Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: 100 Crucial Omissions
by Best Classic Bands Staff
On April 21, 2024, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the inductees for its newest class. With the selection of Cher, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Dave Matthews Band, John Mayall, MC5, Ozzy Osbourne, Dionne Warwick, Jimmy Buffett and Kool and the Gang—each of whom had been on our ever-changing list of artists who had been snubbed by the Hall—into the Class of 2024, Best Classic Bands has again updated our list.
It was Fall 2016 when we put together our initial list of artists that we felt deserved consideration for induction but had not been given the honor. Since that time, many core rock acts that had been overlooked for decades have finally been chosen. Notably, that list includes (in addition to the above) 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.
[There are so many that we’ve written Part 2 of our list of HoF omissions, which includes another 100 artists that have thus far been snubbed. Click the link for Part 2 at the end of this story.]
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland
With the Sept. 16, 2023, news that Jann Wenner had been removed from the Rock Hall’s Board, music fans are once again clamoring for their long-overlooked favorites to finally be inducted. Since the Hall’s inception, music fans have argued over who should be in, who shouldn’t be, why and why not? Lists abound online and there is almost never any consensus.
Below we present a list of our own: 100 artists we think deserve nomination. Our reasons for selecting them vary. One factor we considered in particular is whether they were important in their own time, not only how they are regarded today. Some will eventually make the Hall’s cut, others never will, and that’s just how it is. You will undoubtedly agree with some of our picks and we can already hear you shouting, “I can’t believe they left out (fill in the blank)!” Feel free to offer your comments.
In order to be eligible, an artist must have made their first recording 25 years prior to the current year (for the 2024 class, that means 1999).
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, 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.
Names are listed alphabetically
The Association—Their ballads “Cherish” and “Never My Love” are among the most played songs in history. And “Along Comes Mary” is another classic.
B-52’s—One of the most danceable of the American post-punk bands, their tunes like “Love Shack” and “Rock Lobster” were a whole lot of fun.
Bachman-Turner Overdrive—After finishing his run with the Guess Who, guitarist/singer Randy Bachman, a couple of brothers and bassist Fred Turner formed BTO and rocked out on hits like “Takin’ Care of Business” and “You AIn’t Seen Nothin’ Yet.”
Bad Company—Singer Paul Rodgers should also be in for the band Free, but we’ll settle for these crunching blues-rockers.
Badfinger—They have a tragic story but such great songs—and Beatle-approved, too.
Blood, Sweat and Tears—Along with Chicago, they kick-started the horn-rock genre of the late ’60s and early ’70s.
Blue Öyster Cult—Hard-rock meets prog with lots of pre-punk attitude.
Blues Project—The New York quintet was tremendously influential. Keyboardist/vocalist Al Kooper and guitarist Danny Kalb were superb instrumentalists. [Note: Kooper was inducted on his own in 2023.]
Boston—This perfectionist classic rock band, which scored with one of the best-selling debut albums of all-time, wasn’t very prolific afterwards but still retains a huge fan base.
Glen Campbell—Yes, he was usually tagged as country-pop, but for his session work alone (Spector, Beach Boys, Monkees) he should go in. Plus, he played a killer guitar.
Related: 13 times when Glen Campbell rocked
Canned Heat—One of the great blues-rock bands of the ’60s. The real deal. Here they are at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival.
Captain Beefheart—Never sold any records but had a tremendous influence on other experimental rockers.
The Carpenters—Some may say they’re too lightweight to be considered rock but Karen Carpenter’s voice is a thing of beauty, and they made wonderful pop records.
Harry Chapin—A supremely talented singer/songwriter whose life was tragically cut short, he had hits like “Cat’s in the Cradle” and “Taxi.” Also one of music’s most generous spirits, who worked ceaselessly for humanitarian causes.
Chubby Checker—He took “The Twist” to #1 twice, in two different years. Give the man his due already!
Joe Cocker—That voice! That thing he did with his hands! A master interpreter of songs. Did we mention that voice?
Albert Collins—Many of the great bluesmen of the past century have been inducted but this omission remains a glaring one.
Judy Collins—More than just another talented folk singer, she was one of the artists who defined her generation.
Phil Collins—Already in as a member of Genesis, but he arguably had a bigger impact on his own.
Ry Cooder—For his guitar work alone he should be enshrined. Add his work as solo artist and producer, and it’s a no-brainer.
Country Joe and the Fish—San Francisco psychedelia met Berkeley social commentary in the ’60s. They were ubiquitous at festivals and on radio.
Jim Croce—His life was cut short before he had a chance to truly develop but the trove of hits he left behind was substantial.
The Crystals—Even more than the Ronettes, the Crystals were Phil Spector’s go-to girl group. Darlene Love and La La Brooks were (and still are) dynamic singers.
Dick Dale—The man invented surf guitar. That’s enough.
Related: A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Cynic Visits the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Delaney and Bonnie—The husband-and-wife duo’s soul-rock revue at various times included Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, George Harrison, Leon Russell, Bobby Whitlock, Dave Mason, Rita Coolidge, King Curtis, and, oh yeah, Eric Clapton.
John Denver—The Hall has been somewhat selective about the singer-songwriters it’s chosen, but the late “Rocky Mountain High” man was inarguably one of the most popular.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer—Prog-rock virtuosity and over-the-top showmanship all condensed into a powerful little package.
Marianne Faithfull—From Stones-associated chanteuse she reinvented herself as world-weary interpreter of the first order.
Flying Burrito Brothers—One of the seminal country-rock bands. Criminally overlooked.
Dan Fogelberg—The beloved singer-songwriter is best remembered for songs like “Part of the Plan,” “Same Old Lang Syne” and “Leader of the Band.”
Free—We listed Bad Company, the other band featuring the soulful frontman Paul Rodgers, above. Free was just as great. You can’t not sing along with their “All Right Now.”
J. Geils Band—Killer live band fronted by the dynamic Peter Wolf. In their heyday they were always the best show in town. Hits included “Centerfold” and “Love Stinks.”
Lesley Gore—“It’s My Party,” “You Don’t Own Me” and so many more hits. She was every teenage girl’s BFF in the ’60s.
Grand Funk Railroad—One of the first truly divisive rock bands, but love ’em or hate ’em you can’t deny they helped popularize hard rock.
The Grass Roots—Easy to forget them until you look at their long string of smashes: “Midnight Confessions,” “Let’s Live for Today,” “Temptation Eyes” and many more.
Related: Our feature story on the Grass Roots
The Guess Who—The Canadian band led by Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman was another hit machine: “American Woman,” “These Eyes,” “No Sugar Tonight,” etc.
Emmylou Harris—Few singer-songwriters so successfully straddled the worlds of traditional Nashville country and the modern singer-songwriter genre of the ’70s and ’80s. And she still sounds amazing today.
Richie Havens—One of the most distinctive voices ever, he made every song he covered his own. And he opened the Woodstock fest.
Herman’s Hermits—They weren’t popular only because singer Peter Noone was “cute.” They also made many durable pop hits.
Related: Our interview with Noone
John Hiatt—A consistently excellent singer-songwriter, he’s got a rich catalog of songs that have been covered by everyone from Dylan to Ronstadt to Clapton.
Humble Pie—Steve Marriott is already in with Small Faces but his second great band is equally deserving. These guys seriously rocked.
Billy Idol—From his start with Brit punks Generation X and onward into his high-profile, MTV-era solo years, he delivered a string of high-energy rock tunes and a few memorable ballads.
Iron Maiden—One of the most successful and accessible metal bands of all-time, with tens of millions of album sales—and thousands of live shows—to their name, they’re still going strong after four decades.
Joe Jackson—The English singer-songwriter rode in on the new wave, then branched out in many directions, from the jazzy Jumpin’ Jive to the sophisticated Night and Day albums.
Tommy James and the Shondells—“Crimson and Clover,” “Crystal Blue Persuasion” and, of course, “Hanky Panky.” So many hits, all very diverse.
Related: Our interview with Tommy James on all those hits
Jethro Tull—Their detractors will never understand why, but Ian Anderson and the band sold tons of records and were a major concert act for years.
Tom Jones—This masterful interpreter of songs belongs in. As a live performer, he’s better than ever now, and his past few albums have been spectacular.
Watch Tom Jones sing “Show Me,” a song made famous by another artist on our list, Joe Tex
Ben E. King—Inducted as a member of the Drifters, but his solo output includes “Stand By Me” and “Spanish Harlem.” He needs his own slot in the Hall.
King Crimson—Prog at its most inventive. Whatever you think of the genre on the whole, you must acknowledge that Robert Fripp is a genius.
