Future Rock Legends

Bill Withers
Green Day
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Lou Reed
Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

Ringo Starr - Participation award.. er,Musical Excellence
The "5" Royales - Early Influence

This is the first inductee reveal in years that didn't have me facepalming in disappointment. I'm indifferent toward two of the acts and extremely happy with the others. Not bad. (And for me personally, PBBB getting in is almost as exciting as Kraftwerk would've been).

Posted by DarinRG on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 02:21am

While I am disappointed that The Smiths and Kraftwek didn't make (though not suprised) and I am surprised that NWA didn't make the cut, I can't complain (much) about this class.

Out of all of these, I think that Joan Jett is the most marginal, although I like her, so I'm not too incensed. I just don't think she broke much ground musically and many of her biggest hits were covers. I guess she did have a decent influence on females in rock, with attitude etc. And like I said, I like her and all.

I know people will probably take shots at Paul Butterfield Blues Band (and I really question the integrity of the balloting, honestly, I am really shocked that band got enough votes) but I have always mainained they deserve induction. I do admit they are one of the lesser inductees in the grand scheme of things, but they've got the credentials. Great and influential instrumentalists in Butterfield and Mike Bloomfield, one of the first mixed race rock bands, and the track "East-West" was seminal as am exporatory jam. That entire East-West record is a must for anyone questioning the PBBB.

The rest were expected and all solid and deserving picks, I think, for obvious enough reasons.

Oh, I like the 5 Royals pick. Maybe they will start getting some more Early Influences in again?

And Ringo? Whatever. At least they didn't bring him in as a Performer. Sure they wanted to round out The Beatles with two inductions each, but in Ringo's case it is wholly undeserved (again, since he is inducted already as a Beatle, we have to assume that this induction is for all post-Beatles work).

Posted by Dezmond on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 03:52am

It is late. Sorry for all of the typos.

Posted by Dezmond on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 03:55am

And really, what does this "Musical Excellence" category mean with the induction of Ringo? Is it a place for the insiders to get someone in they like but know will never be voted in? Why not give it to Nile Rodgers (who would actually deserve it for his fantastic production work on so many artists' records as well as his Chic work) so they can give the Chic nominations a rest.

Posted by Dezmond on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 04:06am

Yeah, I'm disappointed about Kraftwerk, the Smiths and NIN, but I'm thrilled about PBBB, SRV, Lou and Withers. No complaints here.

Next year I predict that the Non-performer Award comes back and goes to the guy who sold popcorn at the Beatles Shea Stadium gig.

Posted by DarinRG on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 04:13am

Chic got snubbed again! Next year they have to get in! Same with NWA. And maybe next year we can have an induction were most the inductees are black. Or at least like 2 of them. 2013 is the last when half the inductees were black (and that was sandwiched in between the all white classes of 2012 and 2014). 2005 was the last year when there was a class with more black inductees than white. I'm not accusing the hall of anything but, they need to stop limiting R&B and Hip-Hop to 1 or none inductees a year.

Posted by charles on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 05:39am

Overall, it's a pretty solid class, though many of the most deserving were not picked, though I expected that. Particularly Kraftwerk, the Smiths, the Spinners, and N.W.A.

I'm just glad Sting wasn't picked, lol. Bill Withers and Lou Reed are much better representations for Singer-Songwriter artists.

I guess my prediction of a majority 80's/90's class was off, as Bill Withers, Lou Reed, and surprisingly the Paul Butterfield Blues Band put a stop to those plans.

I'm really afraid at this point that N.W.A. is not gonna get in. To me, next year is their last shot of getting in, as after that, you're gonna have Tupac, Dr. Dre, the Notorious B.I.G., OutKast, Jay-Z, and Eminem up for induction who are probably gonna be shoe-ins. Which means that N.W.A, LL Cool J, Salt N' Pepa, and Eric B. and Rakim, not to mention De La Soul, and more than likely a Tribe Called Quest are probably gonna be passed over. I find it very troubling that rap artists are struggling so hard to get inducted, much like disco artists. Speaking of disco. Poor Chic getting passed over for the 9th time. If they're nominated next year, they'll tie Solomon Burke for the most nominations I believe.

Really glad that Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble made it in. Now I don't have to cut my right arm off ;)

Kind of surprised that the Hall went the entire top five of the fan ballot poll, except for the No. 2 choice with Nine Inch Nails. It almost seems that finishing in second and/or third place is becoming a detriment as Deep Purple and Yes in the last two years finished around there and missed out on induction. Now this year, Nine Inch Nails misses out. Odd.

And I agree wholeheartedly at the incredibly large imbalance between white and black inductees each year. R&B, Rap, and Disco, three genres consisting mostly of black artists are becoming the new progressive rock and heavy metal type genres that are getting largely ignored by the voters. Not a good trend.

As for the arguments against Ringo Starr, I have no qualms with him getting the Musical Excellence Award. It's much better than a Performer induction, which he's not quite worthy of that. Many forget, but Ringo also was a very prolific session musician, especially in the 1970's, as he played drums for many of John's and George's solo records, among countless other artists. The Award for Musical Excellence is supposed to be meant for prolific artists that don't quite warrant Performer inductions, and Ringo to me fits that bill perfectly like a Leon Russell or the E-Street Band. I'm kind of starting to like this category honestly. And yeah as a huge Beatles fan, I'm happy to see all four members in the Hall in some capacity for their solo years. So sue me, lol.


My question goes back to Nine Inch Nails. Where are they gonna play in the next few years. Next year we have Alice in Chains and Smashing Pumpkins becoming eligible, and the following year, there's Pearl Jam. To me Smashing Pumpkins are a lock to be on the ballot next year, and Pearl Jam will be a lock for nomination and induction the following year. I'd be pretty surprised to only see one mainstream 90's alt-rock band on the ballot in the upcoming years. So is NIN gonna be on the ballot next year with Smashing Pumpkins instead of Alice in Chains, or Soundgarden who still haven't been nominated. Or perhaps on the ballot for the 2017 class with Pearl Jam? Or are they gonna be pushed to the side for a few years? Interesting situation.

And 80's alt-rock bands are also becoming like rap in getting shut out. The last three years, we've had The Cure, the Replacements, and now the Smiths get nominated but shut out. Who's gonna be next in line? Sonic Youth and the Pixies seem like the logical choices, but there's also Husker Du, Depeche Mode, Jane's Addiction, the Minutemen, and Black Flag, or Fugazi. But even if any of those bands get a nomination, are they gonna get shut out too? It's obvious that the Nominating Committee is moving into 80's/90's territory, but are the voters ready to go that route? It seems 80's alternative and rap especially are struggling big time.

Thoughts?

Posted by Donnie on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 07:37am

Interesting list, though the ceremony should also be interesting (not in a good way) with three posthumous inductions. I did think that Ringo Starr should have been voted in, and inducted, as a performer, not as "musical excellence (as should the E Street Band last year). Waiting for the 2016 inductions!

Posted by Joe on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 07:44am

If there's a slot for an 80s alternative band, the band I'd imagine getting the shot would be Joy Division next, but the alt. slot next year, in all likelihood, is going to belong to Smashing Pumpkins, with Blur possibly playing spoiler.

Posted by SotN on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 08:44am

Some early the 2015 class:
Overall a good if not mostly predictable class. Green Day are first-ballot Hall of Famers which wasn't shocking by any means. They will be the headlining act. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble were another no-brainer on this ballot. I wish Nine Inch Nails were first-ballot Hall of Famers but they will get inducted next year. They are too important of a band to get passed up again (IMO, they are in the same league as Nirvana and Pearl Jam in terms of influence on Rock music in the 19990s). Green Day blocked Nine Inch Nails' chances for the 1990s vote, but they will be shoe-ins next year.

I knew Joan Jett & the Blackhearts were gonna get inducted; like I said, the Rock Hall cannot go a year without inducting a female act and they left the door wide open for Jett to get inducted. The same can be said about N.W.A. being the "rap" act but they have failed for the third year in a row. This is troubling for N.W.A. although I think they will eventually get inducted (give it a couple of years; remember they are the most polarizing rap act that's been nominated/inducted for the Rock Hall. Because of this, it will take several ballots for them to get inducted. They will get inducted eventually, but don't count on it to happen anytime soon).

Lou Reed getting inducted as a solo artist isn't surprising given his recent death. Sad that the Rock Hall had to act on his induction after his death. Bill Withers is a fine choice for the singer-songwriter and/or R&B choice.

The biggest surprise this year is the induction of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. While a worthy act, I think there were much more innovative acts on this nomination list. I would have rather seen Chic get inducted this year, but oh well. If nominated again next year, this will be Chic's 10th nomination (only Solomon Burke received that many nominations; he was eventually inducted in 2001). Let's get Chic in for 2016.

Not sure how to feel about Ringo Starr getting the "musical excellence" award; although I don't necessarily think his solo work is worthy of the performer category, he should have been inducted in the performer category (like all of his Beatle bandmates' solo inductions). But not really complaining here to be honest but seems like a backdoor way of getting all of the Beatles in as 2-time Hall of Famers (we all know that Starr stood little chance of getting in as a performer anyway). I'm more excited that the 5 Royales are getting inducted as an early influence. Great choice and glad the Rock Hall brought back the Early Influences category.

Posted by Nick on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 09:08am

4 for 6, better than I do most years.

I'm on the fence with the "5" Royales as Early Influences... sure, they had a bit of pre-1955 records, but to me, this is just another case of "We'll never get them in any other way" like they did with Wanda and Freddie. At least it's not as flagrant a foul this time.

And I'm sorry, I do think Ringo deserves solo induction as a Performer. His 70's output were some of the most joyful, ebullient, rocking, rollicking, fun, and human records from that entire decade. Did it always push the envelope? No, but sometimes I think that doing so is overrated. He is just plain good rock'n'roll, and that should be honored for what it is. And with Joan Jett getting in this year the "fun but safe" slot would have been wide open for him. But hey, congrats on him being the first person inducted in two different categories. Maybe this will lead to a solo Carole King induction now.

No complaints with the Performer inductees... only a couple I would have actually chosen, but eh, whatever. Just wish they'd quit fudging these other two categories like this.

Posted by Philip on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 09:30am

To say Ringo is not deserving of this "nod" is ignorant. He is a very underrated and entertaining performer, who has always "served" the song well.

Posted by ERG on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 09:42am

I agree that Ringo is entertaining, talented, a good guy, and maybe even underrated. Still not Hallworthy outside of The Beatles. Come on. If the bar for induction is Ringo Starr's solo career and decent studio work for others, then there are few artists out there who don't have at least an argument then. That is not what a Hall of Fame is supposed to be about. It is like they just decided each Beatle needed a second induction (I would not have given George a solo induction either, and I do love 'All Things Must Pass').

My view has always been than since The Beatles were already inducted, when considering John, Paul, George and Ringo for a second induction, you have to put blinders on as far The Beatles go, pretend that each one was never a member of The Beatles and that their first solo record was the first anyone ever heard of them and judge them SOLELY on their post-Beatles output. On that criteria, Ringo Starr would never even enter the conversation for a Hall of Fame. This is all glitter from The Beatles.

Posted by Dezmond on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 10:15am

I'm a little peeved at Joan Jett and Green Day's induction. I would have replaced them with Kraftwerk and the Marvelettes. The other four I am quite satisfied with.

Posted by danny on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 11:07am

I hate to do this, but looking ahead at the 2016 class I think that will be the year where snubbed artists will get inducted into the Rock Hall. The only 2 major artists who will be newly eligible to the Rock Hall that have remotely a chance of getting inducted next year is The Smashing Pumpkins and Mariah Carey. I'm not saying they will get inducted (let alone inducted), but I think this speaks volumes for a gateway for artists to inducted to the Rock Hall that were either passed over or not previously considered. I fully expect repeat nominees like Deep Purple, Yes, Chic, N.W.A., and others back for 2016 nominations. Expect new nominees like Janet Jackson, Chicago, among others to be included. This will truly be an interesting nominating year that leaves one wondering what way they will go.

Posted by Nick on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 11:22am

Weakest class ever?
Without question.

Posted by Classic Rock on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 12:24pm

I'll admit that overall this wasn't the most memorable group of nominees/inductees. That said, I'm THRILLED for Stevie Ray Vaughn And DOUBLE TROUBLE! To their credit, the Hall got this right!
Kudos for recognizing the entire BAND!

Although I'm not a "fan" per se of Bill Withers, I did vote for him in the poll and I'm glad he was inducted. He's every bit a singer/songwriter as James Taylor, Bob Seger, and Bruce Springsteen. His songs have held up over time and he deserves to be recognized in the industry.

Unfortunately, Chic were once again snubbed! Their influence is undeniable! The Hall really screwed this one up once again!

Be that as it may, I congratulate Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Green Day, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and Lou Reed on their inductions.Well deserved even though I didn't vote for any of them. But I digress.

Posted by V.F.T. on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 12:58pm

Does anyone have a good definition for the Musical Excellence category? I thought it was for those session musicians, side men and producers that don't really fit in the Performers category because their solo work has been too spotty or absent to ever get recognized. But now they have inducted Ringo Starr in the Musical Excellence category with 17 solo albums and 8 top 10 hits in the Hot 100, including two number 1s. That's more hits than the majority of this year's nominees. If they really wanted to express their love for The Beatles, Billy Preston would have been a better choice, IMO.

Posted by The_Claw on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 13:21pm

"musical excellence"? What?

Ringo was not a sideman. Did they just want to make all four solo Beatles in?

WTF WTF WTF

Posted by Dr. W on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 14:12pm

The hall is desperate need of transparency. Ringo, even though he may have been deserving, should not have gotten in through the back door. As for the rest of the group, not who I would have picked, but will not gripe too much. Am 53 years old and don't recall ever hearing a Paul Butterfield Blues Band song on the radio.As for the 5 Royales, about time.

Posted by EricP. on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 14:39pm

I think that N.W.A. will be a shoe in next year. The ceremony will be held in L.A. and they've got the "Straight Outta Comptom" movie coming next year. I think the Rock Hall held off on them because next year it will be a bigger event for them.

Posted by JoshH on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 16:34pm

For the first time ever, my predictions were very close. I actually predicted 5 out of 6 of the inductees right! (Don't believe me? Look under a post with my name on the 2015 nominees page from like nearly a month ago)

But I'm actually happy with this class, and its well-rounded out and very diverse as always. I really thought NIN would be a first-ballot, but I know within the next two years he (or they) will get in. I've said it many times but I'm still not convinced by Stevie Ray, but nonetheless congratulations SRV lovers, your man is in. Now you can get on with your lives.

At least we don't have to worry about Ms. Jett and the PBBB showing up on the nomination ballots next year, but there are still a handful of acts that have been nominated numerous times that are blocking all the newbies.

If there's one thing I learned, it seems like every year (maybe 4th year in a row) that at least 4 of the 6 inductees are those who have never appeared on a ballot before, or in some cases, don't normally show up that much. As for acts like Chic, I think the noms committee should just give up on them for a while. Just saying. Kraftwerk, who I believe is the most important act not inducted, should definitely get in real soon. Or so I hope.

And lastly, the whole Ringo Starr thing. I, like many others, are trying to figure out what in the world is going on. Musical excellence, really? I say its insulting, but according to Rolling Stone, Ringo himself seems satisfied. The only positive thing I can say is now the Beatles are the only group to have all of their members inducted solo. I'm not even sure if I'd call it a back-door induction. But, cheers.

Posted by Jason Voigt on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 16:58pm

@JoshH - I disagree about NWA. They had the express lane to induction this year with zero rap competition on the ballot. The fact that they didn't make it (again) does not bode well for NWA.

Just my opinion, of course.

#InductJanet in 2016

Posted by Mike on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 17:03pm

In all honesty, not a bad class, but definitely one that shows a potentially worrisome path for the next decade.

Green Day is a no duh. Stevie Ray as well.

Bill Withers I was originally ehh on (like inducting Jim Croce if he had a 10 year run of success), but if the criteria's excellence, he sure meets it.

Joan Jett....this is where the problems begin. I have no issue with herin the hall of fame in itself, but over N.W.A., Chic, Nine Inch Nails, The Smiths and The Spinners? You'd have to be really deadset against those artists no say that.

Lou Reed definitely had a better career than Joan Jett, but again, over that group? (and others like Kraftwerk) No way. If there's gonna be a "just died" bias, shouldn't Whitney Houston have gotten in a few years ago?

PBBB and Ringo...biased thinking of the old suits who liked them back in the day. Get ready for J. Geils Band.

All in all, im looking at these rap snubs starting to pile up; alt-rock snubs getting bigger (80s AND 90s), and not even getting into big 80s bands like Def Leppard and Duran Duran, and there seems to be a "head in the sand" mentality of the 80s crossing over into the 90s. If it sounds "weird" they don't want it in.

Yeah the occasional big gun will get in, but even then they might not. Just ask Nine Inch Nails. That's why im not even sure about Soundgarden and Alice In Chains. And if N.W.A. is having problems getting in, what does that mean for 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G?

Hopefully they don't continue to honor the 60s and 70s at the expense of the 80s and 90s.

Posted by Jim on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 18:22pm

Dezmond, I must respectfully disagree. Ringo Starr's solo career is still very much worthy. I stand by everything I said about his music in my previous post. In fact, the only detriment to the argument is that more artists haven't followed his lead. His solo music is generally the kind of joyful and life-affirming that the music world is dying of thirst for, amidst a salt-water ocean of lyrics of angst and abstract, and angry distortion pedals and intentional cacophony. We get that fresh water in small doses of fun like "Party Hard," "Girlfriend," and even the lesser "This Afternoon."

Ringo's music is real to me. More real than Green Day, supposedly the voice of my generation. The medicinal effect of music as expressed through "Oh My My" and "A Dose Of Rock And Roll", the yearning for a stranger in "Devil Woman", the fatigue expressed in "You And Me", the empathy regarding bad days in "Hopeless," the eagerness for Christmas day in "Come On Christmas," etc. In fact, one of the greatest quotes about the futility of regret, imo, comes from the Ringo Starr song, "Weight Of The World": It all comes down to who you crucify/You either kiss the future or the past goodbye. It's a kind of realism that is excellent because it is common love and common sense and reaches everyone.

Ringo's music as a solo artist is very deserving.

As for the grenade that FRL retweeted, that Ringo Starr is a B-grade drummer just because he wasn't a megalomaniacal showoff, I'd like to quote John Wayne from "Rio Bravo": I think he's so good, he doesn't feel he has to prove it. Ringo always made the song sound great, not himself. And personally I think he's a better singer than Phil Collins.

Posted by Philip on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 22:07pm

My take on the Class of 2015:

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band:
I'll never forget hanging out at the pool when I was a kid and hearing their songs on the radio, or that time I waited in line for hours to get good tickets for their show, or spinning their records for the first time. Wait, none of this ever happened. Nothing more than a pet project pick. Also very fishy. Would love to see the vote totals to back this one up.

Bill Withers:
To his credit, he IS a 4 hit wonder (Ain't No Sunshine, Lean on Me, Use Me, and Just the Two of Us). That's 3 more than Percy Sledge and 4 more than Laura Nyro. Seems very marginal still.

SRV:
About time. He's one of only a handful of guitar players who had a direct line from his soul to the notes, never felt like he was playing the guitar but feeling it somehow. Amazing. Well deserved.

Joan Jett and TBH:
Again, someone's project on the committee. Very marginal 80's act. I admire that JJ was one of the few females who rocked to any degree and had a level of popularity, but I'd much rather see Pat Benetar get in (or others) way before her. Also, I'm all for getting some more female acts in, but WHATEVER your logic, if you put Joan Jett in your HOF before Deep Purple, you have big time credibility problems.

Green Day:
No probs with this one. Not one of my favs, but a major band that deserves to be in.

Lou Reed:
Take away what he did with Velvet Underground and all you got is an artist with limited commercial success (as in: one hit wonder - "Take a Walk on the Wild Side") who spent most of his time as a past-his-prime aging rock star.

Posted by Classic Rock on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 22:32pm

Anyone who thinks Lou Reed was inducted because he died is out of their mind. It's been long over due.
Also long overdue - Stevie Ray Vaughan. Too long.
I too would have given Ringo a pass in the performer category for his solo work. Ringo haters should give it a rest.
I like Joan Jett a lot; just not sure if she's worthy.
Green Day was a no brainer.
Paul Butterfield and Bill Withers are nice choices if not obvious.
As to the complaints about Chic, NWA and Kraftwerk, I'm bored already. And while I really like Nine Inch Nails do they truly stack up against other first ballot inductees? Really?
Frankly I feel the same way about Smashing Pumpkins next year. The glaring omissions continue to be Deep Purple and Yes.
Overall not a spectacular induction class but by no means a weak one.

Posted by Coby on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 23:18pm

Nine Inch Nails will definitely be nominated and inducted next year. They will get a treatment similar to Metallica, in the sense that they should have been first-ballot hall of famers but had to wait a year to get inducted. The difference here would be that Nine Inch Nails was nominated in their first year, Metallica was absent when they were first eligible back in 2008 (inducted in 2009). it was tough for Nine inch Nails to get inducted this year with Green Day on the same ballot taking the 90s spot. If nominated in 2016, Nine Inch Nails should have no problem getting inducted. I know a lot of people here think Smashing Pumpkins will get inducted on their first-ballot, I just don't see it happening right now. Of course things could change months from now, but I think it will take a couple of times for them to get inducted, especially if an alternative 90s rock icon like Nine Inch Nails had to wait a year. On a side note, hopefully an 80s alternative act gets inducted next year: Smiths, Cure, Replacements, or Sonic Youth would be great choices here. Just put Chic in the Rock Hall; after 10 nominations it would seem insane to give Chic/Nile Rodgers a "musical excellence" award; it's like saying sorry we want you in, but you couldn't get the votes on your own and here's your award. If the Paul Butterfield Blues Band got in, Chic can absolutely get in on their own. Let 2016 be Chic's year already. Finally, let's hope Deep Purple and Yes make it back on the ballot again, 2 obvious classic rock omissions from the Rock Hall.

Posted by Nick on Tuesday, 12/16/2014 @ 23:40pm

"I know a lot of people here think Smashing Pumpkins will get inducted on their first-ballot, I just don't see it happening right now." - Nick

I agree with this. There was a time that I thought SP would be a first ballot lock, but I think that Billy Corgan has lost too much stock value over the past decade. Unless he lights 2015 on fire I think even a first ballot nomination is a coin toss. (And I'm saying this as a Corgan fan.)

Posted by DarinRG on Wednesday, 12/17/2014 @ 00:25am

I must say after all the Waiting it's Not too Bad a list. There they are.
Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Green Day
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Lou Reed
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
Bill Withers
So the predictions are over. There's the Inductee list for 2015. I want to start by saying that I did not see the Induction of Paul Butterfield BB coming. Quite surprised. I do know who they are quite well. I simply felt they would be passed up when there's a stacked list. I predicted them to go in a few years from Now. They were a key band in the late 60s era. They were certainly not a band who made hits. They were key in the FM scene. I was a baby. I grew up in the 70s that came after. I worked at a Used record shop in the Late 80s. My Boss was an aging Hippie at the Time. He was 18 in 1969. He played Paul B all the time in the shop. He said they were a key Band on FM Radio. The 60s are kept alive at the Hall. After all many on the Hall committee were teenagers in the late 60s. Butterfield and Mike Bloomfield are great Musicians.

The rest were mostly expected. Lou Reed and Stevie Ray V and Double Trouble I think were a given. Joan Jett and The BBs were one of my Wild cards. I predicted Chic but I am glad I was wrong. I thought the Hall would go for Disco. Good they didn't.

Green Day was also a given. It's not because they are the greatest 90s band ever. It's because they have played at the Hall before. They are OK.

Bill Withers is a bit of a surprise. I like some of his tunes like Ain't No Sunshine. I just thought as a Old mellow choice the Spinners would go in.

The 5 Royales are an Early Influence. I didn't mention the Early Influence category at all. The 50s are dead in the Performer category. So it makes sense. I was predicting the Five Satins to b Inducted as a regular performer next year in 2016. I have changed my mind. 50s people will go to Early Inf instead. Frees up spots on the Regular list.
So that is what I have to say Right Now about the Inductees for 2015.

Posted by Ben on Wednesday, 12/17/2014 @ 05:08am

A class heavy on oldsters, but that was to be expected, I think. It was an open year, considering who was eligible. I'm fairly neutral on the class, though like more than a few people, I'd like to have seen Deep Purple, etc., go in.

The big test is next yr., when you have a bunch of heavyweights coming up. It's hard to say whether the ladies & gents who do this voting really do know the effects that the groups in question had on younger people (this being boomers in relation to Gen X'ers). By all rights, the Pumpkins, AIC, and Blur should waltz right in, providing they really "know" about the bands, and the times. I've a terrible feeling it'll fall short.

The Ringo induction gives you a bit of a clue as to how they really feel, vs. what they have to put on the ballot. I'm not too sure about Ringo's qualifications, but I do know that if they were going to induct him, it should've been in the actual class itself. The voting crowd really wants a 60's and 70's-fest, but cannot get past the fact of having to vote modern. As a result, you end up w/new categories to bring artists in.

What should happen concerns the ballot itself. This site did the smart thing when we chose seven as an induction number. The Hall should consider switching to a seven artist ballot. What should also happen (and I know a few folks may complain) is that four of the seven should be from the 80's and 90's.

A proper breakdown that could work would be as follows:

2 from the 90's
2 from the 80's
1 each from the 70's, 60's and 50's

As time goes on (I am assuming here), the need for older 50's and 60's artists will disappear. I assume the same, a few yrs. later, for the 70's. Allow those votes to shift over to the 80's and 90's, and the recalibrate the system as you get into the 2000's.

In addition, there should be no back-shifting to favor the past over the present. For instance, if you have a weak yr. in the near future (I'm thinking late, late 90's & 2000's coming up), there should be no breaking from form. Do not take a vote from the class of 99, 2000, 01, 02, etc., and shift it back to the 60's for yet Another 60's act. If it's a weak 90's yr, give it to another 90's artist. If it's a 2000's weak yr., grant it to either the 80's or 90's, at least until the 2000's have built up some currency (say, from 2005 onward). Let the votes for the 50's - 70's Stay within the 50's - 70's. If you run out of 50's artists, shift the vote to the 60's - 70's. If you run out of 60's artists, shift both extra votes to the 70's. Don't mess w/the 80's and 90's, and drag votes out of those times, to satisfy a never-ending run on boomer rockers.

Don't short-shrift the present to pay homage to a past that's already had more than enough said for it.

Posted by Cheesecrop on Wednesday, 12/17/2014 @ 06:09am

One other thing that must be mentioned. In looking at the articles the site lists, there is a little blurb from MTV News, talking about eight artists who should be in the Hall.

