Early thoughts: I personally like this ballot. I'll have a harder time narrowing it down to five votes than I have the past couple years... Only one Rap/Hip hop act this year, which is unusual... The people whose wishlists are all white, male, 70s guitar Rock acts are going to be raging over this ballot. Not much here for thas demographic this year... Glad that I was wrong about NIN, but glad that Kraftwerk was put on the ballot with them... Sting was a surprise, but probably shouldn't be.

Posted by DarinRG on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 06:39am

N.W.A. should have very little trouble this time around as @DarinRG mentioned there is no other rap competition.

Pleasant surprise to see The Smiths and Kraftwerk.

No Janet Jackson which bums me out....but can't say I'm too surprised. Only two females on the ballot?? That's really a shame, but I suppose it's an improvement over last year.

Happy voting! It'll be fun to see the results.

Posted by Mike on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 06:56am

WHAT A JOKE!!!! NO CHICAGO, NO YES, NO DEEP PURPLE AND THEY NOMINATED VAUGHAN WITHOUT DOUBLE TROUBLE!!!

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 07:01am

Getting ready to eat (just got home from work as the nominees were announced. My timing is awesome!), and I have lots of thoughts, so I'll post later on.

Posted by Donnie on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 07:01am

Getting ready to eat (just got home from work as the nominees were announced. My timing is awesome!), and I have lots of thoughts, so I'll post later on.

Posted by Donnie on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 07:01am

I'm a little less happy than Darin. I'm delighted that we have 6.5 artists of color (PBBB being multi-racial), but dismayed at only two female artists, not counting the Chic vocalists, and I'm not thrilled with either.

I understand that an all-white, male, 70s, guitar-based ballot won't and shouldn't happen, but there isn't even a single nod to that demographic. Classic rock enthusiasts will be angry, and this is one time that I feel that would be justified. They may be loud and they may be juvenile, but they care about rock and roll as few do, and even one solitary nomination this year for someone like Deep Purple or Yes or Boston or Steve Miller would have been a graceful nod in their direction. I do not want to be Eddie Trunk's cardiologist this week.

Still, there's lots of great acts on the ballot regardless. How could there not be? Wonderful to see Bill Withers on the ballot, and Motown and 70s soul getting some attention after a by-year for 2014.

My five votes for the purposes of this site and Rolling Stone's poll, go to Green Day, NWA, Bill Withers, Kraftwerk, and Stevie Ray. Really wish I could give a 6th vote to The Spinners.

Posted by PopeCharming on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 07:07am

I thought for sure Sonic Youth was going to make the ballot this year. At least The Smiths nomination compensated for that a bit.

Nick, I think you may be underestimating Bill Withers. The singer/songwriter vote is a strong one. I remember last year, nearly everyone had written Cat Stevens off and poof! instant inductee.

Early, in the moment predix (most likely will change):
Green Day
NWA
Bill Withers
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Chic

Posted by rockstar23 on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 07:09am

THIS IS A VERY WEAK BALLOT!!!

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 07:12am

Here are the 6 artist that I believe will get inducted based on the list of nominees

2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee's (Prediction)

1. Green Day- Shoe In 1st ballot hall of famers
2. N.W.A.
3. Sting
4. Stevie Ray Vaughn
5. Lou Reed
6. Chic- They will finally get inducted

My Runner-Up Pick: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

I'm a fan of Nine Inch Nails, and it would be awesome to see them get in on their first try, but I have a feeling that they may have to wait a year or two.

2016 will probably look like this

1. Mariah Carey
2. Deep Purple
3. Yes
4. Bon Jovi
5. Janet Jackson
6. Joan Jett or Nine Inch Nails

Posted by Kyle on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 07:27am

WHEN VOTING SENIORITY

THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

01. The Marvelettes
02. The Spinners
03. Bill Withers
04. Lou Reed
05. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
06. War
07. Kraftwerk

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 07:41am

If I had to describe this ballot, I would have to say it's underwhelming.

The last few years have featured great ballots with maybe one (if that) artist not really being worthy. IMO, there's three on this ballot, that IMO don't really warrant a spot in the HOF. Those three being the Marvelettes, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and Sting for his solo career.

And I agree wholeheartedly with Pope Charming about how there's not really a single "classic rock" artist on the ballot. Yes that fanbase can be annoying at times, especially with their belief that only white guys with long hair and that play guitar should be in there. But that doesn't mean that all of the bands/artists that appeal to that group should be ignored. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are the only "classic rock" act that's on the ballot, and maybe Stevie Ray Vaughan. But I have to agree that with bands like Deep Purple, Yes, the Moody Blues, Chicago, T. Rex, Electric Light Orchestra, Jethro Tull, the Monkees, the Doobie Brothers, and even the Steve Miller Band, Journey, or Boston, none of those acts can make the ballot. To me that's a crock. I was stunned to not see Deep Purple or Yes on the ballot. And to me that's a huge mistake. I think the Hall really dropped the ball on this part.

To me this ballot has two themes. It's very R&B heavy (which isn't a bad thing at all) and it's highly geared towards modern forms of music. N.W.A., Green Day, Nine Inch Nails, and the Smiths all represent more modern forms of music particularly alternative rock, industrial, punk rock, and rap music. Not to mention Kraftwerk who are pioneers of electronic music as well as Lou Reed who's a pioneer for the entire scene of alternative music. Then you have more traditional artists like Sting, Stevie Ray Vaughan (FINALLY!!!!!!) and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts who were at their peak in the 1980's.

Myself and many others are complaining about the lack of 60's and 70's rock bands on the ballot, but I think that's exactly the direction the Nominating Committee wanted to go in. It seems they're ready to move on from the 50's/60's/70's when it comes to rock music, and they're ready to move on to the 80's and 90's. It definitely seems that way with this ballot.

It's also very obvious to me that they want N.W.A. and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts to get in. N.W.A is the only rap nominee, so N.W.A. will have no other rap artists for the voters to split on. That was definitely the idea, and not a bad strategy. Now it will just be a matter of if the voters are ready to vote for N.W.A. Cause if they don't make it in, then you can't really use the "too many rap nominees split the vote" excuse. If they can't make it in this year with no competition in their genre (and IMO not really much better competition across the entire ballot), then I'll definitely be wondering if N.W.A. will ever get in. This is the year for them, it's now or never in my book.

While Joan Jett is not in a dire "now or never" situation like N.W.A. is, she also was put on the ballot by design. She has no competition for guitar-based rock music, and she has no real competition when it comes to female inductees. The Marvelettes don't stand a chance against Joan Jett with the voters. They don't even really stand a chance against their R&B competition on the ballot as Chic, War, Bill Withers, and the Spinners all have way stronger cases for induction. Even though Stevie Ray Vaughan is her one bit of competition and someone I feel is an absolute shoe-in, I still think Joan Jett is too. She's the only real female to vote for, just like Linda Ronstadt was last year. This will be her year.

