To paraphrase "Spinal Tap," this conversation goes to 11. Rock Hall chatter is louder and more abundant than ever. Social media is abuzz, podcasters are dropping weekly shows, and the public is voting in person and online. Much like the institution itself is changing (i.e., museum CEO Greg Harris noticeably emerging as its public face, vs. Joel Peresman, as well as the increased fan engagement), the conversation around it also transforms.
Rock Hall fever is about to peak with the inductee announcement in mid-December. Ballots from the official voters are due December 10, and fans have been voting since October 5, with Def Leppard and Stevie Nicks lodged firmly in the Fan Vote's top two spots, respectively.
But who gets inducted March 29 in Brooklyn? A preponderance of factors play into that final slate. Official ballots and the fan vote figure in, naturally, but closed-door decision making, internal politics, and the HBO broadcast also hold significant sway.
E-Rockracy predicts the artists below will make up the Rock Hall Class of 2019. There are six choices here; no group of five nominees, in any combination, felt quite sufficient for the genre-diverse extravaganza the Rock Hall needs to mount next year. Hopefully the Hall follows suit, and goes with six or more inductees.
Def Leppard - Here is your Fan Vote winner, and your Barclays Center ceremony headliner. Fly that Union Jack, and raise your lighters. And look for a possible cover of David Essex's "Rock On" (which appeared on Def Leppard's 2006 album Yeah!) as a potential end of night all-star jam vehicle.
Janet Jackson - Another headliner, and a rather overdue accolade for this pop legend after three nominations. This looks like her year. Few female artists have accomplished what Janet has, from conquering the charts, MTV and radio to bouncing back triumphantly from unjust controversy. Missy Elliott (eligible in 2022!) is a likely induction speaker.
LL Cool J - Last year's Kennedy Center honoree and a longtime Grammys host, James Todd Smith gets flak for being a television star, but all that obscures his massive influence and contribution to the world of hip-hop. He's a pioneer, a household name, and further, a five-time nominee. With Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z and Eminem coming up eligible in the next consecutive three years, in that order, there's no better time to induct this hip-hop luminary.
Stevie Nicks - Many would have preferred to see the Go-Go's or Pat Benatar take this performer slot (well, they'd have to be nominated first), but the Hall, and fans voting at the "Voice Your Choice" kiosks, are clearly intent in having Nicks be the first doubly inducted female artist in Rock Hall history. Not to detract from Nicks, as she is understandably adored, but legions of worthy female artists are still on the outside looking in. Since this all feels a bit calculated, the Fleetwood Mac star's imminent entry into the Clyde McPhatter Club is a valid reason why there should be at least six inductees this year.
Radiohead - Will they send a Sex Pistols letter? Do they actually show up? Does only bassist Colin Greenwood (who told Rolling Stone in 2017, "I’d be grateful if we got in. Look at the other people that have been inducted. I don’t know if everyone else will go though...") attend? These and other mysteries loom over Radiohead, who are perplexed, British, and by no means reliable guests. The band falls under a problematic category of Rock Hall nominees — positively worthy all-timers who don't care.
Given their astonishing body of work and prestige, they don't need to. Look for the Hall to just go ahead and exorcise this Radiohead ghost from the machine, while simultaneously canonizing an act that truly belongs in Cleveland. It'll please the critics and balance out the more populist elements in this class.
The Zombies - Eligible since 1989 and boasting four previous nominations, this British Invasion group with familiar hits but also an uncommonly strong discography will round out the Class of 2019. Odessey and Oracle (1968) is a psychedelic pop masterpiece, and defining singles like "Time of the Season" and "She's Not There" have truly endured.
Speaking of singles, should Steven Van Zandt stroll out onto the Barclays Center stage and announce that newest of categories, Rock Hall Singles, there are six picks below that are more suggestions than predictions, given how many songs shaped rock and roll.
The selections below attempt to meet the ideal criteria for this honor, which is recognition of a significant song by an artist that has scant chances, at this point, of getting inducted as a performer. (Slotting Link Wray and Chubby Checker songs in this category last year was unfortunate, as both should have been inducted as performers long before.) Still, this new category has potential if carefully curated, as opposed to becoming a tainted "side door induction" for acts not getting over the hump with voters. Here are six singles — turn them up to 11!
- The Big Bopper - "Chantilly Lace"
- Lesley Gore - "It's My Party"
- Don McClean - "American Pie"
- Gil Scott-Heron - "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"
- The Troggs - "Wild Thing"
- Mary Wells - "My Guy"
To quote Bruce Springsteen, "Is there anybody alive out there?!"
A valid question, as far as the Rock Hall is concerned. In recent years, the induction ceremony seems to have traded formality for an actual pulse. Electricity, danger and humor, the key elements of rock and roll (i.e., the stuff Iggy Pop is made of), have left the building for the most part.
There have of course been exceptions: Brittany Howard's rousing take on Sister Rosetta Tharpe's "That's All" this past April, and 2014 inductee Nirvana's lightning-in-a-bottle musical tributes, with Kim Gordon tearing into "Aneurysm" and Annie Clark (St. Vincent) performing "Lithium." The only hitch with high-watermark moments like these is the contrast they strike against the bummer portions of the inductions, like acceptance speeches, death reels, and artists who could have performed together standing onstage in a fragile detente (rhymes with "miss"). It's only rock and roll, guys.