Alright - try really, really hard to put these two things together:

Music... & MTV...

Music... & MTV...

AARRGGHH!!!!!

I'm getting a brain cramp already...

Posted by Cheesecrop on Wednesday, 12/17/2014 @ 06:36am

I stand by my comment that 'It Don't Come Easy' stands alongside the best of any of the other Beatle's solo efforts.

Posted by Paul in KY on Wednesday, 12/17/2014 @ 07:43am

^ Totally in agreement with Paul in K. It's a beautifully produced song, but it's really Ringo's earnestness that makes it work. Anybody unconvinced of his solo work should take a listen to the warmth and camaraderie that shines through the "Ringo", "Time Takes Time", and "Vertical Man" albums.

Posted by PopeCharming on Wednesday, 12/17/2014 @ 08:01am

Meh. Not thrilled about the result, but it's mostly what I was expecting. I don't know enough about Withers or PBBB to say too much on them. Thoughts:

-If you must have a "female rocker" representative then why not Pat Benatar? Better singer than Joan Jett, more popular, greater involvement in the songwriting process.

-Disappointed about NIN, but I was expecting it. They're just not the style that can waltz straight in. They'll get in soon, though I don't have the same confidence for Kraftwerk and The Smiths.

-I have to wonder if the window of opportunity is closing for Chic, given their repeated failures. If they can't break through next year then they probably never will.

-Do the voters just not like gangsta rap or something?

Posted by Sam on Wednesday, 12/17/2014 @ 10:23am

Scratch the first sentence, because I'm pleasantly surprised by SRV. Thought it might never happen.

Posted by Sam on Wednesday, 12/17/2014 @ 10:25am

I think you guys are mixing two things when discussing Ringo. While everything you say about his music (some great songs, positive message, etc.) may be true (yes, "It Don't Come Easy" is awesome, I agree), that still does not explain why he deserves a place in the Hall of Fame.

You can really like and connect with a band and still be able to be objective enough to understand that they do not have a place in the Hall of Fame.

I use Men At Work as an example. I am a Men At Work fan, I will argue all day long that their music is of great quality, that Colin Hay is a criminally underrated artist (both in MAW and as a solo artist). I know their music backward and forward, they are one of my all time favorite bands. All of that being said, I would never argue they deserve a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Many of you who are extolling the virtues of solo Ringo sound like you really like Ringo's music. That is not enough. How does Ringo's post-Beatles work warrant a spot in the Hall of Fame? How?

I think that Ringo is in completely due to the Beatles glitter that is still on his clothes. But that is wrong. The Beatles are already in. So for any of the Beatles as an individual to warrant a second induction, you have to pretend that they were never a Beatle. You have to pretend that their solo debut was the first time we ever heard from that artist and that all there is to consider is the work that came after.

Honestly, look at the criteria the Hall supposedly uses. Influence? Did Ringo's solo work have great influence? No. Was it particularly innovative? No. Musical Excellence is of course the hardest. But I think that means more than you just liking their music a lot.

Ringo is entertaining and did some good session work.

But seriously, if you are lowering the bar down to Ringo post-Beatles, then you are opening it up to almost anybody, honestly. I would actually argue that George Harrison shouldn't be in as a solo artist either. I love the All Things Must Pass album, it is brilliant. But after that, his solo career is negligible as well.

Posted by Dezmond on Wednesday, 12/17/2014 @ 10:33am

I'm not going to try guessing who will be giving the induction speeches for each of this year's inductees because I can't think. It's a very weak class.

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 12/17/2014 @ 12:22pm

Excellent comments, Dezmond. It's clear that some honchos there wanted him in. He's not going in as a 'performer', it's sorta like a lifetime Oscar: His whole body of work (including music, session work, philanthropy, etc.) that's my take on it.

I think the powers-that-be are doing that as they knew they could never get him in as a performer, without a lot of blowback.

Posted by Paul in KY on Wednesday, 12/17/2014 @ 13:09pm

Dezmond- Well taken- and I was just trying to make the point that his solo career is better than many remember. I look at it this way: Ringo inspired lots and lots of people to take up the drums and reimagined the role of the drummer as a charming, affable figure in the band- to the point where citing Ringo as a drumming influence is a cliche. Maybe he did part of that with The Beatles, but his solo career further proved that drummers could be frontmen, or at least integrants of the band rather than sidemen. In a way, he paved a path for Mickey Dolenz, Levon Helm, Sheila E., Phil Collins, Don Henley, and many other singing/songwriting drummers since.

Is Ringo the most worthy person to be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award? Surely not. But I think there is a semi-logical case beyond the tv ratings.

Posted by PopeCharming on Wednesday, 12/17/2014 @ 21:02pm

http://digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_hall-of-fame-2015.html

SAMPSON OF DIGITAL DREAM DOOR GIVES HIS CRITIQUE OF THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 12/18/2014 @ 11:15am

LITERALLY CRYING BC JOAN JETT & THE BLACK HEARTS HAVE FINALLY BEEN INDUCTED AND FREAKING GREEN DAY IS IN BYE I'M CRYING THE TEARS ARE REAL BYE

Posted by GiGi Roque on Thursday, 12/18/2014 @ 11:46am

Roy, thanks for the link to the Digital dream Door writeup. That was a righteous rant! Agree with just about all of it.

Posted by Paul in KY on Friday, 12/19/2014 @ 07:16am

I also want to mention the Musical Excellence category. Ringo Starr is a good choice. He did not have much chance in the Performer career. This or any other year. I like some Ringo solo stuff but it doesn't warrant induction in the Regular class. I never think of the Music Excellence category. I wasn't thinking about it. Ringo Starr makes sense. This way all the Beatles are recognized for their solo Careers. He has a few notable hits like It Don't Come Easy and the No No song. There are no key albums very memorable. There is one called Ringo that came out in 74. So this Category us dine for him.

Posted by Ben on Friday, 12/19/2014 @ 08:21am

Sorry about the Typos. Ringo Starr. He didn't have much chance in the Performer category this or any other year. The Musical Excellence category is good for him. Also I want to elaborate on the Early Influence category. As long as I am posting again. Five Royales. Know very little 50s stuff. I read about them. They started in 1945. So that certainly puts them as an Early influence. I think The Five Satins will one day win in this Category. They are on of the few 50s groups I've heard of. Five Satins with In the Still of the Night
I had jotted Down predictions of Inductees for next year. I wrote them down along with Moody Blues and others. When these Five Royales won I immediately realized that's the category for them! Not Performer.60s is the Oldest the Hall will go with Performer now. This way I can easily predict the Spinners for next year. As far as I'm concerned they lost to Bill Withers for something Older and Mellow.

Posted by Ben on Friday, 12/19/2014 @ 08:37am

Seriously though, in what alternate reality are we living in that has Joan Jett in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but Deep Purple and Chicago aren't.

JJ had 3 or 4 hits, mostly remakes.

Deep Purple on the other hand...oh just forget it, it's such a ridiculous comparison, it isn't even worth typing out.

Posted by Classic Rock on Friday, 12/19/2014 @ 11:56am

Digital Dream Door is a weak website that has no comprehension of musical history. It's obviously written by young kids who have no appreciation or never saw in person bands like the Beatles or a guitarist like Stevie Ray Vaughan perform.

Posted by Aldo Raines on Friday, 12/19/2014 @ 14:41pm

DDD's Sampson, who writes the critiques is actually over 50. DDD is headquartered in Clearwater, Florida.

Posted by Roy on Friday, 12/19/2014 @ 16:02pm

Digital Dream Door calls Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Wynonie Harris, Roy Brown and The Ravens--IMMORTALS! Early influences who have not been inducted yet! They know what they are talking about.

Posted by Roy on Friday, 12/19/2014 @ 16:30pm

For what it's worth, this is the worst class ever when it comes to un-deserving inductees. Ringo Starr, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Paul Butterfield Blues Band are all not inductees here at Rock Hall Revisited/Projected.

Covering all categories, there's something like 7 or 8 Cleveland inductees that didn't make it into that project at some point, so this is definitely a low in that regard.

Posted by Casper on Friday, 12/19/2014 @ 17:07pm

As has been pointed out, it's also the most rockist class imaginable. If your idea of the Hall of Fame consists of what can easily be described as rock/soul/blues, these are the six names you would have chosen. NIN is industrial, NWA is rap, Chic is disco, Smiths are indie, etc.

Posted by Casper on Friday, 12/19/2014 @ 17:18pm

Four of the six acts inducted weren't even considered long-time snubs around here. We inducted Lou Reed & Bill Withers to our own project after they were nominated by Cleveland and the aforementioned Joan Jett/Paul Butterfield Blues Band are still considered unworthy.

Therefore, the Hall only narrowed down our massive queue by two names (Green Day/Stevie Ray Vaughan) and that's no progress when you factor in that Blur/Smashing Pumpkins are eligible this next time around.

The Hall ends up falling behind by four performer names that were recently inducted into Rock Hall Projected. Captain Beefheart/De La Soul/Fugazi/The Guess Who.

Posted by Casper on Friday, 12/19/2014 @ 17:41pm

Our Biggest Snubs List By Key Decade (Sorted By Recording Start Year):

1950s - 2 (1.80%) (Johnny Burnette & The Rock N Roll Trio, Link Wray)

1960s - 16 (14.41%) (Jan & Dean, The Marvelettes, Mary Wells, Dick Dale, Peter Paul & Mary, The Moody Blues, The Zombies, Love, MC5, The Monkees, Scott Walker, Tommy James & The Shondells, Gram Parsons, Procol Harum, Silver Apples, Steppenwolf)

1970s - 39 (35.14%) (The Spinners, The Guess Who, Jim Croce, Harry Nilsson, Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band, Can, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, Steve Miller Band, T. Rex, The Carpenters, Chicago, King Crimson, Nick Drake, Warren Zevon, Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Kraftwerk, The Doobie Brothers, Electric Light Orchestra, Sparks, Thin Lizzy, War, Big Star, Roxy Music, Barry White, New York Dolls, Bad Company, Judas Priest, Television, The Runaways, The Buzzcocks, Cheap Trick, Chic, The Jam, Suicide, The Cars, Joy Division, The Specials)

1980s - 42 (37.84%) (Journey, Devo, Motörhead, XTC, Black Flag, The Cure, Dire Straits, Kate Bush, Siouxsie & The Banshees, X, The B-52s, The Dead Kennedys, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Afrika Bambaataa, INXS, Ozzy Osbourne, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Hüsker Dü, Mötley Crüe, New Order, The Replacements, Janet Jackson, Sonic Youth, Bon Jovi, Slayer, The Smiths, LL Cool J, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Whitney Houston, Faith No More, Megadeth, My Bloody Valentine, Stone Roses, Eric B. & Rakim, N.W.A., Pixies, De La Soul)

1990s - 12 (10.81%) (Björk, Pantera, The Flaming Lips, Soundgarden, Jane's Addiction, Massive Attack, The Offspring, Fugazi, Nine Inch Nails, Pavement, Blur, Smashing Pumpkins)


Total: 111

Posted by Casper on Friday, 12/19/2014 @ 17:51pm

I see a lot of people around the interwebz bitching about Green Day getting in over NIN, and while I'm a bigger fan of NIN than GD an d think that Trent Reznor is a more visonary artist, realistically Green Day is to punk what NIN is to industrial, commercial acts who sold a lot of records on the backs of unacknowledged pioneers who did the heavy lifting for them. I have no problem with GD or NIN being inducted, but MC5, New York Dolls, Trobbing Gristle, Suicide, Television, Buzzcocks, the Damned, Black Flag, Minor Thteat, Sioixsie & the Banshees, Cabaret Voltaite, Bauhaus, the Cure, Joy Division, Skinny Puppy, Einstuerzenfe Neubauten and Nick Cave, to name a few were far nore important trailblazers to those threads and more importantto RNR history and evolution than either NIN or Green Day. It's silly to bicker over those twoo

Posted by DarinRG on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 02:07am

Pardon the typos. Not used to ranting from my phone. What I said is gospel truth, though.

Posted by DarinRG on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 02:21am

I really appreciate a lot, if not most, of what DDR does, but every single year their chief complaint about the Hall's inductees revolves around the demand for racial diversity.

Once again, this is just silly logic. The six best nominees of the year should be the ones inducted. Not the most politically correct division of the nominees. Not the three or four best /black/ inductees and then whatever is left. Per usual, the best possible class was NOT at all inducted, but only one of the six best was African-American. There is a lot to complain about with this year's inductees, but racial diversity is a pretty petty complaint. (N.W.A NEEDS to be in asap, but there are a plethora of bigger holes than the slew of r&b nominees we had this year).

If we go by FRL's own poll, the ideal inductees would have been The Smiths, Lou Reed, Green Day, SRV, NIN, and Kraftwerk. We got 3/6 there, and none them were black.

If we go by our Rock Rankings, it would have been Kraftwerk, The Smiths, N.W.A, NIN, Green Day, SRV. We got 2/6 here, and only N.W.A was black.

Posted by Paul K on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 03:47am

The voting committee is the problem. It's full of people who used to be marginal critics a long time ago and geezer inductees who don't know who any of the groundbreaking acts who came after the invention of fire are. I actually think that the NomCom is often dumbing it down for the Short Bus VoteCom. (Any similarities to this post and the Song Project are purely coincidental).

Posted by DarinRG on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 03:58am

The Inductees for this year have been discussed plenty. I will criticize the list here. I am pleased based on the Choices. The thing is so many I wanted in weren't even Nominated in the first place. This brings it back to my complaint that Chicago, Moody Blues, Doobie Brothers and Deep Purple were totally ignored. I have stated that my fav Band of all time is the Who. They went in immediately back in 1990 after exactly 25 years. They are one of the Most successful Rock bands the World has ever seen. Led Zep and Neil Young were inducted with equal success. The big mistake the Hall made is shrinking the Inductee list to 5 for awhile coupled with Bad choices like Percy Sledge for instance. So here we are with this problem of so many snubs. I like Joan Jett to an extent. Is she more deserving than Deep Purple or Moody Blues? I would say not. I should probably compare Joan Jett to someone else harder rocking. Moody Blues are a very Cool peaceful 60s early 70s choice. Certainly Deep Purple should have gone in before Joan J. I predicted Green Day very true. I was correct. I predicted them and felt they were a shoe in as a 90s choice. Truthfully Soundgarden are more deserving. Pearl Jam are not eligible yet. I do like them. I personally feel P Butterfield, Lou Reed and Stevie R Vaughan are the best choices this year.
I am going to be a little hopeful here and give some predictions for next year's Inductees. I say some of them will be Chicago, Duran Duran and the Spinners. Enigmaticus where are you? That's right I am predicting Duran Duran. Also by tradition I predict the Moody Blues. I do every year. There's 4 possibilities for 2016. I would like people to Respond. It gets chats going.

Posted by Ben on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 05:17am

It's way too early, but what the heck.

Here are my predictions for the 2015 nominees for the Class of 2016:

NWA
Nine Inch Nails
Smashing Pumpkins
Janet Jackson
Kate Bush
Warren Zevon
Deep Purple
Yes
Peter, Paul, and Mary
Johnny Winter
MC5
The Cure
Chic
T. Rex
The Meters

Posted by PopeCharming on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 07:47am

With Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, I think it's wrong to say they "took" a spot from other deserving acts--mainly Deep Purple (that's the one I see others are comparing her to). This is unfair because Jett isn't a classic rock pick per say this year; rather, she is the female rock act chosen (similar to the recent inductions of Laura Nyro, Donna Summer and Linda Ronstadt over the last couple of years). Sure, Deep Purple should be in the Rock Hall already but it's not fair to compare her to other classic rock acts. Others should be more upset with someone like Green Day getting in before Deep Purple (a modern act over a classic rock act). By the way, I think Deep Purple will be nominated and inducted in 2016. They have way too much support behind them to be ignored by the Rock Hall. I think what's killing their chances is who exactly would show up at the ceremony (they all fought with one another) and who do they want to induct. The last thing the Rock Hall wants is another Kiss controversy. Perhaps this is why this year's inductees are rather conservative, in the sense there would be little backlash from the new inductees (e.g., Green Day and Joan Jett performed at previous ceremonies; Bill Withers' is as mellow of an act as one can imagine so I doubt he will be very resistant; all 3 other acts passed away: the key members of Paul Butterfield Blues Band--Paul Butterfield and Mike Bloomsfield are dead).

Although many people are upset upon the news of the class of 2015, in a way I am happy---for a different reason. Now the Rock Hal got their niche acts---The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts inducted and over with. Someone was heavily supporting them, so now that frees up 2 spots for induction next year. If they didn't get inducted this year, they would then be nominated year after year which takes up a spot to a more deserving act (which really isn't good). Hopefully these 2 spots go to Chic and N.W.A.---2 acts who have constantly appeared on the ballot over the recent years. These 2 acts obviously have some support behind them but cannot get enough votes for induction (a shame given each act's massive influence). Good choices for next years, although I am doubtful of their chances at this point (no matter how much I want them inducted; especially Chic). The Rock Hall will be returning to L.A. next year so N.W.A.'s chances should be even better (ironic given they were first nominated in 2013 on the same ballot as Public Enemy and passed over on their own turf; clearly the Rock Hall wants N.W.A. to be the next and 5th Hip Hop act inducted as indicated this year. They will get in eventually, but it's a matter of when not if).

I'm more curious who the Rock Hall will nominate next in terms of female acts. My best guess would be Janet Jackson. Whoever they nominate, they automatically have a greater chance of receiving an induction (they need more women in the Rock Hall). If not Janet Jackson, they might go with Whitney Houston or Pat Benetar immediately come to mind as alternative choices. I think Janet Jackson will be the female act inducted to the Rock Hall (massive support from her fans and a good number of hits/success few performers can match without already getting inducted to the Rock Hall).

Posted by Nick on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 11:34am

With Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, I think it's wrong to say they "took" a spot from other deserving acts--mainly Deep Purple (that's the one I see others are comparing her to). This is unfair because Jett isn't a classic rock pick per say this year; rather, she is the female rock act chosen (similar to the recent inductions of Laura Nyro, Donna Summer and Linda Ronstadt over the last couple of years). Sure, Deep Purple should be in the Rock Hall already but it's not fair to compare her to other classic rock acts. Others should be more upset with someone like Green Day getting in before Deep Purple (a modern act over a classic rock act). By the way, I think Deep Purple will be nominated and inducted in 2016. They have way too much support behind them to be ignored by the Rock Hall. I think what's killing their chances is who exactly would show up at the ceremony (they all fought with one another) and who do they want to induct. The last thing the Rock Hall wants is another Kiss controversy. Perhaps this is why this year's inductees are rather conservative, in the sense there would be little backlash from the new inductees (e.g., Green Day and Joan Jett performed at previous ceremonies; Bill Withers' is as mellow of an act as one can imagine so I doubt he will be very resistant; all 3 other acts passed away: the key members of Paul Butterfield Blues Band--Paul Butterfield and Mike Bloomsfield are dead).

Although many people are upset upon the news of the class of 2015, in a way I am happy---for a different reason. Now the Rock Hal got their niche acts---The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts inducted and over with. Someone was heavily supporting them, so now that frees up 2 spots for induction next year. If they didn't get inducted this year, they would then be nominated year after year which takes up a spot to a more deserving act (which really isn't good). Hopefully these 2 spots go to Chic and N.W.A.---2 acts who have constantly appeared on the ballot over the recent years. These 2 acts obviously have some support behind them but cannot get enough votes for induction (a shame given each act's massive influence). Good choices for next years, although I am doubtful of their chances at this point (no matter how much I want them inducted; especially Chic). The Rock Hall will be returning to L.A. next year so N.W.A.'s chances should be even better (ironic given they were first nominated in 2013 on the same ballot as Public Enemy and passed over on their own turf; clearly the Rock Hall wants N.W.A. to be the next and 5th Hip Hop act inducted as indicated this year. They will get in eventually, but it's a matter of when not if).

I'm more curious who the Rock Hall will nominate next in terms of female acts. My best guess would be Janet Jackson. Whoever they nominate, they automatically have a greater chance of receiving an induction (they need more women in the Rock Hall). If not Janet Jackson, they might go with Whitney Houston or Pat Benetar immediately come to mind as alternative choices. I think Janet Jackson will be the female act inducted to the Rock Hall (massive support from her fans and a good number of hits/success few performers can match without already getting inducted to the Rock Hall).

Posted by Nick on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 11:34am

A bit off topic, but I'm going to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Very interested in seeing the differences between their Hall and the Rock Hall. I might post a review/comparison report later.

Posted by Gassman on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 12:50pm

DDD is inconsistent, and just goes to show how subjective musical tastes can be. For example, they have SRV listed as the third greatest "blues" guitarist ever behind T Bone Walker and BB King. They do not even have him listed on the "rock" guitarists list, except in a sidebar where they say he was the second greatest rock guitarist of the eighties behind EVH. I am an old guy who has seen just about every great guitarist (except Jimi) perform in person, and IMHO SRV makes the top five of any guitar players list, rock or blues. To paraphrase someone here who posted ahead of me, it seemed as if the music actually flowed trough SRV effortlessly. It looked like he was channeling rather than playing the instrument. Everytime I saw him I felt like I was in the presence of greatness. We always joked that a human being shouldn't be that good at anything. I for one thought he was even better than Clapton. So...his induction was long overdue, and DDD had him as a five I believe, worthy of discussion but often falls short. He should have been a seven or even an eight absolute lock years ago. His career was just cut too short. DDD is often wrong about a lot of artists. I just use Stevie Ray as an example because I know from where I write. This website has far more knowlegable people on it that that one. IMHO of course.

Posted by Mosey A. Long on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 13:33pm

Nick. You made an excellent point there. Joan Jett was the Female act not so much a Classic Rock act. I'm thinking about it. Joan Jett was passed up I'm favor of Heart an act led by Females. They went in at the same time as Rush. Joan could have gone in at the same time as Deep P. So yu are right. More upsetting is Green Day went in bfore Deep P. They getting 90s in there Now. So mayb next year for Deep P. We'll see.
My next point was going to be the one yu made about the Inductee list being conservative this year. They didn't want a repeat of the Kiss thing. So what happened is 3 acts passed away. P Butterfield, L Reed and Stevie Ray. 2 of them are friends with the Hall. Joan J and Green Day
Bill Withers is a friendly Quiet guy. So there is no Controversy this year.
I'm not making all my predictions for 2016 nominees. It's way too early. I am never predicting Chic again. I did this year. Someone pointed out Musical Excellence award instead. Good idea. Only because some in the Committee like him. I predicted 4 already. We will see.

Posted by Ben on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 13:38pm

PopeCharming:

No problem. I was going to take a crack at it myself. My predictions (with genre and who they'd replace from 2014, if any) are:

1. N.W.A. (Rap)

2. Nine Inch Nails (90s Alternative/Industrial)

3. Smashing Pumpkins (90s Alternative)

4. Joy Division (with or without New Order) (Post-punk (Dance rock/New Wave), replaces the Smiths)

5. Pat Benatar (80s rock, replaces Joan Jett and the Blackhearts)

6. The Spinners (Soul)

7. Warren Zevon (Singer/songwriter, replaces Bill Withers)

8. Deep Purple (Hard rock, replaces Lou Reed)

9. Yes (Progressive rock)

10. Chic (R&B/Disco)

11. Johnny Winter (Blues, replaces Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble)

12. MC5 (Punk, replaces Green Day)

13. T. Rex (Glam rock)

14. The J. Geils Band (Blues rock, replaces the Paul Butterfield Blues Band)

15. Janet Jackson (Pop)

16. Robert Palmer (80s genre-mixer soloist, replaces Sting)

And for the candidates who I think may play spoiler, I have the names, the genre, and who'd they play spoiler to:

Wild Card 1: Blur (Britpop, would play spoiler to Joy Division)

Wild Card 2: Kate Bush (Progressive rock, would play spoiler to Pat Benatar)

Wild Card 3: Mariah Carey (Pop, would play spoiler to Janet Jackson)

Wild Card 4: Soundgarden (80s-90s alternative, would play spoiler to either Joy Division or to Smashing Pumpkins)

Wild Card 5: Sting (80s genre-mixer soloist, would play spoiler to Robert Palmer)

As for the current class, while I'm disappointed Kraftwerk again didn't get in, I'm happy with the nominees list. Personally, my biggest joy was Sting not getting in immediately, more for how he got nominated while Janet Jackson didn't. My final prediction went 4/6.

Posted by SotN on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 13:52pm

Ack...meant "inductees" in that last paragraph.

Posted by SotN on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 13:56pm

Look, they announced the inductees. Didn't see a thing about it in the media.

Meh. Green Day sold too many albums to ignore. Joan Jett probably deserved to be inducted for her career work, but individually and not with the Blackhearts. Withers is a just OK. Not outraged that he is inducted, not happy, not anything. Vaughan is another "who cares."

Lou Reed does not deserve to be inducteed as solo artist and is already very well represnted in the R&RHF. So we needed to induct him again but Kraftwerk and the Smiths and Chic cannot get in once? At least it's better than a Sting induction.

The Paul Butterfield Blue's Band? Who??? Someone's pet project. You can induct them every single yaer and no one would care except their handful of fans.

And Ringo Starr? OK.

I was not inspired at all by the nominees and less so by the inductees. You could not even hate the nominees. You knew last year that the Ronstadt nomination was a total joke. Here you don't even have that.

Posted by astrodog on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 15:17pm

The problem with DDD and SRV is that his career was cut short right as he was about to break as a mainstream rock star. He lost several of his prime years to his addictions. At the end of his lfe he was right back at the top of his game as one of the greatest guitarists ever. If you were around to hear him, or bother to watch one of his DVDs, maybe the "who cares" person might think differently. If you weren't there, you wouldn't know. SRV accomplished quite a lot in his all too brief career.

Posted by J. Udovich on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 19:28pm

Hello fellow posters!

Normally I would be posting my thoughts on the recent RRHOF class of inductees within 24-48 hours of the announcement. This year, it took me a while longer to comprehend what I would say. It is not easy for me to say this, when considering the last two induction ceremonies were amongst the best in the history of the RRHOF. Also, unlike years before in which I and others would implore the Hall to induct Peter Gabriel (an activity which reached its much deserved reward yet did annoy the general populace on this website); I did not have the same vigor with this crop of inductees and nominees.

Fellow posters, I am a bit disappointed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2015. This probably began in October when the nominees were announced. I was curious for instance if Sting would be inducted on his own not long after receiving a Kennedy Center Honor. For whatever reason, I was not in agreement with the NomCom putting Sting as a nominee this soon after being given arguably a more prestigious award.