I've said for as long as I've followed the Rock Hall, that as soon as Stevie Ray Vaughan gets nominated, he'll be a shoe-in. And again with no popular 70's classic rock favorites to stand in his way, it'll be even easier for him to get in. Count on him making it in on his first try.


The R&B choices are outstanding, the best since the ballot for the 2012 class, and maybe even better. Chic obviously deserves in, although again, unless the Hall goes with 7 inductees, then I think Chic is gonna sit out again. The voters just can't seem to get over their disco bias, not to mention, I think the voters just don't see Chic as being worthy enough to beat other artists on the ballot. In past years I could see that, this year not so much. I wouldn't say they're in the top 5 worthy inductees, but for the first time that they've been nominated, I could say the top 7-8 or so. But Bill Withers, War, and the Spinners are such an incredible trio of R&B nominees, I'm very worried they're all gonna get shut out due to splitting the voters. Bill Withers in theory would have the best chance beings he falls in the singer-songwriter category, but you've also gotta remember that Sting and Lou Reed were both nominated as well. And Sting is on the "superstar level" of recognition, so to me, he's probably another shoe-in which probably eliminates Bill Wither's chances. Lou Reed could also maybe go in as well as he's just as beloved, but he wasn't ever quite the mainstream superstar that Sting was, which gives Sting the edge.

Green Day is your headliner, duh.

That leaves Nine Inch Nails and the very surprising, but awesome nomination for the Smiths to finalize the alternative rock nominees. It's very possible that Nine Inch Nails ends up getting inducted too. Again, they have no real classic rock favorites to stand in their way for the rock-minded voters, so while before I was predicting that NIN would get nominated but not inducted, after seeing the nominees, I'm leaning more towards them joining Nirvana and Green Day as first time eligible inductees. I don't see the Smiths getting inducted though. With Stevie Ray Vaughan, Sting, Green Day, and Joan Jett as locks (in my view), I don't see the voters going with a third alt-rock inductee. Although, I was shocked when Guns N' Roses, the Beastie Boys, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers got inducted together in 2012. So I guess it's possible.

Paul Butterfield Blues Band will get passed over again. The voters have seemed to by-pass the 60's groups nominated in recent years (Procol Harum, Zombies, Link Wray, and even the Paul Butterfield Blues Band themselves) and even in the blues/guitar heroes category, you've got the much more well known and even acclaimed Stevie Ray Vaughan in their way. Not happening.


I honestly think this class has the realistic potential to be very historic for the Hall. This may very well be the very first class in history to features all post-Baby-Boom era inductees. I could easily see a class with Green Day, Nine Inch Nails, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Sting, N.W.A, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. If you look at that class that is nothing but 1980's and 1990's artists. If that is our 2015 class, it's a sure sign that the Hall is ready to move forward into the 80's and especially the 90's. Which I don't really consider to be a good thing, though many others would. There's still too many artists from the 60's and especially 70's that deserve to be in.

So if I was getting to choose the 2015 class of inductees, I would choose the following....

Green Day
N.W.A.
Kraftwerk
Stevie Ray Vaughan
The Spinners
War


My predicted 2015 class is as follows...

Green Day (first time eligible headliner/alt-rock band

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (classic rock/female inductee)

Nine Inch Nails (second alt-rock/newly eligible headliner

N.W.A. (rap act)

Sting (singer-songwriter/solo superstar)

Stevie Ray Vaughan (guitar hero/blues act)

Posted by Donnie on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 07:55am

One other thing I forgot to bring up.

If the Rock Hall wants sure-fire women nominees/inductees, then why on Earth are they holding out on both Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson?

Those two right there are absolute superstars that would get the ratings HBO wants and that will bring the Hall plenty of attention, as well as big-time female representation. They are sure-fire slam dunks. I guess the Hall's bias towards dance and pop music is still very extreme.

Posted by Donnie on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 07:58am

I've got a bit of free-time, so I'll take a crack at it early on:

1. Kraftwerk
2. Green Day
3. Stevie Ray Vaughan
4. Lou Reed
5. N.W.A.
-----------------------
6. Bill Withers
7. Chic
8. Nine Inch Nails
-----------------------
9. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
10. The Smiths (I wish I'm wrong here.)
11. The Marvelettes
12. The Spinners
13. War
14. Sting
15. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Posted by SotN on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 08:07am

No Deep Purple? Ridiculous.

Posted by Denis on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 08:19am

This is a sorry excuse for a nominations list. A good amount of these individuals/bands either are from the 1980s/90s and/or only had a few hits. Seeing that this is the list of nominees, my choices would be.

Must Get In:

Stevie Ray Vaughan
Kraftwerk
War
Marvelettes (not familiar with but for reasons of longevity)
Paul Butterfield (same as above)

Don't Care/Satisfied:

Lou Reed
Sting
Spinners
Bill Withers
Chic

Over My Dead Body:

Green Day
N.W.A.
Smiths
Joan Jett
Nine Inch Nails

Posted by danny on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 09:02am

I am so sick of having to say that these legendary bands/artists are still not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but apparently the committee are comprised of tone deaf journalists and left wing zealots who don't know better.

Jethro Tull
Moody Blues
Steve Miller Band
Chicago
Doobie Brothers
Emerson Lake Palmer
Electric Light Orchestra
Peter Frampton
Humble Pie
Zombies
Yes
Deep Purple
Chubby Checker
J. Geils Band
Tommy James and the Shondells
Grass Roots
Monkees
Carole King
Carly Simon
Jim Croce
Steve Winwood
Harry Nilsson
Eric Carmen/Raspberries
Procol Harum
Alan Parsons Project
Dire Straits

Seriously when did it stop becoming about the music and more about the popularity?

Posted by danny on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 09:17am

My personal picks:

Green Day
Kraftwerk
N.W.A.
The Smiths
Chic
War

My predictions:

Green Day
N.W.A.
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Lou Reed
The Spinners

Posted by Taylor on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 09:18am

I might go into more comments later on today, but for now here's my guesses for induction and personal picks.

Who I Would Pick:

Chic
Kraftwerk
Nine Inch Nails
NWA
The Smiths
Bill Withers

Who Will Get In:

Green Day
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
Nine Inch Nails
Sting
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Bill Withers (or maybe Chic)

Posted by Ian on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 09:40am

I am so sick of having to say that these legendary bands/artists are still not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but apparently the committee are comprised of tone deaf journalists and left wing zealots who don't know better.

Jethro Tull
Moody Blues
Steve Miller Band
Chicago
Doobie Brothers
Emerson Lake Palmer
Electric Light Orchestra
Peter Frampton
Humble Pie
Zombies
Yes
Deep Purple
Chubby Checker
J. Geils Band
Tommy James and the Shondells
Grass Roots
Monkees
Carole King
Carly Simon
Jim Croce
Steve Winwood
Harry Nilsson
Eric Carmen/Raspberries
Procol Harum
Alan Parsons Project
Dire Straits

Seriously when did it stop becoming about the music and more about the popularity?