Cyndi Lauper—One of the biggest stars of the ’80s and beyond, her hits like “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “True Colors” and “Time After Time” are still radio staples today.
Huey Lewis and the News—Critics, for the most part, have shunned this popular ’80s and ’90s from the Bay Area, but a steady stream of multi-platinum albums and singles speaks for itself.
Gordon Lightfoot—If fellow Canadians like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell can make the cut, why not this terrific, recently departed singer-songwriter?
Little Feat—This L.A. outfit was just so funky, and with the late Lowell George as their lead guitarist they left audiences numb night after night.
Los Lobos—For five decades this East L.A. band has continued to innovate. Their output has been consistently strong since day one, and in concert they kill.
Love—Fronted by the gifted singer-songwriter Arthur Lee, this ’60s L.A. band was, for a while, as important to that scene as the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield.
Taj Mahal—His top-notch output beginning in the late ’60s introduced many rock fans to the more organic acoustic blues, plus he could rock like crazy and he incorporated world music and other elements.
Marshall Tucker Band—One of the most creative and durable of the Southern Rock bands, their best known tunes include “Can’t You See” and “Heard It in a Love Song.”
Meat Loaf—Larger than life in several ways, his Bat Out of Hell collaborations with Jim Steinman, both of them now gone, have persevered as classic rock staples.
The Meters—They are nothing less than the quintessential New Orleans funk/R&B band. That makes them pretty important, no?
The Monkees—Enough with the “didn’t play their own instruments” excuse. Their records were some of the finest pop-rock of the era, and their influence on the rock video medium was incalculable. Let’s get them in while Micky Dolenz, the only survivor, is still with us.
Motörhead—Fronted by the beloved singer-bassist Lemmy Kilmister, they were the quintessential British metal band, spawning subgenres like speed metal and thrash.
Mott the Hoople—Just for the fact that they gave us the brilliant Ian Hunter, they belong in. Mott was more than glam; they rocked big-time.
Mountain—Leslie West and company took hard rock to the next level. “Mississippi Queen,” of course, but there was a lot more going on there.
The Neville Brothers—New Orleans funk royalty, the quartet included singer Aaron Neville, who scored a solo hit with “Tell it Like it Is” and a smash duet, “Don’t Know Much,” with Linda Ronstadt.
New York Dolls—Seriously, the Dolls are not in? Yes, their whole glam style thing was over the top, but they rocked like crazy and were a major influence on the punk scene.
Watch the Dolls sing “Personality Crisis”
Harry Nilsson—There are still many important singer-songwriters still on the outs, but it’s simply criminal that Nilsson has been ignored. He was loved by the Beatles and just about everyone else.
Phish—Formed in 1983 in Vermont, the jam-band’s unpredictable concerts, based on improvisational segments and complex arrangements, are legendary. They still fill stadiums regularly.
Poco—Another of the essential country-rock pioneers unjustly ignored.
Iggy Pop—Inducted for the Stooges, but he’s arguably had even more influence as a solo artist.
John Prine—This 2018 nominee finally received recognition for his decades of solid songcraft and heartfelt performances.
Procol Harum—Just for “A Whiter Shade of Pale” alone they should get the nod, but they went on to record about a half dozen killer albums after that. And live—wow, especially in the early days with guitarist Robin Trower! RIP Gary Brooker and Keith Reid!
Quicksilver Messenger Service—Along with the Dead and the Airplane, QMS defined the San Francisco scene. Give them their due too. Guitarist John Cipollina played like no one else!
REO Speedwagon—Although they were never a critics’ favorite, the Illinois-based rockers have sold tens of millions of records and retain a large fan base.
Paul Revere and the Raiders—With charismatic frontman Mark Lindsay, they released hit after hit: “Kicks,” “Hungry,” “Just Like Me” and more.
Related: We talked to Lindsay about the Raiders’ “Good Thing”
Cliff Richard and the Shadows—Richard was Britain’s reigning pre-Beatles solo artist. His backup band the Shadows influenced the Beatles and everyone else in the U.K. They should each have their own place but we’d be happy to see them honored jointly.
Johnny Rivers—No one reimagined others’ songs as deliciously: “Memphis,” “Secret Agent Man,” “Baby I Need Your Lovin’,” “Summer Rain.” He was a constant presence on the charts for years.
Related: Our feature on Johnny Rivers
Rockpile—The band itself released only one album but it served as temporary home base for guitarist-singer Dave Edmunds and bassist-singer Nick Lowe, two of England’s great no-nonsense rockers.
Diana Ross—As if she hadn’t already broken enough ground with the Supremes, Ross then went on to have a huge solo career, with #1 hits like “Upside Down” and “Touch Me in the Morning.”
Related: Many of these artists are still on the road – Links for 100s of tours
Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels—Rockin’ blue-eyed soul at its finest. “Devil With a Blue Dress On” alone makes him worthy.
Boz Scaggs—The guitarist and singer brought classy stylishness, and a jazzy elegance, to the Bay Area music scene in the ’70s, then expanded beyond that with first-rate albums like Silk Degrees.
Neil Sedaka—After racking up a series of hits in the early ’60s, like “Calendar Girl,” he returned a decade later with more, this time with major support from Elton John.
Squeeze—Fronted by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, they turned out one classic pop-rock gem after another, including such great tunes as “Cool for Cats” and “Tempted.”
Steppenwolf—Yes, the band behind “Born to Be Wild” and “Magic Carpet Ride” is still on the outs. What’s up with that?
Styx—When we inadvertently left these Chicago-based prog-rockers off of our initial list, their multitude of fans came after us with torches. But the truth is that the Hall routinely ignores bands of this ilk, and it’s time they got over it.
Television—Most of the other big NYC punk-era bands are in but Television predated all of them. Highly influential but someone forgot to tell the Hall. RIP Tom Verlaine!
Ten Years After—Did you ever see the Woodstock movie? Remember watching Alvin Lee shred? That was just a taste.
Thin Lizzy—The Irish rockers led by the late Phil Lynott were a whole lot of fun to watch and kicked ass live. “The Boys Are Back in Town” indeed.
Rufus Thomas—From the Stax Records stable that gave us Otis Redding and Booker T. and the MG’s, but he actually began his career in Memphis long before. An R&B giant.
Three Dog Night—If we judge Hall of Fame nominees by the impact they had in their own time, then Three Dog Night deserves a look. Hit after hit after hit.
Toto—This group of virtuoso musicians made a significant impact together but the band’s members have also been first-call sidemen for decades.
Pete Townshend—Would this singer-songwriter-guitarist have become a force in rock even if he hadn’t been in a certain English band? His solo work suggests that he had the goods.
The Turtles—The L.A. band was one of the few that didn’t use studio musicians, and they came up with “Happy Together,” “She’d Rather be With Me,” “Elenore” and more. That’s impressive.
Jr. Walker and the All Stars—Walker was the only Motown star who was primarily an instrumentalist. His sax powered hits like “Shotgun” and “Road Runner,” great stuff all.
War—They’ve been nominated but have yet to make the final cut. They fused R&B with funk, rock, jazz and more to create their own sound.
Barry White—Did you ever hear Barry White’s voice? And if so, can you ever forget Barry White’s voice? Didn’t think so.
Edgar Winter—Like his late brother Johnny, Edgar Winter has been a favorite of dedicated rockers for 50 years, and his huge hit “Frankenstein” still receives airplay.
Johnny Winter—There was never an artist like him before, and never again will be. A spellbinding guitarist and master performer. Watch him perform “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”
Steve Winwood—Inducted with Traffic, but he needs to be similarly honored for his solo career.
Warren Zevon—He’s one of the most beloved singer-songwriters of the past four decades, yet he’s been inexplicably shunned by the Hall. What are you waiting for?!
For Part Two, we’ve included 100 more worthy artists. Click here.
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244 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationHarry Nilsson’s songs have been covered by dozens of artists making him a very influential force in the history of rock.
I agree, Harry Nilsson’s songs are generally fantastic !! And, I want to give a shout out to the GREAT Alvin Lee and his band Ten Years After…a great, diverse band with monster chops, great songs and albums. “A Space in Time” is a killer album from start to finish, and with a lot of great acoustic guitar songs and playing by Alvin. THEY ARE HALL OF FAMERS, NO DOUBT !!!
John Hiatt.. wish I knew how to start a campaign to get him in..
Sure as I’m sitting here.. Three Dog Night
Thing Called Love..
Bonnie Raitt
Riding with the King..
B.B. King and E.C.
Angel Eyes…
Jeff Healey
Feels Like Rain..