I must say that while I really like where the fan vote is going with respect to its influence on whom the newer class of inductees will be each year: it does not give equal importance to all nominees. As we know, N. W. A. and Chic were the bottom two nominees in the fan ballot this year. I feel they should have been the top two nominees on the ballot, yet alone the two important inductees this year. Alas, a perceived bias against hip hop and disco took hold on much of the voters this year. I happen to agree with Digital Dream Door on their concerns in this lack of racial diversity. It is a little better this year, but that is not saying much.

This year 8 new artists and/or groups were inducted. Not one was a non-performer. As I mentioned before, this would have been a prime opportunity to induct an important person like Don Cornelius or Casey Kasem into the Hall. It could have even been a record executive and there would have been no problems. Heck, if the RRHOF wanted to, Chic could have gotten inducted as non-performers and no one would have issued a petition against the decision.

Now, onto the newest inductees. Many of them are well deserved. Yet, at least with one, I am not entirely satisfied of the outcome. Here are m thoughts on the new inductees.

Green Day: Well deserving of their induction. It truly has amazed me how much they have grown and matured in the 20 or so years of their major label life. Although, even when I was an 11 year old kid that must have played Dookie until the CD wore off; I thought there was some fine artistry and lyrics in their works.

Lou Reed: This should have occurred in his lifetime. None the less, I am pleased Reed's life work is being recognized in all fields.

Bill Withers: I believe this is one of the times where we at Future Rock Legends should give ourselves a pat on the back. Our collective involvement in putting Bill Withers into the Revisited/Projected Rock Hall Project, not to mention Withers gaining more votes than anyone else, helped to convince the RRHOF in inducting him the first time nominated. One of the best storytellers in his time, I think.

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble: This induction should have occurred when SRV was alive. None the less, an induction has finally occurred; it is also pleasing that Vaughan's backing band are also included.

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts: About damn time for her to be inducted. Not many know this; yet Joan Jett has been one of the most important trailblazers in all of rock and roll. What also pleases me is that Joan Jett getting inducted means The Runaways are now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You see, when an individual gets inducted, everything gets included in the catalog; both band and solo alike. I will say though that it would be necessary for many of the other Runaways (in particular Lita Ford, Cherie Currie and Sandy West) to also get inducted; either as The Runaways or individually. As well, I think Joan Jett needs to be inducted into the Revisited/Projected Rock Hall Project for the entirety of her life's work. Jett will be on my ballot next year.

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Well I hope Jann Wenner is happy now, because I am not that pleased. Now, Butterfield certainly was a much influential artist; yet I should ask those from the time this. Was there ever a time in Paul Butterfield's life where people were clamoring for a new album and/or tour with the same vigor as, for instance, Stevie Ray Vaughan was receiving in his lifetime? Was there a media commotion when Butterfield was in the news in the same way when, for instance, U2 are in the news? Again, Paul Butterfield was a very important artist and should have definitely been inducted in his lifetime. His backing band were exquisite artists in their own right. Yet, I think it would have been a more satisfying and honest process if it were Mike Bloomfield getting inducted on his own accord. We inducted Bloomfield into Revisited/Projected, not Butterfield.

The "5" Royales: This induction should also have been done in the band members' lifetimes. None the less, they are finally inducted.

Ringo Starr: This was an unexpected yet pleasant surprise. I do not have any problems with Starr getting inducted for all of his life's work. In many respects, this is Ringo Starr finally being inducted long after John Lennon, Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison got inducted. I know The Beatles were inducted first in 1988. Yet how I see it: it was only the concept of The Beatles that got inducted, and not entirely the Fab Four themselves. Once John Lennon was posthumously inducted, the induction clocks began again. After Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison (posthumously) got inducted, effectively 3/4ths of The Beatles were fully recognized. With Ringo Starr now inducted, we have come full circle in four artists that were first inducted as a band, and now are in the Hall for the entirety of their lives and works. In a way, The Beatles are truly now inducted into the RRHOF in the way it should be; both individually and collectively. As for Starr on his own; whether it be in music, film or wherever else, Ringo has been a lot more influential than many realize.

Well, those are my thoughts on this new class of inductees. I truly had wanted Nine Inch Nails, N. W. A. and Chic inducted this year. Though that may have to wait another year. I also think the Hall should expand the amount of performer inductees per year to at least 7. In 2016, I can assure you Alice In Chains, Blur and Smashing Pumpkins will get inducted. To have room for only three more would be an insult. Heck, I would expand the inductee list to perhaps 10 if need be. Also, let us hope the NomCom does not go into a trolling mode. If by any chance an act like The J. Geils band get nominated again; I guarantee you all there will be a collective groan heard all around the world. Let us hope the RRHOF does not screw things up after doing a lot better recently.

Peace is attainable; if you want it,

Lax31

Posted by Lax31 on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 21:58pm

Lax,

A couple of things. You said on SRV's induction that "This induction should have occurred when SRV was alive." That would have been impossible as per the Rockhall's 25 years rule.

When you say "What also pleases me is that Joan Jett getting inducted means The Runaways are now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You see, when an individual gets inducted, everything gets included in the catalog; both band and solo alike." You also bring up that argument when justifying Ringo's ridiculous solo induction. What the hell are you talking about? If that was the case, then there would never be a need to induct any person twice. If what you said was true, then Peter Gabriel's induction last year was unnecessary since Genesis was already in. Nonsense.

And finally, "Our collective involvement in putting Bill Withers into the Revisited/Projected Rock Hall Project, not to mention Withers gaining more votes than anyone else, helped to convince the RRHOF in inducting him the first time nominated." Dp you really think that the Rockhall or its voters even know this site exists, much less are taking cues from our little pet projects. I can see Jann Wenner and Jon Landau trying to decide on their votes. Wenner: "wait Jon, we need to check Future Rock Legends and their Revisited project!" Landau: "Great idea! Otherwise, I would have no musical opinions whatsoever."

Posted by Dezmond on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 23:33pm

DarinRG: "The voting committee is the problem. It's full of people who used to be marginal critics a long time ago and geezer inductees who don't know who any of the groundbreaking acts who came after the invention of fire are." Right on, DarinRG. I have always felt this was a problem. Look, I love B.B. King. But I can't imagine B.B. really knows The Smiths or Kraftwerk all that well. Yet B.B. is casting a vote each year. So many of these inductees and older, crotchety critics felt lost in the 80's and felt the good old days were behind them. They have little appreciation for the groundbreaking work by The Cure, Replacements, Smiths, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Devo, The Cars, Sonic Youth, Joy Division, New Order, etc. I really think that is the big roadblock here for the 80's in general. It is the voting block.

I don't get why some of you don't feel that Lou Reed deserved a solo induction. Come on. It should have happened a long time ago. Lou's solo work is deeper, more interesting, and I would say even riskier than the relatively shortlived Velvet Underground. Lou was an inspiration for anyone in rock who took risks and ventured off the beaten path.

Posted by Dezmond on Saturday, 12/20/2014 @ 23:47pm

Lax,
I am also responding. I will first make the same point that Dezmond made. I am a huge SR Vaughan fan. I was him twice in concert. His induction would have been impossible when he was alive as per the Rock Hall's 25 year rule. Stevie Ray Vaughan was killed in a Helicopter crash in 1990. He was alive and well in 1989 for instance. The Rolling Stones and the Temptations were inducted at that time. Clearly its 60s artists that were just getting eligible. The Who and Simon & Garfunkel followed in early 1990. Just putting it in perspective.

I have another point to make. It's about what you said about the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. I myself was only a baby when he was big in the 60s. I commend you on your knowledge of P Butterfield. I myself was too young for him originally. However I worked at a Used record shop in the 80s. I had a Hippie boss. He mentioned Paul Butterfield all the time and played his records in the shop. That Hippie boss was 18 in 1969. He said that people did clamor for a new album and tour with Vigor. The 60s artists that got "media commotion" are mostly in at this point. The Doors, Cream, The Animals, etc. At this point the Hall is getting deeper with 60s artists. However the Moody Blues should have gone in before P Butterfield. I'm making diff point. I certainly feel Moody Blues should have gone in before them as a 60s choice.

I agree with you Lax on Ringo Starr. It was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. I do not have any problems either with Starr.

Just another point about Paul Butterfield. I am sure old inductees like BB King, surviving members of the Doors, and perhaps the Jefferson Airplane members easily voted for Paul Butterfield. I seem to recall that P Butterfield opened for the Doors in fact. At the clubs around the country like the Fillmores. Somewhere like that.

Posted by Ben on Monday, 12/22/2014 @ 05:52am

Here is who I would want to see inducted from this class:

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
War
The Spinners
Bill Withers
Green Day
Kraftwerk

7th Inductee/Alternate
The Marvelettes

Here is who I think will actually be inducted:
-Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble (Guitar God/Fan Poll winner)
-Green Day (duh...)
-Bill Withers (singer songwriter/R&B)
-Lou Reed (the "oh crap we should have inducted him when he was still alive" candidate)
-Nine Inch Nails (might scare some older voters but Trent Reznor's accolades in recent years might be enough to put him over the top)
-Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (they seem to have cleared the decks for them to be the female inductee)

7th Inductee/Alternate
-The Spinners or War (with the plethora of R&B based choices this year these would be great additions to the Hall, not to mention a mark out moment for me)

Posted by Tom H. on Saturday, 12.13.14 @ 14:40pm
--------------------------------------------------

Ok so I went 5 for 6 in my actual predictions but only 3 for 6 as far as who I wanted (seriously would it have killed them to put in War, Chic, or The Spinners as a 7th inductee?).

Here are my thoughts on the class:

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble: As most expected ojnce nominated they cruised into the Hall, winning the fan vote along the way. I expect a great tribute set for him at the induction ceremony.

Green Day: A no brainer headliner tht made me feel old in the process. I was 10 in 1994 when Dookie was released and all through 5th grade could not escape the album or it's singles. The fact that I'm only 30 and a band of my youth is now in the Hall of Fame makes me feel very old indeed. Well at least Smashing Pumpkins and Alice In Chains aren't eligible ye...oh crap...

Joan Jett & The Black Hearts: Not a fan of theirs but at least it opens up a spot on next year's ballot (maybe Pat Benatar)

Lou Reed: I think I summed it up best initially. He may not be my favorite artist and not all of his recordings may be essential but he was well respected and influential.

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Ok I know it's easy to point them out as the black sheep of the class and admittedly the first time they were nominated had me saying "who the hell are they" but after digging a little I found myself saying how did these guys not get in before now. Good blues rock played by great musicians like Mike Bloomfield, Elvin Bishop and Butterfield himself and tracks like East/West and Born In Chicago make them worthy candidates.

Bill Withers: My favorite artist from this year's class. Who doesn't love "Lean On Me"? Plus he had the back catalouge to back it up with classics such as "Just the Two of Us", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Lovely Day" and "Grandma's Hands". It would be a great moment if he got one more chance to take a bow for his accomplishments. Comming out of retirement to sing "Lean on Me" in front of a packed house is just the kind of feel-good moment that the ceremony was built for.

Early Influence:

The 5 Royales: Should have gotten in as performers but better late than never.

Musical Excellence:

Ringo Starr: I know it's easy to beat up on this one as a last change to serve the Beatles Kool Aid and I'll admit hwe had the least success as a solo artist (and this is coming from a Beatlemaniac). However if you look at this award as sort of a lifetime achievement award then it's not so bad. Ringo did had some great songs in the first few years after the Beatles breakup and as toured constantly since with some incredible lineups for his All-Starr Band. Had he gotten in as a performer I might have joined the Ringo bashing, but in this category it's a great way to say thank you to him for fifty plus years of entertainment.

Well there you have it. Honestly I think the biggest problem with this class is that it needed a 7th act to make everybody happy whether that be NIN, N.W.A, Chic (if nothing else to get them off the ballot) or The Spinners. Personally I'm still fuming about Deep Purple and Yes not getting renominated (oh well there's always next year). Overall though a good class with no face palm to speak of.

Posted by Tom H. on Tuesday, 12/23/2014 @ 16:07pm

Tom K. Nice post. Your post covers it. I was rooting for the Spinners
Clearly with Bill Withers inducted that shut them out. Besides liking the Spinners I predicted them based on more hits and Albums. There's always next year. I never saw the P Butterfield coming. Good blues Rock from Great musicians. Good choice among this year's Nominees. There better 60s choices but they weren't nominated. Moody Blues or the Zombies are 2 that could have been inducted instead. In the New Year I will list my predictions for Nominees of 2016. I'll mull that over.

Posted by Ben on Saturday, 12/27/2014 @ 10:41am

I meant Tom H. Sorry. I think next year Deep Purple and Yes will return to the ballot along with leftover nominees from this year. It turns out I was right originally. The Hall wasn't ready for 2 90s artists at once. They stayed a bit more conservative. I'm figuring NIN for next year. Don't even know them much. Most likely the rest will be much Older like this year. I'LL be posting next year in 2015

Posted by Ben on Saturday, 12/27/2014 @ 18:59pm

Ben-

I think you're spot on about the Moody Blues warrenting a nomination. Everyone always forgets that they had their first big hit ("Go Now") at the height of the British Invasion (with a very different lineup). A nomination and induction of them would not only make Prog Rock lovers like myself happy but it would also please a lot of older voters by being a 60's act (and a British Invasion one on top of that).

The Zombies would be another excellent choice as would Deep Purple or Yes (who both started in the 60's even if the bulk of their success came later) as well as American acts like Paul Revere & The Raiders or Tommy James & The Shondells.

A far as the 90's go I see them slow playing it. I think the fact that NIN did so well in the ballot will help them out next year. The tricky thing is that there are a lot of big names in Rock becoming eligible soon with Alice In Chains and Smashing Pumpkins eligible next year and Pearl Jam and Radiohead the year after that (plus Soundgarden who is already eligible).

Posted by Tom H. on Saturday, 12/27/2014 @ 19:28pm

I was really hoping for change, but that apparently did not happen. I am somewhat disappointed that only four artists from my nominees list had made the list of 2015 nominees. I was fairly certain that Yes and Deep Purple would receive nominations. Regarding the four acts that I did predict to be on the ballot: Lou Reed, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Green Day and The Spinners, I hope that each of those artists will be inducted. As far as the rest are concerned, I will now move them to my 2016 nominees list:

Once again, here is my list of 2016 nominees, with a slight
modification:


These are the artists who I would like to see nominated for
the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction in 2016:

01. Duran Duran
02. The Moody Blues
03. Yes
04. Deep Purple
05. Sade
06. Doobie Brothers
07. Carly Simon
08. Chicago
09. Soundgarden
10. Electric Light Orchestra
11. The Marvelettes
12. Phish
13. The Meters
14. Nine Inch Nails
15. Chic
16. Queen Latifah






Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 10.11.14 @ 14:08pm

Posted by Enigmaticus on Sunday, 12/28/2014 @ 10:16am

I could also add Foreigner, Bad Company, or possibly Blue Oyster Cult to the aforementioned list. Overall, I had predicted 2/3 of the inductees: Green Day, Bill Withers, Lou Reed and Stevie Ray Vaughan. I must admit that I was somewhat surprised that Joan Jett and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band were inducted. I was very disappointed that Sting did not get inducted as a solo artist. :-(

Posted by Enigmaticus on Sunday, 12/28/2014 @ 10:34am

Not that I give two hoots about the RRHOF these days, but I can't neglect the one positive of this year's induction class: the inclusion of The 5 Royales. Of course, this wouldn't be the RRHOF if they didn't find a way to screw it up, and they did by inducting them in the Early Influence category, when their recording career actually began in 1952 (They started performing a decade earlier, but their recording career started when rock 'n roll had already commenced in earnest). Wynonie Harris, the single most important EI who has yet to be inducted, would have been a more ideal choice. The 5 Royales should have been inducted as Performers. But who would seriously expect the voting committee to actually know the true origins of rock 'n' roll and who really got the ball rolling?

I was once a strong advocate of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts getting inducted, but upon recent examination, there just isn't anything musically innovative about their oeuvre. Still enjoy their music a great deal, but I have a more realistic view of their historical impact.

I think astrodog summed it up perfectly. Time to turn out the lights, 'cause this party should have ended years ago.

Posted by Zach on Sunday, 12/28/2014 @ 22:49pm

The best class in years, except maybe for Joan Jett (the obligatory female induction).

Posted by Ned on Tuesday, 01/13/2015 @ 23:22pm

Ok. I am now ready to give my 2016 nominees list for the Rock n'Roll Hall of Fame. It's a new year and the 2015 Inductees are totally known for a little while now. I want to be clear not all these are who I want Nominated but I feel will be. Many I do though.
These are the artists I feel may be nominated in 2016

Pat Benatar
Chicago
Deep Purple
Duran Duran
Carole King
The Marvelettes
The Meters
The Moody Blues
Nine Inch Nails
N.W.A.
Sade
Smashing Pumpkins
Soundgarden
The Spinners
Yes

Many of these I originally predicted for 2015 or lost out this year. Moody Blues I always predict out of tradition until they get in. I also feel as Enig pointed out at some point The Hall may want to make up for some lack of Classic Rock this year by Having Chicago, Deep Purple and Yes on the ballot too. It makes sense to have Pat Benatar as female on the ballot following Joan Jett. I am no longer predicting Chic who never ever get in. I don't like them anyway. Perhaps the Hall will give up on them. Duran Duran I predict. A good 80s choice. I think they may even go in next year. This may be last post for some time unless someone Responds like Enig. Hey Enig How are ya?

Posted by Ben on Thursday, 01/15/2015 @ 05:43am

Ben,

This is a great list, although I would have probably chosen Carly Simon, instead of Carole King. If Electric Light Orchestra, or Jeff Lynne gets nominated, there will be continuity between those artists which does not presently exist. It's great to see Duran Duran on your list, they are about 10 years overdue. Yes should be a shoo in. Pat Benatar is a great choice also. Sade is also a magnificent pick, as well.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Thursday, 01/15/2015 @ 08:10am

Ben,

I had forgotten to mention Chicago. Of course, they have a boatload of great singles and two magnificent albums- "Chicago Transit Authority" and "Chicago II," which had stretched the boundaries of Rock & Roll. While, I would support their induction, I would not support their induction over those aforementioned artists. Yes, The Moody Blues, Duran Duran, E.L.O., Sade, Carly Simon, The Doobie Brothers and Foreigner would have been my top choices.

In 2013, the Rock Hall did it correctly; those inductions were iconic and although I had personally chosen, Procol Harum
over Public Enemy, my other 4 choices (Rush, Heart, Randy Newman and Donna Summer) had been inducted, so I had chosen 80% of the candidates that year from my 5 choices; 66.7% of all candidates.

For 2014, I had personally chosen Peter Gabriel, Yes, Hall & Oates and The Meters, only 33.3% of those artists were inducted.

For 2015, I had personally chosen Kraftwerk, Lou Reed, Sting, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Bill Withers, so I had only chosen 50% of the inductees.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Thursday, 01/15/2015 @ 09:04am

I was really hoping for change, but that apparently did not happen. I am somewhat disappointed that only four artists from my nominees list had made the list of 2015 nominees. I was fairly certain that Yes and Deep Purple would receive nominations. Regarding the four acts that I did predict to be on the ballot: Lou Reed, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Green Day and The Spinners, I hope that each of those artists will be inducted. As far as the rest are concerned, I will now move them to my 2016 nominees list:

Once again, here is my list of 2016 nominees, with a slight
modification:


These are the artists who I would like to see nominated for
the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction in 2016:

01. Duran Duran
02. The Moody Blues
03. Yes
04. Deep Purple
05. Sade
06. Doobie Brothers
07. Carly Simon
08. Chicago
09. Soundgarden
10. Electric Light Orchestra
11. The Marvelettes
12. Phish
13. The Meters
14. Nine Inch Nails
15. Chic
16. Queen Latifah
17. Smashing Pumpkins

Posted by Enigmaticus on Thursday, 01/15/2015 @ 09:14am

Enig, I love your posts. I didn't understand your first post yesterday completely. I got the part about Carly Simon over Carole King. I did not understand your comment about Electric Light Orchestra or Jeff Lynne. You said if they get nominated there would be continuity between those artists that does not presently exist. Confused. Which artists do you refer to? Please explain before I continue comments. I am totally confused what continuity yu mean. Please respond.

Posted by Ben on Friday, 01/16/2015 @ 09:27am

Ben,


All three bands (The Moody Blues, Electric Light Orchestra and Duran Duran) were founded in Birmingham, U.K. Each band dominated their respective decades with great hit singles. Each band employed orchestral backing.

I hope this helps.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Friday, 01/16/2015 @ 09:51am

Thank you Ben,

Ben,


All three bands (The Moody Blues, Electric Light Orchestra and Duran Duran) were founded in Birmingham, U.K. Each band dominated had their respective decades with great hit singles (1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, 2000's & 2010's, respectively). Each band has also employed orchestral backing.

I hope that this helps.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Friday, 01/16/2015 @ 13:57pm

Let's try this again, shall we?

These are the artists who I would like to see nominated for
the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction in 2016:

01. Duran Duran
02. The Moody Blues
03. Yes
04. Deep Purple
05. Sade
06. Doobie Brothers
07. Carly Simon
08. Sting (as a solo artist)
09. Jim Croce
10. Electric Light Orchestra
11. The Marvelettes
12. Phish
13. The Meters
14. Nine Inch Nails
15. Roxy Music
16. Queen Latifah
17. Smashing Pumpkins
18. Foreigner

Posted by Enigmaticus on Friday, 01/16/2015 @ 14:09pm

Ohh. Ok. I see Enig. I didn't think of that at all. The Birmingham connection. That makes sense. I mean these are only nominees not definite Inductees.However You know what. You had 16 Nominees I only had 15. I will add one. I do notice you just changed your list a little bit. As you said. Let's try this again.

Pat Benatar
Chicago
Deep Purple
Doobie Brothers
Duran Duran
Electric Light Orchestra
Carole King
The Marvelettes
The Meters
The Moody Blues
Nine Inch Nails
N.W.A
Sade
Smashing Pumpkins
The Spinners
Yes

Posted by Ben on Friday, 01/16/2015 @ 20:53pm

Hey Enig. I will now Continue Comments. You will noticed I modified my Nominee list for 2016.First a small correction on what I said. You have 18 nominees on your list now. I only had 15. What I was simply saying is the least I can do is add one. I went with 16 since the Hall has nominated 16 before. Look at that I made it ELO. I would never have thought of the Birmingham thing. I did predict ELO last year along with the others aforementioned. Now I'm not going all out on predicting 2016 inductees. I am predicting both Duran Duran and Moody Blues as 2016 Inductees. That's as bold as I'll get with Inductee predictions.
Ok. I will continue Comments now. I'm sticking with Carole King instead of Carly Simon. Carole King has performed many times at the Ceremonies. That covers Singer/Songwriters.
Now for the Classic Rock and the rest. I feel pretty strongly about Pat Benatar. Since Joan Jett is now inducted it paves the way for her as a Female Rocker. Although not as an Inductee. It took Joan J a few tries. Chicago is long overdue. I see them as an Inductee. Ok. I am making a third Inductee prediction. However at the same time as Moody Blues! Deep Purple and Yes will probably return to the ballot. Now Sade is a great pick because she had a string of Albums and Hits for sure and it covers R&B. I do think The Spinners got close so they will Nominate them again and also The Meters, Nominated in previous years.
I also think Nine Inch Nails and NWA will both get nominated again. They got close this time. Smashing Pumpkins will also be nominated I'm very sure. A strong 90s choice. I am not into them or NIN. I am weaker with 90s. An age group thing I think. Let's not forget the Doobie Brothers. Another good Classic Rock choice. They certainly had plenty of Hits and Albums in the 70s. There you have it. Look forward to a response. I may go into a hiding for awhile. My list could change by the Summer. Talk to ya.

Posted by Ben on Saturday, 01/17/2015 @ 07:21am

Ben,

Your new list is great. Of course, I think that either Queen Latifah, or Ice-T, or perhaps even Salt And Pepa would be better rap choices than N.W.A. I would not be upset with Carole King's nomination either, although I happen to prefer Carly Simon, or Jim Croce more.
'It's Too Late' is a great song, however.

The artists that I would most endorse would be: Yes, Duran Duran, The Moody Blues, E.L.O. and Sade.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 01/17/2015 @ 10:56am

I stand corrected. I had meant to say Salt-n-Pepa instead. Their names have been in the news and in the new GEICO commercials.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 01/17/2015 @ 11:03am

Ben and Enigmaticus,

both of your lists do include artists that should already be in the Hall, but I would like to add a few myself.

Deep Purple
NWA
Nine Inch Nails
Megadeth
Judas Priest
Jetho Tull
Eric B & Rakim
Lionel Richie
Journey
Motorhead
Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Smashing Pumpkins
Yes
Love
Massive Attack
Gordon Lightfoot
Carly Simon
Carol King
Doobie Brothers
The Flying Burrito Brothers
Blur

Who else should be on this list?

Just let me know.

Posted by Andrew on Saturday, 01/17/2015 @ 19:28pm

Hey Andrew, That is a fine list. Jethro Tull is one of my favorite groups of all time. You may then wonder why I didn't include that very fine group. Well that is because it's not a Wish list I gave but Honest predictions of what the Hall will nominate in 2016. I feel Jethro Tull were one the most popular 70s bands. The Hall may not see it that way. I therefore go those like ELO, Moody Blues and Yes first. Ahh I do however see Jethro Tull as a nominee for 2017 after those.
Judas Priest, Journey and Emerson, Lake and Palmer also are worthy choices as Nominees. In other years perhaps though. I don't think the Hall is rushing to put in Judas Priest or Journey even though they should. Also I can see Love even though I am not a fan at all myself. I've mentioned a Hippie Boss I have I had 25 years ago. A fav of his. Love could go in eventually like P Butterfield just did. Admirable list. I may be going into Hiding for awhile. You may see me posting in the Snubbed artists.

Posted by Ben on Monday, 01/19/2015 @ 07:03am

The time has come for the rock an roll hall of sham IDIOTS! to put a true hard rock band in GRAND FUNK RAILROAD. Enough said.

Posted by slacky on Saturday, 02/7/2015 @ 15:22pm

Bands that have been ignored and disrespected by the hall of fame: Deep Purple, Yes, Jethro Tull, Grand Funk Railroad, The Monkees, Cheap Trick, Styx, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Joe Cocker, Three Dog Night, The Guess Who, Ten Years After, Journey, Mountain, Humble Pie, Boston, Peter Frampton. The list goes on and on. I'm only 19 and I don't even know if I'll see the day when any of these acts are inducted and that is just sad. I can't believe the trash that has been put in over these acts.

Posted by Grant on Saturday, 02/7/2015 @ 18:03pm

Grand Funk would have a much better case if their advocates could string together a coherent sentence.