And does anyone remember laughter? Alex Lifeson's legendary "blah blah blah" speech in 2013 suggests he does, Bill Withers amused in 2015, and the bawdy Howard Stern got laughs this year inducting Bon Jovi. The ceremony needn't be a riot, nor a stand-up routine, but overall, it needs to lighten up.
It's time to shake up the induction paradigm. But what are the Rock Hall Foundation, Nominating Committee and ceremony producers to do? It's tough to forecast the prevailing mood, egos, or stage behavior in this annual gathering of rock stars and industry types. Further, there are deceased artists that are worthy of induction, and recently departed icons should be paid proper respect. Still, this thing shouldn't be a wake, it should be a party... and who gets invited to that party is hugely consequential.
This is an annual guest list that needs pruning and restructuring. A certain stasis has set in, and culpability lies entirely with the graying, overwhelmingly male Rock Hall votership and its weak follow-through on nominee pools (along with whatever abject skulduggery that goes on in the "purposefully nontransparent" backrooms during inductee selection). But there is a solution: induct exciting acts and get them to show up. All too often, brilliant, fire-breathing (also: living) artists are put forth, and then passed over for induction. Oh, how things might have been: Imagine the 2018 ceremony with live sets by Judas Priest and/or Radiohead, 2017 with Janet Jackson, or 2016 with Nine Inch Nails. Inductees with an edge result in a show with edge, plain and simple; when Joan Jett exploded onto the stage in 2015 with "Bad Reputation," it felt like the roof of Cleveland's Public Hall had taken its talents to South Beach.
All of this is leads to E-Rockracy's nominee predictions for the Rock Hall Class of 2019. Below lies an alphabetical list of 19 artists, primarily chosen based on likelihood, eligibility and merit. But look closely, as there's a smattering of strategic picks — some electrons charged with fury, genius and satire — that just might shock that moribund induction ceremony back to life.
Bad Company - 19 years eligible, with FM radio staples such as "Shooting Star" and "Can't Get Enough," this British supergroup led by gifted vocalist Paul Rodgers is a favorite of Rock Hall Nomination Committee member Steven Van Zandt. There's various indications that Van Zandt hasn't had much luck getting his pet project acts in lately, so that trend may reverse this year with Bad Company (and another pick below). Further, Bad Company, a classic rock institution, jives perfectly with the raise-your-lighters/"Are you ready to rock?" classes of late.
Beck - When Beck Hansen attended the 2015 induction ceremony to pay tribute to Lou Reed with a faithful rendition of "Satellite of Love," it felt like his Rock Hall fate had been sealed. It's his first year of eligibility, and he's one of the few artists left on this planet you could credibly frame as a "no-brainer." (Even Taylor Swift's got to shout.) This Gen X icon is the restless architect of a songbook radiating ironic creativity, acoustic sensitivity and even pop instinct, given his slick 2017 album Colors. Always adventurous or emotionally direct, Beck has shuffled down a variety of sonic avenues, including fragmented, Dust Brothers-produced avant-rock ("Where It's At"), zeitgeist-capturing anthems ("Loser"), and lovelorn folk (the Sea Change and Morning Phase LPs). His lyrics are also a point of fascination, vacillating between bonkers and brilliant: "Silver foxes looking for romance/In the chain smoke Kansas flash dance ass pants" from Odelay's "Hotwax"; and "Down river bound/Where the lemon tea sky fell down/A plot against your will/Is furrowed into your brow" from Morning Phase's "Country Down." Beck is exceedingly qualified for the Hall, not to mention a loose-limbed live dynamo that would perk up the induction ceremony in a major way.
Pat Benatar - Eligible for induction 14 years now, Pat Benatar is conspicuous in her absence from the Hall. By way of contrast, she's been omnipresent for decades on the FM dial, concert stages, and MTV. Impassioned, confident and singing her heart out, she broke down the door in 1979 with "Heartbreaker," the lead track of her debut album In the Heat of the Night. It's quite the opening salvo ("Don't you mess around with me") and has endured as a heavy-rotation anthem. The exclusion of Benatar, quite simply, is surprising. The ostensible criteria for induction, musical excellence and influence, abound here. If the complaint is that her peak era was the '80s, that shouldn't be a strike against her; many artists already in the Hall were around for just a few years. Also, as the first female artist to appear on MTV ("You Better Run" was the second-ever clip to air on the fledgling network), she opened doors for the later video success of Cyndi Lauper and Madonna, among others. She didn't write enough of her songs? The Rock Hall is full of individuals that didn't author their own material, and in fact, Benatar co-wrote some of her most notable singles, including "Treat Me Right," "Promises in the Dark," and "Fire and Ice." She won Grammys four years in a row between 1980 and 1983, so there is a precedent of genuine industry respect. Benatar belongs, and if inducted, she should go in with her longtime musical and life partner, Neil Giraldo.
Black Flag - Formed in Hermosa Beach, California, and eligible since 2003, Black Flag were pioneers of hardcore punk. They blazed a screaming, reckless trail across America, serving up hot plates of rage in defiance of a nation that had severely alienated them. The group embraced the DIY ethic, self-releasing albums on their label SST and touring in a van under such inhuman conditions, they had to have wanted it. Their influence is all over the place, with Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Pantera, Ryan Adams and Green Day just a few names indebted to them. Black Flag, a paragon of American independent music, was founded by guitarist Greg Ginn, and the band's volatile membership included original singer Keith Morris (Circle Jerks) and eventually, frontman Henry Rollins.