Buddy Guy
Aaron Neville
Detroit Made..
Bob Seger
.
I couldn’t agree more. Buddy Guy, Jeff Healey, Bonnie Rait and all the others deserve to be in the hall of fame. Absolutely.
Both Buddy Guy and Bonnie Raitt have been inducted.
I think the “theory” why 3 Dog Night is not in is that they did not write their own material. They were HUGELY popular though, which I think should be the main criteria.
Elvis didn’t write his own material. Nor did the Supremes and many other acts that have been inducted.
When
Most artists are long forgotten
Nilson–will still be played around the globe…
This is obviously unimportant to the musical mavens who vote for the members.
It’s the people who tell us who is the greatest!
They should decide……
I sincerely thank you for the nod.
Lead singer The Shangri-Las.
Mary Weiss
Thanks for your thanks, Mary! I saw the Shangs in 1965 at one of the beach clubs on Long Island! I’ve always loved those records. And your recent solo album is terrific!
The Shangri-Las top my list, followed closely by Link Wray and Love.
Look out! Look out! Look out!!! I hope this is really you so I can tell you how much I loved listening to you guys on the radio when I was a kid! I hope you are well 🙂
Although they were not my favorite bands, Three Dog Night, The Guess Who and Grand Funk Railroad dominated 70x radio with hit after hit.
One of my all time faves is Huey Smith. He’ll never get in and as far as piano players go, he is second only to Little Richard.
I cannot believe some of these omissions. i stopped paying attention a long time ago, when bands I didn’t really deem worthy started getting in, but no King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Harry Nilsson? I could go on and on after looking at this list. What a diservice.
I agree. I would also argue that the following should have been inducted long ago: Supertramp, Alan Parsons Project, Tears For Fears.
How about America? They also dominated in the 70’s
I looked at the list of the 100 artist that they say should have been inducted into the hall of fame. I agree with lots of them but highly disagree with more of them. Let us all remember it’s called the ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME FOR A REASON. There are a lot of listed artists that do not even come close to playing rock n roll.l music. Let’s all remember what Rock n roll actually is and which artists actually record rock n roll music. Just my opinion and everyone has one. I mean really one quick one…the j giels band is not in grand funk railroad Peter Frampton foreigner ….just to name a few. Ok so I got carried away lol
There are plenty of non-Rock inductees in the “Hall”. Dolly Parton? Willie Nelson (nominated this year) Is Madonna truly rock? Too bad there’s not a true Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Uriah Heep, Styx, Chicago, more… ALL profoundly influenced by VANILLA FUDGE
Ike Turner should be inducted as an early pioneer or as a sideman. He was an influential session musician and talent scout for Sun Records and Modern Records. He discovered Howlin Wolf, Little Junior Parker and other legendary blues musicians. Plus his song “Rocket 88” is a contender for first rock and roll song. This was all before he discovered Tina!
Suzi Quatro – the FIRST female rocker to break through internationally. Sold 45 million records worldwide – arguably the most influential female musician of the 70’s…. and nary a mention. The ‘expert’ writer must have had a brain fart when compiling this one.
Little Feat has continued to evolve as a band, continuing to this day, long after the passing of the amazing Lowell George. They are the best!
REO Speedwagon. Their earlier song were alot more hard and edgier. Then they went main stream and invented the Power Ballad and Arena Rock. With the death of Gary Richrath last year who wrote many of their hits. They, after almost 50 years, still bring it.
I agree this band definitely had an influence on rock music. They always say that is a prerequisite so they should qualify. Plus they had multi platinum and gold records not to mention one certified “Diamond” – Hi Infidelity was the number one album of 1980
the monkees need to be in as an early boy band
That’s not a reason they need to be in. The Monkees need to be in the Hall because the music was (mostly) great, and were a lot more than just their hit singles (check out the Headquarters album, as well as Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd, and – best of all – the Head soundtrack). Not to mention being music video pioneers, of course.
Also, the “didn’t play their instruments” thing is a lie. It’s true they weren’t allowed to at first, but they later did, and always did on tour. Hell, Micky Dolenz played the first Moog synthesizer to appear on a pop/rock album!
Most of all, their music has endured. 50 years later, we’re still talking about The Monkees, people are still coming out to see them (in whatever combinations) on tour, and they delivered one of 2016’s best albums with the wonderful “Good Times!”
Good Times is one of the best albums of this year. Unlike some of the other artists who’ve been inducted, the Monkees continue to make exciting new music.
Indeed! And it should be noted that, along with Nesmith’s excellent compositions (and a handful of strong Dolenz and Tork originals) all the other great writers who wrote songs for The Monkees. Carole King and Neil Diamond are in… But how about Harry Nilsson? He should be in too.
And, given the acclaim Good Times! got, I really thought this would be the year. Apparently their influencing the likes of Andy Partridge, Ben Gibbard, Noel Gallagher, etc., didn’t matter? How about Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, and Michael Stipe then? They’re all on record as being fans (Peter Buck too, apparently!).
David Marks & Bruce Johnston along w Ricky Fatarr & Blondie Chaplin need to be added to The Beach Boys. If the Eagles can have guys in that were not the original 4 , then so should the Beach Boys.
David Marks played on the first 4 albums …Bruce not only has written songs for them since joining in April ’65 but also produced them in 1980. He also produced other acts as a Columbia Record producer .
Ricky & Blondie were on 3 albums with them in the early 70s .
One other name , as a Producer Terry Melcher should be in there for producing The Byrds albums & Paul Revere & the Raiders. Great article.
Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles/Labelle
These women have made music since 1962. Collectively and individually, Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash have made amazing music for over 50 years mixing R&B/rock/gospel/dance/avant garde. They made a big impact in the 70’s, and are more than “Lady Marmalade”. They have been very overlooked, and have as yet never even been nominated.
Good read! I agree with about 90% of the names. Where was Styx, Scorpions, Foghat, Boston, Def Leppard, Motorhead, Dire Straits, REO Speedwagon, Toto, Wishbone Ash, Iron Maiden, Kansas?! They also need some love!
Toto!
Definitely, Kansas and Styx, Doobies epitomized classic music.
Wishbone Ash???
More psychedelia and proto-electronica please — IRON BUTTERFLY, LOTHAR AND THE HAND PEOPLE, SILVER APPLES, THE AMBOY DUKES, THE BLUES MAGOOS, THE ELECTRIC PRUNES, THE FUGS, THE MUSIC MACHINE, THE RED KRAYOLA, THE SEEDS, THE STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK, THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR ELEVATORS, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, VANILLA FUDGE…
Rory Gallagher and Steve Morse are a couple more guitarists who should be in this list.
What about Marshall Tucker Band? They created unbelievable music with classics such as Cant You See, Heard it in a Love Song, Fire on the Mountain, Searching for a Rainbow and many others. And the only other band besides Jethro Full to rock the flute! Awesome blend of rock, country, jazz and jam band.
Excellent list. One group that hasn’t been given the recognition and respect that they absolutely deserve is The Osmonds. Over 100 Million records sold, Multiple Peoples Choice Awards, sold out arenas and still touring after 55 years in the biz, The Osmonds have earned a legit spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
…..yeah, wouldn’t have necessarily AGREED with your assessment – until I heard “Crazy Horses” – just a shockingly SICK piece of guitar playing…..
Amen on the Osmonds. All very talented musicians. They wrote many (most) of their songs and were popular around the world, even singing in different languages. Great ambassadors and they overcame many tragedies in their lives.What are they waiting for, them to start dying off?
I believe a compelling case for “Fugazi” can be made. They are incredibly influential and were the conscience of many bands (see eddie vedder for instance). It would also be funny to give such a crass and commercial award to them.
Amen..all staples of a.m. radio growing up in 70’s with hit after hit.
Very very pleased to see this common sense list of deserving rockers and others from 60’s to 70’s. So much talent, style plus substance. Forget about who is trendy now, Hall inductions should be based on merit and achievement and influence, not just popularity. Nothing wrong with mainstream top 40 rockers going in over fringe groups who brought something new to the table. Great list..very happy you posted this!
Tom, I agree 100%. Unfortunately, The Hall has made a very dangerous turn onto the road of “Hype”, instead of staying on the “Quality, Talent Ave.”. I think sometimes the go with names that will bring in customers to the Hall. There are definitely some glaring omissions.
Is Joe Cocker’s inclusion being held back because of Belushi’s impressions of him?
Joe Jackson is a significant omission.
It’s the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME!!!!!! Get it?????