Posted by PopeCharming on Saturday, 02/7/2015 @ 19:58pm

The time has come for the rock and roll hall of sham IDIOTS to put a true hard rock band in. GRAND FUNK RAILROAD. Enough said.

Posted by joker on Saturday, 02/7/2015 @ 20:05pm

I have a feeling that Eurythmics/Annie Lennox may be this year's female inductee push. Depends on whether or not they capitalize on the goodwill from her Grammy performance - I can definitely see a Hall & Oates situation where Eurythmics gets in first-ballot, and with Joan Jett getting in last year, there's a clear spot open there.

Unless they decide to clear the deck for the Marvelettes.

Posted by DC on Thursday, 02/12/2015 @ 00:13am

http://songhall.org/news/entry/songwrit ... inductees1

THE 2015 SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Bobby Braddock, Willie Dixon, Robert Hunter, Jerry Garcia,
Toby Keith, Cyndi Lauper, Linda Perry

Posted by Roy on Saturday, 02/21/2015 @ 22:59pm

Presenters for the 2015 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees announced!

Stevie Wonder for Bill Withers
Fall Out Boy for Green Day
????????? for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Patti Smith for Lou Reed
Peter Wolf for The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
John Mayer for Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Paul McCartney for Ringo Starr
Steve Cropper for The "5" Royales

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 03/18/2015 @ 07:43am

15 more Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees now eligible to vote on who gets inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame starting in October when the nominees for the 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are announced:

01. Bill Withers
02. Elvin Bishop
03. Mark Naftalin
04. Jerome Arnold
05. Sam Lay
06. Joan Jett
07. Gary Ryan
08. Lee Crystal
09. Ricky Byrd
10. Chris Layton
11. Tommy Shannon
12. Reese Wynans
13. Billie Joe Armstrong
14. Mike Dirnt
15. Tré Cool

Posted by Roy on Monday, 03/30/2015 @ 08:38am

14 more living Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees now eligible to vote on who gets inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame starting in October when the nominees for the 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are announced:

01. Bill Withers
02. Elvin Bishop
03. Mark Naftalin
04. Jerome Arnold
05. Sam Lay
06. Joan Jett
07. Gary Ryan
08. Ricky Byrd
09. Chris Layton
10. Tommy Shannon
11. Reese Wynans
12. Billie Joe Armstrong
13. Mike Dirnt
14. Tré Cool

Posted by Roy on Monday, 03/30/2015 @ 08:42am

I can't say that Joan Jett doesn't have a point when she says that more women should in the the RRHOF.

Lately it seems like in order to get more women in, the nominating committee tries to not "split the vote" by concentrating on no more than one or two female artists.

With the male dominance of that very committee, it likely didn't occur to them, to try a different tactic. How about *flood* the ballot with nothing but women (or groups that have some prominent women members), there are certainly more than enough eligible at this point to have a very competitive and legitimately intriguing ballot!

What if the did something like this (which still leaves out plenty of great eligible artists):

Early Influence: Sister Rosetta Tharpe or Big Mama Thorton
Musical Excellence: Sheila E.
Nominees:
B-52s
Bjork
Chic
Connie Francis
Eurythmics
Janet Jackson
Kate Bush
Mary Wells
My Bloody Valentine
Pat Benatar
Siouxsie & The Banshees
Sonic Youth
The Marvelettes
The Pixies
Whitney Houston

Posted by Shrek on Tuesday, 04/7/2015 @ 19:29pm

Shrek, she does have a point, and yet she doesn't. As crass as it sounds, in the end, the chips have got to fall where they may. While it isn't entirely unethical to force a ballot that is thematic, it is less honest to put any further restrictions on the nominating committee beyond 25 years. And besides which, you've then created a queue for every other perceived slight or subgenre that's gone awhile without an inductee. It just creates a bad tradition that isn't meant to be continued.

Posted by Philip on Wednesday, 04/8/2015 @ 00:01am

How did the RNFHOF ceremony go from Mick Jagger inducting The Beatles or Bruce Springsteen inducting Bob Dylan to Miley Cyrus inducting Joan Jett?

Stop it, just stop it, it's over.

Posted by Classic Rock on Wednesday, 04/8/2015 @ 13:38pm

The induction ceremony is tomorrow!

Posted by Roy on Friday, 04/17/2015 @ 09:05am

http://www.wireimage.com/search/#events?q=2015%20Rock%20Roll%20Hall%20Fame&s=1

2015 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame photos on WireImages

Posted by Roy on Saturday, 04/18/2015 @ 20:02pm

The 2015 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Order Of Inductions

01. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
02. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
03. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
04. Green Day
05. The "5" Royales
06. Lou Reed
07. Bill Withers
08. Ringo Starr

Posted by Roy on Sunday, 04/19/2015 @ 03:28am

The class inducted last night according to rock rankings on this site:

Green Day 125
SRV & DT 196
Lou Reed 302
Bill Withers 308
PBBB 400
Ringo 434
Joan Jett 489

Really, is this the best they can do? Time to get some fresh blood on the nom com and push through the A-list 80's bands that have been overlooked for way too long (Joy Division (60), The Cure (62), Roxy Music (75), The Smiths (87), Depeche Mode (102)).

How strong would this class be next year?:

Kraftwerk 40
The Cure 62
Deep Purple 69
T Rex 72
Smashing Pumpkins 89
NWA 101

Instead, we'll get Chic, NIN, Link Wray, Procol Harum, NWA, and some yet to be named friend of the committee.

Posted by Classic Rock on Sunday, 04/19/2015 @ 20:15pm

Here is my prediction for the Class of 2016

Performer

Mariah Carey

I know this pick is crazy, but it is going to be hard for the nominating committee to past on her. She is the biggest name on the 2016 newly eligible artist. She was the best selling female and overall artist of the 90's. She had numerous #1 hits throughout her career. Like Madonna, it is going to hard for the committee to past up on her in her first year. With Mariah Carey's induction, this would help bring the door down for other major female pop icons like Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston.

Presenter: Jay-Z

Chic

I think Chic will be nominated again, and I think the committee will finally get them in.

Presenter: Pharrel Williams

Deep Purple

Rock and Roll fans can rejoice for the induction of Deep Purple. After Deep Purple's induction, then people will site other rock artist like Cheap Trick has the number 1 snubbed artist, but I think Cheap Trick will make it in 2017 with the help from people like Tom Morello and Mr. Dave Grohl.

Presenter: Metallica

Kraftwerk

Electronic/New Wave will have to enter the Hall doors soon enough like Heavy Metal, Hip Hop, Disco, and Progressive Rock, so start the New Wave path with pioneers Kraftwerk. This induction will help lots of artist like Nine Inch Nails, Devo, The Cars, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran and several others from the new wave/electronic genre.

Presenter: Beck

N.W.A.

2016 should be the year for N.W.A to make it otherwise they will have to wait until 2018 after Tupac gets inducted in 2017. N.W.A. were a major hip hop Supergroup that should have gotten in for 2015 over Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

Presenter: Eminem

Sting

Sting is another artist that I thought should have make it in 2015, but Lou Reed was a solid choice for the solo artist/singer/songwriter. I think 2016 will be Sting's year to get induction for his solo material.

Presenter: Gwen Stefani

Non-Performer

Don Cornelius

The creator of Soul Train need to get inducted.

Presenter: Will Smith

Music of Excellence

Wings

With Ringo Starr's induction in 2015 and the E Street Band getting in for 2014. The Committee can select another big band from a solo artist already in the Hall. So Why Not Wings, and Why Not have Paul McCartney induct his band like Springsteen did for his band. The hall should keep Paul McCartney around for another year and get his band inducted which included his late-wife Linda McCartney. I know Paul would be grateful for that.

Presenter: Paul McCartney

Posted by Kyle on Sunday, 04/19/2015 @ 20:49pm

So Kyle - you think Mariah Carey will "help bring down the door" for Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston who came before her and arguably did it better?

Posted by KING on Sunday, 04/19/2015 @ 21:57pm

I'd say that Mariah Carey would not be considered at all. It would surprise me if she did make it on ballot. I would guess that Janet Jackson or Whitney Houston (or both) would more likely get a nomination. I also predict that Yes, Deep Purple, Nine Inch Nails, Harry Nilsson (maybe Paul and Ringo are lobbying for him), Carole King, NWA, Chic, Link Wray, Roxy Music, Kraftwerk, Pat Benatar, and Tommy James and The Shondells (maybe his appearance at induction ceremony will get him notice for the nominating committee to give them a nomination).

Posted by Greg F on Sunday, 04/19/2015 @ 22:14pm

Kyle, I could easily see any of these artists being inducted next year, but I would say the presenters would be different. But it's just my opinion, it doesn't really count for much. So without further ado, hear are my list of potential presenters for potential inductees....

Mariah Carey's presenter:
Beyonce - I just think they would want someone that is a potential hall of famer that is directly influenced by Mariah
Aretha Franklin - The hall sometimes likes to bring in the inductees influence for the induction speech
Mary J Blige - She cites Mariah as an influence

Chic's possible presenter:
Pharrel Williams -Nile Rodgers and Pharrel worked together so this could easily happen
Duran Duran - Nile worked with Duran Duran and John Taylor has listed them as an influence
Daft Punk (if they can convince them to talk) - Basically the same reason that Nile work with them

Deep Purple's possible presenter:
Metallica (or maybe just Kirk Hammet) - They list them as an influence also Kirk campaigned for the induction of Deep Purple. Also Metallica was part of a tribute album for Deep Purple
Slash - He has campaigned for Deep Purple to be inducted

Kraftwerk's possible presenters:
Beck - I can see Beck potentially doing this, I can kind of agree on this, not sure why I like this, but I do like it
Bjork - She just released an album, so she is still active. Also she lists Kraftwerk as her main influence
Daft Punk (if they can get them to talk) - Influenced by Kraftwerk, popular, and still relevant.
James Murphy - I don't really see this one happening I just think it's a possibility, but LCD Soundsystem has a chance at induction and the hall likes potential hall of fames. They sampled Kraftwerk and the have a sort of similar style of music.
Blondie (or just Debbie Harry) - Inductees that claim influence from Kraftwerk

N.W.A. possible presenters:
Kendrick Lamar - They both have the Compton connection and he is one of the best (maybe the best) active rapper (let's see how Kanye's next album goes)
Snoop Dogg - Discovered by Dr. Dre, he is a potential (but but not definite hall of famer)
Eminem - Discovered by Dr Dre, potential/definite hall of famer,
50 Cent - Discovered by Dr Dre, possible (even though I personally don't see it happening) hall of famer
Kanye West - He is possibly the best active rapper, his next album might seal the deal. But he doesn't have the Compton/Dr. Dre connection

Sting's possible presenters:
Gwen Stefani - No Doubt has a shot as inductees she inducted them before, not definite, but why not?

Anyone could potentially be a presenter though, for example... Who could have known Chris Rock would induct RHCP?!?!?
This is just complete speculation.

Posted by Ryan on Sunday, 04/19/2015 @ 23:01pm

I already now have my predictions for next year's class and nominees, but that'll wait until August I guess....meanwhile, here's a blog post from my favorite music-industry critic/blogger Bob Lefsetz about the RRHOF today and why it sucks: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2015/04/19/rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-inductees-2/

Posted by Jason Voigt on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 00:08am

Classic Rock, while from a numbers perspective your scenario looks more desirable, you gotta remember those rankings come from this group, a group that... well, let's face it... faps at the thought of turning the Rock Hall into the Indie Hall. And voting on those ranks were seldom attempts to be objective too. Not that it wouldn't be great to see a lot of gaping holes filled at last, but it's not as diverse a class as it initially looks, and you'd basically just be giving the howling conspiracy accusers more fuel for their rage.

Posted by Philip on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 00:58am

I will be absolutely disgusted if Mariah Carey gets nominated on her first time nomination while Janet Jackson waits a decade and Whitney Houston waits almost a decade for nomination. I'm not saying Mariah Carey shouldn't be in, because she is one of the most successful artists in music history, male or female, but Whitney was a major influence on her and Janet was around before Mariah, and both should be in first.

Ultimately, I don't think it will happen, as the Hall has shown that they cannot get past their bias towards dance, disco, and pop music, particularly female performers of these genres. It seems these days that when it comes to female inductees, they have to be either hard rockers (Joan Jett, Heart), critically acclaimed singer songwriters (Laura Nyro), or 50's/60s R&B acts (Chantels, Darlene Love, Marvelettes). The Hall couldn't ignore Madonna, because she's one of the biggest stars in the history of popular music, plus she has more of a "rock" attitude and image.

I think if the Hall won't acknowledge Janet and Whitney, they're not gonna acknowledge Mariah either. It's gonna take more of the baby-boomer rock-orientated people to get off the Nominating Committee for more pop and dance stars to get on the ballot.

Posted by Donnie on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 01:44am

Nah, I don't think Mariah Carey will get nominated next year. That would so not make sense if she did, especially if they haven't yet nominated (as you mentioned) Whitney, Janet, and in addition, Annie Lennox and Cyndi Lauper. I believe the Smashing Pumpkins and Alice in Chains will be put on the first-time eligible ballot, but I can already see them not getting in right away...

Posted by Jason Voigt on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 13:01pm

I think Smashing Pumpkins are a shoe-in to be on the ballot (and a likely inductee), as the Hall from this point on is going to have at least two newly eligible artists on the ballot each year, with us entering another era with some serious major players over the next decade or so. So it would make sense for Alice in Chains to be on the ballot as they're one of the biggest rock acts of the 90's. However, they fall more in the heavy metal side which has rarely ever had artists appear on the ballot the moment they become eligible. Even Metallica waited a year after they first became eligible to be on the ballot the first time. I think the Hall will look to another genre this time around for the other first time nominee. A Tribe Called Quest will be eligible for the first time, so it's possible the Hall could give N.W.A. a break for a year and try a Tribe Called Quest (probably unlikely though, but possible). And that's where Mariah Carey comes in, as her, Smashing Pumpkins, and Alice in Chains I would say are the biggest acts to be newly eligible this year.

I think we'll see another newly eligible group along with Smashing Pumpkins, but all bets are off as to who it will be. Blur is even a possibility, but I think they have a very slim chance of being that second act.

But I do think that the Hall will have a second mainstream 90's alt-rock group on the ballot. If not Alice in Chains, I would say either Soundgarden will get on the ballot for the first time, Jane's Addiction for the first time, or a repeat nomination for Nine Inch Nails. Between NIN, AIC, Soundgarden, and Jane's Addiction, one of them will join the ballot with Smashing Pumpkins in my view.

Posted by Donnie on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 16:01pm

I agree that Smashing Pumpkins seem likely to get a nomination in their first year of eligibility - but I doubt they wind up inducted their first year. So next year will likely be a "cath up year" for previous pass overs.

I think Mariah Carey's eligibility will not put her on the ballot but will instead build to the pressure of nominating either Whitney Houston or Janet Jackson. Janet Jackson may get the nod there as she is still alive to accept the award (and to give some audience draw to the awards show).

Instead of any other first year eligibles, it seems likely to instead concentrate on other recent eligibles. NIN for a second try; Sound Garden for a first.

With both SRV and PBBB inducted this year, there is room on the ballot for a new blues rock candidate (or two). Johnnie Winter was passed over this year despite the publicity from his death, does he earn a nomination now with a clearer path? Will the participation of Peter Wolf in the ceremonies gain J Giels Band a 4th try? How about some of the 50s and 60s artists that have been ignored to date? Otis Rush; Junior Walker; Lightnin' Hopkins (early influence possibility); or Albert Collins.

With Joan Jett in, who is the next female target for inclusion? Besides the more pop-centric/R&B ladies like Janet, Whitney, and Mariah. Pat Benatar? The Go Gos? Siouxsie and The Banshees?

Posted by Shrek on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 17:08pm

Respectfully, Donnie, I must disagree. The Hall is nowhere near as ready to go full '90s. The Smashing Pumpkins initially sound like a shoe-in, but I think for career longevity and other factors considered, I think the NomCom will double down on their efforts to get Trent inducted next ballot. Nine Inch Nails is more likely to return, and imo, more deserving.

Posted by Philip on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 17:09pm

Shrek, I think Johnny Winter is as good a guess as any for blues-rock, though I'd prefer Hot Tuna.

As for women in rock, it'll either clear the way for the Marvelettes and the ladies of Chic, or maybe the death fairy will be kind once again, this time to the newly deceased and long overdue Lesley Gore. I'm hopin' at least.

Posted by Philip on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 17:11pm

I would guess that when it comes to female artists, either the Hall will look to Pat Benatar as the next female "rocker," or go back to the singer-songwriter types which would lead to either a long overdue nomination for Carole King, Carly Simon, or perhaps a surprise, out of nowhere nomination for Tracy Chapman (similar to how Sting came out of nowhere this year). I would also expect to see someone the Marvelettes, Mary Welles, the Chantels, or maybe even a first time nomination for the Shangri-La's, the Crystals, or Lesley Gore to appear on the ballot. I think the Hall will lean more towards 60's female acts and/or singer-songwriters to represent women on the ballot after featuring hard rock female acts the last 3-4 years.

But of course, if the Hall wants to get major publicity and attention to the show and drawing power, and get strong female representation on the ballot all they have to do is nominate Whitney, Janet, or Mariah. But the question is will the older men on the Nominating Committee want to give in and allow female pop music on the ballot.


As for blues-rock/guitar heroes, Link Wray could appear on the ballot a second time, but Johnny Winter is also a possibility as well. Also don't forget Joe Cocker who also passed away last year and had some support or would get some support from prominent HOFers (namely Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, and now Ringo Starr). Obviously he's not a "guitar hero" but he could also fall under the blues/soul-rock field. And with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in, that also leaves a spot for a 60's rock act, which Joe Cocker also fills up. Also don't leave out Tommy James and the Shondells, with Tommy James' appearance at this year's HOF ceremony could bring some long overdue attention to the group and maybe even get them support? Very possible.


And to Philip, I wasn't meaning that the class of inductees is going to be all 90's acts, but I think we're at the point now where every year there's going to be anywhere from 3-6 potential first eligible nominees that would be big names to put on the ballot. This year it's Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in Chains, Mariah Carey, and a Tribe Called Quest in the rap field. I'm not saying all four will be inducted or even appear on the ballot, but I think at least two will. Smashing Pumpkins being the obvious one, and one other act.

Posted by Donnie on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 18:34pm

I think Smashing Pumpkins will make the ballot, but I doubt they'll be voted in.

I'm not underestimating A Tribe Called Quest. Wouldn't surprise me in the least to see them nominated.

Posted by Mike on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 18:44pm

Here is my tentative list for who I think will be nominated for the 2016 ballot:
Bon Jovi
Chic
Joe Cocker
The Cure
Deep Purple
The J. Giles Band
Janet Jackson
Link Wray
LL Cool J
Nine Inch Nails
N.W.A.
Smashing Pumpkins
Sonic Youth
War
Yes

Although the nominations for 2016 Rock Hall Ceremony is five months away, here is who I think will be inducted:
Nine Inch Nails
Janet Jackson
Deep Purple
N.W.A.
Chic
Joe Cocker

Nine Inch Nails: They were passed over on their first-ballot appearance last year to Green Day (although I think Nine Inch Nails should have been first-ballot hall of famers). They will get in with relative ease for the 2016 ceremony. i don’t think Smashing Pumpkins will hurt Nine Inch Nails’ chances nor do I think Smashing Pumpkins will get inducted for a couple of years afterwards (I don’t know if they’ll even get nominated in 2016: and I like Smashing Pumpkins). If Nine Inch Nails couldn’t get in first-ballot, the Smashing Pumpkins stand little-to-no chance.

Janet Jackson: With Joan Jett out of the picture, the Rock Hall needs another female act to induct for 2016. I think Janet Jackson stands the best chance of appearing on the ballot for 2016, mainly because there’s so much social media support for her induction. She definitely deserves the honor, especially in the wake of pop divas recently getting inducted with the likes of Madonna, Donna Summer and Linda Ronstadt. If Jackson isn’t nominated, expect Whitney Houston to take that spot (or maybe both at the same time? I doubt this, but anything’s possible). Mariah Carey is eligible this year, but I don’t think she will be nominated in 2016; she will probably have to wait after Jackson and Houston (but this is the same rock hall that inducted Green Day a couple of days ago and virtually ignored 80’s alternative icons such as The Smiths and The Cure; and important punk bands like the MC5). Pat Benetar (while worthy) will probably have to wait a couple of years.

Deep Purple: There a ton of backlash for Deep Purple’s exclusion on the 2015 ballot. I think they will appear on the 2016 ballot and get inducted. They definitely fit the classic rock act that the Rock Hall loves. Only problem: their induction will definitely have controversy written all over it. The last thing the Rock Hall wants is another Sex Pistols or Kiss fiasco. I fully expect Yes to also appear once again on the ballot, so Yes might take Deep Purple’s spot here.

N.W.A.: This will probably be their 4th straight appearance on the Rock Hall ballot. They will be in L.A., so this will be N.W.A.’s best (and perhaps last with the likes of 2Pac soon being eligible) chance to get inducted. This is a now-or-never crossroads moment for N.W.A. getting inducted. To me, N.W.A. is similar to the Sex Pistols, in the sense they are very polarizing to voters and it will take several ballot appearances before they eventually get inducted. N.W.A. will eventually get in the Rock Hall, but they have to wait a bit (unfortunately given their massive influence on modern rap music).

Chic: Will the 10th time be the charm for Chic? God I hope so. They definitely deserve to be in the Rock Hall and Nile Rodgers’ legacy only continues to grow day-by-day. Chic personified Disco and had several hits: “Good Times,” “Le Freak,” and “I Want Your Love.” If Paul Butterfield Blues Band got in (nothing against them, they definitely deserve their spot, just saying how many people know anything about them), Chic stands a great chance. The Rock Hall needs to get over their basis against Disco music; they inducted Bee Gees and Donna Summer after all.

Joe Cocker: With the death of Joe Cocker, he will be inducted on the basis of “he should have been inducted in his lifetime but never pulled the trigger.” He definitely fits the 1960s label the Rock Hall voters love and had one of the most memorable moments at Woodstock. In my opinion, he was one of the greatest interpreters of songs because his covers were excellent: “A Little Help from My Friends” and “Feelin’ Alight” are classics. I think he will appear on the 2016 ballot; if not, maybe Tommy James & the Shondells given their recent performance with Joan Jett at the Rock Hall. They had a ton of 1960s hits that are still memorable even today.

Posted by Nick on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 21:06pm

J. Gelis Band (Sorry for the typo above)

Posted by Nick on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 21:08pm

Nick: you must have been reading my mind because I was about to publish my own preemptive list of 2016 nominees, and they are very nearly identical to yours. They are:

Chic
Deep Purple
J. Geils Band
Janet Jackson
Joe Cocker
Kate Bush
L. L. Cool J
MC5
Nine Inch Nails
Peter, Paul & Mary
Smashing Pumpkins
The Cure
The Meters
Willie Nelson
Yes

So...we agree on 10 out of the 15! Not bad at all.

I'll post more on this at the Northumbrian Countdown in a few months- and I might very well change my mind between now and then. To explain some of my more controversial choices:

L.L. Cool J: That recent must-read on the inner workings of the Rock Hall showed that Cool J won more Nom Com votes than anybody else one year- yet he wasn't on the ballot this year. Strange. My sense is that there was an agreement to clear the ballot for NWA (who were up against Public Enemy in 2013 and L. L. Cool J in 2014). And in a ballot with no other rap artists, with a "Straight Outta Compton" movie on the horizon, and with a bunch of avoidable black deaths at the hands of overzealous policemen that gave "F--- the Police" new relevance, they still couldn't make it. I think they might give NWA a breather and give L.L. Cool J a try instead- without competition from other rappers.

Willie Nelson: On the Dan Patrick Show, Rock Hall president Greg Harris was asked which uninducted artists deserved to be in the Hall. Harris demured at first, but the hosts kept badgering him. The closest Harris got to an answer was an offhand mention of Willie Nelson.

MC5: They've been on the ballot before, and with Tom Morello in their corner, it's only a matter of time.

Peter, Paul & Mary: Between a lavish book on their career published this year (with a forward by John Kerry), a Rock Hall screening a film on folk music, and Dylan giving them some love at Musicares, the stars have never been so well-aligned for the group that brought Dylan's music into the mainstream. I can't wait to see Eddie Trunk break out in hives when they are nominated.

Janet: They need a headliner. No likely first-year eligible will fill that role. It's time for Janet.

Kate Bush: Between public pressure to include more women and the presence of some kind of coalition on the Nom Com that got Peter Gabriel on the ballot two years ago, I think Kate Bush is next in line, and the token singer-songwriter.

Posted by PopeCharming on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 21:37pm

Having said that, I think our projects are equally plausible. If I had to pick the six winners from mine?- Janet Jackson, LL Cool J, Willie Nelson, Chic, Deep Purple, and Nine Inch Nails.

From yours? Janet Jackson, Deep Purple, Chic, Nine Inch Nails, Link Wray, and Bon Jovi. (Cool J and NWA would cancel each other out again, I think.)

Posted by PopeCharming on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 21:42pm

I was very close to making a list of my 15-16 predicted nominees for next year's class, but for me, it's still way to early to tell. A lot can happen in the next 5-6 months that change the momentum or lack of for certain artists.

The only artist I'd bet money on being on the nomination ballot at this point is the Smashing Pumpkins. I'll get back to this in a few months and see where we're at, as far as the artists that have momentum or news bits that get them in the limelight and on the Hall's radar.

Posted by Donnie on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 21:51pm

I agree with everyone's predictions, especially about Joe Cocker for next year. He'll definitely leave the NomCom 'guilt-ridden' about the 'well, maybe we should have inducted him while he was alive' thing. It'll probably be the same acts that have been put on the ballots over the years, plus two first-eligible ones. Out of nowhere, I would put someone like Billy Preston (even though its been close to a decade since his passing), Todd Rundgren (remember, he recently toured with Ringo Starr) and Stevie Nicks (MY pick as the female representative for next year). We shall wait....and wait....

Posted by Jason Voigt on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 23:36pm

Also, Tommy James was at the ceremony? What in the world was he doing there, just out of curiosity? Was he singing Crimson and Clover with Ms. Jett or something? lol

Posted by Jason Voigt on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 23:39pm

Never mind, I answered my own question. I just searched Youtube and there he was with Miley and Jett, all side by side, jamming. I can tell Tommy James hasn't aged that much! lol

Posted by Jason Voigt on Monday, 04/20/2015 @ 23:42pm

PopeCharming,
We seem to agree on a lot of the Rock Hall choices and musical taste in the song project (which is a great thing). It does seem great that we agreed on 2/3 of the potential nominees for next year. I think the MC5 is long overdue, hopefully Tom Moriallo makes this happen soon. I think Willie Nelson would be an interesting choice that i would support but in his case, he is more of a country artist than a rock artist (IMO). Someone like Conway Twitty or George Jones would also be great choices if country music is in favor with voters. Peter Paul & Mary is also interesting but I don’t see it happening next year (although they were popular throughout the 1960s [the Rock Hall’s favorite decade as it seems]). Kate Bush could get in, but I’m worried about the Rock Hall neglecting contemporary UK artists (1970s onward). The Smiths (who should be in the Rock Hall already) and other UK artists from late 1970s and 1980s are having a tough time getting in the Rock Hal. I just don’t see Bush as a nominee for 2016 (perhaps later in the future) but anything’s possible. I really hope an alternative act like The Smiths, The Cure, The Replacements, Sonic Youth or Kate Bush would be ideal.