The Doobie Brothers - Will mighty artist manager/industry titan Irving Azoff (Bon Jovi, Eagles, Journey, etc.) push for his clients the Doobie Brothers to make the ballot this year? That seems to be the consensus. It does help, on a separate level, that the San Jose-hailing Doobies are due for enshrinement in Cleveland, with 22 years of eligibility. Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, John McFee, et al. are the epitome of an American rock band, with loyal baby boomer fans and a stack of sturdy FM radio hits ("Black Water," "Long Train Runnin', "Takin' it to the Streets"). The Doobies have sold 40 million records, and their touring fortunes have vastly improved due to Azoff's placing them on 2017's Classic East/Classic West stadium concerts with the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Journey. Hmm... who in that lineup is not inducted yet? Induction bonus: Former Doobie Brothers member/pop culture icon Michael McDonald gets onstage with his old bandmates again. Don't bootleg the show, Rerun!
Eurythmics - Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart were an enchanting duo, marrying haunting synthpop with bold, MTV-ready aesthetics. Eligible since 2006, Eurythmics graced the charts and MTV in the '80s starting with "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" and followed it with a pile of other hits, including the narcotic "Here Comes the Rain Again" and the hard-driving "Missionary Man." Alongside her guitar-playing foil Stewart, powerhouse vocalist Lennox summoned fire and ice in equal measure, and with ease. On a side note, there's a direct Aretha Franklin connection here with the Eurythmics/Franklin collaboration "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves," a hit that appeared on both artists' 1985 albums. (You know, an imaginative induction ceremony showrunner might do something with this song to honor Aretha at the top of the show, and involve lots of female inductees, but perhaps that's just too optimistic.)
The Go-Go's - Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, Gina Schock, and Kathy Valentine comprise the only all-female group that wrote and played its own music to reach the top of the Billboard chart. It's reason enough for a Rock Hall nomination, and there are many more beyond that. The Go-Go's started on the L.A. punk scene, but turned into a pop machine, taking radio and MTV by storm with "We Got the Beat," "Vacation," and "Our Lips Are Sealed," among other hits. Currently, the Go-Go's music is the basis for "Head Over Heels" a new, 16th century-set musical currently on Broadway. Besides the Go-Go's meriting induction anyway, and at the risk of sounding cynical, the Rock Hall voting body sure could use an infusion of five (living) women filling out ballots next year.
Janet Jackson - Janet being left off last year's ballot might actually be a positive sign — a purposeful break so she could hit the ballot again, fresh, in 2018. What more can be said about Janet that isn't common knowledge, whether you're a fan or not? Tough yet vulnerable, and a magnificent singer-dancer, this global superstar was just handed the Icon Award at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards. Janet's having a banner year: She's finishing up the latest leg of her acclaimed State of the World Tour, and just released a new single, "Made for Now," with Daddy Yankee. Industry legend? Check. Multi-platinum albums and pop landscape-altering hits throughout her catalog? Check. Five Grammys? Check. Still at it? Check. A Rock Hall coronation seems inevitable, and this may finally be the year.
Jethro Tull - "They're not in yet?!" says just about everyone. They may have zero Rock Hall nominations thus far, but Jethro Tull's luck may be about to change. Their songs are permanently etched on the walls of rock history — "Aqualung," "Locomotive Breath," "Bungle in the Jungle" and "Living in the Past" have truly endured. Critics reviled the band in its heyday, failing to appreciate Tull and their their flute-driven, folk/rock/prog hybrid. However, there's no denying that Ian Anderson and his troupe carved out their own mystical, hard-rocking universe. The Tull catalog, worth revisiting, reveals a treasure trove of songs teeming with thunder and melody. There are startling achievements throughout, from lesser known efforts like Minstrel in the Gallery to Crest of a Knave, the 1987 LP that stole a Hard Rock/Metal Performance Grammy out from under Metallica. Interestingly, "We Used to Know," from Tull's 1969 album Stand Up, has a monumental Martin Barre wah-wah guitar solo that seems to prefigure Eddie Hazel's searing, psychedelic turn on the 1971 Funkadelic track "Maggot Brain." Presumably, Hazel never even heard "We Used to Know," but inspiration arrives in mysterious ways. In any case, Tull is on their 50th anniversary tour and is primed and ready to perform next April at Barclays Center. There's no question that the majority of Rock Hall voters would check a box for them.
J. Geils Band - Apart from Bad Company, J. Geils Band is the other likely Van Zandt ballot submission this year. It's good to have friends in high places, and it also helps to be a friend of the Rock Hall — charismatic frontman/former DJ Peter Wolf is regarded by the institution well enough to be invited twice as an induction speaker (for Jackie Wilson and Paul Butterfield Blues Band), so J. Geils Band seems headed for their sixth (!) nomination. As for their music and chart success, credit where credit is due: J. Geils Band, a top-notch live act, injected a winning garage band energy into blues, boogie, R&B and even new wave on songs like "Give it to Me," "Musta Got Lost," "Freeze Frame" and "Love Stinks." Sadly, and is too often the case for belated Rock Hall inductees, namesake guitarist J. Geils died in 2017, but his surviving bandmates could certainly put on a show to honor both him and his legacy.
Judas Priest - When was the last time metal was part of a Rock Hall ceremony? Like, headbanging, devil-horns-in-the-air metal? You'd have to go back to Metallica's induction in 2009, and then to Black Sabbath's in 2006. The maligned genre is overdue for representation, and what better act than the leather-clad, vengeance-screamers/law-breakers Judas Priest. This induction would mean so much to many, but it would be especially great for founding guitarist Glenn Tipton, who had to step away from playing full shows due to a Parkinson's diagnosis last year (lately, he's been coming out with the band during encores to play a couple of songs). Priest's sterling qualifications for induction probably go without saying, but more on that here.