Posted by danny on Thursday, 10.9.14 @ 09:17am

-----------------------------------------------



I am so sick of having to say that these legendary bands/artists are still not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but apparently the committee are comprised of tone deaf journalists and left wing zealots who don't know better.

Jethro Tull- YES
Moody Blues- ABSOLUTELY
Steve Miller Band- Maybe
Chicago- YES
Doobie Brothers- YES
Emerson Lake Palmer- Maybe
Electric Light Orchestra- YES
Peter Frampton- NO
Humble Pie- NO
Zombies- YES
Yes- well....YES
Deep Purple- ABSOLUTELY (Biggest snub of the Hall at this point)
Chubby Checker- YES
J. Geils Band- NO
Tommy James and the Shondells- Maybe
Grass Roots- NO
Monkees- YES
Carole King- ABSOLUTELY
Carly Simon- Maybe
Jim Croce- NO
Steve Winwood- Maybe (If Traffic wasn't in, I'd definitely say yes)
Harry Nilsson- Maybe
Eric Carmen/Raspberries Personal Taste: Absolutely! Trying to be Objective: Maybe
Procol Harum- Maybe
Alan Parsons Project- Personal Taste: YES; Trying to be Objective: Maybe
Dire Straits- Yes

Posted by Donnie on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 09:41am

I am so sick of having to say that these legendary bands/artists are still not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but apparently the committee are comprised of tone deaf journalists and left wing zealots who don't know better.

Jethro Tull
Moody Blues
Steve Miller Band
Chicago
Doobie Brothers
Emerson Lake Palmer
Electric Light Orchestra
Peter Frampton
Humble Pie
Zombies
Yes
Deep Purple
Chubby Checker
J. Geils Band
Tommy James and the Shondells
Grass Roots
Monkees
Carole King
Carly Simon
Jim Croce
Steve Winwood
Harry Nilsson
Eric Carmen/Raspberries
Procol Harum
Alan Parsons Project
Dire Straits

Seriously when did it stop becoming about the music and more about the popularity?

Posted by danny on Thursday, 10.9.14 @ 09:17am

-----------------------------------------------



I am so sick of having to say that these legendary bands/artists are still not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but apparently the committee are comprised of tone deaf journalists and left wing zealots who don't know better.

Jethro Tull- YES
Moody Blues- ABSOLUTELY
Steve Miller Band- Maybe
Chicago- YES
Doobie Brothers- YES
Emerson Lake Palmer- Maybe
Electric Light Orchestra- YES
Peter Frampton- NO
Humble Pie- NO
Zombies- YES
Yes- well....YES
Deep Purple- ABSOLUTELY (Biggest snub of the Hall at this point)
Chubby Checker- YES
J. Geils Band- NO
Tommy James and the Shondells- Maybe
Grass Roots- NO
Monkees- YES
Carole King- ABSOLUTELY
Carly Simon- Maybe
Jim Croce- NO
Steve Winwood- Maybe (If Traffic wasn't in, I'd definitely say yes)
Harry Nilsson- Maybe
Eric Carmen/Raspberries Personal Taste: Absolutely! Trying to be Objective: Maybe
Procol Harum- Maybe
Alan Parsons Project- Personal Taste: YES; Trying to be Objective: Maybe
Dire Straits- Yes

Posted by Donnie on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 09:41am

I apologize for some of my posts appearing twice. My computer is being a butt head today.

Posted by Donnie on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 09:42am

Also, let's say instead of getting to vote for of the nominees, you have to vote by ranking all 15 of the nominees with No. 1 being your No. 1 choice, down to No. 15 as your last choice. Here is how I would rank the nominees as far as who I would vote for....

1. Kraftwerk
2. Stevie Ray Vaughan
3. Green Day
4. N.W.A.
5. The Spinners
6. War
7. Nine Inch Nails
8. Lou Reed
9. The Smiths
10. Bill Withers
11. Chic
12. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
13. Sting
14. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
15. The Marvelettes

Posted by Donnie on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 09:46am

Also, let's say instead of getting to vote for of the nominees, you have to vote by ranking all 15 of the nominees with No. 1 being your No. 1 choice, down to No. 15 as your last choice. Here is how I would rank the nominees as far as who I would vote for....

1. Kraftwerk
2. Stevie Ray Vaughan
3. Green Day
4. N.W.A.
5. The Spinners
6. War
7. Nine Inch Nails
8. Lou Reed
9. The Smiths
10. Bill Withers
11. Chic
12. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
13. Sting
14. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
15. The Marvelettes

Posted by Donnie on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 09:46am

My votes would go to:

1. The Marvelettes were the biggest success of Motown's earliest days, with the #1 "Please Mr. Postman" and a string of other raucous party hits, like "Beechwood 4-5789" and "Too Many Fish in the Sea." Then they came back big post-Beatles with a run of sexy, sophisticated hits like "Don't Mess With Bill" and "The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game." Along with Mary Wells, their induction into the Hall would basically complete the Motown canon.

2. The Smiths offer both the complicated charisma of Morrissey and the musicianship of Johnny Marr and a collection of songs that define 80s alternative. "How Soon is Now" is almost as monumental as "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and would probably be enough to get them in on its own.

3. Chic. Please! Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards created pop classics that match the best of Motown and ABBA and with Donna Summer and The Bee Gees, made art with disco. And Nile Rodgers subsequent production efforts contributed greatly to the shiny sound of the best 80s pop.

4. Green Day. Although it seems a bit liked their eligibility is coming sooner than their notoriety, their merging of punk and pop established a precedent for lots of less talented successors throughout the 90s and 00s.

5. Bill Withers, never nominated and as - or more - deserving than some of the singer-songwriters who preceded him into the hall. His hits are legendary and his lesser known cuts, like "Harlem," "Who is He and What Is He to You?" and "Grandma's Hands" are exceptional too.

Of course, there are great arguments to be made for inducting Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Spinners (who I love), War, Nine Inch Nails, Lou Reed, Kraftwerk, and Joan Jett too. While I love a lot of Sting's stuff, should he precede Carole King? Especially when he's already in as a performer?

I have to admit that I don't get the need for Paul Butterfield - I had never heard of him before his recent nomination, and having heard his music since, it seems that he just enjoyed and played blues classics well. And N.W.A.'s induction would be an acknowledgment of their role creating 'gangsta rap' which isn't something I'd like to celebrate…at least not yet.

Posted by Chris on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 09:53am

I think it is pretty embarrassing to not have one spot for Deep Purple or Yes. That being said, it's a pretty good, albeit underwhelming list. I'm annoyed that Stevie Ray Vaughan is nominated seemingly without Double Trouble. Have they not learned from their past mistakes?