Posted by Nick on Tuesday, 04/21/2015 @ 00:55am

http://www.futurerocklegends.com/statistics.php

When will Quincy Jones, Rush, The E Street Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Green Day be removed from the Voting Statistics page to make room for others?

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 04/22/2015 @ 08:58am

Each time that the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Nominating Committee makes their choices for induction, the public are usually perplexed. They often wonder why their favorite artists have to wait for such a long time, in order to receive their well deserved accolades. Now however, the fan vote is changing that outcome a bit. In 2013, the Rock Hall did an outstanding job of inducting both musical and non-performer icons. I am hoping that 2016 will be another such year. Therefore, here is my partial list of 2016 nominees:

1. Duran Duran

2. Moody Blues

3. Carly Simon

4. Sade

5. Doobie Brothers

6. Yes

7. Electric Light Orchestra

8. Deep Purple

9. Foreigner

Posted by Enigmaticus on Thursday, 04/23/2015 @ 01:59am

The NomCon isn't the problem. The problem is a geriatric and ignorant VoteCom who know nothing outside of their peers and can't be bothered to learn. Deserving acts are constantly waiting because the geezers can't be botherered to acknowledge foebears who weren't their boys.

Posted by DarinRG on Thursday, 04/23/2015 @ 03:47am

I agree with Darin on this one. 5 years ago or so, I would say a lot of the blame laid on the Nominating Committee for their bias against so many genres. But in the last five years, the format of the Nominating Committee has improved drastically. Every year the ballot of nominees is very diverse with representation of just about every major genre.

The problem like Darin says is that the Voting Committee is still filled with older HOF inductees who only care about the music and artists of their era rather than future eras, and in some cases previous eras.

Put it this way, does anyone think Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Chuck Berry put in votes for LL Cool J and the Cure? I highly doubt it. And you know Greg Allman and the guys from the Allman Brothers aren't gonna give N.W.A. the time of day.

The more younger, more recent bands that get inducted, the more the classes are gonna diversify. It's just gonna take time unfortunately.

Posted by Donnie on Thursday, 04/23/2015 @ 07:47am

Maybe, but at the same time, acts like Green Day and RHCP are gonna vote the acts that they like and often are most like them. It's gonna keep getting more and more rockist. Although the upshot from that will be it'll get a lot more indie.

Posted by Philip on Thursday, 04/23/2015 @ 20:03pm

The thought of a bunch of old guys like Jerry Lee Lewis and Clapton being sent N.W.A and NIN to listen to is pretty funny.

But yeah this class blows.

Posted by GFW on Friday, 04/24/2015 @ 22:50pm

It's not the greatest, but with SRV&DT finally getting their due, I'm not complain too loudly... at least about the Performer inductees.

Posted by Philip on Saturday, 04/25/2015 @ 00:42am

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/weekend-rock-question-who-should-enter-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-next-20150424#ixzz3YJc4qFV1

Weekend Rock Question: Who Should Enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Next?

Cast your vote in our weekly poll

Posted by Roy on Saturday, 04/25/2015 @ 06:25am

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/weekend-rock-question-who-should-enter-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-next-20150424#ixzz3YJc4qFV1

Weekend Rock Question: Who Should Enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Next?

Cast your vote in our weekly poll

Posted by Roy on Saturday, 04/25/2015 @ 06:27am

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a joke!

Joan Jett? Seriously? She and her band made just a handful of memorable songs.

But, how can you take an organization seriously that does not include the Moody Blues and Jethro Tull after all these years? Not to mention, Tommy James & the Shondells, Electric Light Orchestra, Journey, Yes and War. And, several others.

Posted by ric on Monday, 04/27/2015 @ 06:31am

The Moody Blues and Ringo have both come up in this discussion.

True, giving Ringo the Musical Excellence award was a way of getting him in the back door since his induction as a performer would have been difficult. But the same could be said of Leon Russell who, though more deserving than Starr, would have also been a difficult induction as a performer.

And now, regarding the Moody Blues: what is the Hall's problem here? They are influential, much more so than their latest pet British invasion project,The Zombies. They were the first band the play the genre that would become known as prog-rock, though they were still more accessible than later bands who would adopt that style. "Days of Future Passed" was the first rock album to incorporate a full symphony orchestra. They were instrumental (pardon the pun) in the development of the Mellotron synthesizer. Their vocal harmony influences are found everywhere from Barclay James Harvest to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon". Their is not a bigger Rock Hall snub, now that Neil Diamond and Rush are in. Still, I don't see them getting nominated next year or anytime soon? Because the big mucky-mucks in the Rolling Stone magazine clique who control the nominating committee don't like bands who incorporate symphony orchestras (other then The Beatles),and don't really like prog-rock all that well. That and, as I've said, their pet project seems to be getting The Zombies in as the next British Invasion inductee, even though I think the voters will continue to reject that act. I do think next year will finally be Deep Purple's year, though.

Posted by M. Scott on Sunday, 05/3/2015 @ 10:53am

I predicted NIN, Kraftwerk, Lou Reed, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bill Withers, and NWA would get in. NOt too bad of a percentage.

Posted by M. Scott on Sunday, 05/3/2015 @ 11:29am

Here's my list of 2015 Nominations Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2016 induction. 1.Duran Duran 2.Stevie Nicks 3.Moody Blues 4.Lionel Richie 5.The Cure 6.Nine Inch Nails 7.Deep Purple 8.Def Leppard 9.Janet Jackson 10.Joe Cocker 11.Smashing Pumpkins 12.Chicago 13.LL Cool J 14.War 15.Procol Harum 16. Kool & The Gang 17.The Black Crowes 18.Judas Priest 19.B-52's 20.Eric B. & Rakim 21.NWA Out of my list, I think the 2016 Inductees would be: 1.Duran Duran 2.NWA 3.Moody Blues 4.Nine Inch Nails 5.Janet Jackson 6.Deep Purple 7.The Cure. What do you think of my list? What would you change? Who do you want to see elected in 2016? KING

Posted by KING on Thursday, 05/14/2015 @ 20:27pm

I was looking at all music guide's list of artists who have influenced Rush and I do not agree with some of those artists. From various interviews given over the years, the list looks more like this:

The Beatles
Cream
The Who
Jimi Hendrix
Led Zeppelin
The Moody Blues
Yes
Genesis
Pink Floyd
Procol Harum
King Crimson
ELP
Gentle Giant
VDGG
Deep Purple
Jethro Tull
Blue Cheer

Also,

Talking Heads
The Police
U2
Roxy Music

and possibly,

Duran Duran

Therefore,

Each time that the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Nominating Committee makes their choices for induction, the public are usually perplexed. They often wonder why their favorite artists have to wait for such a long time, in order to receive their well deserved accolades. Now however, the fan vote is changing that outcome a bit. In 2013, the Rock Hall did an outstanding job of inducting both musical and non-performer icons. I am hoping that 2016 will be another such year. Therefore, here is my partial list of 2016 nominees:

1. Duran Duran

2. Moody Blues

3. Carly Simon

4. Sade

5. Doobie Brothers

6. Yes

7. Electric Light Orchestra

8. Deep Purple

9. Foreigner

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 05/23/2015 @ 05:41am

Lest we forget Jefferson Airplane also.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 05/23/2015 @ 05:46am

KING,

From your list of nominees, I would vote for the following:

Duran Duran
Stevie Nicks
The Moody Blues
Lionel Richie
Procol Harum

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 05/23/2015 @ 05:56am

Let's try this again, shall we?

According to the All Music Guide, Rush has been influenced by these various artists over the years:

Jimi Hendrix
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Mountain
Focus
Spooky Tooth
The Who
Deep Purple
Yes
Genesis
Vanilla Fudge
Gentle Giant
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Buddy Holly
Jethro Tell
Black Sabbath
Iron Butterfly
Pink Floyd
King Crimson
Cream
Procol Harum
Led Zeppelin

According to interviews conducted over the years, several of these artists are correct. However, I have never read an article which had listed Bachman-Turner Overdrive, nor Iron Butterfly, nor Vanilla Fudge, nor Focus, nor Mountain as an influence; I would replace those instead with Jefferson Airplane, Moody Blues, The Beatles, Buffalo Springfield and Van Der Graaf Generator. I would also include the following: Supertramp, Talking Heads, Blue Cheer, U2, The Police and the New Romantic groups and possibly include Duran Duran.

Therefore, even so, there really is no level, of consistency, or agreement on whom Rush was influenced by. If this is the case, how can we agree to include, or exclude various artists if we use those criteria for determining who may or may not be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame? Rush is but one band whose longevity would have encountered various influences. Now imagine every band and how many influences which they might list.

Based upon various criteria, I offer the following artists as those who most deserve nomination for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame for 2016:

01. Duran Duran (My many comments over the years have elucidated why I feel that their induction is so overdue and important).

02. The Moody Blues (When you are co-founders of a major musical genre, your influence must not be ignored).

03. Procol Harum (ditto)

04. Yes (Founding a genre is important, but so is improving upon it. Yes has the distinction of also being innovative and influential).

05. Electric Light Orchestra (There are many reasons why this should be corrected).

06. Sade (Consistent excellence)

07. Carly Simon (very influential singer-songwriter).

08. Doobie Brothers (A good old fashioned, rock and roll band).

09. Foreigner (Lou Gramm and Mick Jones have previously been inducted into the Songwriter's Hall Of Fame).

10. Deep Purple

11. Nine Inch Nails

12. Sting

13. Chicago

14. Lionel Richie

15. The Cure

16. Smashing Pumpkins

17. Willie Nelson

18. Twisted Sister

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 05/23/2015 @ 13:33pm

I am so sorry, I had meant to write Jethro Tull, not Jethro Tell.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 05/23/2015 @ 13:36pm

I think Deep Purple will receive strong support. Willie Nelson another well-respected musician who turned 80. This could be his year. Nine Inch Nails has many good things in their favor and were nominated last year. Those are 3 I can see inducted. The Ceremony will be out in LA. Could be perfect for West Coast rappers NWA or West Coast groups to fill a slot. Usually, a female artist gets inducted. Stevie Nicks or Janet Jackson a good possibility. I'd like to see 1 of Duran Duran, The Cure, Def Leppard, or Kool & The Gang get inducted. I'm not greedy. Last slot could be a fight between Chicago and Moody Blues. I could see some real discussion. Both bring plenty to the table. Could see groups like Dire Straits, Bon Jovi, B52's, The Meters, War etc nominated but fall short. Like to see Paul Rodgers grab the Musical Excellence award for his 40+ year excellence singing in Free, Bad Company, The Firm, Queen etc. He deserves to get in somehow. Maybe, they can sneak in Link Wray in as an Early Influence. He has fallen short in the balloting before. Definitely influenced many guitar players...Some who became legends. It will be interesting list to be sure. KING

Posted by KING on Monday, 05/25/2015 @ 02:06am

KING,

Back in 2012, I had predicted that Rush, the late Donna Summer and Heart would be inducted, four months before the nominations came out and six months prior to the inductees list appearing.

This year, I am expecting Yes, Duran Duran, The Moody Blues and E.L.O. to receive nominations. I am also expecting to see a major singer/songwriter (either Carly Simon, the late Jim Croce, or the late Warren Zevon) make the list as well. Sade has a page on Rolling Stone's website. Lou Gramm and Mick Jones have been inducted into the Songwriter's Hall Of Fame, so I think that Foreigner will also receive a nomination.

Duran Duran's induction is long overdue. Over 3 and one half decades of musical excellence separates them from most of their peers. They could have rested on their laurels, but instead they have continued to create new and exciting quality music. Much of their work is also timeless.

The Moody Blues are one of the co-founders of "progressive rock." Justin Hayward's songwriting is timeless. Their omission is also a glaring error.

Yes had created innovative, complex and beautiful music throughout most of their history. Their omission, like that of The Moody Blues is almost unforgivable.

E.L.O. was the art rock band that had just enough of a pop edge to keep them constantly on radio rotation throughout the 1970's.

Sade had the audacity to create extraordinary music and thereby make jazz more popular again. Sade Adu's vocals are soulful, yet sophisticated. Their music is also infectiously entertaining and timeless.

Carly Simon is one of the most introspective songwriters of the past 5 decades. Her omission is another glaring error.

Foreigner wrote great radio tunes, while combining the bombastic sound of progressive rock with the magnificence of Lou Gramm's vocals. Both Mick Jones and Lou Gramm's songwriting expertise still resonates several decades later. I am not saying that every song by Foreigner is great, but the great ones are quite extraordinary.

The Doobie Brothers are a good old fashioned rock band who had combined country, soul and rock into a potent combination.

Chicago is another group whose jazz and rock hybrid sound has remained radio friendly. Chicago had dominated the radio airwaves with several timeless songs. Technically, they are a "progressive rock" group, as are most of the artists on this list.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 05/25/2015 @ 13:09pm

KING,

Regarding your list, I would vote for Willie Nelson, Chicago, The Moody Blues, Duran Duran and Stevie Nicks.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 05/25/2015 @ 13:25pm

Deep Purple has quite a few attributes that make them Hall Of Fame worthy:

Rod Evans and David Cloverdale's extraordinary voices. Honestly, what is Whitesnake really, but another version of Deep Purple? Deep Purple has started as a cover band, then a progressive rock band, then an influential hard rock band, then an rhythm and blues/rock combination. Both 'April' and 'Burn' are timeless progressive rock masterpieces. The late Jon Lord's work overall was really quite extraordinary.

The timeless riffs by Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover, e.g. 'Smoke On The Water.'

Ritchie Blackmore's phenomenal playing.

Ian Pace's outstanding drumming

My only reason for not voting for them has everything to do with Ian Gillan's vocals. I think that David Cloverdale and Glenn Hughes vocal work is far superior.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 05/25/2015 @ 13:43pm

Deep Purple has quite a few attributes that make them Hall Of Fame worthy:

Rod Evans and David Cloverdale's extraordinary voices. Honestly, what is Whitesnake really, but another version of Deep Purple? Deep Purple has started as a cover band, then as a progressive rock band, then as an influential hard rock band, then as a rhythm and blues/hard rock combination. Both 'April' and 'Burn' are timeless progressive rock masterpieces. The late Jon Lord's work overall was really quite extraordinary.

The timeless riffs by Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover, e.g. 'Smoke On The Water.'

Ritchie Blackmore's phenomenal playing.

Ian Pace's outstanding drumming

My only reason for not voting for them has everything to do with Ian Gillan's vocals. I think that David Cloverdale and Glenn Hughes vocal work is far superior.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 05/25/2015 @ 13:51pm

Let's try this once again, shall we?

Deep Purple has quite a few attributes which make them Hall Of Fame worthy:

1. Rod Evans, Glenn Hughes and David Cloverdale's extraordinary vocals. Honestly, what is Whitesnake really, but another version of Deep Purple?

2. Deep Purple had started as a cover band, then as a progressive rock band, then as an influential hard rock band, then as a rhythm and blues/hard rock combination. Both 'April' and 'Burn' are timeless progressive rock masterpieces. The late Jon Lord's work overall was really quite extraordinary.

3. The timeless riffs by Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover, e.g. 'Smoke On The Water.'

4. Ritchie Blackmore's phenomenal playing.

5. Ian Paice's outstanding drumming.

My only reason for not voting for them, has to do with Ian Gillan's screaming vocals. I do not understand why he did that. I am certain that he has a great voice, but his screeching drives me up the wall, as does Brian Johnson's. Overall, I think that Glenn Hughes and David Cloverdale's vocal work is far superior.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 05/25/2015 @ 14:13pm

I feel too many people are missing the real issue behind the lack of women in the Hall. Take a look at the list of who sits on the selection committee. Not too many women are listed on there - are there? Of the women listed, the vast majority are R & B or Motown artists.

With so few female Rock artist involved in the selection process, is it really any surprise that so few female artists get nominated and inducted into the hall? What is this - the 50's? Women do not want or need to have men telling what they should think. This is much more important than men picking out which women are in the Hall.

Posted by Zuzu on Tuesday, 05/26/2015 @ 14:59pm

Let's try this once again, shall we?

For those of you who are interested, the "Behind The Music: Remastered" episode featuring Deep Purple is scheduled to air on Thursday May 28, 2015 on VH-1 Classic at 2:00 p.m. E.D.T.

Deep Purple has quite a few attributes which make them Hall
Of Fame worthy:

1. Rod Evans, Glenn Hughes and David Coverdale's extraordinary vocals. Honestly, what is Whitesnake really, but a different version of Deep Purple Mark IV?

2. Deep Purple had started as a cover band, then as a progressive rock band, then as an influential hard rock band, then as a rhythm and blues/hard rock combination, then back to a progressive rock/hard rock combination. Both 'April' and 'Burn' are timeless progressive rock masterpieces. The late Jon Lord's work overall was really quite extraordinary.


3. The timeless riffs by Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover, e.g. 'Smoke On The Water.'

4. Ritchie Blackmore's phenomenal playing.

5. Ian Paice's outstanding drumming.

My only reason for not voting for them, has to do with Ian Gillan's screaming vocals. I do not understand why he did that. I am certain that he has a great voice, but his screeching drives me up the wall, as does Brian Johnson's. Overall, I think that Glenn Hughes and David Coverdale's vocal work is far superior.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Wednesday, 05/27/2015 @ 02:01am

Let's try this once again, shall we?

For those of you who are interested, the "Behind The Music: Remastered" episode featuring Deep Purple is scheduled to air on Thursday May 28, 2015 on VH-1 Classic at 2:00 p.m. E.D.T.

Deep Purple has quite a few attributes which make them Hall
Of Fame worthy:

1. Rod Evans, Glenn Hughes and David Coverdale's extraordinary vocals. Honestly, what is Whitesnake really, but a different version of Deep Purple Mark IV?

2. Deep Purple had started as a cover band, then as a progressive rock band, then as an influential hard rock band, then as a rhythm and blues/hard rock combination, then back to a progressive rock/hard rock combination. Both 'April' and 'Burn' are timeless progressive rock masterpieces. The late Jon Lord's work overall was really quite extraordinary.


3. The timeless riffs by Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover, e.g. 'Smoke On The Water.'

4. Ritchie Blackmore's phenomenal playing.

5. Ian Paice's outstanding drumming.

My only reason for not voting for them, has to do with Ian Gillan's screaming vocals. I do not understand why he did that. I am certain that he has a great voice, but his screeching drives me up the wall, as does Brian Johnson's. Overall, I think that Glenn Hughes and David Coverdale's vocal work is far superior.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Wednesday, 05/27/2015 @ 02:01am

Here's a question for Roy or anyone who wants to answer:

When an inductee dies, does their voting rights go away or does it pass on to their heirs? Also, if someone is inducted posthumously, does that mean that their estate/heirs have no vote in the election of new inductees?

Posted by Paul in KY on Wednesday, 05/27/2015 @ 07:40am

I don't think Gillian's vocals has anything to do with Deep Purple's excluson from the Rock Hall; rather, the general voters only think of Deep Purple for "Smoke on the Water" and that's it. Of course we know they had many other great songs including Hush, Space Truckin' and Lazy, but Smoke on the Water is their great strength and weakness with voters. I fully expect them to be nominated for the 2016 ceremony and most likely get inducted. The only problem with a Deep Purple induction would be not only be what other classic rock acts are also nominated (Yes immediately comes to mind) but who would show up at the ceremony. The last thing the Rock Hall wants is controversy, especially after the Kiss fiasco last year. Beyond generalizing Deep Purple's success with Smoke on the Water, the unpredictability of their behavior for the stake of the ceremony is also keeping them from the Rock Hall (no matter how much they deserve it, and believe me they are probably the biggest oversight from the Rock Hall).

Posted by Nick on Wednesday, 05/27/2015 @ 12:43pm

Paul in KY -- It's unlikely voting rights get passed on after a voter dies. That would get complicated. This probably applies to posthumous inductees too.

We track dead inductees here... maybe the Rock Hall does the same thing? (they should)

Posted by FRL on Thursday, 05/28/2015 @ 11:00am

Thanks FRL for your esplanation.

Posted by Paul in KY on Friday, 05/29/2015 @ 07:27am

Hey, would anybody be willing to record the ceremonies tomorrow and transfer it to either a DVD or VHS medium? I do not have HBO and will not be able to order it either. Thanks in advance.

Posted by Philip on Saturday, 05/30/2015 @ 02:16am

Enig - Why don't you come join Song and Album on a regular basis.In the nomination period you can keep throwing Rush, Sade and Duran Duran out there To your heart's content..

I'm rally interested to see what you could come up with in the genre votes, especially ones that aren't up your ally. You seem to do a lot of research on your favorites, but I think it would be interesting to see you put that same chronic inquisitiveness into action while stepping out of your safe musical home base.

Posted by DarinRG on Saturday, 05/30/2015 @ 06:36am

I'm in the same boat Philip and I really want to see Lou Reed and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.I might not be quite as big a fan of the others, but it's a class that I respect top to bottom.

Posted by DarinRG on Saturday, 05/30/2015 @ 06:41am

DarinRG,

Thank you, I will take your suggestion under advisement.

Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed that I had been unable to contribute to the "Revisited/Projected Rankings." Every time that I had attempt to do so, I had been kicked off the site. I think that there are certain anti- "progressive rock" individuals who did not want my opinions about my favorite artists to be revealed. One in particular, who is a hater of Rush and their fanbase. As I had said before, I am not a Rush fan (attending 3 of their concerts does not make me a fanatic); however, I am an aficionado of "progressive rock and art rock" and I will continue to defend those genres, ad infinitum.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 05/30/2015 @ 13:13pm

Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed that I had been unable to contribute to the "Revisited/Projected Rankings." Every time that I had attempt to do so, I had been kicked off the site. I think that there are certain anti- "progressive rock" individuals who did not want my opinions about my favorite artists to be revealed. One in particular, who is a hater of Rush and their fanbase.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 05.30.15 @ 13:13pm
--------------------------------------------------
I'm no longer a part of the various voting projects that take place here. That being said, when I was voting, I cannot recall any one participant having the power to halt another persons comments. The only person capable of doing what you speak of is the Site Administrator. He's a good guy, and I highly doubt he would do anything like this, especially if he wishes to keep people coming to his site.

Feel free to post what you want about prog rock. I can't see how this should be such a big thing w/everyone here. If there really is someone on this site who can boot people off at will, I suggest you take it up w/the Administrator. I don't believe this to be true, though.

Posted by Cheesecrop on Saturday, 05/30/2015 @ 17:04pm

In my honest opinion, the performance of "With A Little Help From My Friends" was the highlight of this year's induction ceremony.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Sunday, 05/31/2015 @ 15:46pm

I watched the 2015 Rock Hall Ceremony. Highlights for me were the Stevie Ray tribute and the performance of With a Little Help from my Friends. Something much discussed is that some others could have gone in instead. I would have kept Stevie Ray Vaughan and and Ringo for sure. I had no prob with Joan Jett and Lou Reed either.

Posted by Ben Meltzer on Monday, 06/1/2015 @ 07:04am

Watching the Rockhall ceremonies just reinforced the fact that Ringo Starr has no place beyond the Beatles in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That montage of drummers talking about Ringo's influence as a drummer was great, but it was all relevant to his work as a Beatle. FOR WHICH HE HAS ALREADY BEEN INDUCTED. McCartney's induction speech was nice and warm. While he did mention seeing Ringo play in Rory and the Hurricanes, the vast bulk of his speech pertained to Ringo as a Beatle. FOR WHICH HE HAS ALREADY BEEN INDUCTED. Ringo's own acceptance speech was not surprisingly amusing, but what did he talk about? A little about his pre-Beatles life, but most pertained to the Beatles. FOR WHICH HE HAS ALREADY BEEN INDUCTED. He played four songs, if you include the all star jam at the end. "Boys," "It's Not Easy," "I Wanna Be Your Man" and "With A Little Help From My Friends." One is from his solo career, the other three date to his time as a Beatle. FOR WHICH HE HAS ALREADY BEEN INDUCTED. Strip away all things related to the Beatles, since, as I might have mentioned, he has already been honored for being a Beatle, and then what do you have? Not a Hallworthy artist. Would he be in for a second time if he had not been a Beatle? No. Mainly because there would not have been a McCartney around to strong arm the Committee to put Ringo in in the first place. Ridiculous. You don't get inducted twice for the same work. So you have to set everything he did as a Beatle aside and just look at what is left. It might be some good stuff. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame stuff? Hell no.

Posted by Dezmond on Monday, 06/1/2015 @ 13:18pm

I really started thinking about the discrepancies this weekend after watching the ceremonies. I've been listening to a lot of Talking Heads lately, especially the records they made with Brian Eno producing. To think that Ringo Starr has been inducted twice, while Brian Eno is not even in the Hall, or actually has not even been nominated in any form, is patently absurd.

I believe in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in principle and I believe in the mission, but the execution of that stated mission is infuriating. Once again. Ringo Starr: 2. Brian Eno: 0. What?

Posted by Dezmond on Monday, 06/1/2015 @ 13:32pm

In the Dez Hall of Fame, Brian Eno would already be inducted twice. Once as a member of Roxy Music, and secondly under Musical Excellence for all of his production work with artists like David Bowie, Talking Heads, U2, etc. And he didn't simply produce those records. With each of those bands (and others), he essentially became a new member of the band, helping to craft the songs and playing on them. I guess my Musical Excellence induction could also cover his own solo career, during which he help pioneer an entirely new genre of music.

Meanwhile, Ringo would have to be happy with his single, much deserved, induction with The Beatles.

That's how it would be in the Dez Hall of Fame!

Posted by Dezmond on Monday, 06/1/2015 @ 13:37pm

Good points there, Dez.

Posted by Paul in KY on Monday, 06/1/2015 @ 14:08pm

Enig,

Sorry you had so much trouble with Other Forums on the Site. There seems to be anti prog Rock individuals. I certainly support a bunch of Prog Rock. I too am not a Huge Rush fan. I like and appreciate them. I attended 1 Concert of their in Dec 1982. I do love Yes and ELP for sure. Yes seem to be getting close to going in the Hall. There is of course the Moodys. I like lots and lots of Rock that isn't Prog. I loved it over the Years when those like the Who, Cream, CCR, The Doors, Allman B Band, Led Zeppelin Neil Young and Fleetwood Mac all went in. Those are all in. A lot of Prog Rock as we know has not gone in. The Hall somehow went in other directions.