George Michael - There's nothing like death to bring attention an artist's taken-for-granted accomplishments. A shocking 2016 passing in a year full of them (on Christmas Day, no less), pop genius George Michael died prematurely at age 53. However, it's what he left behind—an amazing, globally embraced songbook—that matters now. Based on his mega-hits with Wham! as well as his brilliant solo career (albums like the 1987 blockbuster Faith and Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1, and songs like "Father Figure," "Freedom (90)," and "Fastlove"), his legacy is secure. Among major pop stars, Michael is a deserving candidate for Cleveland. Adele, Sam Smith and Justin Timberlake are just a few of the artists he's deeply influenced. Michael's music has even impacted Hollywood — in the 2016 Jordan Peele/Keegan Michael-Key comedy Keanu, Michael's music wins over a car full of hardened gang members, to hysterical, legend-burnishing effect.
Nine Inch Nails - Trent Reznor should be in the Rock Hall, if, for nothing else, successfully crash landing industrial rock onto the mainstream, like a modern rock Sully Sullenberger. A Cleveland-area prodigy with a gift for synthesizer hooks as well as songwriting and production savvy, Reznor and Nine Inch Nails have been revolutionizing music since the early '90s, after the breakout of Pretty Hate Machine and the watershed of The Downward Spiral. From his early festival days trashing a smoky, comically sunlit stage at Lollapalooza and the down-in-it mud ritual of Woodstock 1994, to album triumphs like The Downward Spiral and 2013's Hesitation Marks, this glaring necromancer has earned his Rock Hall immortalization. (His recent "Twin Peaks: The Return" appearance was extremely cool, too.) Nine Inch Nails have two prior nominations, and this would be the third. With any hypothetical induction performance, Reznor would throw more lightning than Zeus; who wouldn't love to see that?
Radiohead - A spot in Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time seems to all but guarantee nominations for Thom Yorke and his mates. But despite being one of the most revered rock acts since Nirvana, there's a sense Radiohead doesn't care, and feel they don't particularly need this honor. In turn, the Rock Hall officials, those bunglers of diplomacy, just don't know how to negotiate around that. This British crew does belong in the Hall, and would bring a welcome jolt of future shock to an induction gala, but they may cycle through 3-4 nominations before they make it. Look for them on this year's ballot, and if they don't get in, they'll probably disappear completely from it for awhile.
Roxy Music - Eligible since 1997, Roxy music emerged out of London in 1971 and went on to profoundly impact glam, new wave, and anything under the rubric of "art-rock." In a career journey that took them from the cutting-edge to a suave sophistication, Bryan Ferry, Brian Eno and company created soaring, stylish music with plenty of disciples, from a young Steven Patrick Morrissey to Blondie to Duran Duran to INXS.
Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan - Eligible since 1999, perhaps it's finally time to party like that year and induct Rufus featuring Chaka Khan. Best known for introducing powerhouse vocalist Khan to the world, this Chicago funk outfit had it all in the '70s — commercial success and a series of massive hits that tore up the pop and R&B charts. Stevie Wonder wrote "Tell Me Something Good" for them, and "Ain't Nobody" and "Sweet Thing" were among their other smashes. Khan went solo in 1983, which has led to her appearing on the ballot with and without Rufus in recent years. The entire collective was nominated last year, and Questlove is likely to push for Chaka and company once again when the committee meets in mid-September. Khan is held in very high esteem, and in fact, she's performing at Aretha Franklin's funeral.
Salt-N-Pepa - Rap with a side of feminism — that would be some needed rain on the poorly representative desert of the Rock Hall. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy and N.W.A. are all inducted, but there's nary a woman among them. Queens from Queens and among the most successful female hip-hop acts, Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella would be breaking the Rock Hall's glass ceiling. By any standard, they're worthy, with major, your-mom-even-likes-these-guys hits like "Push It," "Let's Talk About Sex," "Shoop," and "Whatta Man" (featuring En Vogue). This trio blazed a trail for assertive women in hip-hop, and TLC and Missy Elliott definitely took key inspiration from them. The first all-female rap group — Hall of Fame-caliber stuff, without question.
"Weird Al" Yankovic - The exact criteria for induction into the Rock Hall can be debated, but satirist "Weird Al" Yankovic rules a very specific corner of the music world unopposed, and no one else even compares. To be parodied by "Weird Al" is among the highest honors in music; eccentric, guarded individuals from Kurt Cobain to Michael Jackson basically bear-hugged the very idea of Yankovic doing one of their songs. And this is how humor could enliven and lighten the induction ceremony — by having the parodist appear in full, costumed regalia to perform a few of his gems from across the decades, from early MTV favorite "Eat It" to "Amish Paradise" to the astonishingly great, hottest-flow-since-lava banger "White and Nerdy" (parody of "Ridin" by Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone). Yankovic was just honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, so the Rock Hall should follow suit and grant this beloved hero a richly deserved tip of the hat. Lonely Island guys, care to write a speech?