My mistake. He wasn’t an actual member of the Bluesbreakers, but they did do this album together:
http://www.allmusic.com/album/john-mayalls-bluesbreakers-with-paul-butterfield-mw0001006694
Randy Bachman, the guess who and bto were#1… this guy being left out is poor.
HOW COULD YOU NOT LIST NRBQ????
Hey MikeMac, NRBQ is my favorite live band of all time! I probably saw them 25 or more times. But I had to be realistic and acknowledge that there is no way they are going to get nominated by the Hall of Fame. I wish things were different because they certainly deserve it, but it’s just not going to happen. And if it ever does, I’ll be happy to be proven wrong!
I have always subscribed to the notion that the RRHOF consists of two parts – “Rock & Roll” and “hall of FAME”. You MUST rock and you MUST be famous! This is not supposed to be the “Hall of Pretty Good”.Using that criteria, go through the list and only make note of those artists listed who “ROCK” and are “FAMOUS”. Of course, if you use that criteria retroactively, Wenner would have to remove 3/4 of the folk, jazz, pop, doo wop, country and other “NON ROCK” people currently members. It’s really a joke trying to button-hole one genre anyway in this field. As long as Paul Revere & the Raiders and the Guess Who are outside looking in, the whole debate is a joke.
Three Dog Night For absolutely sure!
What about Bryan Adams? Summer of 69, Cuts Like a Knife, Run to You are rock classics. So he wrote a few cheesy love songs…so did Rod Stewart and Elton John and they’re in!
Thanks for your comment. As the article states: “All of our picks made their debut recording earlier than 1980.”
ELO would not have existed without The Move. Roy Wood’s guitar and songwriting chops made the band, Carl Wayne is one of rock’s great forgotten vocalists and when Jeff Lynne joined they had a real two-headed monster.
…..indeed; just a TERRIBLY-underrated, HIGHLY influential combo……
Darlene Love is and was great but she was never in The Crystals
Technically you are correct but Spector used her as lead vocalist on Crystals hits such as “He’s a Rebel” and “He’s Sure the Boy I Love.”
…and she was inducted in 2011.
BIG STAR!
Even here, on the list of omitted rock band, you’ve omitted America, who wrote, sang and even produced some of the most enduring hits in American music. Man, Rodney Dangerfield was never treated like this.
America and Toto…how many Hall of Famers’ records gave the Toto guys played with? Give me a break!
Hard to believe Heart got in before Benatar. Then again, as this article points out, the Shangri-las haven’t made it in either. Total shame.
If Cat Stevens can be inducted as he was 2 years ago, so should Gordon Lightfoot and Harry Chapin! Both for their bodies of music, plus Harry Chapins’ philanthropic predates Live-Aid!
Here’s the problem with the whole process, I respect Gordon Lightfoot’s work & am a huge Harry Chapin fan, but Im not sure they are R&RHOF worthy. However, when you induct James Taylor & Cat Stevens how do you then ignore the other two ? Chapin was a prolific performer, writing a Broadway play, composing all the music for his brother’s TV show, composed scores for multiple TV movies, while recording 9 albums in 10 years around over 2,000 live concerts & countless TV appearances. “Cat’s In The Cradle” is a cultural touchstone even 40 years later, “Taxi” was one of the most requested songs of the decade in the 70s, he had 7 albums that were just under or over the Gold Record Sales Threshold, yet not Im not convinced he’s “rock” – although if you are inducting Cat Stevens, then how do you explain not even considering Lightfoot & Chapin ?
I totally agree. The process makes no sense at all.
I saw Gordon Lightfoot twice at Gammage Auditorium at Arizona State University back in the 1980s. In both performances he and his band perfomed every song as good as his original recorded versions. That is pretty rare. The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald put the audience right there. Incredible! The man is a song writing genius and has a great voice as well. He deserves to be in the R&R Hall of Fame for sure.
How about King Crimson, Renaissance, Free, B-52’s, Clannad, The Crusaders, Gentle Giant, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stuff and Supertramp.
Burt Bacharach should be in. Two artists owe their induction solely to him–Gene Pitney and Dusty Springfield. How much more influential could you be?
Let’s not forget that “My Little Red Book”, the biggest hit for the band LOVE, was written by Burt Bacharach.
Seriously agree with Sister Rosetta Tharpe..there was no one like her and she held her own alongside Muddy Waters and many other blues greats. Hope ya caught the tribute they did to her last summer at Arts at Brookfield. It was awesome. Luther Dickinson, John Medeski, AJ Ghent, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Valerie June and a host of others had the place rockin for free in downtown Manhattan.
Great lists..1 and 2..
Plus a bunch of other mentions by the commenters. Hard to believe so many greats aren’t in though Pearl Jam is. I don’t think any 90s bands should be let in until so many of these wrongs are righted! And thank you for mentioning Phish..truly the best big live band out there doing like The Dead did it..changing nightly..no two shows the same..but very different from The Dead who I’m an even bigger fan of. It personally sickens me that The Meters were up for induction the last handful of years but didn’t get in. They’re pretty much the only band I’d wanna see more than The Dead..in any formation..and they’re still kicking ass..mostly as The Funky Meters..but still..they were the backing band on Lady Marmalade and were loved by Paul McCartney, The Stones and influenced a generation of funk, rock and jambands. As well as George Porter jr. Is hands down the best bass player alive..in my humble opinion!
Lots of good choices for sure, and most that I agree with…….
But some overlooked people…..
Tower of Power…..R&B artists in their own right….but played on many rock sessions.
Alexis Korner—not a household name in America, but his nightclub spawned a bunch of well-known bands.
Petula Clark—some people have their reasons about Connie Francis, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield….but I believe that Petula has just a strong a case.
New Order—innovators in techno.
And various non-performers who have contributed much(behind the scenes) to Rock and Roll: Jack Douglas, Joe Meek, Bob Ezrin, Ted Templeman, Irving Azoff.
Can journalists get inducted? Strong case for the late Cub Coda.
Great choices. Petula Clark is noted in the second part of our list (there’s a link near the bottom of part one). Tower of Power and Alexis Korner are deserving for sure. And, as mentioned earlier, it’s absurd that Al Kooper is not in.
New Order? Maybe at some point–hard to say. Maybe Joy Division before them though?
The Hall is very random on the non-performers. All of the people you mentioned are important and there are dozens more. Mostly, the Hall’s leaders have inducted themselves, not too many other industry people.
Journalists can and should get inducted. Cub Koda was a good friend and colleague but I doubt he’ll ever get in. They’re kore likely to put in someone like Lester Bangs or, again, some of the people who are on the nominating committee.
If Joy Division should be nominated at one point, than Bauhaus ( Peter Murphy, Daniel Ash, & David J ) should be nominated as the frontline innovators of that important genre of musical movement and style !
great list!! for j.j. cale alone!!but i sit in total disbelief that rory gallagher is not mentioned anywhere in this article or by any of the commenters??? c’MONNN… 🙂
There’s a link in our story for Part 2, with 100 more omissions:
http://bestclassicbands.com/rock-hall-snubs-12-24-16/
Rory is a must!! One. Of the greatest ever! And didn’t care to sell-out commercially. Known as the Clapton of Ireland! Tremendous!
I’ll tell you one nobody has mentioned, been together since 1961, still rocking to This Day! 26 studio albums, 12 live albums, several compilations. Sold millions of albums. They have evolved through the years, yet remained true to their roots as a kick ass live act. I nominate Golden Earring and why they aren’t in shows what little “critics” know about music.
Johnny Maestro /Crests/Brooklyn Bridge. The Belmonts
Great list, Jeff. Especially glad to see you mention Badfinger, Tommy James & The Shondells, Poco. All beyond worthy.
Quite an impressive list . But you forgot David Cassidy . He had a bigger following and concerts than Elvis and The Beatles in the early 70’s . Biggest fan club ever . Yes he was handsome but a great artist and actor as well . He needs to be on the list
Thanks for the great list! That Little Feat and Los Lobos are not in is criminal. Not to mention that we need more “L” bands in the Hall!
reading your list , i think i like more bands not in the hall of fame than are included ! obviously , i have different criteria , so i’ll leave it at that . one thing though , i’d go for the nice before elp .
The line-up of those not inducted into the Hall, for the most part, is better than the list of acts that have been inducted.
How about spirit. The guys could play all styles of music easily and were all top notch musicians. Their first four albums wete all classics.
Chubby Checker, I would have thought, would have been in the first group of inductees. His list of hits dominated the charts in the 60s. He created the whole dance music genre! Every wedding DJ has the Twist on their playlist. And the Limbo, Pony, and Hucklebuck- what does the Hall have against him?