The big three that I'm rooting for this year are Bill Withers, the Smiths, and Kraftwerk. Hopefully they can all get in. SRV would've been with them, but again, I think he should be with DT.

Joan Jett is a good pick, as is NWA for rap and Green Day & NIN are as well (although I think there are plenty of better punk acts not yet in that deserve it more than GD)

Just noticed War and the Spinners. They'd be good picks as well.

Posted by Steve Z on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 09:57am

When is the official press release and announcement? I thought they were going to tell us which members of each band were being considered for induction.

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 10:05am

danny:

"Over My Dead Body:

Green Day
N.W.A.
Smiths
Joan Jett
Nine Inch Nails"

Thanks for picking out my ballot for the fan vote! :P

In General:

Overal an excellent selection of nominations. Classic Rock got some of their snubs in the past 2-3 years, while older Alt and R&B got the shaft. This year makes up for that. The lack of Deep Purple is my only compliant, but that's relatively minor. I think we all know that they will be back on the ballot some time soon. There are no acts on here that I strongly object to seeing inducted, with only a few I slightly have issues with (Sting and The Marvelettes).

Posted by Gassman on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 10:08am

Donnie: I'll bite:

1. Kraftwerk
2. Green Day
3. N.W.A
4. Nine Inch Nails
5. Stevie Ray Vaughan
6. The Smiths
7. Chic
8. The Spinners
9. Lou Reed
10. Bill Withers
11. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
12. War
13. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
14. Sting
15. The Marvelettes

Posted by Gassman on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 10:14am

Green Day: Maybe not the shoe-ins people think. I can easily see them having to wait a couple of years like The Beastie Boys and The Red Hot Chili Peppers did. They certainly have their haters and while the Hall is trying to skew younger they may not quite be ready to nominate a band who’s signature hit is called “Dookie.”

Nine Inch Nails: I think they (he) should get in easily. His early work is pretty important/influential and he’s managed to stay relevant through forward thinking distribution schemes and his work as a composer for David Fincher movies should ratchet up his respectability factor.

N.W.A.: They’re plainly deserving in my book. Their influence is pretty much undeniable, they popularized “gangster rap,” which is one of the most popular genres of the last twenty years like it or not. They also happen to include as members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre who are both pretty prominent personalities in a popular culture today. Their only real weakness is that they have kind of a small body of work, but if The Sex Pistols can get in with even fewer albums I think that shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

The Smiths: I can’t really stand this group but they seem to have caught on with a certain demographic. Also Morrissey apparently has cancer, which may put the pressure on to induct them before it’s too late. Then again, Morrissey has also done a lot of crazy things as of late, which may cancel out the good will

Lou Reed: He’s plainly deserving and will definitely get in eventually, but the fact that he’s passed may put off the pressure to get him in too quickly. I don’t think they want to look like they were johnny come latelys.

Sting: Don’t see it happening. He’s kind of a joke in many circles and many may think that getting in as a member of The Police is enough.

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Honestly, I’ve never heard of them.

Kraftwerk: I think their especially worthy given that they’re straight-up pioneers in their genre rather than merely strong practitioners of it. Also, given how popular EDM is right now their induction would seem to be very topical and relevant. Then again I thought the same thing last year and it didn’t happen.

Chic: Nile Rodger’s recent endeavors with Daft Punk may have brought attention to their legacy, but they’re still a disco band.

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts: I think their pretty much guaranteed to get in given that there’s pretty much a dedicated slot for female artists every year. Also I’m pretty sure they want to use “I Love Rock and Roll” as the final collaborative number at the ceremony.

The Marvelettes: Meh

The Spinners: Meh

Stevie Ray Vaughan: He’s pretty much the last hope of the traditional rock crowd so I think he’s got a good chance of getting in.

War: They’re a pretty good band but I think many voters will see them as a two-hit wonder who maybe weren’t uniquely influential.

Bill Withers: He certainly wrote some pretty good songs and in a less competitive year I’d say he had a pretty good shot.

Posted by MJS on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 10:29am

Seriously, Green day aren't even that good a band. Billy Joe Armstrong is a terrible singer, the group lacks good melody and "American Idiot" is their pathetic way of being the 21st Century's emo version of "Tommy". Why are they suddenly being pushed to the top of the list when there are people of more worth and exceptional musicianship that are left hanging off the cliff?

Posted by danny on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 10:33am

http://rockhall.com/pressroom/announcements/the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-2015-nominees/

Official Press Release

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 10:45am

Kraftwerk
Nine Inch Nails
Bill Withers
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
The Marvelettes

Posted by akeem on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 10:48am

This has the potential to give us a great induction class this year. Three of my top five snubs are on this ballot, but it's folly to think that all three are gonna get in.

It'll be VERY interesting to see how the fan ballot goes, with no Deep Purple or Yes on it. That's gonna be the thing to watch, imo. I'm betting the fan vote will go for Vaughn, Jett, Green Day, NIN, and probably War.

And no classic rock? Please. There may be no prog or arena rock (and even then I'd say yeah there is), but Stevie Ray Vaughn, Joan Jett And The Blackhearts, and War all rest very comfortably with the classic rock community.

Posted by Philip on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 11:18am

Kyle- given that the HOF isn't about commercial success, Mariah Carey is unlikely to be seriously considered in her first year of eligibility. (Note how the committee has not nominated Janet Jackson or Whitney Houston thus far).

I expect Green Day will be a first-year-eligible inductee.

Posted by JR on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 11:51am

danny: I don't see why you are surprised or shocked to see Green Day nominated. They are a lock for first ballot induction and they have been since 2004. You may not like them and while I enjoy them, I'm not huge fan, but they had a huge impact on music in the 90's and 00's.

Posted by Gassman on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 12:07pm

My early thoughts of this ballot....

First, I owe everyone this - those who doubted me when I said Green Day wouldn't get on this year - you were right. I know they issued their lesser-known EP in 1989, so to me its unusual that a band that gained notoriety five years after would be considered this soon. But congratulations, they're a shoo-in.

I wish I can say the same about Nine Inch Nails. Unlike Green Day, they're actually on RS's Immortals list, but for some reason this may not be their time to get in yet. It'll happen though.

Now for the rest...

It's sad that 50s and most 60s acts are fading from the ballot. Take away the PBBB and the Marvelettes and it looks like the 60s never even existed. But I'm glad they are on here.

I'm happy that more R&B-related acts are on here, especially Bill Withers! (I don't know how FRL predicted that greatness)

I'm also happy that the Smiths have finally made it onto their first ballot. Will they get in right away? Who knows. Again, it'll happen.

I'm not happy that hardly any classic rock or hard rock is on here (unless you want to count SRV as classic rock!). Speaking of SRV, congratulations to all you Stevie Ray lovers out there who finally got their wish.

And one more thing to be happy about: is the first solo entry for Sting. I saw this coming, but not so soon. He's had quite a successful solo career, and he has made his mark in the music industry.