Warren Zevon - "Lawyers, Guns and Money"...but enough about American politics! Warren Zevon, Los Angeles' late purveyor of acerbic, libertine songcraft, is the ideal fit for 2019's singer-songwriter slot (think 2013 inductee Randy Newman). Paul Shaffer, who jammed with Zevon many times on the Letterman show, is a crucial Zevon evangelist and Nomination Committee member. By honoring Warren, the Hall could have a substantial induction ceremony performance on their hands: Imagine what prior Zevon collaborator Bruce Springsteen or even spiritual descendant Father John Misty could do with "Johnny Strikes Up the Band" or "Accidentally Like a Martyr" (the latter performed by Bob Dylan live after he learned Zevon was dying of cancer). If Bob sees fit to cover your song, you probably warrant entry into the Hall.
A decade is seemingly an eternity to wait for something. However, that time frame is just the beginning for many artists anticipating the Rock Hall's immortalizing welcome.
Here are 20 acts that are especially overdue for induction; the standard is that their eligibility has stretched at least 10 years. Some have previous nominations, others do not. While not comprehensive, this list is a representative sample of names meant to highlight how far the Hall needs to go to complete that rock and roll puzzle it's assembling there in Cleveland.
The Smiths
10 years eligible
The jangling, poetic expression of guitarist Johnny Marr and frontman Steven Patrick Morrissey lasted only five years officially, but still resonates today. Much like Bob Dylan famously "taught rock and roll to think" in the '60s, the Smiths taught it how to feel in the '80s, providing a thorny, highly literate soundtrack for the painfully alone. This is a songbook that launched a musical movement; acts such as Radiohead, the Cranberries, the Decemberists, and the National could not exist without the Smiths.
Ice-T
10 years eligible
"6 in the morning, police at my door/Fresh Adidas squeak across the bathroom floor/Out my back window I make a escape/Don't even get a chance to grab my old school tape..." Well before the then-nicknamed Snoop Doggy Dogg used "6 in the mornin'" as a braggadocious, lifestyle-revealing time stamp (as in, the ladies weren't leaving his place until then), the police were pounding at Ice-T's door at that hour. Arguably the originator of gangsta rap, Ice-T deserves a place in the Hall alongside inductees N.W.A., an act he set the table for. Of course, the provocative, thrash metal side project Body Count is an inextricable part of the Ice-T legacy due to the 1992 "Cop Killer" song controversy. Lightning rod, television actor, reality star... that fresh Adidas shoe fits. However, above all else, Tracy Marrow, introduced to the world with the single "The Coldest Rap" in 1983, is a legendary and genre-defining figure.
Janet Jackson
11 years eligible
Consecutive nominations in 2015 and 2016, and the pop icon is still, remarkably, on the outside looking in. She wasn't nominated for the 2018 class, but she'll be back. A high-caliber performer—demonstrated most recently on her critically-lauded "State of the World" tour—Jackson would be the perfect headline attraction for any induction ceremony. It's a safe bet, too, that other legends (Beyoncé, Missy Elliot) would jump at the chance to induct her. That's a win-win for the Rock Hall, where star power is concerned.
The Replacements
12 years eligible
Minneapolis delinquents Paul Westerberg, Chris Mars, and brothers Bob and Tommy Stinson created something from almost nothing: brilliant songs, fueled by boredom and copious amounts of cheap beer. Their stellar achievements include the LP Let it Be and such singles as "Alex Chilton" and "Bastards of Young." The Mats' rowdy, melodic blueprint has been followed by such acts as Guided by Voices, the Strokes, and Ryan Adams.
Mötley Crüe
12 years eligible
Sitting at the intersection of glam, shock-rock and metal with a pile of thunderous hits and multi-platinum albums is Mötley Crüe, a squad of hellions the Hall is going to have to deal with eventually. Flaming up into the public eye amid the Satanic Panic of the early '80s was fortuitous timing, as every teenager pissed at their parents clutched their pentagram-branded copy of Shout at the Devil even tighter. It's a rarity in rock anymore, but these guys once seemed downright scary. Sure, the Crüe discography is a mixed bag, from the auspicious, punk-glam debut Too Fast for Love to the concussive, Bob Rock-produced smash Dr. Feelgood to throwaways like Generation Swine. However, Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars, Tommy Lee and Vince Neil blazed their own hedonistic trail, turning sex, drugs, and power chords into anthems that had broad appeal. In arenas around the world, guys banged their heads to "Wild Side," and girls wistfully sang along to "Home Sweet Home." And if all this previous mayhem wasn't enough, there's a major motion picture being filmed right now based on the Crüe's eyebrow-raising book The Dirt, with Cleveland's own Machine Gun Kelly portraying Lee.
The Go-Go's
13 years eligible
The only all-female group that wrote and played its own music to reach the top of the Billboard chart is the Go-Go's. That's a pretty sturdy credential for Rock Hall consideration. In the early '80s, the band broke out of the Los Angeles punk scene and bounced into the pop orbit, taking the airwaves and MTV by storm with "Our Lips are Sealed," "We Got the Beat," and "Vacation," among other hits. Currently, the Go-Go's music is the foundation for Head Over Heels, a new, 16th century-set (!) Broadway musical opening this year.
Def Leppard
14 years eligible
There are perhaps two Def Leppards that must be recognized. One is the gang of booze-swilling bad boys who churned out the New Wave of British Heavy Metal-era albums On Through the Night (1980) and the anthemic High 'n' Dry. The other is the more polished band that created digitized, multi-platinum LPs like Hysteria and Adrenalize, all the while retaining their inspirational drummer Rick Allen, missing one arm due to a car accident. Whichever version of Def Leppard you prefer, the blazing, two-guitar attack and powerful voice of Joe Elliott are undeniable. Also impossible to ignore is Bon Jovi's induction this year, which clears the way perfectly for this British pop-metal outfit.