America, Karla Bonoff, Boston, Foreigner, Toto, Zevon…these were the 70’s!
Make sure you look at part two–some of those names are included!
Good for you on America. What kind of elitist snobbery includes a band like Traffic, which, sorry, is not famous at all (I know them, but I’m not a typical fan) while ignoring a popular favorite like America that will still be being played decades after the last person who remembers Traffic is dead (just like we still read that vulgar novelist Dickens) And if America is somehow too lightweight, that can’t be said of Supertramp, which no one seems to have mentioned yet.
Traffic was one of the most important bands of the late ’60s and ’70s.
I can make an argument that Chubby Checker belonged in with the first class! He basically invented the whole dance music genre. The Twist, Limbo ,Pony, and so many other hits, most of which you’ll still hear being played today! My nephew, who is in the music business, says the industry has some sort of grudge against Chubby for reasons unknown.
Styx may never make the RRHOF — or even some people’s snub list — but they’re in my Hall of Fame and in the end that’s all that matters to me. Glad to see the Moodies finally got the nod, and The Cars as a bonus!
Foghat and Eddie Money also deserve to be inducted
So many glaring omissions by the RRHOF. Has anyone mentioned Delaney & Bonnie in this thread yet? Certainly they are worthy of induction.
Ten Years After/ Alvin Lee, a monster of a band! No Savoy Brown?
Can’t argue with any of these and probably could think of 100 more but boggles my mind that Slim Harpo and Arthur Alexander – performers and writers whose songs were covered by the Beatles, Stones, the Who (“I’m the Face” is a barely rewritten “Got Love If You Want It”), Dusty Springfield and more aren’t in. Tony Joe White and Joe South are two more deserving figures. How about Slade and the Sweet? The Standells?
Dusty was inducted in 1999.
Please explain how it is that non-rockers are in the RRHOF and great Classic Rockers like Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Blue Oyster Cult, Grand Funk Railroad aren’t in!!??
John Bon f’ing Jovi? Are you kidding me? Should be re-named Hall Of Shame until they get serious and induct most of the bands and individuals you mentioned in the article. H.
Nina Simone? Why not Odetta or Cisco Huston. Those characters are influential for sure but are not rock musicians.
Should’ve added Toto, The Commodores, Toots & the Maytals, Styx, XTC, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Black Flag, and the Misfits should also be on this list!!!
Thanks. You will find some of those names in part two of the article. https://bestclassicbands.com/rock-hall-snubs-12-14-17/
The so-called Rock Hall is a JOKE!!! Donna Summer and other disco acts were not Rock n Rollers??? It’s Jann Wenner’s playlist … if not one of his favorites … forget it!!
You left out The Spencer Davis Group, Styx, The Commodores, Kool & The Gang, and The Kingston Trio.
It is beyond my comprehension why nobody ever includes David Cassidy in these lists. David was the number one solo artist of the early 70s. His fan club was larger than Elvis and the Beattles combined! He would sell out stadiums of 60K which was unheard of back in the day. David wasn’t just the fluff TV star of the Partridge Family. He was a very accomplished Musician, Songwriter and Composer. Several of the songs he personally wrote were more on the rock side than the fluff pop songs he was forced to record in the early days. The three RCA albums in the mid 70s were some of his best work. His self titled album in 1989 as well as the follow up, Didn’t You Used To Be are very good as well. It is time David is recognized as more than Keith Partridge!
It’s outrageous and INSANE that this list of omissions contains so many artists and groups who’ve been overlooked or shunned. Too bad the R&R HofF isn’t governed by the record industry itself, or by Billboard. I’ve always heard it was basically a private, snotty organization that votes strictly on their own whims. SAD!
Actually, the majority of the people on the nominating committee are big record company executives.
Joe Cocker may very well be the best classic rock voice of them all. He deserves induction. His resume speaks for itself. 45 years as a recording artist, hit records in every decade since Woodstock. It’s a shame he wasn’t inducted while he was alive.
All you have to see any of the videos on youtube of Mott The Hoople playing Keep a Knocking to realize why the Clash, Queen, and David Bowie thought they were the greatest live band ever.
A lot of great, influential soul groups are missing… The Chi-Lites, Dramatics, Delfonics & Emotions all come to mind… Especially the Chi-Lites who had numerous hit singles that are still sampled & played today
Great List,
“One factor we considered in particular is whether they were important in their own time”
Ask any guy who went to Nam if Grand funk Railroad was important to them.
Nick Cave, Joy Division, The Smiths, Echo & The Bunnymen.
Did anyone even listen in the eighties?
JANET JACKSON????? NOT ROCK n ROLL!!!!
The very existence of a rock and roll hall of fame is the travesty. Rock and roll was never something anyone would want to quantify like a sport or the movie industry.
No Todd Rundgren ? !!!!!! WTF ? !!! He is rock and roll !!!!!
There are A LOT of acts i agree with. Especially Los Lob and J Geils.
One omission, and i don’t know how you would get them, either individual or as a band. Talking about Rockpile. We know that because of their contracts, Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds has to release solo albums, but essentially THEY were Rockpile. Even Elvis Costello said during his acceptance speech, the would be no Elvis w/o Nick Lowe.
More guitar bands! Sonic Youth should have already been inducted ten years ago. Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., Husker Du and Buffalo Tom deserve it too.
JJ Cale, Otis Spann, Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield, Taj Mahal, Arlo Guthrie, Buffy St. Marie, Jesse Ed Davis, Max Yasgur, William “Bill” Ferris
Some of these names are in part two. See the link at the bottom.
You forgot to add The Commodores. Tons of classic R&B hits like “Easy”, “Sail On”, “Brick House”, and “Three Times A Lady”.
I’d also consider nodding Peter Tosh, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, John Prine, Meat Loaf, Joy Division, and Toto.
Some of these names are in part two. See the link at the bottom.
The only omissions from my list were STYX…..Kansas, Joe Walsh and Ozzy (solo careers) other then that this writer is spot on
Any list that lists artists overlooked by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that doesn’t include Jimmy Buffett is flawed. He basically CREATED a new genre of music that has been copied by (among others) Zac Brown, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson and Toby Keith.
Epic fail.
The only epic fail is in your reading comprehension, DC. We very clearly stated (twice) that there is a part two to this article. You will find Jimmy Buffett there. https://bestclassicbands.com/rock-hall-snubs-12-14-17/
This is the best snub list I’ve read. How longer can Thornton, Winter, Dale, Nelson, Fairport/ Thompson, Cooder, Guess Who, Turner, Coltrane, Bobby Keys be omitted?
Wow, What a SAD List !…..Most of these Bands/Solo Artist SHOULD Already Be there !. But When You let Politics (Rolling Stone !) Pick who is inducted…Jus’ goes to show You, NOT is alright in this World !
The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is the corporate machine exploiting rock music. It’s everything RNR is against so the omission of all these great musicians is no surprise. They are run by political & socially pressured corporate suits dressed in ripped jeans & sandals. Don’t let them fool you, kiddies. The don’t know sheet about music or a one hit wonder from a very talented musician. Don’t be surprised when Miley Cyrus gets in before Todd Rundgren or the list of great musicians written above. The HOF is a phuckin’ joke so pay it no mind. I believe Jann Werner (Rolling Stone editor) is on the board and has a say in who gets in & he phucked up the magazine so why not the HOF. RS used to be a music magazine until they hired Hunter Thompson & the paper went down the drain & became a political rag. CORP. HOF EXPLOITING ROCK MUSIC
I agree 100% HOF is a bout money and politics. I was born in 1951 and got to enjoy most of what we discuss and read about here. I remember when they Founded the HOF. After reading a bit about it it became obvious that it was mostly about money and welding power over others. I realized early on that I have no interest in what the HOF thinks or does. They might think that the heart of rock & roll is in Cleveland but it’s not. It’s in all of us. They are just a bunch of self-impressed, over paid, lackeys.
The HOF has all these rules & regulations to get inducted in like the bands have to be together or around 25 years. LMFAO, the suits don’t know there’s no rules in Rock n Roll, man!
Hey, how about Living Colour, Kings X, Alive In Chains, Lenny Kravitz, Soundgarfen, Chris Cornell (the best voice ever), The Tubes, Todd Rundgren, Utopia, Squeeze, Dion & The Belmont’s, Thomas Dolby, Rockpile, The Fugs, The Move, Spooky Tooth, Nazareth, Stone Temple Pilots, Amboy Dukes, Killer Joe Piro, I could keep going for hours…..phuck the HOF!
Even you have snubbed him, what about Roy Buchanan, arguably one of the top five great rock/blues guitar players.