And as for all the bands/people who were shunned this year...well, I'd rather not start, or I could write a book about it. (laughs) I'll just let the other users do the ranting for me!

What I really hope to become of this year's ballot is more like a 'Heinz 57' kind of thing, and just catch up and induct those who have been nominated several times before and get 'em overwith. I'm talking about Joan Jett, Chic and many others.

Posted by Jason Voigt on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 12:18pm

Jason Voight: I agree with your last statement. Chic, Joan Jett, Paul Butterfield Blues Band and The Marvelettes are essentially blocking other acts from being nominated. That's not to say they don't deserve to be inducted. Their induction would hopefully bring in some new blood in the upcoming years.

Posted by Gassman on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 12:34pm

Here are the nominees, listed in order of years of eligibility (highest to lowest):

* The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: 27th year of eligibility; fourth nomination
* Kraftwerk: 20th year of eligibility; third nomination
* The Marvelettes: 19th year of eligibility; second nomination
* The Spinners: 19th year of eligibility; second nomination
* War: 19th year of eligibility; third nomination
* Bill Withers : 19th year of eligibility; first nomination
* Lou Reed: 18th year of eligibility; third nomination
* Chic: 13th year of eligibility; ninth nomination
* Joan Jett & the Blackhearts: 10th year of eligibility; third nomination
* Sting: Eighth year of eligibility; first nomination
* The Smiths: Seventh year of eligibility; first nomination
* Stevie Ray Vaughan: Seventh year of eligibility; first nomination
* N.W.A: Third year of eligibility; third nomination
* Green Day: First year of eligibility
* Nine Inch Nails: First year of eligibility

Posted by JR on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 12:47pm

MY CHOICES
The Smiths- they need to better understand post punk
War- they need more Latin music
Stevie Ray Vaughan- the leader of the 80s blues rock revival
The Marvelettes- first girl group with a #1 hit
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts- more 70s/80s female rockers

Disappointed no Jackie Brenston or Chubby Checker.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 13:02pm

My opinions

1) Glad to see Stevie Ray again, although without Double Trouble it's a bit disappointing if he gets in
2) Joan Jett and the Blackhearts would be appreciated since they are trying to get the backing groups these days
3) The Marvelettes are nice to see due to the lack of R&B lately, and they had the first #1 hit by a girl group
4) Do NOT induct Green Day without inducting Sonic Youth and Social Distortion first
5) If you must, get Chic over with so more worthy artists can get a chance
6) No 50s artists is a shame. No Brenston, Checker, Thornton, Big Bopper
7) Nine Inch Nails and Kraftwerk are interesting since their music is different
8) It's been two years since the death of classic Deep Purple member Jon Lord died and they still don't nominate them?
9) The Smiths are nice to see. If they get in maybe more post punk to come like Depeche Mode or New Order
10) I don't think Lou Reed deserves to get in as a solo musician since his only lasting hit is Walk on the Wild Side.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 13:11pm

Opinions Part 2

11) Do not induct Sting. His best work was only with The Police
12) War would be nice. More Latin music
13) There is a 27% chance we'll get a classic rock musician
14) This ballot is all right. Hoping for some 50s artists next year.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 13:23pm

Opinions Part 3 (wish there were an edit button)

15) No Bon Jovi is a shame since all his work has gone platinum
16) No Boston is a shame since their debut album sold so well
17) I hope Big Mama Thornton gets in as an influence
18) AME can go to the SBB, MOI, Belmonts, or BB&THC
19) Sting & GD are major artists so they'll have a good chance
20) Would like to see Dick Dale someday

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 13:34pm

I can't say it's a bad list although the omission of Deep Purple is simply EMBARRASSING!Also, it should be Stevie Ray Vaughan AND DOUBLE TROUBLE! No excuses! Poor judgement on the NomCom's part, plain and simple.

However, speaking on the issue that "classic rock" is being ignored, I have to agree with a previous comment regarding Joan Jett, War, and Stevie. ALL are played on CLASSIC ROCK radio today whether anybody wants to acknowledge it or not.In that respect, I think this genre was represented. Whether they're the most credible choices or not is obviously subjective. But I digress.

The BIG mistake I think is the inclusion of the Blackhearts but NOT Double Trouble! That's just mindboggling! Frankly, I'd love to hear a public statement on this fron the Hall. However, that's wishful thinking on my part. Again, I digress.

Posted by V.F.T. on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 13:58pm

I can't say it's a bad list although the omission of Deep Purple is simply EMBARRASSING!Also, it should be Stevie Ray Vaughan AND DOUBLE TROUBLE! No excuses! Poor judgement on the NomCom's part, plain and simple.

However, speaking on the issue that "classic rock" is being ignored, I have to agree with a previous comment regarding Joan Jett, War, and Stevie. ALL are played on CLASSIC ROCK radio today whether anybody wants to acknowledge it or not.In that respect, I think this genre was represented. Whether they're the most credible choices or not is obviously subjective. But I digress.

The BIG mistake I think is the inclusion of the Blackhearts but NOT Double Trouble! That's just mindboggling! Frankly, I'd love to hear a public statement on this fron the Hall. However, that's wishful thinking on my part. Again, I digress.

Posted by V.F.T. on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 13:59pm

J.R., you're a bit mistaken on the eligibility thing. The Marvelettes first hit the charts in '61 (which may not have even been when their first release was, Bill G. would know much better than I would), plus 25 years makes them eligible in '86 for the class of '87. That makes 28 years eligible. Not 19.

Posted by Philip on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 14:10pm

No Chance:

Sting - Solo career is too minimal overall. It's a brief discography with few highlights. I'm sure plenty of less informed voters will vote him though, just as they would for a Ringo Starr or Steve Winwood nomination (the latter having actually happened). One of a whopping five choices on this ballot that was never inducted into Rock Hall Revisited/Projected.

The Marvelettes - Not only the most deserving remaining Motown act, but the most deserving soul or R&B act as well. They're about a step below inductees Martha & The Vandellas and a step above the unfortunately small Motown discography of Mary Wells. An absolutely superb collection of singles throughout their career, even if they never hit the massive success of some of their label mates. Unfortunately, that lack of memorability for a lot of inductees/critics (particularly the younger writers) will be their undoing once again.


Some Chance:

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - That body of work is still too small/undistinguished to get her across the line. As an individual, she's had a big hand in the image of modern female punk/riot girls and obviously had a huge hand in the Runaways as well. But confining her accomplishments to just this band makes it, again, a very suspect nomination. Luckily, her support level has been rising thoroughly among writers and last year's Hervana performance certainly left a mental image for many voters...it felt like she BELONGED on that stage. Regardless, she's one of the five aforementioned ballot choices that has not been inducted into Rock Hall Projected/Revisited and would thus be another "mistake" of sorts in many's eyes if she were to receive the honor.