Pat Benatar
14 years eligible
Pat Benatar is a highly respected icon, and has been a fixture of FM radio, MTV and concert stages since 1979. She's more than paid her dues, and with a songbook spiked with classics like "Heartbreaker," "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," and "Love is a Battlefield," it's tough to argue against the Rock Hall qualifiers of musical excellence and influence. With every Rock Hall induction ceremony that transpires, this trailblazing, no-nonsense rock star's absence gets more conspicuous.
Rick James
15 years eligible
As popular and audacious as he was in music, no discussion of Rick James is complete without referring to his infamous 2004 TV moment: the uproarious "Chappelle's Show" satire/nick-of-time interview with James, who passed away the same year. This cat was a larger than life character without a doubt, but his musical legacy must also be acknowledged. This funk maestro and producer from Buffalo channeled his libertine lifestyle into unforgettable, rap and rock-influencing hit singles, from "Give It to Me Baby" to "Super Freak" to "Cold Blooded." His hometown is currently in talks to honor him, and Cleveland could be next. Household name? Check. "Habitual line stepper?" Check. Rock Hall-worthy? Most definitely.
Black Flag
15 years eligible
Bursting out of Hermosa Beach, California, Black Flag were pioneers of hardcore punk. Their shifting membership, which included original singer Keith Morris and later frontman Henry Rollins (but always guitarist Greg Ginn), screamed and flailed across Reagan-era America with a never-say-die, DIY work ethic. In doing so, they jolted countless other bands into action. Their reckless, defiant punk influence can be seen in a variety of acts, from Nirvana to the Beastie Boys to Green Day.
Boston
17 years eligible
The populist, FM radio-saturating Rock Hall classes of recent years would seem to set the stage for this band out of... well, you know. Boston has sold a remarkable 75 million records, with their 1976 debut Boston moving 17 million units. Tom Scholz, a guitar, songwriting and producing genius, created dynamic tunes that, when paired with the warm vocals of the late Brad Delp, went supernova. "More Than a Feeling," "Peace of Mind," and "Don't Look Back" are just a few of the Boston tracks you'll hear if you turn on your classic rock station right now, or if you did at any point in the last 42 years.
Judas Priest
19 years eligible
The rejection letter metal gods Judas Priest received from the Hall last December—informing them they weren't being inducted despite their first nomination—revealed much about the induction process, which obviously needs an overhaul (don't feel bad, guys, Black Sabbath was nominated 8 times and got in!). Frontman Rob Halford and company have been gracious throughout, but it's still a shame—not just for metal fans who are marginalized to begin with, and for whom this induction would mean so much, but also for founding guitarist Glenn Tipton, who had to step away from touring due to a Parkinson's diagnosis. There was plenty of room in this year's fairly small class for another band, and Priest would have been a terrific candidate to round it out. They even left a gap in their April touring schedule for a potential induction. A band that wants to play ball should be put in the game.
Roxy Music
21 years eligible
Roxy Music, sitting on the snub shelf since 1997, burst out of early-70s London and went on to spur glam, new wave, shoegaze, and anything that might fall under the "art rock" rubric. Forward-looking and effortlessly cool, Bryan Ferry, Brian Eno and company are responsible for a sophisticated, towering songbook that's lodged them in the Rock Hall conversation for years now.
Kraftwerk
23 years eligible
Institutionally speaking, the Recording Academy apparently loves electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk, granting them a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014, and even a 2018 Grammy for Best Dance/Electronica album for their live set 3-D The Catalogue. So what's the disconnect between the Rock Hall and this genre-creating act, nominated a whopping four times? The situation gets more confounding with each passing year, and suggests that ballot counts of the Rock Hall voting body perhaps shouldn't be the last word on who gets in. Without Kraftwerk, electronic music as we know it would not exist.
Jethro Tull
25 years eligible
Prog, folk, thunderous riffs and, of course, flute converge in the musical forest of Jethro Tull, best known for their 1971 album Aqualung. If listeners are willing to delve into this catalog, though, they'll discover a treasure trove of ambition and melody. There are breathtaking achievements throughout, from lesser celebrated efforts like Minstrel in the Gallery to Crest of a Knave, the 1987 release that stole a Hard Rock/Metal Performance Grammy out from under Metallica. Past critical snobbery might explain their current omission from the Hall, but Tull's heavily-rotated, unorthodox songbook is a wildly convincing case for induction. Hey, Ron Burgundy gets it, why can't Rock Hall voters?
Harry Nilsson
26 years eligible
The nomination count for the late Harry Nilsson stands at zero thus far, but there would seem to be hope for the lauded, wild-living musician, responsible for such classics as "One" (popularized by Three Dog Night) and "Without You," among others. The Hall is partial to singer-songwriters—recent inductees Laura Nyro and Randy Newman come to mind—and Nilsson is on Rolling Stone's list of "The 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time." Additionally, his widely adored album Nilsson Schmilsson is a confessional-rock touchstone. And hey kids, even Harry Styles digs Harry (no, really).
The Spinners
32 years eligible
Evolving from a doo-wop group in the '50s into one of finest soul outfits ever, the Spinners were signed first to Motown, but gained little recognition. It was their Atlantic Records era that yielded the greatest success in the '70s, with songs such as "I'll Be Around," "Could it Be I'm Falling in Love" and "The Rubberband Man." With three nominations, it's hard to understand why the Spinners are on the outside of the Hall, looking in. Sadly, and as these things go with the Hall, much of its membership has passed on, including Bobby Smith, C.P. Spencer, Billy Henderson, and Pervis Jackson. Still, lone surviving member Henry Fambrough keeps the Spinners and their beloved music on the road to this day.