Right here in part two of the article. https://bestclassicbands.com/rock-hall-snubs-12-14-17/
John Hiatt. The most underrated artist out there. Never even mentioned on the most-snubbbed list, yet he is one of the most talented songwriters and performers out there. The list of artists who have covered his songs and the genres they represent is simply mind blowing.
Please, ANYONE who thinks Roxy Music should be in and Priest, Maiden, Nugent, Scorpions, Bad Co. Foreigner, MC5 & Thin Lizzy, just for starters, is insane.
Among many others. But these 8 bands are bands that changed music, they are trend setters. These bands changed music and sold 10X the albums Roxy Music sold and most of them are still out selling Roxy Music today.
The R&R HOF is a crock of crap and an embarrassment to true awesome music. I’m not a fan of several other bands not in but they should definitely be in ahead of Roxy. Not to mention the other embarrassments that are already in the HOF.
Seriously, Maiden & Thin Lizzy not in the HOF, get serious!!!
SHAME!!!! HO Shame could not be more political and shameful.
What a crock!!
…..while I do mostly agree with you about those artists listed, couldn’t DISagree MORE where Roxy is concerned – among THE most influential bands EVER (especially where the 80’s are concerned) and as for quality, I submit for your consideration a) “The Thrill Of It All” (from Country Life) Def Leppard’s MASSIVE rip at “Street Life” on their YEAH! covers album – here’s the link, “Same Old Scene” (featured in the movie ‘Times Square’, among others) and of course, “Love Is The Drug”…..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OLmXAGaAf4
Slade – the greatest rock band that never made it big in America. Slade’s catalog of music would put most of the HOF inductees to shame. Not to mention being one of the best live bands ever to take the stage..
There is a huge bias in the Hall of Fame against hard rock and heavy metal bands, and especially against British artists in general. It’s frustrating to look at the list of inductees and seeing so many mediocre acts, while many great bands are completely off the radar (Slade, The Sweet, Mott The Hoople, and “newer” artists like Oasis). Definitely a British bias, although I’m still trying to figure out why (American) Todd Rundgren has not been voted in. I can only assume Mr. Rundgren ran over a committee member’s dog or something like that, and has shown no remorse for his actions..
See Jimmy Stewart’s ‘Flight of the Phoenix’. She sings the song “Senza Fine” on the radio ..
Wishbone Ash pioneered dual lead guitars. They rarely got any airtime on the radio and got no mention hear. What a great band and still touring and making albums. Live Dates was an early signature album.
Jethro Tull, Rory Gallagher, Roy Buchanan
Tull is mentioned in part one and the other two are mentioned in part two.
This is a .pretty good list and I agree with quite a bit of it. Three acts I usually look for that I rarely see on such lists are Nick Lowe, The Jam and The Boomtown Rats, I think all three had a good enough body of work to at least make a snub list.
DOOBIE BROTHERS, PAT BENATAR are a MUST. Todd Rundgren shouldv’e been inducted last year as he was #3 in fan vote. They need to have FAN VOTE to weigh more heavily. I would like to see SAMMY HAGAR nominated with all his contributions to rock music. Yes, he is in with VH but come on Montrose, solo career, Waboritas, HSAS, The Circle. Still touring to sold out shows. Rock & Roll Road Trip AXS TV show, radio show of his fav. tunes, Birthday bash, and so much more. He wants Montrose inducted but all of us REDheads want him in some form.
AMERICA!!! Really, really can’t believe they are not in the conversation???so sad!!!
The more years that pass, the more the rrhof seems to (mostly) distance themselves from the true rock/rock ‘n’ roll innovators/talents/geniuses, while more & more embracing such mediocrity. For a long time, there’s been an ever-expanding definition of what constitutes “rock ‘n’ roll”. Hell, even when it was starting, the originators didn’t sound that much alike; but they did all (or most) embrace the same sort of style. Even artists as disparate as Chuck Berry & Jerry Lee Lewis were sharing the same kind of spirit. The music & overall style has always been important, but just as important has been the attitude, the rebel ideology, the willingness to take risks in what you stand for & what you say & do. Let’s not forget that rock ‘n’ roll initially was condemned by the establishment, by older people, by religious zealots who deemed it “the devil’s music”; then, a few years later, there were Christian rock bands!! Rock ‘n’ roll as we used to know it has splintered & fragmented into a million different tangents & directions, to the point where we can be uncertain what to even call some of it. About the closest thing anyone has come up with to describe where rock & pop have gone is the word “alternative”, which doesn’t really mean anything anymore. With the style off the music having become almost unrecognizable in current incarnations, perhaps the best thing to do is follow that rebellious spirit, the daring to do all that you’re inclined towards, even at the risk of being unpopular. Yes, rock & pop & whatever other modern music that counts towards this sort of legacy has been widely celebrated/had its day in the sun, with arena rock, for just one example. Many indelible songs have resulted & many of those who’ve created them remain unacknowledged by those who may have shrunken into their tastes, becoming oblivious to what they were unaware of. If I don’t already seem like I’ve been rambling on way too long, I have just a few additional things to point out for anyone who’s not already aware of them–
https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2018/04/rock_and_roll_hall_of_fame_int.html
If I remember correctly, the 2019 songs/singles inductees are: “Maybe”–The Chantels; “Money (That’s What I Want)”–Barrett Strong; “Twist & Shout”–The Isley Brothers; “Tequila”–The Champs; “Leader Of the Pack”–The Shangri-Las; “Gloria”–The Shadows Of Knight….
If I were going to guess/predict what the singles might be for 2020?…Hmm…
“Get A Job”–The Silhouettes
“Harlem Nocturne”–The Viscounts
“At the Hop”–Danny & the Juniors
“Sh-Boom (Life Could Be A Dream)”–
The Chords
“My Boyfriend’s Back”–The Angels
“TelStar”–The Tornados
Regarding some of the names already mentioned by others–
Many don’t realize that Karen Carpenter (in addition to her unforgettable voice) was also a hell of a drummer–https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdHyzGXAJPg (1:55)
The Final hint by the Association
(from 1981!)–https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAQBx9AkMDI
I wonder if anyone posting on this site recognizes what I feel are some terribly egregious snubs (you can decide for yourselves whether or not they count as
“rock ‘n’ roll”):
Carla Bley (as Songwriter
or Influence–early or otherwise)
Tom Lehrer (as Early Influence)
Suzanne Vega (1985 self-titled debut pre-dates anything by Tracy Chapman, Indigo Girls, etc.)
Ween
They Might Be Giants
The Flaming Lips
Garbage (newly eligible)
Air (also newly eligible)
The Pet Shop Boys (they didn’t just vanish after the ’80s)
Bernie Taupin–lyricist for dozens of classic Elton John hits
FTR, before The Go-Gos, before Benatar, before The Runaways, even before Quatro, there was…Fanny–https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_(band)
Also, for anyone who’s interested, most “feminist anthems” (including “Respect” & “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”) were written &, in some cases, originally performed by men.
&…finally, I couldn’t agree more about such bands/artists as Harry Nilsson, Three Dog Night, Badfinger & The B-52’s; & The Monkees have long needed to go in, too.
The rrhof people may be oblivious or too establishment or whatever, but they need to realize that music (especially where such styles as rock ‘n’ roll & its most important genetic offshoots are concerned) must be more than just popularity for its own sake, which can too easily lead to mediocrity. They must listen between the tunes, note the affecting lyrics & screams & chants. If they don’t, they will become less & less relevant to what is supposedly their stated agenda.
Great comment! Thanks for your input.
Most of the bands and people I don’t know, but some are very marginal. Joe Tex before Lee Dorsey? The Go-Gos were soso. The Shangri-lalas? You’e in lala land. Definitely They Might Be Giants.
…..must disagree with you on Suzi; while her solo career began not LONG after that of the Millington sisters, Quatro was already playing rock with Detroit-area relations in their band the Pleasure Seekers, as early as 1964
If Neither King Crimson nor Jethro Tull don’t make it in 2020, I will never bother to watch it or visit the hall…EVER! I know you have to put a**es in seats but some shred of integrity. They already have enough bad reality t.v. Music shows on television. The lifetime achievement of musicians who influenced and inspired other musicians. If this ideal is lost. We need to rename this hall, celebrity branding achievement awards. Real musicians should vote for those who brought some real innovation.
I think Iron Butterfly should get in just for the long version of the classic “In a Gadda Da Vida”. Great song. Another I would consider is Rare Earth.
A lot should there, but not a lot of ”one hit wonders” you listed.