Paul Butterfield Blues Band - They must have SOME supporters on the voting roles if they're coming back one again. Ironically, they're going to have to compete against a fellow white bluesman in Stevie Ray Vaughan thanks to the committee snubbing him for so long. That's going to dismantle their chances right there. Again, they're another one of the five acts on this ballot not already in the Rock Hall Revisited/Projected.


The Smiths - Like The Replacements last year, it's another fine nomination, but the voting rolls are full of too many older writers/inductees that know nothing about the post-punk era. If the Cure couldn't get in with a not-so competitive ballot years back, I don't see how a band like The Smiths with a brief reign and far less American chart success can sneak in there.

War - They've got other 70's competition (Lou Reed/Chic) and soul/R&B competition (Bill Withers, The Marvelettes, Chic again). Important as they were, I just see them falling behind too many other names.

Kraftwerk - Still the most important would-be inductee as their influence can not be overstated. Again, they're too weird for a lot of people and have no middle ground. You either don't vote for Kraftwerk at all because you don't "get them" or understand their importance or they're the first name you check on the ballot. I don't see how support could really grow for them among rockers from the 60's and writers that are now in their sixties, so their final ballot percentage should ultimately remain unmoved.


Pretty Strong Chances:

Chic - The train keeps on moving in terms of career recognition. As the ballots get effectively "easier" as big names continue to be inducted, it's only a matter of time when they get over the top.

Bill Withers - The Hall has a strong recent tradition of inducting solo R&B/soul males such as Percy Sledge and Bobby Womack. If they can get in with ease, you figure Bill can. The air surrounding his legacy has rolled in with the wind in 2014...everyone from this site's owner to many prognosticators around the web have randomly expected a nomination/induction this year for whatever reason.


Nine Inch Nails - A little too weird for some, a little too lacking in the major hits that a band like Green Day had. I could see too many voters out of the know forgetting to check their box.


Practically Assured Induction:

Lou Reed - Surprisingly, he's the fifth name here that hasn't been inducted into Rock Hall Revisited/Projected, but it looks like he'll get over the line in that project thanks to both his death and where he was on the extended rankings (basically the top remaining name NOT in "our Hall" yet). With so many vocal friends, supporters and critics and a much easier ballot than he had when he was last nominated over a decade ago, it's practically a given that Lou Reed will be receiving an All Star tribute at next year's ceremonies.

N.W.A. - Now that they're the only rap act on the ballot, it should be a no-brainer. One wonders if the Hall has some conservative white voters that were comfortable voting for Run DMC, but not N.W.A...otherwise, how do you explain such an influential act failing to get in for two straight years?

Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Hall pretty much inducts any blues related artist that hits the ballot in recent years. Buddy Guy seemed to get in with ease, so why not Vaughan? Also, got to love the irony that the only other white blues act worth considering is also on the same ballot...and also that they've weirdly been nominated multiple times while the family and friends of Vaughan look on in bewilderment.

The Spinners - I think the timing feels about right. Little Anthony & The Imperials got in, so why not these guys?

Assured Induction:

Green Day - My favorite band when I first started purchasing music back in the mid 90's. Not the most important act on this ballot, but certainly the most commercially successful one. This is the biggie that HBO is going to love promoting.

Posted by Casper on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 14:16pm

I meant to put Lou Reed in the assured induction category, actually. He's this year's only white male singer-songwriter and if Cat Stevens can get in (pretty much the floor of that group), then Lou is a lock.

Posted by Casper on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 14:23pm

Shoo-ins for me:
Nine Inch Nails
Bill Withers
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Green Day

Possible inductees:
Joan Jett/Blackhearts
Chic
N.W.A.
Spinners

Probably next year:
Marvelettes
Sting
Paul Butterfield
Kraftwerk
N.W.A.

----
I'm kinda expecting six inductees for some reason...

Posted by Tim on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 14:34pm

I forgot to add Lou Reed's name and he'll be in the shoo-in list.

Posted by Tim on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 14:36pm

If Eddie Trunk suddenly decides to jump off a bridge this weekend, we may know why.

Overall, this is a very surprising ballot; initially I was disappointed, but the more I read it the more I find it to be very diverse and surprising. The lack of Deep Purple/Yes is frustrating, but that's offset by some fantastic R&B choices.

Bill Withers is a great choice; what's even greater is the Hall & Oates like momentum he picked up over the past year. I could see him getting in on one nomination.

The Spinners are back; I wouldn't be surprised if the Hall & Oates induction provided a reason for this to happen.

Great choices with the Smiths and Kraftwerk, as well as Green Day and Nine Inch Nails being on the ballot. I'm not sure if Kraftwerk can make it with Nine Inch Nails being there though. (Although they aren't the same genre; same could be said with the Smiths/Green Day, which fall under the broad umbrella of alternative rock)

The stars are aligning for N.W.A. I think; they have the ballot all to themselves, Ice Cube is more prevalent than ever and they have a movie coming out next summer. Their only obstacle is overcoming the backlash from older, white conservative voters; hopefully there are enough open minded people voting (As an aside, doesn't that sound similar to our President's winning strategy?)

Blah on Joan Jett, PBBB and Marvelettes. Stevie Ray is long overdue. I have a huge soft spot for Sting's solo music, but it's not justified. It's like giving Phil Collins a nomination.

Fat chance for Chic and War; I'm sure Chic will get in by their 20th nod, when their competition is Bon Jovi and R. Kelly.

I guess the best way to describe this ballot is that it is diverse, yet not diverse. You could easily section off different parts of this ballot (R&B section, Alt rock section, Avant garde section), which is definitely a shift from the more diverse ballots of years past.

Posted by Jim on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 14:59pm

Pitchfork has had their say...the following six names made their headline and also featured music videos in the same article:

Green Day
Kraftwerk
Lou Reed
N.W.A.
Nine Inch Nails
The Smiths

I'm in firm agreement that those are the best six choices on this ballot.

Posted by Casper on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 15:20pm

Remember when you vote on the Rock Hall site that you'll need to either enter your e-mail and join their mailing list or close that box and resubmit your ballot. I'm not sure if the system accepts the ballot the first time or not, but once you've made it pass the e-mail address pop-up, it will show you the current results.

Remember as well that it allows you to vote for no more than five names, otherwise it won't allow you to submit.

Current Results:

1. Stevie Ray Vaughan - 20.19%
2. Green Day - 17.31%
3. Lou Reed - 8.24%
4. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 7.98%
5. Nine Inch Nails 7.76%
6. Sting 7.11%
7. The Smiths 6.04%
8. Bill Withers 5.21%
9. War 4.07%
10. N.W.A 3.95%
11. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band 3.25%
12. Kraftwerk 2.68%
13. The Spinners 2.59%
14. The Marvelettes 2.05%
15. Chic 1.56%

My votes went to Reed, NIN, Kraftwerk, N.W.A. and The Smiths. I avoided Green Day as it's strategically pointless to give them a nod and I avoided The Marvelettes because I can't see them being anywhere close to induction.