Link Wray
35 years eligible
A pair of nominations for guitar legend Link Wray haven't led to induction, and it's getting a tad ridiculous now. Wray's most recent nomination this past year seemed his best shot at getting in, especially given his increased visibility due to the documentary RUMBLE: The Indians who Rocked the World. Still, "Rumble" is an eternally cool track and the late power chord innovator continues to influence and inspire. Is merely getting nominated the new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honor? You might have to think so, as 2018's smaller than usual class definitely had room for Wray.
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
36 years eligible
Nearly four decades, and still no love for Cleveland's own Screamin' Jay Hawkins at the Rock Hall. The shock rock originator's story is rooted in drama: he began life as an orphan, and was later raised by a Blackfoot Indian family, learning piano as a child. He went on to become a boxer, and was once the middleweight boxing champion of Alaska. In performance, Hawkins would arrive on stages popping out of a coffin, and if that wasn't enough, he employed chattering teeth props, stage smoke, and flash powder to terrorize unsuspecting audiences. All in all, he injected a theatricality into rock and roll that's been co-opted by everyone from Alice Cooper to Tom Waits to KISS. Genuine synergy might have been achieved this year around the Hawkins-written song "I Put a Spell On You" (not to mention some ceremony running time efficiency?), as both inductee Nina Simone and Hawkins imbued that number with their own signature passion. This guy was once so intense and unhinged, frightened teenagers would run out of concert halls, legitimately freaked out. How rock and roll is that?
Patsy Cline
36 years eligible
Among the most beloved country singers ever, Virginia Patterson Hensley perished in a 1963 plane crash at age 30. Her country and pop crossover legacy, however, lives on. Cline recorded several singles in the the '50s, one of them being no less than "Walkin' After Midnight." In the '60s, she released "I Fall to Pieces" and "Crazy" (written by Willie Nelson), magnificent songs that are still covered to this day by artists across genres. Cline was the first female solo artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, but will the Rock Hall ever come calling? This legend's pop chart success and iconic, genre-transcending stature would seem to demand it. Everyone from Loretta Lynn to Linda Ronstadt (inducted) to k.d. lang owes a debt to her.
Who goes into the Rock Hall April 14? In a key development, Radiohead is inadvertently telegraphing a Bon Jovi lyric: "It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not." So they booked a gig in Argentina that night, and per a representative are officially skipping the ceremony.
Before and after this news, Rock Hall watchers made various predictions for this year's class. Compared to last year, the consensus level is lower; pruning a handful of acts from this pool of 19 nominees is a difficult task, indeed. Additionally, the Hall's Radiohead dilemma could lead to a different or extra artist sneaking in.
The Rock Hall Fan Vote closed December 5 with Bon Jovi as the winner, and the Moody Blues in second place. The official Class of 2018 inductees announcement will be made on SiriusXM's VOLUME channel December 13 at 7 a.m. Until then, here are some of the predictions out there:
Alex Voltaire (https://northumbriancountdown.wordpress.com):
Bon Jovi
The Cars
Eurythmics
The Moody Blues
Radiohead
Nina Simone
Charles Crossley (https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/ourrockandrollhalloffame71305/search.php?author_id=581060&sr=posts)
Bon Jovi
Dire Straits
Eurythmics
The Moody Blues
Nina Simone
Link Wray
Award for Musical Excellence: The Meters
Early Influences: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Future Rock Legends (futurerocklegends.com):
Bon Jovi
Dire Straits
Judas Priest
The Moody Blues
Radiohead
Nina Simone
Early Influences: Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Link Wray
Iconic Rock Talk Show (https://iconicrocktalkshow.wordpress.com):
Bon Jovi
The Cars
Judas Priest
The Moody Blues
Nina Simone
Link Wray
The Zombies
Early Influences: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Tom Lane (http://tomlanesblog.blogspot.com):
Bon Jovi
Dire Straits
Eurythmics
The Moody Blues
Radiohead
Nina Simone
Rock Hall Monitors (http://rockhallmonitors.blogspot.com):
Bon Jovi
J. Geils Band
Judas Priest
The Moody Blues
Radiohead
Nina Simone
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (
50-50 chance of Early Influences induction, 10% chance of Performer induction)
Troy Smith (Cleveland Plain-Dealer / Cleveland.com):
Bon Jovi
Dire Straits
Eurythmics
The Moody Blues
Radiohead
Nina Simone
E-Rockracy:
Bon Jovi
The Cars
Judas Priest
Link Wray
Moody Blues
Rage Against the Machine
Award for Musical Excellence: Nina Simone
Early Influences: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Who will make up the Rock Hall Class of 2018? The latest slate of 19 nominees raises myriad questions: Why is Janet not on the ballot? Is this Link Wray's year? Do the overdue Meters have a chance? Is Radiohead truly getting in on their first ballot? Another interesting query, though, might be this:
Do Rock Hall voters want their MTV?
On the once-relevant video music channel, half of the latest nominees either found fame outright (Eurythmics) or perpetuated it to some degree (LL Cool J, the Cars, Judas Priest, J. Geils Band, Depeche Mode, Kate Bush, Radiohead's 1993 cringe theater at the MTV Beach House). And then there's one of the more meta moments between artist and video clip, Dire Straits' inescapable, guitar-and-Sprechesang-driven hit "Money for Nothing," featuring the official slogan "I want my MTV" woven throughout, sung in a mantra by Sting. That's the way you do it.