Where are Slade on the list ??
A superb gritty rock band with some tremendous hits. Also a huge influence on those who came late, including the likes of Oasis.
Who are these “Judges”??? They need to induct more than they do and more deserving than they do. Jagoffs!!!!!!
90% of the people in this list should not be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with about 40% of the acts that are already in.
how about…NRBQ…????!!!!????….
What of Huey Lewis and the News? Tight band, backed by tower of power alum, long run of hits, and very good musicians. Huey also has a diverse number of contributions with other artists.
There are some amazing bands in your list but you forgot Kansas. While most know them for Dust In the Wind or Carry On Wayward Son, there are far better cuts that were never released. When you mention prog rock and do not mention Kansas, you are doing yourself and the readers an injustice. Kansas should be in the RnR HOF. Gavel down.
I guess the fan voting really doesn’t mean much since only 1 of the top 5 in voting got in. Why bother voting them. They are going to pick who they want. So many on this list should be in plus others!
Hi – couldn’t agree MORE with at least HALF of those noted; have just published a Change.org petition to remove John Sykes from all related HOF decisions – please DO sign & Share it if you would? Thanks!
https://www.change.org/p/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-board-members-remove-former-mtv-president-john-sykes-from-all-rock-roll-hof-related-decisions
…..in my estimation, better than Browne on EVERY level – and YET, Jackson was inducted YEARS ago now…..
Fogelberg is in part two. There’s a link to it at the end of part one.
A convicted killer Phil Spector should be removed form the R&R Hall of Fame
Here is what think you should be in :
The Monkees, The Guess Who, E.L.P., Jehtro Tull, Foreigner, Bad Company,
Three Dog Night, Harry Chapin, Carole King, America, Tommy James & Shondells
Styx, Sweet, Boston, Pat Benatar, King Crimson, Ozzy, Scorpions, Ronnie James Dio,
Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Sound Garden, Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against The Machine,Yngwie Malmsteen, and Allan Holdsworth
Connie Francis should have been among the very first to get inducted. She was a pioneer, had great success and was the biggest female of the era. She paved the way for other females.
Who was more responsible for people picking up guitars in the late fifties and early Sixties than the Kingston Trio. They also hold Chart records that only the Beatles come close to.
I agree with every word you said. Love Fogelberg. Also put on great live shows. Maybe he was so good at so many things that he has been overlooked?
Jack Bruce, Brian Auger and the Savage Rose belong on some roll of honor, but neither here nor in that fufu Hall. They are on mine ..
Jack Bruce was inducted with Cream.
What about Sweet????
Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard, Kiss… The whole 80’s glam/hard rock generation were influenced by them! Not to mention that Queen copied everything they could from them.
Face it, the so-called Rock and Roll Hall of Fame lost all credibility when ABBA was inducted. ABBA has never done any music that could remotely be construed as “Rock and Roll.” What a joke.
So much talent not in the RRHOF and yet
madonna gets in? Go figure!
I can relate to the fact that no j. Geils Band in the hall is almost a criminal act. These people who have control over who gets in and who doesn’t need to be replaced, they don’t have a clue of what Rock and Roll is, The j. Geils Band rocked like no ones business, They were all great musicians, and Peter Wolf was one of the greatest front men in the business. Their live shows were legendary.
Frankie Valli as solo Artist
Nick Drake, John Coltrane, Felice amd Boudleaux Bryant( songwriters for the Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly to name a few)
Ummmmm….
BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE!!
You forgot X!
90% of the people on your list I overwhelmingly would agree with. And probably 100% when you compare it to all the garbage that was inducted beginning with the 1980s. There’s really no excuse for any of these 70s people not being inducted.
Isn’t it true that the HOF is attempting to diversify to all other different types of music? I know that I heard that to be true—I totally disagree—why say ROCK N ROLL —say MUSIC HOF which makes me laugh and cry at the same time. Rock n Roll is what it should be and stop this pandering. Having said this Benatar is a crime she should be in yesterday not to mention Foreigner and Styx. I have been there 3-4 times and it is really a cool place to visit. Take more than a day though—rushing through the levels is not the way to see it all!
why does everyone forget Kansas?
Amen on Kansas!! It blows my mind that they are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame already!
It is criminal that Paul Revere & the Raiders are not in the Hall. They had hit after hit after hit, and their live show was always fantastic. Plus, they were prototypical garage rockers who really did rock. They need to be in the Hall of Fame!!!
The sooner you give up your expectations of what the “Rock Hall” should be, but isn’t, and never has been, the sooner you will cease to be disappointed by its yearly omissions, and often worse, its choices.
What about Pat Boone and Paul Anka?
In my opinion, John Hiatt is the most underrated and under appreciated singer, songwriter, and musician out there. His influence on other artists and the respect they have for him is much more impactful and enduring than so many already enshrined. He is phenomenal in his own right as an artist, but when considering the vast diversity of the songs he has written and the artists who have covered them, his absence is far more that just a mere oversight. If you are not familiar with his work, check out a list of the artists who have covered his songs.
Thanks for the additions but we listed most of them (some are in part 2). We listed Kooper as a member of the Blues Project and Sahm with the Sir Douglas Quintet. We also listed Rockpile, with both Lowe and Edmunds. In part 2 we listed Labelle and Irma Thomas.
Prog bands and British Invasion bands have been greatly overlooked. We fans voted for the Moodies and Zombies and finally they were inducted. My suggestions not on the list would be Styx, Strawbs, Renaissance, Marillion, Kansas, Wishbone Ash, Chad and Jeremy, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Searchers, Peter Asher, Abba.
ABBA was inducted in 2010
Not a bad list especially if you consider that the current RRHOF is really not so but should be named Music Hall of Fame,
Given the current parameters on whom is eligible for consideration and have yet to be named include::
Asia
Blackfoot
Damn Yankees
Dio
Europe
Hot Tuna
Johnny Winter (perhaps already mentioned)
Mountain (ditto)
Night Ranger
The Bangles
The Chambers Brothers
The Frost
SRC
.38 Special
Vixen
Almost forgot! What about:
Big Brother and the Holding Company
Dokken\
Triumph??
Last call!!
THE FUNK BROTHERS!!!!
Hmm…Still ‘an only USA orientated list’. Still that inbreed attitude that the RRHOF has. Where’s Status Quo. This British band sold more than 100 million records in the 70’s and 80’s. Not very popular in the US, but very popular elsewhere. Kings of Heads down boogie rock. Almost 50 hits in the UK and lots in Europe.
I guess you didn’t see where it said that this was the first half of a two-part article, huh? You will find Status Quo in part two. https://bestclassicbands.com/rock-hall-snubs-12-14-177/
The Beau Brummels…how many bands can lay claim to being instrumental in both the development of the San Francisco sound and the birth of country/rock? And Sal Valentino is one of the most underrated singers in rock history.
The Left Banke…one of the earliest bands to successfully meld classical and rock. Mike Brown was an unsung genius.
Don’t have to popular in U.S. to be great, played by great musicians. Many acts are not from U S., & despite popularity. Mainstream or radio play is sometimes a band at their most mediocre…to make money.
Musical excellence is the critetia…90 plus percent of the HOF have less talented musicians…see above. Listen to ALL of Moontan, Radar Love is ave on it. Then the album Switch, then To The Hilt. Just those, 1973 to 1976.
Naysayers are oblivious, or don’t appreciate musicians. It is mainstream putz stuff.
Tommy James and Joe Cocker are the most glaring to me on the artist side. Not on your list though is Dan Fogelberg, a great musician, singer and songwriter. So many timeless songs.
Guess you didn’t look at part 2, huh?
https://bestclassicbands.com/rock-hall-snubs-12-14-177/
Kansas is long overdue …
Kansas, Bad Company, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Boston, BOC,Frampton, Carpenters, Three Dog Night, Jethro Tull are all No Brainers!! The first two albums I purchased in my life were Bad Co. Desolation Angels and Foreigner-1st album. First concerts EVER seen were Boston, Jethro Tull, BOC and Zeppelin!! First 4 in my list are 2x No brainers!!!
Iron Maiden and Judas Priest—not personally a Big Metal fan but c’mon!! Gordon Lightfoot, The Guess Who, America, and my favorite band of all time!! Collective Soul. They should get in with ease! Shine, December, Gel, The World I know, Where the River Flows, Needs, Precious Declaration, Why Part 2, Heavy, Hollywood—I could go on and on! Ed Roland and gang are awesome!!!. Good guys too! Met them more than once and have seen them live 20 times. They just enjoy playing and hanging with each other and the fans!!