Posted by Casper on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 15:26pm

Band Members That Will Be Inducted Due To Being Mentioned In The Press Release:


Paul Butterfield Blues Band - Jerome Arnold, Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield, Elvin Bishop, Sam Lay, Mark Naftalin

Chic - Alfa Anderson, Bernard Edwards, Luci Martin, Nile Rodgers, Tony Thompson, Norma Jean Wright

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Bio only mentions Jett and manager Kenny Laguna. A photo shows Jett with three other men, probably Ricky Byrd, Gary Ryan and Lee Crystal.

Kraftwerk - Founding members Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider are the only mentioned by name along with early producer Kenny "Conrad" Plank. However, the photo shows all four members of the key lineup, so Wolfgang Flür and Karl Bartos will surely be included. The bio mentioned absolutely nothing about their endeavors after 1986, so Fritz Hilpert and Herning Schmitz are extremely unlikely choices given that they've only played on one album over the last two decades.

The Marvelettes - Original line-up of Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman and Wanda Young. Photo only shows the trio after Tillman left, but she's mentioned in the bio with the other three names as "the original line-up" and was on those phenomenal early recordings.

N.W.A. - DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube and MC Ren. All five are in the photo and press release.

Nine Inch Nails - Trent Reznor is rightfully the only name mentioned in the bio. They'll probably leave it up to him on which band members to include, if any, given the uniqueness of the situation.

The Smiths - Mike Joyce, Johnny Marr, Morrissey, Andy Rourke. The bio specifically lists the band as "a quartet" even if it doesn't mention Joyce or Rourke by name while the photo is of these four men. No chance Craig Gannon enters with them.

The Spinners - "The classic five-man lineup of Billy Henderson, Pervis Jackson, Bobbie Smith, Henry Fambrough and lead singer Philippé Wynne" So, the Hall is clearly going to ignore their pre-Atlantic success which is probably fine. That material on Motown, for example, was pretty good, but hardly the stuff of a Rock Hall-worthy act.

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Nary a mention of Double Trouble, so they probably aren't going to change their minds on this one.

War -Papa Dee Allen, Eric Burdon, Charles Miller, Harold Brown, B.B. Dickerson, Lonnie Jordan, Lee Oskar and Howard Scott. Producer-manager Jerry Goldstein is also mentioned in the biography.


Wouldn't shock me at all if they are mentioning these non-performer names because they now have chosen to include them with the bands...mentioned by name are...

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - manager and songwriter Kenny Laguna

Kraftwerk - producer Kenny "Conrad" Plank

War - producer and manager Jerry Goldstein


So, ignoring the potential of inducting non-performers with the bands, the band member issues are pretty much settled with the exception of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (are the later members included?) and Nine Inch Nails (are any other members included?)

Posted by Casper on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 15:55pm

Some trivia: Trent Reznor had a 20-second cameo in Joan Jett's 1987 film, Light of Day. Will they be inducted together?

Posted by Jason Voigt on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 16:08pm

Rolling Stone's article lists five of the six same names as Pitchfork in its headline, they sub out Kraftwerk for, ugh, Sting.

The Six:

Green Day
Lou Reed
N.W.A.
Nine Inch Nails
The Smiths
Sting

Posted by Casper on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 16:18pm

Nominees By Placement On Our Rock Rankings List:

#40 - Kraftwerk
#87 - The Smiths
#101 - N.W.A.
#110 - Nine Inch Nails
#126 - Green Day
#196 - Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
#197 - Chic
#198 - The Spinners
#206 - War
#277 - The Marvelettes
.........................................................................
#311 - Lou Reed
#333 - Bill Withers
#412 - Paul Butterfield Blues Band
#432 - Sting
Unranked - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (although we inducted Jett with The Runaways at #295)

^ That second group are the corrected numbers from the extended rankings. The main list of performers is ranked to #308 when including Arcade Fire and Kanye West. Therefore, Neu! is the first choice on the extended list at #309.

Posted by Casper on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 17:56pm

We have five of the same six top names as Pitchfork and Rolling Stone. Where we differ:

Pitchfork - Lou Reed
Rolling Stone - Sting
FRL - Stevie Ray Vaughan

The poll results have three of the same core names (Green Day, NIN, The Smiths) with the top six being rounded out with Joan Jett, Lou Reed and Stevie Ray Vaughan.


So, for what it's worth, the rock rankings/FRL poll/Pitchfork/RS article all have Green Day, NIN & The Smiths as three of the top six names.

If you go one further and include the actual Hall of Fame fan poll, then it's only Green Day & NIN on all five Top Six lists.

Posted by Casper on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 17:59pm

According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, this is a true statement:

In the Rock and Roll era, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and Sting's solo career have had a greater impact than Deep Purple.

When put that way, isn't it insulting to the intelligence of those who actually care about who goes into the HOF?

Posted by Classic Rock on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 19:13pm

Deep Purple missing out is of course an outrage, but otherwise pretty good list. Thoughts:

-About damn time with Stevie, though I don't understand not having Double Trouble.

-Same with The Smiths, but no chance they go in first time if The Cure couldn't.

-I like Sting solo just fine, but Hall Of Fame? I don't see it.

-Not sure I understand Joan Jett either.

-Pleasantly surprised by NIN; I thought the first couple of years they'd have to wait.

The way I'd vote is Green Day, The Marvelettes (you lot have sold me on their significance), Kraftwerk, Chic, The Smiths (this could be their one chance). The way it will go: Green Day, Chic, N.W.A., Lou Reed, Joan Jett.

Posted by Sam on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 19:19pm

Here are some of my thoughts on the 2015 nominees that were announced this morning:

Very excited about the Smiths getting nominated this year. If we thought the Kiss controversy from earlier this year was wild enough, the Smiths would make that evening really interesting---with all the fighting within the band. I wonder, seriously, which band members (if any) would show up if they were inducted.

Also, very happy about Stevie Ray Vaughn finally a much-deserved nomination. He will definitely be near the top of the fan ballot poll on the Rock Hall website.

I will eat crow on Bill Withers' nomination; I didn't think it was gonna happen but genuinely surprised by it. A worthy singer-songwriter act, although this year's list of nominees is too stacked for Withers to get inducted (sorry, just being realistic).

I will admit that I'm very surprised that Deep Purple and Yes didn't make the final cut; I thought Yes would have got inducted in 2015--now that's out of the question.

It seems like Green Day is a shoe-in at this point as the next first-ballot hall of famers. I think Nine Inch Nails has a good shot this year, but I'm not holding my breath on that one (although I think they deserve it).

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts seem like a lock at this point, given that she is the only female act nominated this year beside the Marvelettes (Bill G. must be very happy, I am too because they need to be inducted soon). Jett's performance of Nirvana's "Smells like Teen Spirit" at the Rock Hall made the committee rightfully revisit her. Likewise, this might just be the year for Chic (let's hope so, they need to be inducted as they are one of the most influential acts not inducted into the Rock Hall). Finally, with N.W.A. being the only hip-hop/rap nominee, I think they are a lock at this point because they have a lot of support from the Rock Hall.