Bon Jovi, Eurythmics, the Cars, Dire Straits, J. Geils Band — their first exposure to many eyes undeniably came via MTV. So in the larger scope of this ballot, MTV is a clear and present factor. The degree to which music video rotation resonates with Rock Hall voters can be debated, but as more Generation X individuals join the inductee ranks (members of Pearl Jam, Green Day, Beastie Boys, Guns N' Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc.), MTV memories could serve as an additional twinge of warm nostalgia that nudges one nominee box to be checked over another.
MTV icons such as Duran Duran, Cyndi Lauper, and George Michael are coming up in the Rock Hall conversation, and could easily become nominees going forward. As a promotional tool, MTV launched certain artists into a state of ubiquity, and that impact will be evident in the coming years as these acts wend their way to the Rock Hall ballot. This year, it is perhaps seen most explicitly with Eurythmics and Bon Jovi.
On the flip side of this argument, there are obviously current nominees that were established entities by the time they appeared on MTV (the Moody Blues, despite their clip for "Your Wildest Dreams"), never really needed it (the Meters, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan) or quite simply never graced the channel (Sister Rosetta Tharpe). MC5's original incarnation was over in 1972, so it's not like it was even an option for them.
Still, the FM radio/AOR-leaning classes of recent years might slowly give way to a parallel phenomenon: an MTV-centric rock hall class (imagine an inductee list that includes Duran Duran, Salt-N-Pepa, and "Weird Al" Yankovic — not entirely inconceivable, despite your hyperventilating one way or the other). We're not there yet; in a surprise development, Janet Jackson, one of the channel's true icons, and the youngest person to ever win its prestigious Video Vanguard Award in 1990, was left out of this year's Rock Hall pool entirely after two consecutive nods. Still, the power of music video — the entertainment value, the discovery that others feel as you do, the liberating, slash-and-burn reveal of life paths otherwise hidden to disaffected youth who often went on to create great art — will continue to manifest at the Rock Hall.
But back to the matter at hand — who will be immortalized in Cleveland on April 14? In line with 2015's six-performer, two side-award class, eight artists are predicted below, as this is just too rich a ballot to cut down to just five. (Don't expect the Hall to stick to five, either.)
Bon Jovi - The projected fan vote winner, and every such winner has been inducted. There's an outside chance of a shocking exclusion here, an unprecedented door slam on these guys, but probably not. Whatever his involvement at this point or historically, Jann Wenner's loosening grip on power over his empire may best be exemplified by a Bon Jovi induction, which he has reportedly opposed for years. Further, Bon Jovi is the clear headliner and marquee attraction for the HBO telecast. You can almost hear the screaming, for various reasons. Estranged guitarist Richie Sambora has already said he'd rejoin his New Jersey brothers, so there's reunion heat on this induction, to boot.
The Cars - There's not a single passionate rock fan that doesn't think these guys need to be in. They appear early in the (seemingly problematic) alphabetical order of the ballot and are probably one of the first checks made. The Cars are deserving New Wave legends with percolating, hit-packed albums and eye-popping videos to their credit.
Judas Priest - When was the last time metal was part of a Rock Hall ceremony? One might point to Deep Purple in 2016, perhaps, but like, "metal" metal? One has to go back to Metallica's induction in 2009, and then to Black Sabbath's in 2006. The genre is due for representation again at the hall, and what better act than the mighty, leather-clad vengeance-screamers/law-breakers/after-midnight-livers Judas Priest. And why should they be enshrined on Lake Erie? Read here.
Link Wray - This year might be the best shot for Wray, with his prominent presence in the recent documentary "Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World" and social media cheerleading from Jon Landau associate and music legend Steven Van Zandt. Let's get ready to... well, you know.
Moody Blues - The surprising number of call-in votes for the Moodies on hard rock/heavy metal champion Eddie Trunk's SiriusXM Volume show on November 2 was telling. It underscored the general consensus that these British prog/art-rock masters are wildly overdue, and further, that this is understood by an audience demographic galaxies away from the Moody Blues' orbit. Expect the Rock Hall votership to feel the same.
Rage Against the Machine - It seems strange, but a certain subset of voting might be between these guys and Radiohead. Thom Yorke and company are blasé about the Rock Hall, while Rage guitar wizard Tom Morello is quite invested in the institution, being a nomination committee member. Morello would enthusiastically kick out the revolutionary jams, ideally with RATM frontman Zack de la Rocha — a reunion that would light up Public Hall with thunderous rebellion well-suited for today's political climate. (It's admittedly risky to leave Radiohead out of these predictions, but there's a prevailing sense they don't care that much, and neither should voters, at least this year. They'll get in eventually.)
Early Influences: Sister Rosetta Tharpe - This category was crafted precisely for someone like Sister Rosetta, an early gospel and guitar-playing pioneer that lit the pathway to R&B and rock. It's perplexing why she is listed among more modern performers on the ballot, as she shouldn't have to compete with artists that would not exist without her.
Award for Musical Excellence: Nina Simone - Poet, pianist, vocalist, social justice warrior... these words only begin to describe the iconic Nina Simone. With her incalculable level of influence, exalted recordings, and legendary performances, this titan of song needs to be included at the Rock Hall. It might just take some category maneuvering, and the Award for Musical Excellence will do just fine.
