It’s because you overlooked Part 1 of our feature, which is linked to this article. They’re all included there (with Trower as a member of Procol Harum).
If Oasis is listed, Blur needs to be listed too. As, if not more deserving. Blur and Damon Albarn’s 2nd act, Gorillaz are brilliant.
What about groups like Boston, STYX, Loverboy, and Boz Skaggs, and REO Speedwagon. It frustrates me when I see their music used to sell products on T.V. Why can’t they be given the respect they deserve with Hall of Fame induction!!
Most of these are listed in the first part of the article. See the link in part 2.