Unbelievable the Guess Who haven’t been nominated for the Hall. Topping the Rolling Stones and Beatles with American Women shame on the Hall of Fame
I pretty much agree with your list. I don’t think any of the RAP or HIP HOP artist should be given any consideration. The ones that are already in should be removed as they are not close to being ROCK.
So many great and deserving artists on your list, but for me, the two that top them all are Cliff Richard and The Shadows. Separately. Cliff just had a Top 5 album in the British charts for the EIGHTH DECADE IN A ROW. If only for how he influenced the British Invasion in the late ’50s and early ’60s, he should be in there, but despite ups and downs over the decades, he has released so much incredible music over the decades that almost every country around the world (except the U.S.) recognizes as brilliant. And as for Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, and the rest of the Shads, seriously, if The Ventures are in there, the Shads should have been in there before them. Marvin influenced so many of rock’s later, name guitarists. What has the Hall (not) been thinking regarding the absence of these legends?
The Commodores and Lionel Richie. 2 separate inductions.
Los Lobos only being nominated once and not getting in is criminal IMO. Name me one other band that was (mostly) all friends in high school, have had virtually no personnel changes, still tour like crazy and continue to put out compelling new music after 45+ years, still live in the neighborhood they grew up in…and play rock, blues, any number of authentic hispanic styles, and have had their ‘outside’ moments too (Latin Playboys). It’s not like they haven’t sold a few million records along the way…or collected a few Grammys here and there. Yet still not invited to the dance. I’ll wait.
The ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’? Really? More like The Mistake on the Lake. So many artists who should be included, but aren’t. So many people who are in that shouldn’t be. Rappers are not rockers. SMH
DAN FOGELBERG!!
What are the benefits to being inducted to the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame? Especially now after the Covid event, I don’t think any of these bands care.
This is the rock n roll hall of fame isn’t it. Let us not forget the music that influenced and generation with their music The Jonny Winters, Jethro Tull, Peter Frampton, Humble Pie, Stepmnwolf, Ten Years After etc, etc.
if not voted they should be part of hall of fame if nothing else say legacy nomination not to be ever forgotten. That’s what’s it’s all about isn’t it. Rock Toll Hall Fame create some legacy platform and get these bands in and let there music be part of the legacy you e created Thank You
How about The Kingston Trio? They caused more people to pick up guitars and play than anyone else in the Fifties.
You will find them listed in part 2.
https://bestclassicbands.com/rock-hall-snubs-12-14-1777/
Thanks for the great article and list.
I think a band that should be in there and is the Canadian R&R Hall of Fame is “Triumph “. In a time when there was so much negativity and evil ans is still relevant today they brought positivity into the world with songs like “Fight the Good Fight” and “Never Surrender ” just to name a couple. Let’s just say from own personal experience, they brought me out of the dark when things were darkest.
We could argue all day and night long about who should be in the HOF or who shouldn’t be. The important part of this whole story is that people seem to have forgotten one critical thing: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame is a JOKE! And being inducted is a joke as opposed to being an honor. Were I any one of these artists, I would be insulted to be included in a corporate structure that, in and of itself, proved to be the actual downfall of RnR. It should be about the music but it’s not. And anyone with half a brain knows that Jann Wenner is the king in charge of the entire mess. No one gets acknowledged unless the king says so. I’m usually not as nasty as this but I feel this strongly about it. I love RnR music, grew up the best of the best of it, still love it, and always will. I just can’t abide the idiots who have proclaimed themselves “Experts” and who think they know better. To those about to Rock, we salute you! Rock on, everyone, and just enjoy! Stay cool and stay rockin’!
Peace and love to all!
Wenner has not been involved with the HoF for several years but for the first few decades he was very much in charge.
There is a good number of Pop, Country, Rap, Hip-Hop, Disco and other non-strictly Rock performers already inducted. So I would add the following forgotten women: Helen Reddy – her songs of female empowerment as well as female survival, and her kick-ass voice should be a shoe in; Bette Midler, another lady with a kick-ass voice sho could sing Pop Rock, Standards, R’nB and did a bang up job performing in a movie as Rock Queen Janis Joplin, belongs; Olivia Newton-John – Pop Queen of the 70s & 80s, who has done Country, Folk, Soft Rock, Pop, Pop Rock, Dance, and even New Wave and starred in the biggest Rock movie of all time, “Grease” belongs also. Thanks
Glad to see your love for Glen Campbell.
I would add the Swampers, the session musicians first at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals. Ala., then at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Lynyrd Skynyrd immortalized them in “Sweet Home Alabama. “
Jethro Tull or anybody!
Rock n Roll Hall of Shame overlooked:. Neil Sedaka, Connie Francis, Freddy Boom Boom Cannon, Chubby Checker, Bobby Vee. Bobby Vinton, Mary Wells, Ben E King, Tommy Roe, Leslie Gore, The Monkees, Jimmy Clinton, Jack Scott, Duane Eddy, Franky Avalon, and many, many more!
Agree wholeheartedly with you on the Chubby and Neil snubs.
This list would make a great new Hall of Rock forget about the other one. Great video of the Dolls on Personality
J.J. Cale deserves inclusion, “hands-down.”
Tom Jones? Really? Am I the only person that ever heard about Kansas???
Unquestionably Jethro Tull is the worst snub. Connie Francis had countless hits for early rock, it took way too long for Moody Blues and Chicago, what is that all about.
I think you should include The Osmonds on this list as well
This is what I think should happen. Just like the Baseball Hall of Fame they have senior bands/ individuals from different eras. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should have the same. Choosing two bands or individuals from the ’50s’60s and ’70s. I I don’t care what they call it there are plenty of bands/individuals worthy of recognition.
For example
50’s The Crests/Cadillacs
60’s Grass Roots/ Lesley Gore
70’s Three Dog Night/Steppenwolf
A group or performer has to have a record that is 50 years old.
Comments?
You mean the white J5? Donny’s Puppy Love is one of the best cringe-worthy songs ever recorded. Remember, One Bad Apple Don’t Spoil The Whole Bunch!
And the worst thing about “One Bad Apple” is they didn’t even get the saying right! One bad apple DOES spoil the whole bunch – that’s the point of it!
The Tubes. How can they be excluded? And Procol Harum? Al Stewart?
Give me a break…
Procol Harum is there.
Redbone …Native American band.
So happy to see Al Kooper getting inducted. He should have been a long, long time ago. His addition to Like A Rolling Stone alone is part of Rock Music history. But, let’s not forget Blues Project, B,S,&T., Super Session, Live Adventures, etc. Pretty amazing guy, to say the least.
Shel Talmy. He only produced the early Who and the early Kinks. My Generation? You Really Got Me? What does a guy have to do?
OMG ! Without Guitar God Robin Trower this list is bogus, for sure!
He should go in as a member of Procol Harum.
Ronnie Montrose and Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush
UFO, man!
don’t let UFO out of this list
I’ve never cared a fig for “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” or who gets the nod for inclusion. For one thing, if every person or band who ever put out a record, even a great one (Question Mark and The Mysterians) were to wind up inscribed on the plaque, it no longer would mean anything. By its very nature, lists like this one has to have more losers than winners.
Some absolutely shocking omissions I can’t believe that acts like three dog night and Grand funk aren’t in there. They were HUGE and TDN were on the radio consistently for many years much like credence ..Canned heat played Woodstock and were a great blues rock band with a large following …of course Jethro Tull is being screwed I think ELP should be in there for sure as well as Bad Company.
Is Gram Parsons in yet? I see Flying Burrito Brothers on the list of overlooked. Also Dr. Hook- for so many reasons, from their early 70’s songs, to the footage of them on Shel Silverstein’s houseboat, their legendary drunken concerts in Denmark, then their clean up and reinvention as late 70s AM radio stars
Gram is not in, either as a Byrd, Burrito or solo. Ridiculous.
No Johnny Rivers, but someone named Missy Elliot is in? If you want to put Black artists in there are oodles more appropriate than Ms. Elliot. Johnny Rivers is not in the RRHoF. That is sad.
I respect your lists of the 200 overlooked performers for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I especially like the inclusion of the artists – Connie Francis, Freddy Cannon, Bobby Rydell, Neil Sedaka, Petula Clark, Lesley Gore and Johnny Rivers, Diana Ross – from the early decade of rock and roll that has been basically ignored now for years. The only artist I believe also needs to be included is Paul Anka, who like Neil Sedaka, has had a long career as a solo artist, but whose songs he wrote have been sung and become hits for so many other performers through the years. How could his impact on rock and roll get ignored after all this time?
Ted Nugent
If you say so.