Posted by Ben on Tuesday, 06/2/2015 @ 05:41am

Thank you Ben,

Many of the progressive rock, or art rock acts still need to be inducted. I am extremely supportive of the induction of the following artists: Duran Duran, The Moody Blues, Electric Light Orchestra, Yes, Sade, Carly Simon, Doobie Brothers and Foreigner because I feel that they will bring more continuity to the hall. As far as induction ceremonies are concerned: 2013 was
an exceptional year, 2014 was much less so and 2015, although not an unmitigated disaster was still less than satisfying and somewhat disappointing, in my honest opinion.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 06/6/2015 @ 13:39pm

The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame will always endure criticism from those individuals who feel that they are far too elitist. I think that a few of the performances over the past two years were quite exceptional, but in comparison, 2013 was an extraordinary year.

Now, in order to improve their overall standing with the public at large, the hall might want to consider nominating more classic rock and progressive rock acts.

I do not think that many individuals would argue that The Moody Blues, Yes and the Electric Light Orchestra would be great nominee choices.

Nor do I suspect that Duran Duran's nomination would be challenged.

I really feel that it is also time for Sade and Carly Simon to be considered.

Otherwise, The Doobie Brothers and Foreigner would also be great picks.

I would not object to the nomination of Queen Latifah either, as a rap artist and as an overall role model, nor would I object to the nomination of Mariah Carey.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 06/6/2015 @ 13:55pm

Strong nominees 2015 list Enigmaticus. I think Deep Purple will be strong bet. Roxy Music gaining steam as Eno and Ferry 2 of the most respected people in music. Had a brilliant collection of music. There's a good buzz for Willie Nelson 60+ years in music and collaborated with many RRHOF. Of course, Duran Duran is my biggest hope. DD was my sister's FAV group growing up and they are deserving. I don't know much about YES music but they are getting a good push. Groups like MC5 and Chicago have some fans wanting them to be inducted. There's also some backing for Warren Zevon the late singer/songwriter. Nine Inch Nails and Smashing Pumpkins are 2 Wild Cards. Say 1 or both are inducted. Takes a Spot away from Veteran groups like Moody Blues or Chicago. Should be fun...I'm hoping Duran Duran for sure. Roy and Ben presented a strong ballot as well. KING

Posted by KING on Saturday, 06/6/2015 @ 18:49pm

Thank You Enig for your Response. Exactly right. Many of the Prog and Art Rock acts still need to be inducted. I support the induction of many of the acts you mentioned. Moody Blues, Yes, Doobie Brothers for sure. Also Duran Duran. All of these should be nominated for next Year. So you know the first Ceremony I watched was 1999. I wasn't thinking about omissions at that time. The Main ones that year were Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCart, Curtis Mayfield, Dusty Springfield. I thought that Ceremony was fine. The Hall was just into the 70s as a Prime focus at that time. Something went wrong in the Years that followed. 2004 Ceremony was very good. That had George Harrison, Bob Seger and Traffic amomng others.7 artists went in. The main thing that went wrong was they chose to have a Rule of only 5. So that screwed things up. I mean they inducted REM Patti SMith and Van Halen along with an Oldie artist and a RAp group. That may have been OK but it shut out tooo many other with only 5.So they need to catch Up more. 2014 was good. 2015 was disappointing except for Joan Jett and Stevie Ray. Moody Blues, ELO, Yes, Doobie Brothers and Duran Duran would all be good Nominees for Next Year.

Posted by Ben on Sunday, 06/7/2015 @ 04:58am

Thank you Ben and KING,

By the way, you are very welcome.

Ben, Thank you for your ongoing support of the nominations of Yes, The Moody Blues and Duran Duran. I agree with you about The Doobie Brothers, as well.

Thank you KING for your ongoing support of The Moody Blues and Duran Duran.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Sunday, 06/7/2015 @ 13:27pm

I'll come up with a Full list of Nominee predictions for 2016 after the Summer months. The time would be close to the Announcement of the Real nominees. I want a chance to mull it over. I posted a List on here. I am probably changing it. I flashed back on Old Ceremonies that I watched to show where we've been with them. I've watched most of them since 1999. The 70s were just coming in Focus. From 2005-2011 they had this silly Rule of Only 5. Moody Blues or at least Yes and Doobie Brothers may have gone in by Now if that rule hadn't been instated. I wanted to mention that. Soo. Some artists I predict for 2016 are Chicago, Deep Purple, Doobie Brothers, Duran Duran, Moody Blues and Nine Inch Nails and Yes. I'll have a more complete list after the Summer. Those are the ones I'm most confident about. I like most of them. I don't like NIN. Don't know much about them. I consider myself an Older Guy Now. Shall we say a lot of 50 year Old guys aren't into them. Some perhaps. However I recognize that we are moving into the 90s for eilibilty. When the 90s kicked in I toned down from Volume somewhat. Listened to Veterans with new Albums such as Floyd and got into artists like Blues Traveller and Phish. Now there's 2 bands from the 90s I look forward to. I am sure the Hall will wait on those. The Hall will go with the key grunge ones first. Grunge and High Volume. I am hip enough to know that NIN is Industrial not Grunge. They are certainly High Volume though. I have observed an opposite to High Volume with Older nominees in recent years. It is for this reason I predict Chicago, Doobie Brothers and Moody Blues. There tends to be a Old Rocking choice. Deep Purple fits the Bill. I'm talking Nominees not Inductees. I won't predict those until the Fall after Announcement. I feel the artists above at least have a good chance as Nominees. I know you agree Enig. You as well King. We seem to have a similar Outlook and possibly similar actual Tastes King. Hey King how are you with 90s? Your input can help on that. I know Enig well. I don't know what era you grew up in originally. 70s? 80s? 90s? King you know your stuff regardless. Hear from ya.

Posted by Ben on Monday, 06/8/2015 @ 06:04am

BEN

Born in mid 70's time. First FAV groups Def Leppard and U2. My sister slightly older and big Duran Duran fan. Think Duran Duran one of the bigger snubs. The Police, Prince, U2, REM, MJ, Madonna, Bruce etc all were pretty much 1st ballot. Duran Duran was as big in 80's as most of these. Fighting for their induction with Enigmaticus. On 90's groups, I loved the Seattle sound. Nirvana was probably my FAV early 90's loved the power of the guitars and Kurt. Counting Crows probably my FAV band with U2 and Def Leppard. I'm hoping Alice In Chains will be 1st ballot nominee. Not as big on Prog as Enig. Think Moody Blues are deserving RRHOF. Will be reworking my 2015 Nominations list as well. Might be a few changes. Would agree Deep Purple a good bet to be inducted. Too much influence. I think Willie Nelson could make it for his long 60+ yrs in music. Hearing some buzz on Warren Zevon the late singer/songwriter and Roxy Music as Eno & Ferry are respected in music industry and they had an influence on Duran Duran, the Smiths, Rush, U2, and a few other British bands. The female artist is a real toss up. Pat Benatar, Carole King, Janet Jackson, Stevie Nicks...Who knows? I would like to see more heavy metal and prog acts nominated Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard in the metal category to name a few. Enig would like to see YES in I don't know much on them. I gravitate toward the heavy metal and harder rock bands but that genre of music has been overshadowed by watered down pop. Duran Duran I'd like to see them nominated. KING

Posted by KING on Monday, 06/8/2015 @ 16:24pm

King
Excellent response. I was born in the Mid 60s. So we have similar backround. Although due to the extra 10 years I remember AM when they still played lots and and lots of 60s and those like James Taylor, Carly Simon and Jim Croce that were coming Out. Later with FM Rock I got into those like The Who, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Led Zep, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce, Steely Dan, Jethro Tull, Moody Blues, Yes, etc. These last few have been snubbed. 3 of the biggest snubs. The Who and the Doors were among my first favs. The Who, The Doors, LEd Zep. Fleetwood Mac were mostly first ballot. On 80s I loved the Talking Heads, The Pretenders, Joan Jett, and the Cars. Also some Duran Duran tunes. I liked some HArd Rock/Heavy Metal as well with ones like Def Leppard, Quiet Riot, Twisted Sister and Judas Priest. Not as big on Prog as Enig but I can run Close. So I think the Moody Blues are very deserving of the RRHOF. I would like to see Yes in. I do know a lot about Yes. They ruled in the 70s. I own a lot of albums from Yes. Check out Fragile and Close to the Edge to learn more. Relayer also very good. As far as Female artists PAt Benatar and Carole King are good ideas. Sadly Judas Priest and Iron Maiden will probably wait awhile. Some more Oldies the Hall forgot will probably go in first. Just a guess.

Posted by Ben on Tuesday, 06/9/2015 @ 05:44am

I've watched most of them since 1999. The 70s were just coming in Focus. From 2005-2011 they had this silly Rule of Only 5. Moody Blues or at least Yes and Doobie Brothers may have gone in by Now if that rule hadn't been instated. I wanted to mention that. Soo. Some artists I predict for 2016 are Chicago, Deep Purple, Doobie Brothers, Duran Duran, Moody Blues and Nine Inch Nails and Yes. I'll have a more complete list after the Summer. Those are the ones I'm most confident about. I like most of them. I don't like NIN. Don't know much about them. I consider myself an Older Guy Now. Shall we say a lot of 50 year Old guys aren't into them. Some perhaps. However I recognize that we are moving into the 90s for eilibilty. When the 90s kicked in I toned down from Volume somewhat. Listened to Veterans with new Albums such as Floyd and got into artists like Blues Traveller and Phish. Now there's 2 bands from the 90s I look forward to. I am sure the Hall will wait on those. The Hall will go with the key grunge ones first. Grunge and High Volume. I am hip enough to know that NIN is Industrial not Grunge. They are certainly High Volume though. I have observed an opposite to High Volume with Older nominees in recent years. It is for this reason I predict Chicago, Doobie Brothers and Moody Blues. There tends to be a Old Rocking choice. Deep Purple fits the Bill. I'm talking Nominees not Inductees.

Posted by Ben on Monday, 06.8.15 @ 06:04am
--------------------------------------------------
That 5 to a yr. thing was kind of sad. I take it as their attempt to see if they could control it, and fashion it towards their own likes. I think the ladies and gents in the back room realized they'd have to give way on some of the harder acts that fans were yelling over. You're entirely right in suggesting that the Doobies, Chicago, Purple, etc., could have been a part of it during those years.

I like your nods to Blues Traveler and Phish. I think Phish might be a left field act down the line, what w/the Dead-like audience following. Not so sure about the Blues Traveler, though I wouldn't mind.

You have a point about using older acts as a counterweight to the high volume modern groups. The louder acts from the 90's should rightly get in, as they were doing a lot of the rocking at the moment. I'll admit to not seeing the new-loud/old-softer trend. (good call!)

Strangely enough, wouldn't that put Deep Purple on the outs, at least in relation to the 60's/70's hopefuls? I hope they do make the cut, but I cannot help but question their chances, if it's setting up as you suggest.

Let's hope they let Purple slide though! :)

Posted by Cheesecrop on Tuesday, 06/9/2015 @ 10:31am

King,
I mentioned Older acts as a Counterweight to the High Volume modern acts. An opposite to High Volume. However I did say there tends to be an Old Rocking Choice. In 2014 that was Kiss. That was actually a Fiasco as far as the guys themselves. Oh man. THat caused controversy. So this year the Older Rocking Choice was Joan Jett. She is a lot friendlier. At least to the Hall. Soo Deep Purple are not on the Out at all. Not as Nominees anyway. The Hall is going with the 90s Loud/Old-softer trend as well as an Old Rocking Choice. Again I'm talking Nominees. I won't get too ahead of myself. Simply put Chicago, Doobie Brothers, Moody Blues, Duran Duran, Nine Inch Nails, Deep Purple and Carole King all stand good chances as Nomimees!

Posted by Ben on Wednesday, 06/10/2015 @ 05:01am

I once stumbled upon a list of the Rock Hall inductees that listed all of the individual members of every band inducted along with their birth and death years. If anyone has that resource at all, I'd love to see it.

Posted by Casper on Thursday, 06/11/2015 @ 15:10pm

Soo before I fade out for the Summer. I will give A partial List of Nominees. It's not Complete. That's at the end of the Summer. Here.
Chicago
Deep Purple
Doobie Brothers
Duran Duran
Carole King
Moody Blues
Nine Inch Nails
Yes

That's 8 Nominees I predict. About half of the # that can be Nominated. I'll mull over others. 8 is beyond the 6 that are Inducted. Just to be clear besides the 90s LOud and Older Soft there tends to b an Older Hard Rock choice. Soo Deep Purple is perfect for that. 2014 had Kiss. 2015 had Joan Jett. King and/or Enig feel free to respond. Please. After that I'll post attend of Summer.

Posted by Ben on Saturday, 06/13/2015 @ 11:02am

Well done Ben,

That is an awesome list of nominees.

Once again, here is my list:

01. Duran Duran
02. The Moody Blues
03. Yes
04. Electric Light Orchestra
05. Sade
06. Carly Simon
07. Doobie Brothers
08. Foreigner
09. Deep Purple
10. Willie Nelson
11. Chicago
12. The Cure
13. Nine Inch Nails
14. Smashing Pumpkins
15. Lionel Richie
16. Sting
17. Mariah Carey
18. Chic

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 06/13/2015 @ 11:25am

A Mariah Carey nomination this year is extremely unlikely. A few years down the road might be a different story.

Posted by Lucas on Saturday, 06/13/2015 @ 11:27am

I would not mind seeing Mariah Carey nominated, but I would prefer to see Sade inducted instead.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 06/13/2015 @ 11:39am

As far as the non performer inductees are concerned, I think that Nile Rodgers, Brian Eno and Bernie Taupin would be great choices.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 06/13/2015 @ 12:23pm

A Mariah Carey nomination this year is extremely unlikely. A few years down the road might be a different story.

Posted by Lucas on Saturday, 06/13/2015 @ 12:51pm

Sade could be a wild card. Solid band. Kate Bush or Janet Jackson are the likeliest female nominees.

Posted by Lucas on Saturday, 06/13/2015 @ 12:54pm

Women

Carole King - First she is already in as a song writer. Second I don't think Tapestry is enough to get her in as a performer.

Kate Bush & Carly Simon - I just would not put these two high on my list because I feel that there are other women that had a larger impact on Rock.

Mariah Carey & Sade - What Rock influence did they have?

Janet Jackson - Seriously, if you are going to consider women out of R & B, how about Chaka Khan & Tina Turner. Both are better vocalist and both actually have solid Rock Cred's.

I think Pat Benatar, Sheryl Crow and Ellissa Ethridge are good choices, but I would like to see some of the older artist recognized first.

Dottie West, EmmyLou Harris, Joan Baez and Judy Collins have extremely strong track records of working with, helping and mentoring new artists.

Patsy Cline - The woman's songs are still being covered 50 years after her death. 40 years after her death she set a Guinness record for the longest charting female artist. Every single female artist after her, whatever their genre, is in debt to this women for the breakthroughs she made.

Melanie - I doubt that she will even get nominated because there are critics and people in the corporate music industry that have deliberately tried to discredit her and sabotage her career. The tradition of lighting lighters at concerts started when fans lit them when she performed Candles In The Rain. Stevie Nicks, Cyndi Lauper and Joanna Newsom have copied the vocal style she created. Cyndi Lauper was told point blank by her record company to copy Melanie. A lot of the Indie Girls copy Melanie's vocal style. Miley Cyrus covered Melanie's Look What They've Done To My Song Ma a few years ago.

Posted by Zuzu on Saturday, 06/13/2015 @ 19:05pm

Sade has very little real shot. Sorry. A few years down the road, maybe the band has a chance, but jazz artists in the Performer category are very few and far between. That isn't even Enig's real prediction list (I hope) but just his wish list. Carly Simon hasn't even been considered, though there is usually at least one candidate that crops up from never having even been considered. Still, those are always the hardest to predict.

Also, women in rock, is everyone else's opinion of teen queen Lesley Gore that low? You guys are missing out if you haven't explored her catalog. Great stuff.

Posted by Philip on Saturday, 06/13/2015 @ 21:48pm

@Zuzu - But, Tina Turner is already in with Ike, so there's no rush to induct her as a solo artist. Similar situation with Stevie Nicks. Chaka Kahn is worthy but she's already been nominated an didn't make it in. Why not give Janet Jackson a time on the ballot?

I'd be fine with a Pat Benatar or Patsy Cline nomination.

------------------------------------------
Zuzu wrote:

Janet Jackson - Seriously, if you are going to consider women out of R & B, how about Chaka Khan & Tina Turner. Both are better vocalist and both actually have solid Rock Cred's.

Posted by Lucas on Sunday, 06/14/2015 @ 08:13am

@ Lucas

I agree with what you said about Tina Turner. But, if enough women were inducted I would still put Tina Turner in before I would even consider Janet Jackson.

Chaka Kahn was never nominated. Rufus was as Chaka Kahn and Rufus. A large part of the reason Rufus did not get enough votes is because they were nominated too early. If such artist as Chicago, The Buckinghams, Steve Miller Band and other artists with connections to the Chicago area I believe Rufus would get in.

I have seen nothing to show that Janet Jackson has done anything to do with the Rock genre, so why should she even be considered?

This is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and not the R& B Hall of Fame. I suggest you look at some of the organizations that recognize artists in other genres such as Bet Awards, Blues Hall of Fame's, Jazz Hall of Fame's, CMA, ACM and DownBeat Magazine awards. None of them have this free for all approach that the R & R Nominating Committee has.

Posted by Zuzu on Sunday, 06/14/2015 @ 14:35pm

With a bit more time now on it, I'll take another crack at a nominees list:

(Note: A "*" next to an artist indicates one I can see getting swapped out for a specific wild card. Number of stars indicates which wild card below.)

1. Ben E. King
2. Chic
3. Deep Purple
4. The J. Geils Band
5. Janet Jackson
6. Johnny Winter
7. Joy Division and/or New Order (*)
8. N.W.A.
9. Nine Inch Nails
10. Robert Palmer (**)
11. Sparks (***)
12. The Spinners
13. Tommy James and the Shondells (****)
14. Warren Zevon
15. Willie Nelson
16. X (*****)

*: Smashing Pumpkins
**: Sting
***: Yes
****: Love
*****: MC5

Inductees (if this is the list):

Chic
Deep Purple
Janet Jackson
N.W.A.
Warren Zevon
Willie Nelson
(If wild cards come into play: Smashing Pumpkins)

Posted by SotN on Sunday, 06/14/2015 @ 16:11pm

For the record, if there's a seventh inductee (not likely as of late), my #7 is Nine Inch Nails.

Posted by SotN on Sunday, 06/14/2015 @ 16:13pm

Zuzu, your definition of rock and roll is too narrow. End of story.

Posted by Philip on Sunday, 06/14/2015 @ 16:41pm

KING Here Future Rock Legends Devotees! I've been in the War Room and did some thinking...Some mixing and matching. This is my Final 2015 RRHOF Nomination List for 2016 Induction.
1.Moody Blues
2.Nine Inch Nails
3.Judas Priest
4.Chic
5.Stevie Nicks
6.NWA
7.Duran Duran
8.The Cure
9.Lionel Richie
10.The Spinners
11.Smashing Pumpkins
12.J. Geils Band
13.Peter,Paul,& Mary
14.Deep Purple
15.Kool & The Gang
16.Janet Jackson
17.Roxy Music
18.Willie Nelson

I have a secondary ballot I might throw out for fun later in Nomination season. Have a great Flag Day music fans! KING

Posted by KING on Sunday, 06/14/2015 @ 18:14pm

KING- there's lots of names I would love to see get in. PPM and would be a dream come true for me, and Eddie Trunk's rage would be priceless. But given that there's never been 18 nominees, which three would you delete if there were only 15, as is customary?

I posted this at the Northumbrian Countdown a couple weeks ago, but my ~provisional~ choices are:

1. Chic
2. Willie Nelson
3. MC5
4. Janet Jackson
5. The Meters
6. Deep Purple
7. Yes
8. Sonic Youth
9. J. Geils Band
10. Nine Inch Nails
11. Big Star
12. Peter, Paul & Mary
13. Warren Zevon
14. Ben E. King
15. NWA

9 previous nominees, 6 first-timers, no 1st-year-eligibles. (My theory is that with Pearl Jam and Tupac being nigh-unavoidable next year, the Nom Com will focus on getting in longtime favorites and previous nominees.)

Philip suggested that this list has too many critics' favorites, and is too "inside baseball". He's probably right, so I might switch one or two artists- probably MC5 among them- with somebody who has more name recognition.

Posted by PopeCharming on Sunday, 06/14/2015 @ 18:30pm

POPECHARMING

I'll play along. Probably remove Kool & The Gang because have R&B and K&TG represented. Judas Priest have some good music but probably won't be added if Deep Purple on ballot. I would take Chic off as there might be Chic fatigue on the Committee. My RRHOF ballot really good though.

Impressed with your Zevon Singer/Songwriter and Ben E. King selections. Could see them inducted. I think Deep Purple will be my most confident nominee. Wish Alice In Chains makes it 1st ballot but they will wait a few years. Some big timers Pearl Jam, Radiohead, DMB, Rage etc. going to be 1st timers soon. This might be the year multiple time inductees are rubber stamped and get them inducted. Breaking some of the log jam. Loved listening to some old Peter,Paul & Mary. KING

Posted by KING on Sunday, 06/14/2015 @ 19:56pm

KING, if I were to ax the three acts I saw as being too unlikely to get nominated, the first one would be Stevie Nicks. She's in with the Mac, and her solo career is even more marginal than Ringo's. Sorry, Stevie, not happening. Second would be Kool And The Gang, just because the Spinners, Chic, and Lionel Richie are all more likely right now. The third one eliminated would be Judas Priest. Until Deep Purple is in, they won't have another 70's hard rock act on there, especially if Smashing Pumpkins and Nine Inch Nails are also gonna be on the ballot.

Posted by Philip on Sunday, 06/14/2015 @ 22:28pm

KING: A part of me heavily doubts Chic is going to be taken off the ballot. Their stock, currently, is too high. Between Rodgers's press recently and the current disco revival going on, this may be the best time for Chic to make a ballot and even go in. The lack of a guaranteed first-balloter this year may help.

There's one more reason that may get them in this year: based on the heavy traffic of them on the ballot, they're almost a guaranteed spot every year (they've made ballots 75% of the time since they became eligible), and with the 90s becoming fresh for the voting, that's a spot that could be used for a newer act to get press, so it may become imperative for Chic to get off the waiting list. Keep in mind 2Pac, Alanis Morissette, Boyz II Men (an act that may end up becoming the new Chic), PJ Harvey, and Tori Amos all become eligible just next year, so that spot being empty would be more valuable now rather than later.

Posted by SotN on Sunday, 06/14/2015 @ 23:24pm

PS: My sentence after Boyz II Men erased my mention of Pearl Jam.

Posted by SotN on Sunday, 06/14/2015 @ 23:26pm

Zuzu, your definition of rock and roll is too narrow. End of story.

Posted by Philip on Sunday, 06.14.15 @ 16:41pm


I can only assume that you have nothing to back-up that Janet Jackson has done anything in the Rock genre.

Posted by Zuzu on Monday, 06/15/2015 @ 00:14am

I don't have to back up anything. Janet Jackson is rock and roll. R&B is a part of the rock and roll landscape; in fact, some musicologists maintain that rock and roll is a sub-genre of R&B. Just because it isn't guitar-driven doesn't mean it isn't rock. A musical genre is not defined by a common lead instrument. Your definition is too narrow. Shave off the neckbeard and broaden your horizons.

Posted by Philip on Monday, 06/15/2015 @ 00:31am

Ok. My last post here before I take a break from this for the Summer. This way we will be much closer to a 2016 Nominee announcement. There has been a lot of posts in the last 2 days. I will respond to someone who addressed Woman for the Rock Hall. I have Carole King as performer in my Partial list. I do know she went in as a songwriter. I am not a big fan actually. My Girl Friend is. She likes a lot of Old Classic Pop. I just think it's a logical Mellow choice. Tapestry may be her key work True. But Hey other artists have gone in on the basis of one key Hit or album. Percy Sledge! What other key hit does he have besides When a Man..? That's not even a Whole album. Bobby Womack has a couple key hits perhaps. And there is Laura Nyro. She never had a real key album. Some key lesser known albums perhaps.Carole King at least has a key album with others like Really Rosie. Not a big fan. Just showing Music Knowledge.
A few of you like my choices of Deep Purple, Doobie Brothers, Duran Duran and Moody Blues. I only gave 8 choices. My full list will be at end of Summer. Enig, King or anyone else feel free to Respond. Enjoy the Summer!

Posted by Ben on Monday, 06/15/2015 @ 07:40am

Ben,

Thank you for your support of those artists. I will definitely look forward to hearing from you later. Have a great summer!

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 06/15/2015 @ 11:25am

Actually R & B is a term that the music industry came up with to define any music that came out of the African-American community. Both the Blues and Jazz had been in existence since the late 1800's. Blues may have been put in the R & B section in the 50's. A guy I know, who was a teen in the 50's called B B King R & B. This may be where the misconception that Rock came out of R & B came from.

Both Rock & Roll and R & B actually developed out of the Blues. This is where the term "It's the Blues that brings us all together," comes from. They may have started together but started parting ways in the early 60's.

The big break between the two came in mid - 70's, when Saturday Night Fever came out. They really shoved the music down our throats. We got news clips of these wealthy,coke-snorting morons going to these exclusive dance clubs. Then these talking heads would come on, gleefully saying that Rock is dead - long live Disco. They were so cheerful that you could just imagine them getting up to dance a jig and sing ding dong Rock is dead to the tune of Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead.

Then you had Rock stations being switched to a Disco format. This led to the anti-Disco backlash. The Bee Gees were banned from Rock stations. There were some nasty, derogatory rumors going around about Mick Jagger, David Bowie and Rod Stewart. Even Chicago was having problems due to Rock stations refusing to play songs with horns because it was associated with R & B.

Just for the record the main split was always along the lines of dance music vs sit back and listen music. So you see you do need to show that Janet Jackson even had anything to do with Rock.

Posted by Zuzu on Monday, 06/15/2015 @ 13:32pm

Way wrong. R&B and rock and roll stay intertwined throughout the sixties, whether it was the British Invasion covering the older records, Motown, Stax/Volt, Jimi Hendrix or any other number of ways it stayed.

The fact that acts like Jagger, Bowie, and Chicago were having trouble only shows that the "split" was all in the minds of marketing folks, and not in the actual world of music itself. Throughout the disco heyday, acts like the Four Seasons, the Rolling Stones, Wings, Pink Floyd, the Kinks, etc. dabbled in the rhythms that people were dancing.

The "dance vs. sit back and listen dichotomy" is utter horsecrap. That comes from the club owners of the sixties who didn't want people dancing on the floor because if they were dancing, they weren't buying drinks. Catch that? That line in the sand was drawn by club owners trying to make extra money on beverages, not by anyone with any credibility in the music industry.

Again, NONE of that which you argue is based on actual musical merits. David Lee Roth went so far as to credit the success of Van Halen as being due to the fact that they were solid guitar-rock that you could also dance to. Your claim's also malarkey in the very words of Bruce Springsteen, who when inducting U2 said that rock and roll is meant to felt in your head, in your heart, and in your feet. That comes straight from The Boss. And if you're going to argue that The Boss don't mean nothing in your already narrow definition of "rock", then no one will or can ever take you seriously. Being able to dance to it doesn't mean it's "not rock." That's the most utterly laughable assertion I've heard anyone make in the discussion of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

So no, you've done nothing to prove that only guitar-rock is "rock" and everything else isn't. Dancing is absolutely acceptable in the world of rock and roll. In fact, dancing is what kept rock and roll alive in the early '60s, especially through Chubby Checker and American Bandstand. To say that dancing isn't part of the picture is willfully ignorant. Which makes sense why you'd argue it.

Posted by Philip on Monday, 06/15/2015 @ 16:35pm

I'm thinking Roxy Music could be an excellent choice for nomination this year 2015. It's a smart way to get both Eno and Ferry in RRHOF who are respected in the music industry. Roxy Music also influenced some HOF greats like Rush and U2 as well as future HOF like The Smiths & Duran Duran. The music was also intelligently written and performed. I thought Avalon was a brilliant masterpiece. Avalon & More Than This are classics. Don't think there would be much opposition to a Roxy Music induction. It would help Duran Duran and The Smiths once Roxy Music inducted. Seems like Roxy Music has many reasons for their nomination and induction. KING . (fFour)

Posted by KING on Monday, 06/15/2015 @ 18:16pm

Philip is right. Such a statement even betrays the origins of rock & roll. Rock Around the Clock was meant to be danced to, nobody in the 1950s "sat down and listened to" Jailhouse Rock, Tutti Frutti, or Great Balls of Fire.

That you could dance to it, was in fact a huge part of the appeal of rock 'n' roll. Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" exemplifies this. In the 1950s, listening to music is what your father did with his record collection. Rock 'n' roll was the alternative. The teenagers didn't want to listen, they wanted to dance.

Let's not forget the whole origin of the word "rock 'n' roll". It is meant to describe movement. It most likely means sex, but still.

Posted by The_Claw on Monday, 06/15/2015 @ 18:56pm

KING, not a huge fan of Roxy, but I agree they would be deserving candidates. Taste-wise, I would cream my jeans if next year's class was Chubby Checker, Lesley Gore, The Spinners, Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes, the Tokens, and Jan And Dean, but I don't see any of those, except maybe the Spinners getting nominated. So, Roxy Music not really my bag, but I would be on board with their induction. However, like five-sixths of my dream class for next year, I don't see them getting nominated.

Posted by Philip on Monday, 06/15/2015 @ 20:00pm

First off - go ask Royko who the Boss is.

Second - just stop bringing up guitar driven - it's a non-issue and you are only talking to yourself about it.

I am old enough to remember the British Invasion. Since you want reference 80's artist (neither of which I hold in high regard)you give the impression of being somewhat younger.

I did not say it happened at once but Rock slowly started adding non-dance elements. Bob Dylan and folk - rock is from the early 60's. This is listening music and not dance music. Folk elements were not being used in R & B. Toward the late 60's rock was adding elements from country, jazz and classic music. Again these are non-dance elements.

So once again show what Janet Jackson has done in rock. You can't can you?

Posted by Zuzu on Monday, 06/15/2015 @ 22:09pm

Bruce Springsteen is The Boss. That's his nickname. He's pretty much universally revered in the rock and roll world. I don't know why you really want to pick at that. It only makes it more difficult to take you seriously.

Second, I can't really imagine what else you'd be talking about when claiming Janet is not "rock" related, other than guitar-driven music, most notably the rockist element, such as alternative, arena, metal, etc.

Also.... seriously? You've never heard of folk dancing, square dancing, line-dancing, swing-dancing (swing is a form of jazz), bebop (same), and ballroom dancing, some of which was meant to accompany classical stylings? Also, metal and alternative have the mosh pit, which while not fitting neatly with traditional definitions of "dancing" is a set of movement done almost strictly in conjunction with the music that goes with it. Seriously, you just took a machete and hacked off the legs of your own argument. But please, by all means, keep trying. This is hilarious.

Posted by Philip on Tuesday, 06/16/2015 @ 00:02am

Obviously you were too lazy to check with Royko. Sure - he's so universally revered that he is ending his career exactly the way he started it - getting booed off the stage.

Again stop beating around the bush - What has Janet done in rock period?

Not the styling of those genres that were fused with rock. Are you trying to say Bob Dylan was playing square dances? You don't happen to have a video of you and your little friends doing a square dance to Dylan?

Posted by Zuzu on Tuesday, 06/16/2015 @ 04:24am

What has Janet done for rock lately? Ooh ooh ooh ooh yeah.

Before you can discuss Janet Jackson, you need to define rock first. And what Phillip is trying to make you understand, is that you're definition is flawed. Any definition that excludes music to dance to, is excluding so many aspects of rock it becomes impossible to take seriously. You might not have Van Halen in high regard, but would you argue it isn't rock? What about AC/DC? Would you say you rather listen to Back in Black or bang your head to it?

PS They weren't booing, they were yelling BRUUUCE!

Posted by The_Claw on Tuesday, 06/16/2015 @ 13:29pm

Who honestly cares about Royko? The man wasn't a music critic. He was a newspaper columnist. I'm not gonna value Katie Couric's opinion, or even Matt Taibbi's, since he pretty much only writes about politics, about musical acts. If the city of Chicago is the end-all be-all of existence, then and only then is Springsteen not known as "The Boss." Venture outside of the city, and its Springsteen. That was such a weak point, that I really can't help but wonder why you brought it up at all. So one crusty old crank didn't like Springsteen. The man cared more about baseball than music. Fine, if he were still alive, I'd ask his opinion about the steroids scandal or the designated hitter rule. But he's out of his league when it comes to rock music. Seriously, it's almost a complete non-sequitur to bring it up, and certainly does nothing for your case.

And you're trying to babble something about "non-dance" elements of genres that are historically linked to dancing. You are uttering complete idiocy at this point. The only thing "non-dance" is the way a guitar lick is played.* But you are insisting that you're NOT saying "true rock" is merely that which is "guitar-driven." You're contradicting yourself.

*mainly about folk and country. Jazz, on the other hand, has a history of experimentation so free-range and scattered, that "jazz" almost becomes a catchall term. Nonetheless, there are noteworthy, structured forms of jazz that are also strongly tied to dancing.

And to add to The_Claw's last remark, not only do you need to define rock, but you need criteria for what is an acceptable definition that will distinguish it from other styles and genres. What defines musical large scale genres (as opposed to subgenres), from a musicological standpoint, is structures, and rhythms... not lead instruments.

On top of all that, even if Janet had nothing to do with "post-divide rock" or whatever the hell you choose to call it, that still doesn't matter because as YOU YOURSELF said, that there was a divide from the rock and roll of the '50s and '60s. Well, this is the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME, which means all things that sprouted from the parent form of rock and roll, whether from infusing other elements or just a natural evolution--they are ALL part of the conversation. And that includes Janet Jackson, Kraftwerk, EDM, etc.

Also, and not to be too pedantic about it, you can dance to any damn thing you want. The movements don't have to sync up the music perfectly or even at all. It just has to be about the movements that the music drives you to make. And for the record, you can very easily sway to "The Times, They Are A-Changin'" and do a little scuffle in your feet to "Subterranean Homesick Blues."

I must say that I am impressed though... I think this is the first claim about something not being rock that is so poorly argued that your case could only be STRENGTHENED if you were an Eddie-Trunk level of rockist. So kudos to you for that.

Posted by Philip on Tuesday, 06/16/2015 @ 20:44pm

What has Janet done for rock lately? Ooh ooh ooh ooh yeah.

Before you can discuss Janet Jackson, you need to define rock first. And what Phillip is trying to make you understand, is that you're definition is flawed. Any definition that excludes music to dance to, is excluding so many aspects of rock it becomes impossible to take seriously. You might not have Van Halen in high regard, but would you argue it isn't rock? What about AC/DC? Would you say you rather listen to Back in Black or bang your head to it?

PS They weren't booing, they were yelling BRUUUCE!

Posted by The_Claw on Tuesday, 06.16.15 @ 13:29pm


Actually it is what has Janice done for rock period? Which is what I have been asking and all I have been getting is a bogus argument that R & B and Rock are the same genre. That is completely wrong. Each genre has defined parameters that may slowly change over time. They may include elements of fusion with another genre but they don't out of the blue include another genre.

The damage control line that came out that they were saying Bruce was blown away when the videos showing people giving the thumbs down sign while booing came out. Then damage control tried saying it was the Conservatives that didn't like his public service announcements. But the guy got booed on the Daily Show. The guy is getting booed - check out the videos.

Who would even want to act like Beavis and Butt-head? You have to go back to the late 70's to understand. You had two groups - heads and gang-bangers. Gang-bangers were in gangs and were into disco which was also called gang-banger music. Going into the 80's, hip-hop and rap are also called gang-banger music. Heads were into getting high and listened to pardy hardy rock and metal. The name head comes from asking somebody if they have anything the head when you wanted something to get high. This was usually something stronger then a herbal high. These were the people that were part of disco sucks.

Heads also called metal heads and head bangers tended to get wasted to the max. When you are that wasted you are not going to be dancing in any fashion. When this wasted you start passing out and your head goes forward at which times they often banged their heads. Sometimes when the feel their head going forward they will whip it back to stay awake. This is probably where the term head banger comes from.



The definition for rock and R & B has been long established

Posted by Zuzu on Thursday, 06/18/2015 @ 20:12pm

Well, since you want to be so literal about it.....

Janet Jackson was nominated for Best Female Rock Performance in 1991 with "Black Cat." Pretty sure that qualifies as rock, right?

Melissa Etheridge – "The Angels"
Janet Jackson – "Black Cat"
Stevie Nicks – "Whole Lotta Trouble"
Tina Turner – "Steamy Windows"
Alannah Myles - "Black Velvet"

The fact that there is so much recent debate over Janet signifies that her nomination is inevitable.

-----------------------
Zuzu wrote:

So once again show what Janet Jackson has done in rock. You can't can you?

Posted by Marissa on Thursday, 06/18/2015 @ 20:37pm

"Which is what I have been asking and all I have been getting is a bogus argument that R & B and Rock are the same genre. That is completely wrong. Each genre has defined parameters that may slowly change over time. They may include elements of fusion with another genre but they don't out of the blue include another genre.

The definition for rock and R & B has been long established."

And yet you can't explain the difference between the two. People mosh pit and head bang while clean and sober too. And they do it as an intentional response and in conjunction with the music. So your conjecture that the difference (or even a difference) between the two is whether or not you can dance to it is utter balderdash. And you have insisted that it's not about the guitar. And besides which, WHO decided what that difference was? Answer: marketing people, not music scholars. Marketing people tend to draw their lines by whom they wish to appeal. So, to borrow from the disappeared mrxyz, your differentiation is built on HYPE not the actual music. Get me a respected musicologist who discusses the structural and rhythmic differences between R&B and rock and then you might have an argument. I doubt you will, per se, but someone might then.

Posted by Philip on Thursday, 06/18/2015 @ 22:45pm

@Marisa

I wouldn't call it rock but I am older and the real test would be does it actually play on rock radio. One song is still not enough. you do need to have a body of work. Did she even work with any rock artist on one of their projects like Chaka Khan.

They pulled this scam with Donna Summer back in the 70's. She did a disco song and they got it labeled under rock. Nobody was fooled and she was never accepted as rock.

I still think none of the Jackson Family have any business being in the Hall. I would not bet on her getting in as a sure thing. The family may be trying to pull a scam with holding the Beatles catalog hostage though. The family may have a strong damage control and propaganda team but based on a attempted Michael Jackson tribute that was a total bust on the Voice a few seasons back - I the the general public image of the Jackson family is still fairly negative.

Here brother may have been found not guilty but he was still had molestation charges against him and too many people realize that molestation charges are hard to prove to let it slide. The sex abuse lawsuits against her brother's estate, The Beatles catalog and the games that the family is playing with them and the Lisa Maria wedding all add up. Her brother's stench rubs off on her because she comes across as an enabler.

Posted by Zuzu on Friday, 06/19/2015 @ 03:39am

How many times do some of you guys have to be told....
This is the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame".

NOT the "Rock" Hall of Fame.

There IS A DIFFERENCE.

Rock and Roll includes ALL DERIVATIVE FORMS OF THE GENRE...

Including R&B.
R&B is one of the PROGENITORS of Rock and Roll.

Thus, excluding R&B artists from the Hall just because they're not White, have long hair , and play loud guitars ...is LUDICROUS !!!

If people like ABBA, Neil Diamond, and Randy Newman can Then Janet Jackson certainly qualifies..
And so does Dionne Warwick !!!!

Posted by Bill G. on Friday, 06/19/2015 @ 03:56am

The Rockists keep making the same old warn-out statement over and over....

"That isn't Rock".

Well, that's just fine...'cause ,and I can't make this statement strongly enough...

"THIS ISN'T THE "ROCK" HALL OF FAME !!!"

(Sadly,it seems that the Rockists are winning.

over the last 10 years, the number of deserving R&B artists...
Are getting SNUBBED...more and more...or they're
just not even getting NOMINATED.

"ROCK ON !!!"

Posted by Bill G. on Friday, 06/19/2015 @ 04:10am

@Zuzu

You've already got your mind made up, but I'll continue to bite the bait....

Yes, it was played by rock radio and charted on Billboard's Rock chart.

Furthermore, Dave Navarro worked on multiple tracks for Janet's All For You album as well as the tour. That's just another example.

Janet's always dabbled a bit with the rock sound. You might be surprised to learn that Led Zeppelin is one of her all-time favorites. And she lists both Motley Crue and Def Leppard as guilty listening pleasures from the 80s/90s.

But again, you've already made your mind up and that's ok.

----------------------------------
Zuzu wrote:
I wouldn't call it rock but I am older and the real test would be does it actually play on rock radio.

Posted by Marissa on Friday, 06/19/2015 @ 09:31am

With the new revelations about several nominating committee members being given the pink slip and the possible move to 20 year eligibility (instead of 25), I'm just going to throw my hands in the air at this point when it comes to selecting who gets nominated.

Posted by SotN on Saturday, 06/20/2015 @ 21:41pm

SotN,

I have the opposite point of view. I think that the new leaner committee will work towards inducting those artists which belong to various genres, such as "progressive rock," "art rock" and "classic rock."

Based upon this new information, I am thinking that "progressive rock/art rock" will finally start being treated with respect. I think that Rush being featured on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine will attest to this theory.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Sunday, 06/21/2015 @ 02:33am

Enig, I coming out of hiding for this. I am not going anywhere I just wasn't going on the site until end of Summer, You are absolutely right. I think the 16 people on the Nominating committee let go are mostly those who were involved long ago in getting those like Etta James, Frankie Lymon, and Martha and the Vandellas in. People like that. I would say it actually strengthens the Prog rock and Hard rock. I mean those genres came later. All this means is I will not predict the MArvelettes anymore. My main predictions are not affected. Chicago, Deep Purple, Moody Blues,Yes. etc. I will now Hide for the Summer. Respond if you can

Posted by Ben on Sunday, 06/21/2015 @ 04:58am

Thank you Ben,

I could not possibly agree more! I expect certain nominee lists to be quite impressive, from now on, much to the chagrin of the "progressive rock" and "art rock" hating cretins.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Sunday, 06/21/2015 @ 17:35pm

Future Rock Legends Fans.

Wonder who you think are the 5 Biggest Snubs right now? I don't know all the old 60's bands. Would like to see Tommy James & The Shondells, Peter Paul & Mary, Moody Blues get inducted. 80's Bands. Def Leppard & Duran Duran.The Cure are deserving as well as Iron Maiden & Judas Priest. Should be interesting now early 90's bands eligible and some big ones Pearl Jam & Radiohead in near future. People think Cheap Trick & The Cars should be inducted as well. Hoping Deep Purple & Moody Blues make it in 2016. Both are very deserving. KING

Posted by KING on Sunday, 06/21/2015 @ 21:55pm

King,
I think the 5 biggest snubs from the Rock Hall are Chic, Deep Purple, Gram Parsons, The Cure, and Yes.

It’s tough to name just 5 artists who I think are worthy in the Rock Hall, here’s some other major snubs from the Rock Hall: Chicago, Electric Light Orchestra, Janet Jackson, Kraftwerk, LL Cool J, The Moody Blues, N.W.A., Nine Inch Nails, The Replacements, The Smiths, Sonic Youth, The Spinners, T. Rex, War, and The Zombies.

Posted by Nick on Sunday, 06/21/2015 @ 22:21pm

Here are my top 5 snubs at this time:

1. J.J. Cale
2. Link Wray
3. Black Flag
4. Deep Purple
5. Judas Priest

Others:

The Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, The Monkees, The Cars, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Duran Duran, INXS, Billy Idol, Bad Brains, Silver Apples, Kraftwerk, The Alan Parsons Project (maybe at least Alan Parsons as a non-performer)... there are a lot of artists that I would be OK with being inducted.

Posted by dmg on Sunday, 06/21/2015 @ 22:33pm

Hello, KING.

This is a mix of merits and personal preference, but I would say:

1. Chicago
2. Kraftwerk
3. Carole King
4. Moody Blues
5. Janet Jackson

Posted by PopeCharming on Sunday, 06/21/2015 @ 22:35pm

Enig, just because prog- or art-rock is not someone's cup o' tea, that does not make them cretins, thank you very much.

Posted by Philip on Sunday, 06/21/2015 @ 23:46pm

KING: I'll bite for your challenge:

1. Kraftwerk
2. Gram Parsons
3. Deep Purple
4. The Moody Blues
5. T. Rex

Honorable mentions:
Duran Duran, Silver Apples, Steve Miller Band, Yes, Roxy Music, the Zombies, King Crimson, the Smiths, Joy Division/New Order, MC5, Can, Janet Jackson, Public Image Limited, Depeche Mode, the Cure

Posted by SotN on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 00:47am

Philip,

You have not been to (http://www.rollingstone.com)lately, have you? If you had, then you would understand why I had written that.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 01:17am

Enig,

We do agree on this point for sure about the New leaned committee. I am sure Paul Schaefer and others his Age are still on the committee. Not sure he officially is. The oldest ones would logically be the ones they got rid of. They helped Martha & the Vandellas, LLoyd Price, Del Shannon and Brenda Lee get in. All of these are before my time. While I do respect things before my time there comes a time to simply focus on later genres as times moves along. When the limit was 5 these oldest choices became problematic. The Hollies were also a result of the older ones. They should have gone in much earlier. So this way things are strengthened for Prog and Hard Rock. The Oldest ones on the Committee would be those who were teenagers in the late 60s early 70s. I would think Chicago and Moody Blues are strengthened. Another response and I hide for Summer

Posted by Ben on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 05:07am

KING -

Five Biggest Snubs (no order):

Link Wray
Deep Purple
Chicago
Dick Dale
War

Others: Black Flag, Soundgarden, Sonic Youth, T-Rex, Def Leppard, Megadeth, The Monkees, and probably a slew of others who simply aren't coming to mind right now! :)

Posted by Cheesecrop on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 07:18am

King,

I would go with:

Deep Purple
NWA
The Spinners
The Cure
Dionne Warwick

Posted by Paul in KY on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 07:20am

KING -

I can only speak for myself here, but that little list above will definitely change in the next 12 months. We've the Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in Chains, Blur, The Black Crowes, and a pile of others coming up next. Since I know that they'll all not be inducted right off the bat, my own list will definitely change.

Posted by Cheesecrop on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 07:22am

Ben,

Thank you for responding. Yes, I believe that the chances of inducting "art rock" and "progressive rock" artists has just increased, markedly.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 09:26am

KING-

My five biggest snubs would definitely be:

The Moody Blues
Yes
Jethro Tull
Chicago
Carly Simon

But I could also include the following:

Jim Croce, Roxy Music, Duran Duran, Cars, Devo, The Commodores and/or Lionel Richie, Sade, Doobie Brothers, Kansas, Styx, Deep Purple, Bad Company, Foreigner, Journey and Depeche Mode.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 09:37am

KING:

My five biggest snubs are:

1. Chic
2. Big Star
3. Roxy Music
4. Deep Purple
5. Kraftwerk

Posted by Greg F on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 09:46am

My top 5, leaning more to 80s indie than I expected:

1. Kraftwerk
2. The Smiths
3. The Cure
4. Joy Division
5. Deep Purple

Honorable mentons: N.W.A, Pixies, Gram Parsons, Nick Cave, Captain Beefheart, Depeche Mode, Sonic Youth, King Crimson, Chic, Yes, Janet Jackson, Kate Bush, Nick Drake, Roxy Music, Duran Duran

Posted by The_Claw on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 15:37pm

Enig. Exactly. Darlene Love actually went in. The Older ones were still making their mark. I hardly know who that is. The new Blood will change that. Moody Blues might even Have a better chance. ELO and Yes for sure

Posted by Ben on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 16:15pm

On a side note, I think Darlene Love was mis-categorized when she was inducted back in 2011. She would have been an excellent candidate for the Musical Excellence Award because looking at Love's solo work (not her contributions to Phil Spector's records such as "He's a Rebel), I'm not so sure. Sure some of her songs are great like "Wait Til My Bobby Gets Home," "Today I Met the Boy I'm Gonna Marry," and "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home." And she is one of the most gifted female singers of the rock era (no dispute on that).

Posted by Nick on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 16:30pm

My top 5 snubs leans a little on the prog side.

1. The Moody Blues
2. Deep Purple
3. Yes
4. Chicago
5. War

The Next 10 (Honorable Mentions)

Jethro Tull
Electric Light Orchestra
The Spinners
Dionne Warwick
Whitney Houston
King Crimson
Kraftwerk
N.W.A
The Cure
Carole King

Posted by Tom H. on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 19:59pm

PopeCharming,Nick,Paul, etc, Thanks for your responses. I put my 5 Biggest Snubs as: 1.Duran Duran 2. Def Leppard 3.Iron Maiden 4.Judas Priest 5.The Cure. I lean towards the harder acts. It would be great to see Tommy James & The Shondells,Deep Purple, Moody Blues, Peter, Paul & Mary, Chicago etc receive a nomination. Heard about this RRHOF nomination committee shake-up. Might help Enig's Prog Rock bands. I like PopeCharming's Warren Zevon singer-songwriter choice and Ben E. King as another nominee. Willie Nelson might finally get inducted. This 2015 Nominee ballot should be interesting. Wish there was some way to get Paul Rodgers nominated😀😀😀 KING

Posted by KING on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 22:59pm

Well, KING, you probably don't care about my top 5 snubs. Well, that's tough, you're gonna get 'em anyway.

1. Chubby Checker
2. The Marvelettes
3. The Spinners
4. The Moody Blues
5. The Tokens (I know, no one agrees with me, but tough)

Posted by Philip on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 23:11pm

And Enig, Ben, et al. Darlene Love deserved her induction. I will stand by it. It was an awesome thing to happen.

Posted by Philip on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 23:16pm

Would much rather see ALL of the Commodores get in then just Richie.

Would also like to see Patti LaBelle and The BlueBelles/LaBelle (same group,same members)The Pointer Sisters, and Mary Wells, and Dionne get in.
The Marvelettes, too.

All are deserving .

Posted by Bill G. on Monday, 06/22/2015 @ 23:40pm

PHILIP

Strong picks I think. Moody Blues & The Spinners very RRHOF worthy. I will vote for The Spinners if nominated again. Like those 60 Folk acts as well. There's something about the vocals Peter, Paul & Mary and the acoustic guitars I enjoy. Those songs from the folk artists had deep meaning...Something to say. You don't always see that in today's music. It is curious Chubby Checker has not been inducted. Thought he would be inducted in 86 when they put all the legends in. Was sad to hear the singer from Flesh For Lulu died of cancer a few days or so...Thought they were underrated band. Bill G. made a good point about The Commodores deserving. Lionel Richie should be inducted somehow. Don't know if Lionel Richie would fit Zuzu's rock criteria though. KING

Posted by KING on Tuesday, 06/23/2015 @ 00:18am

Thanks for the reply, King. I should point out that some near misses on my list include Lesley Gore, Steppenwolf, and Duran Duran.... YES, I do think Duran Duran is a big snub, I just don't talk about it because I'm sick of seeing Enig (and you) continue to clutter the site with the essentially the same Duran Duran (and Rush) post repeated continually.

Posted by Philip on Tuesday, 06/23/2015 @ 01:46am

Sorry about that with Darlene Love. I will clarify. I often respect artists even if it's before my time a bit. I read her songwriting credits. She should have gone in earlier actually. I was only saying she was another result of the Older Committee members. Albert King same thing. I love Albert King. I own a 2 disc set of Albert King. I think however others from that same era won't go in anymore most likely. The Committee change will strengthen the Prog and Hard Rock choices However. I would think Rock artists notable in the late 60s and on won't have much problem at least era wise. It would still depend on the artist though. I will now Hide out for the Summer.

Posted by Ben on Tuesday, 06/23/2015 @ 05:30am

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blossoms

****The BLOSSOMS****

Good that Darlene Love got in. But ,I also believe that ALL of the Blossoms should have gotten in... in the "Musical Excellence" category Jean King and Fanita James, as the other two Blossoms , also should have gotten the nod...Not just Darlene.
These ladies have an impressive list of credits , from being on ABC's "Shindig", every week, to appearing in the T.A.M.I. Show,recording "He's A Rebel" WITH Love (it was ALL of The Blossoms that recorded it..not just her, and and for providing backing vocals for many of the biggest hits of the 1960s.
It was the Blossoms who backed up Ronnie Barrett on "Be My Baby" .Not the other Ronettes. They also backed up Shelley Fabares on her smash "Johnny Angel"...but , on the Donna Reed Show,White Girls are actually lip-lynching their voices !!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwIYSofgpY0
Although there have been varying members , the best-known members of the Blossoms were Love, Jean King, and Fanita James. You can see them backing Marvin Gaye in the T.A.M.I.Show movie, and egging on James Brown,when he sat down onstage after he and The Famous Flames (Bobby Byrd, Lloyd Stallworth, and Bobby Bennett) blew the roof off the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (and upstaged the Rolling Stones) in that movie.
Yes, just like Motown's Andantes, The Blossoms should be inducted. ALL of them...not just Darlene love.

Posted by Bill G. on Tuesday, 06/23/2015 @ 11:14am

Future Rock Legends Fans

You think INXS will be inducted to RRHOF someday? I'm on the fence about it. Kick was a masterpiece CD and there were some good songs off X. Michael Hutchence definitely was a HOF singer. But then he died suddenly and tragically. The band forged on for another decade or so but Hutchence was such a presence. I fear INXS will be forgotten with all these bands putting out new music. Leaning towards YES for INXS RRHOF but I wonder what you music fans think are best reasons for their induction. KING

Posted by KING on Wednesday, 06/24/2015 @ 18:49pm

Hey KING,

I'm not a huge INXS fan, but I think the case for them is pretty solid. As to their chances of actually getting in, it's hard to say. I think a lot of us want to see what the NomCom will offer up for a 2016 ballot. The trajectory pre-shake-up suggested a medium chance, in my opinion. A lot of 80's acts would have to come first, and even then no guarantee. A lot of us diehard '60s fans are still a bit puzzled that acts like Tommy James And The Shondells, Steppenwolf, the Grass Roots, etc. are not in. If NomCom members think of them as an "80's' Grass Roots" in terms of necessity to induct, it'll be a long wait.

Posted by Philip on Wednesday, 06/24/2015 @ 20:16pm

How will this effect the chances for Mary Wells, the Marvelettes and the Spinners being inducted? Does the latest shake-up at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame help or hurt the following 60s-70s bands chances of being inducted?

01. Yes
02. Styx
03. Boston
04. Kansas
05. Chicago
06. Journey
07. The Cars
08. Foreigner
09. Jethro Tull
10. Dire Straits
11. Judas Priest
12. Cheap Trick
13. Deep Purple
14. Iron Maiden
15. King Crimson
16. The Monkees
17. Jan and Dean
18. Kool & The Gang
19. The Moody Blues
20. The Commodores
21. REO Speedwagon
22. The Doobie Brothers
23. Blood, Sweat & Tears
24. Electric Light Orchestra
25. Emerson, Lake and Palmer

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 06/25/2015 @ 12:39pm

KING, think INXS have a decent case. Will be surprised though if they are elected in next 20 years.

Posted by Paul in KY on Thursday, 06/25/2015 @ 15:15pm

Hello to all!

A bit of a while back, I posted on my weblog some ideas about this website and the forthcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2016. Some of you may have already seen these essays; yet I think it is worth posting on this webpage to see what fellow posters might think of a potential 16 artists that the Nominating Committee might look into in a couple months.

In September, the RRHOF Nominating Committee will meet in New York to discuss which 16 artists and/or bands will be put up for nomination as Performers for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction class of 2016. The only specific qualification for induction is for the artist or band to have made a record of some kind (debut album, demo tape, home recording) at least 25 years ago. For this year, it means any artist who started out by 1990 is now eligible. We at Future Rock Legends will concurrently be planning for our newest Revisited/Projected class with the cutoff date for the first recording being 2005. This allows our more recent induction classes to be an indicator of what the Nom Com may likely put up for nomination this year. Here is who I think at this time will be the 16 artists and/or bands nominated this year.


Alice In Chains: Easily one of the best alternative/grunge bands in their time. Their music was far much heavier and darker than many would initially realize, fueled namely by Layne Staley's autobiographical lyrics and singing alongside Jerry Cantrell's interesting counterpoints. Alice In Chains has continued onward long after Staley died of a drug overdose in 2002; this time with newer lead singer William Duvall.


Blur: Four British chaps who became the defining faces and forefathers of Britpop, including a most sophisticated intelligence and musical outlook. Their mixtures of soul, pop, rock, intimate singer-songwriter approaches, and even a bit of musical parody has not been duplicated by other artists since their initial recordings.


The Smashing Pumpkins: Growing up in the 1990s, there were only a select few artists and bands that when they came out with a new album and tour, everything stopped to take all the newer material in. The Smashing Pumpkins were one of those bands throughout the 90s that would release a new album or tour and everyone just had to follow them. For an Alternative band, they were at the edge of defying labels and just putting out what they felt they needed to put out. A lot of this was and still is due to the near singular vision brought forth by Billy Corgan, an awesome lyricist, singer and instrumentalist that showed a great deal of intelligence and song craft that is varied and rather thoughtful. Like many, I have felt the best years of the Smashing Pumpkins were when James Iha, D'Arcy Wretzky and Jimmy Chamberlin were in the group; adding subtle layers and textures to Corgan's ideas. None the less, what we have are the records and concerts that still to this day matter as being influential for newer artists. It has been 20 years since Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness; and it still sounds fresh and energetic today as it did back then.


Chic: The preeminent dance-soul-funk-disco band of all time, as far as I am concerned. Nile Rodgers to this day remains one of the most gifted and accomplished people in the music industry.


N.W.A: Before Dr. Dre went out on his own, there was N.W.A., a rap and hip-hop group that were brash, politically charged and did not give a crap if you cared for them or not. Much of what hip-hop is positioned as today comes from the likes of Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Mc Ren, DJ Yella and of course Dr. Dre in their relatively brief tenure.


The Eurythmics: Perhaps the most important New Wave act to come out of their era, certainly the most interesting. Annie Lennox is clearly one of the best singers of her or any other time; quite the good instrumentalist and producer with a keen songwriting approach is Dave Stewart. Both In their writings and performances were doing things not seen before or really even since with their brash outlook.


Depeche Mode: The forefathers of Emo and EDM that made personal songs at a time when superficiality ruled the airwaves. what Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher have done in some 35 years is very astonishing. Gahan is the voice, Gore is the guitar and the words, Fletcher is the one that puts it all together; and while with the band, Alan Wilder was the trained musician. To still be innovative today as you were back then is a rare accomplishment that Depeche Mode have uniquely been able to succeed at.


Nine Inch Nails: be it a band or just a name for Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails defined the Industrial subgenre which has since been expanded by many newer artists.


Yes: The most progressive, eclectic and proficient of the Art Rock groups. Quite a number of lineup changes; each one quite excellent in its own way.


Janet Jackson: The youngest of the Jackson siblings and the most accomplished female from the family. During her prime, Janet was just as equally innovative as Michael was; and perhaps a bit more proficient in material coming out. Fortunately, Janet Jackson has a new album coming out this year, her first since Michael Jackson passed away. I cannot wait to hear it.


Kate Bush: A rather left-field nominee, to be sure. Yet, Bush is one of the absolute best singer-songwriters with a very unique approach to performance and recording.


Kraftwerk: Perhaps the most influential group not yet inducted. To list their firsts and their innovations would need to take a longer essay. And that may happen if it is needed.


Link Wray: The innovative guitarist that brought the power chord to a wider audience; along with being an important figure for people of Native American heritage. I feel Link Wray is best suited for an induction in the Performers category.


Jeff Lynne/Electric Light Orchestra: It is interchangeable in whatever approach is given. None the less, one of the most brilliant minds in the rock field may hopefully get the recognition long sought after.


Nick Drake: A most mercurial and mysterious singer songwriter who passed away at age 26. No concert footage or film of Nick Drake is readily available. Yet we do have Drake's music; and what great music it was. Sparse yet effective, wistful yet a tinge of hope sought in each lyric.


Deep Purple: A band that I think would have already gotten in if past relations with living former bandmates were not as tenuous as they have been now. Still to this day a most varied and harder rocking band that have influenced countless newer artists.


Well, those are the 16 I think will be nominated. It is possible I might be wrong in at least one or two of these artists; I could see an artist not yet inducted into the Revisited/Projected Rock Hall Project that may have the potential to make the nominating ballot. Let me know what you fellow posters think of these ideas.

Love wins; flawless victory,

Lax32

Posted by Lax32 on Friday, 06/26/2015 @ 21:55pm

Now starting to think about the recent Rock Hall committee shakeup last week, I think the 80s in particular will become a clear objective for the rest of this decade (at least). I think bands that are having a tough time getting on the ballot will have an easier time. Personally, I think Bon Jovi or Def Leppard will go in either this year or next year. Think about it, if the Rock Hall wants a headliner act for their ceremony, Bon Jovi can certainly fit that bill. They are considered one of the definitive 80s bands with massive hits under their belt. End the ceremony with an All-Star Jam of "Livin' on a Prayer" and everybody's happy (especially HBO). It helps that Bon Jovi was previously nominated back in 2011 and definitely believe they will reappear on this upcoming ballot.

If the Rock Hall wants a commercial band like Bon Jovi in 2016, they can and should go with an 80s alternative band the same year. The Cure immediately comes to mind; they should be in by now. The Rock Hall keeps playing Hot Potato with their choice of nominating 80s alternative bands: The Cure (2012), The Replacements (2014), The Smiths (2015). Although i support all three to get in the Rock Hall, I think The Cure will probably get nominated next of this group and probably inducted on their second try.

Like I said in previous posts, I think Nine Inch Nails will probably get inducted next year; maybe the Rock Hall will clear the 90s acts (Smashing Pumpkins) to make way for Renzor to get in the Rock Hall (should've been elected first-ballot, IMO). I wouldn't be shocked if Smashing Pumpkins appeared on the ballot, but not betting on their chances right now. Although a similar move hurt N.W.A. earlier this year when they were the only rap/hip hop act on the ballot and still couldn't get in. Maybe that new movie will help their chances.

Posted by Nick on Friday, 06/26/2015 @ 22:16pm

I've been thinking how the RRHOF nominating can be more equitable and interesting. How about 2 Induction ceremonies 1 in April & 1 in October. That's 6 months apart. Say in October ceremony the new ballot of 12 groups and artists released for April induction. A maximum of 4 with the musical excellence inductee and sideman. 2 ballots of 12 gives a group better odds of induction. You can be creative with it. Maybe, 1 ballot has 60's and 70's artists Ballot 2 80's and 90's. You can mix it up like they do now. Sample Ballot. 1.Bon Jovi 2.Moody Blues 3.Chic 4.B52's 5.Tommy James & The Shondells 6.Peter,Paul,& Mary 7.Duran Duran 8.Johnny Rivers 9.Deep Purple 10.Journey 11.LL Cool J 12.Lionel Richie. In my sample ballot, what 4 would you vote for? The October Ballot #2 would have 12 different groups. KING

Posted by KING on Friday, 06/26/2015 @ 23:17pm

KING,

That is a very interesting idea. What about having more performer inductees each year (8 or so) and holding the Induction ceremony in Chicago, every four years, as well?

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 06/27/2015 @ 09:41am

I like the idea of a fourth city very much- but how about Detroit? Given the city's financial problems, crime, deindustrialization, and white flight to the suburbs, a high-caliber Rock Hall ceremony would be a boon in terms of generating positive buzz, while paying homing to the importance of Motown in the rock and roll pantheon.

Lax: Love your nominees. We agree on NWA, NIN, DP, Yes, Janet, and Chic. Kate Bush and SP were two of the last cuts on my own list of predictions at the Northumbrian Countdown site. I have trouble, though, believing that the Nom Com will put up three newly eligible acts in Alice in Chains, Blur, and Smashing Pumpkins. Eurythmics and ELO are both long overdue for a nomination.

Posted by PopeCharming on Saturday, 06/27/2015 @ 09:54am

Here's an idea:

Induct the progressive rock, art rock and "prog adjacent" acts in Los Angeles. Induct the "hard rock" and "heavy metal" acts in New York. Induct the "classic rock (prog adjacent) acts in Chicago. Induct the alternative acts in Cleveland. Of course, Rhythm and Blues artists and singer/songwriters would still continue to be inducted each year, but the headlining acts would be "art rock/progressive rock" artists in Los Angeles, "hard rock" acts in New York, "classic rock" acts in Chicago and "alternative" acts in Cleveland. Jazz artists would also be inducted in Los Angeles and Chicago, as well.

Therefore, the following acts could be nominated in 2015, for induction in Los Angeles in 2016:

1. Duran Duran (art rock)
2. Moody Blues (progressive rock)
3. Yes (progressive rock)
4. Electric Light Orchestra (art rock)
5. Sade (smooth jazz, prog adjacent)
6. Carly Simon (singer songwriter, prog adjacent)
7. Doobie Brothers (rock and roll, prog adjacent)
8. Foreigner (prog adjacent)

What do you think?

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 06/27/2015 @ 10:00am

Also, inducting more than two artists of the same genre would be acceptable. Therefore, at least two "art rock" acts and two "progressive rock" artists could be inducted during the same year.

For example, New York inductees in 2017:

1. Deep Purple (hard rock)
2. Twisted Sister (hard rock/heavy metal)
3. Pat Benatar (singer/songwriter, hard rock)
4. Mariah Carey (singer/songwriter/rhythm and blues)
5. Eurythmics
6. Bad Company (hard rock)


Headliners in Chicago, New York, or Cleveland could also be Country/Western artists:

1. Chicago (classic rock/prog adjacent)
2. Styx (classic rock/prog adjacent)
3. Garth Brooks (country/classic rock)
4. Melissa Etheridge
5. Stevie Nicks (singer songwriter/ classic rock)
6. Beyonce

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 06/27/2015 @ 10:22am

Also hybrid groups of genres could be inducted each year. For example, Deep Purple is known primarily as a "hard rock" band, but they also have progressive rock elements in their sound. The same thing could also be said about Jethro Tull. Although, Jethro Tull is known primarily for being a "progressive rock" band, Jethro Tull also has folk and hard rock elements added to their sound.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 06/27/2015 @ 10:46am

ENIGMATICUS

What I like about my 2 Ceremonies idea...A group might go to RRHOF induction as a presenter or friends of a group inducted. Suddenly, they could find out at ceremony that there up for induction in April ballot. These venues would be packed because the only way you could break news of the new ballot would be if you were at the ceremony. My system would guarantee 8 inductees every year plus the Excellence and Sidemen. There would be great battles who would induct the new class. Detroit? Seattle? Dallas? Tampa? Chicago?
My system guarantees interest all year. Say your group not on April ballot. They could still be nominated on October one. Enig, I like your idea of selecting types of music inducted LA-Prog example. Might help a group like X who was big in LA. More punk but they would get notoriety. Also, my 2 12 nominee ballots gives a group better chance at induction. 8/24 = 1/3 33.3% chance of induction if nominated. Some of the posters have stumbled upon some great reforms and ideas RRHOF could use. KING

Posted by KING on Saturday, 06/27/2015 @ 14:11pm

Another creative idea would have an inducted band choose 1 nominee for the next ballot. For example if Moody Blues was inducted, maybe they would choose Procol Harum or King Crimson. It would ensure a Prog band on the ballot each time or if NWA was inducted, they might choose Eric B. & Rakim or Queen Latifah. In my system,that would leave 8 spots on the ballot. My ballot would have 2 ballots of 12 but you could increase it to 5 guaranteed out of 15 or some other number. The only problems would be if the nominated group wasn't RRHOF worthy. Or say a Prog, Rap, Punk artist wasn't inducted. They might not have guaranteed representation on next ballot. Enig, don't know about ELO documentary but this could be Duran Duran's year for nomination. KING

Posted by KING on Saturday, 06/27/2015 @ 14:36pm

FUTURE ROCK LEGENDS FANS

Another reason to like the 2 ceremony system...Say a group like The Cure or Duran Duran or Def Leppard drops a hot double album or 12 song CD in June or July after April ceremony. It might put them over the top when the October nominees are announced. This might make better music from groups on the edge of nomination. They know that this could tip the balance. I know artists and groups have taken shots at the RRHOF for their snubs and omissions but RRHOF induction is the pinnacle for a group and legacy secured. Usually, an induction of a group boosts CD catalog sales of past & recent vintage. My 2 ceremony 12 on each ballot gives a group a better chance at induction. KING

Posted by KING on Saturday, 06/27/2015 @ 14:58pm

LAX32

Your 2015 ballot filled with strong candidates. Alice In Chains would be a great headliner. I hope they get inducted. Love to hear Jerry Cantrell talk about the band & stories about Layne. Most of the bands you nominated will be inducted someday. I think the Deep Purple & NIN the strongest of your nominations. They should make it this cycle. Don't think Nick Drake will be inducted. He died young 26 and only a few albums. He has been cited more and more as influential now and his albums have been rediscovered. Smashing Pumpkins could be 1st ballot. They really have a strong catalog of work. Corigan a musical genius. KING

Posted by KING on Saturday, 06/27/2015 @ 16:03pm

KING,

If I understand this correctly, you would like to suggest 2 induction ceremonies per year, once in April and once in October. Then you would like to alternate cities for induction ceremonies?

It is certainly an interesting idea, but the logistics of planning the ceremonies might be the problem. Now, imagine two events, instead.

First of all, you would have to ensure that the venue chosen would be available for such a date, on very short notice, rescheduling may be necessary, plus weather may conditions apply also.

Second, you would have to ensure that the venue would be able to hold the audience whatever size it is. If you induct a large number of popular artists you may need a stadium, instead of an arena.


Third, you would have to make certain that the nominated acts, as well as the inductors were available and not on tour, vacation, or previously committed to some other event.

Fourth, you would have to promote the event through various media. The cost of advertising for just one annual event could be quite costly. Now imagine two events?

Fifth, you have to consider how much you would need to charge for tickets. The bigger the name, the higher the ticket price.

Sixth, for those unable to attend, would you offer the ceremony on pay per view, or stream it on line for a price?

Otherwise, I think that it is a great idea. Especially, the idea of alternating cities.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 06/27/2015 @ 16:45pm

ENIGMATICUS

Addressing some of your questions. The April & October RRHOF ceremonies perfectly leaves the June-September months for artists summer vacations and tours.

A 2 ceremony RRHOF guarantees one in Cleveland every year plus the rotating one. The two ballots puts less pressure on the RRHOF Nominating Committee. They can move some groups and singers to the October ballot to make it heterogeneous.

I agree the venue might be the toughest. Some stadiums play baseball or football during the season and have concerts and events in off-season. However, cities like NYC, LA, Dallas, Chicago could use several different venues to host the event.

You could even set up a concert of bands to play the show like a tour on stage. I think it would help the economy Cleveland and the cities hosting it. There would be kinks to work out but it would definitely be the place to be that night. KING

Posted by KING on Saturday, 06/27/2015 @ 18:06pm

ROY

My new 2 RRHOF ceremony idea would help the 60's & 70's artists you talked about. Imagine getting two kicks at the can every year. Maybe, the 60's and 70's ballot would have King Crimson, Deep Purple, Kansas, and Journey on it. Others could be moved to the 80's and 90's ballot like The Cars, Styx, Iron Maiden, Foreigner etc.

Let's say they mix all the groups together like they do now. A band like Journey or Foreigner would have 2 chances of nomination. A quality band would really have a chance in my system. KING

Posted by KING on Saturday, 06/27/2015 @ 18:22pm

http://www.rockhall.org/inductees/

The biographies for the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are now complete.

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 07/2/2015 @ 07:34am

Has anybody else noticed Yes votes for a blank artist? It's bizarre. Right now, the artists with the second highest amount of votes out of the last 1,000 is _______.

FRL - do you know what is going on?

Posted by Marissa on Thursday, 07/2/2015 @ 08:14am

http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors/#anchorlink

THE 2015 KENNEDY CENTER HONORS

Carole King
The Eagles
George Lucas
Cicely Tyson
Rita Moreno
Seiji Ozawa

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 07/16/2015 @ 13:13pm

Deep Purple
Yes
The Cure
Janet Jackson
Depeche Mode
Ben E. King
Nine Inch Nails
Judas Priest
Sonic Youth
Warren Zevon
Kraftwerk
Bjork


For the remaining slots still can't decide between: Kate Bush, Joy Division, The Moody Blues, Duran Duran, Eric B. & Rakim, Smashing Pumpkins, Joe Cocker, ELO, Pat Benatar.

Posted by Mike on Wednesday, 07/22/2015 @ 10:37am

Once again, here is my list of possible nominees to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

01. Duran Duran
02. Yes
03. The Moody Blues
04. Electric Light Orchestra
05. Sade
06. Carly Simon
07. Doobie Brothers
08. Foreigner
09. Smashing Pumpkins
10. Nine Inch Nails
11. Deep Purple
12. Queen Latifah
13. Jim Croce
14. Chic
15. The Meters1
16. The Zombies

Posted by Enigmaticus on Thursday, 08/6/2015 @ 09:53am

I think you mean wish list. On your list, I see six, maybe seven names that have a realistic shot at being nominated. That's okay though. The past couple cycles, my nomination predictions have only had about six or seven correct choices, too.

Posted by Philip on Thursday, 08/6/2015 @ 14:18pm

I see FRL fans reconfiguring their April & May 2015 RRHOF nominees. I made a few changes too. Here's my list. No particular order.
1.Deep Purple 2.The Cure 3.J. Geils Band 4.Bon Jovi 5.Smashing Pumpkins 6.N.W.A.7.NIN Nine Inch Nails 8.Pat Benatar 9.Duran Duran 10.Willie Nelson 11.Moody Blues 12.The Spinners 13.Peter, Paul, & Mary 14.YES 15.Roxy Music 16.Ben E.King 17.Tommy James & The Shondells 18. Janet Jackson Musical Excellence---Paul Rodgers or Brian Eno or Nile Rodgers. KING

Posted by KING on Friday, 08/7/2015 @ 02:32am

No Philip,my actually my wish list would look more like this:

01. Yes
02. The Moody Blues
03. Electric Light Orchestra
04. Duran Duran
05. Sade
06. Jethro Tull
07. Supertramp
08. Kansas
09. Procol Harum
10. King Crimson
11. Renaissance
12. Gentle Giant
13. Styx
14. Procol Harum
15. Asia
16. Carly Simon
17. Jim Croce
18. Stevie Nicks
19. Emerson Lake & Palmer
20. Chicago
21. Eurythmics
22. Culture Club
23. Foreigner
24. Boston
25. Journey

Posted by Enigmaticus on Sunday, 08/16/2015 @ 06:59am

No Philip, my actual wish list would be even more biased in favor of progressive rock, but I realize of course, that would be an unreasonable expectation. Of the 8 artists whom I have been promoting for the past three consecutive years, only 6 of them are entirely my personal choices. The other two I like, but I am not as fond of, overall. They do however represent two compromise candidates which I think are both fan and critical favorites.

My essential inductees are:

1. Duran Duran
2. Yes
3. The Moody Blues
4. Sade
5. Carly Simon
6. Electric Light Orchestra

Posted by Enigmaticus on Sunday, 08/16/2015 @ 07:18am

Singer-Songwriter for the 2016 Rock Hall Ballot
1. Gram Parsons
2. Harry Nilsson
3. Jim Croce
4. Sting
5. Warren Zevon

These are the four singer-songwriters who I feel have the best chances on the 2016 Ballot. While others might want Carole King as a performer, the Rock Hall royally messed up on her induction as a non-performer in 1990. I would fully support King if she does appear on a ballot but she’s already in and probably not a priority for the nominating committee.

After writing up this list of potential singer-songwriters, I realized only Sting is still alive (Parsons and Croce died back in the 1970s, Nilsson in the early 1990s and Zevon in the early 2000s).

I wonder what others think of which singer-songwriters have the best chances for the 2016 ballot.

Gram Parsons was nominated three times over the years (2002, 2004, 2005) and particularly invented the country-rock genre. While his life and career was cut short, Parsons left a great catalogue of songs (including his work with The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers). Personally, I think his induction is long overdue and Keith Richards (a close friend of Parsons) would most likely give the induction speech. The Rock Hall should put Parsons back on the ballot for that reason alone.

Harry Nilsson was a great singer-songwriter whose catalogue includes “Everybody’s Talking,” “Without You,” and “Coconut.” He wrote popular songs for other artists as well including Three Dog Night’s “One.” His close friendship with John Lennon only helps his chances. On a side note, I went to the Rock Hall back in May and they were doing a special showing of a 2012 documentary on Nilsson. Perhaps that’s a sign for a possible nomination but who knows.

Jim Croce, like Parsons, died far too soon yet also left an impressive discography. “Time in a Bottle,” “Don’t Mess Around with Jim,” “I Got a Name” and other hits under his belt. His exclusion from the Rock Hall seems strange to me and I think he’ll get in within the next few years.

Sting appeared on last year’s ballot and most of us thought he was gonna make it (despite him being the least worthy on that ballot). I wouldn’t be shocked to see Sting appear on the ballot once again. When thinking about it, Sting’s post-Police work (while inconsistent) had its moments (“If You Love Somebody Set Them Free,” “Fields of Gold,” and “Fortress Around Your Heart”). I wouldn’t be opposed to Sting as a solo performer, but I wouldn’t exactly seek immediate s

Warren Zevon is well-liked by his peers, most notably Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. While he lacked commercial success (other than ‘Werewolves of London”), he wrote some of rock’s strangest and most poetic songs. Most of us are right to assume Zevon will most likely be a nominee on the 2016 ballot.

Posted by Nick on Sunday, 08/16/2015 @ 18:15pm

Nick

You have listed some deserving singer/songwriters RRHOF Nick. I'd add Willie Nelson to the list. Over 60+ yrs in music respected by peers. He's in his 80's now. This could be his time. Stevie Nicks would be deserving as a female singer/songwriter but she's been inducted with Fleetwood Mac. I don't like Sting's solo catalogue that much but he's Sting. Larger than life.

I've been listening to Gram Parsons music recently and it's good music. It doesn't get much better than Emmylou Harris and Parsons on Love Hurts. Great stuff!

Don't know who the singer/songwriter will be but I think Warren Zevon would be inducted. Respected in the industry.
Maybe, they could have a living & deceased ballot of RRHOF. It might help both groups of artists induction time. Nick, your singer/songwriter post one of the best I've seen. Good work! KING

Posted by KING on Sunday, 08/16/2015 @ 20:29pm

Nick,

Although I do not mind seeing the great late singer/songwriters Jim Croce, or Harry Nilsson on your list, I would be much more supportive of the induction of Carly Simon. I have been an aficionado of her music for more than 4 decades. I also like Stevie Nicks as a possibility, although I would be more inclined to believe that her second induction will be a few years from now. In late 112016, I think that Pat Benatar would be a great choice, although I would not be opposed to seeing her on this year's nomination ballot. She has more of a "hard rock" style which is more appropriate for induction in New York City, whereas Carly Simon is more "prog adjacent" and therefore more appropriate for induction in Los Angeles.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 08/17/2015 @ 05:11am

This should've been it:

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Kraftwerk
Lou Reed
Nine Inch Nails
The Smiths

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