Lots of repeat nominees this year: Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chic, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Kraftwerk, Marvelettes, N.W.A., Lou Reed, Spinners and War.

The biggest question/curiosity is Sting's nomination as a solo artist. I am very surprised by this nomination, mainly because I didn't think Sting had enough depth to warrant nomination as a solo artist. The Police is one of my all-time favorite groups, so I have nothing against Sting but his solo career definitely lags when compared to the Police (As opposed to someone like Peter Gabriel who became a bigger star as a solo artist after he left Genesis). I really hope Sting doesn't get inducted on name recognition alone.

Posted by Nick on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 19:43pm

Here are some of my thoughts on the 2015 nominees that were announced this morning:

Very excited about the Smiths getting nominated this year. If we thought the Kiss controversy from earlier this year was wild enough, the Smiths would make that evening really interesting---with all the fighting within the band. I wonder, seriously, which band members (if any) would show up if they were inducted.

Also, very happy about Stevie Ray Vaughn finally a much-deserved nomination. He will definitely be near the top of the fan ballot poll on the Rock Hall website.

I will eat crow on Bill Withers' nomination; I didn't think it was gonna happen but genuinely surprised by it. A worthy singer-songwriter act, although this year's list of nominees is too stacked for Withers to get inducted (sorry, just being realistic).

I will admit that I'm very surprised that Deep Purple and Yes didn't make the final cut; I thought Yes would have got inducted in 2015--now that's out of the question.

It seems like Green Day is a shoe-in at this point as the next first-ballot hall of famers. I think Nine Inch Nails has a good shot this year, but I'm not holding my breath on that one (although I think they deserve it).

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts seem like a lock at this point, given that she is the only female act nominated this year beside the Marvelettes (Bill G. must be very happy, I am too because they need to be inducted soon). Jett's performance of Nirvana's "Smells like Teen Spirit" at the Rock Hall made the committee rightfully revisit her. Likewise, this might just be the year for Chic (let's hope so, they need to be inducted as they are one of the most influential acts not inducted into the Rock Hall). Finally, with N.W.A. being the only hip-hop/rap nominee, I think they are a lock at this point because they have a lot of support from the Rock Hall.

Lots of repeat nominees this year: Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chic, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Kraftwerk, Marvelettes, N.W.A., Lou Reed, Spinners and War.

The biggest question/curiosity is Sting's nomination as a solo artist. I am very surprised by this nomination, mainly because I didn't think Sting had enough depth to warrant nomination as a solo artist. The Police is one of my all-time favorite groups, so I have nothing against Sting but his solo career definitely lags when compared to the Police (As opposed to someone like Peter Gabriel who became a bigger star as a solo artist after he left Genesis). I really hope Sting doesn't get inducted on name recognition alone.

Posted by Nick on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 19:43pm

Glad to finally see Joan Jett's name. Still don't understand how Pat Benatar isn't worthy of nomination. Somehow Donna Summer, Laura Nyro and Madonna are deemed more worthy.

Posted by Scott on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 20:57pm

Just for the sake of discussion here are the 45 artists who have been nominated for the Rock Hall at one point or another before, bu are currently not inducted.

Johnny Ace
Afrika Bambaataa
Bon Jovi
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
The Chantels
Chic
The Cure
Deep Purple
The Dominoes
Eric B. & Rakim
The "5" Royales
The J. Geils Band
Green Day
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Ben E. King
Carole King
Kraftwerk
LL Cool J
The Marvelettes
The Meters
MC5
N.W.A.
New York Dolls
Nine Inch Nails
Gram Parsons
Esther Phillips
Procol Harum
Lou Reed
The Replacements
Rufus with Chaka Khan
The Sir Douglas Quintet
The Smiths
The Spinners
Sting
Joe Tex
Conway Twitty
Stevie Ray Vaughan
War
Mary Wells
Chuck Willis
Steve Winwood
Bill Withers
Link Wray
Yes
The Zombies

Posted by Alec on Thursday, 10/9/2014 @ 23:57pm

If they bothered to nominate the acts in the first place, they should just induct them. It's ridiculous to keep paring it down to five acts in a two-step process. Just induct them all and be done with it already. That way, no one complains (unless they are never nominated) and no one comes up short year after year without induction. The whole thing has become so irrelevant.

Posted by Paul on Friday, 10/10/2014 @ 10:26am

Other Paul,

That kinda defeats half of what makes the whole thing exciting. The inductions wouldn't be nearly as meaningful or notable if a small nominating committee simply picked a bunch of their favorites every year based on whatever criteria they choose. Having the hundreds of inducted artists (and to a tiny extent, us fans) decide is what fuels speculation and interest in the Hall throughout the year.


Speaking of which, does anybody have a list of all current voters/living members of the HoF?

Posted by Paul K on Friday, 10/10/2014 @ 10:59am

http://www.futurerocklegends.com/Nominating_Committee.php#Voters

Paul K -- you can find an incomplete list of voters at the bottom of the NomCom page. The living inductees should be complete.

Posted by FRL on Friday, 10/10/2014 @ 11:54am

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6281310/rock-hall-nominees-analysis

Rock Hall Nominees: The Locks, the Likelys & the Longshots

Posted by Roy on Friday, 10/10/2014 @ 13:00pm

Most of the legends and icons are already in. At this point you've got to ask yourself "Who's worthy ???"

Posted by Joe-Skee on Friday, 10/10/2014 @ 13:55pm

You have really got these bands messed up, I don't even know who half these bands are!!! Never heard of some of them!!! Really, not even the true dedicated greats like Bon Jovi!!! Give them a break, 30 years of total dedication to their fans, the music & the outstanding tours, this is so disappointing, just shows who knows real people & music & who don't!!!! These waterheads that nominate these bands, whoever they are, need to get their priorities straight!!!

Posted by Cindy Brockman on Friday, 10/10/2014 @ 16:54pm

You have really got these bands messed up, I don't even know who half these bands are!!! Never heard of some of them!!! Really, not even the true dedicated greats like Bon Jovi!!! Give them a break, 30 years of total dedication to their fans, the music & the outstanding tours, this is so disappointing, just shows who knows real people & music & who don't!!!! These waterheads that nominate these bands, whoever they are, need to get their priorities straight!!!

Posted by Cindy Brockman on Friday, 10/10/2014 @ 16:54pm

Cindy: If you don't know who half of the nominated acts are you, its your own fault. Bon Jovi needs to stay as far away from the Hall as possible, thank you very much.

Posted by Gassman on Friday, 10/10/2014 @ 17:03pm

THE SMITHS? STING?

WE THOUGHT A WAR OF INDEPDNEDENCE TO BE FREE FROM THE ENGLISH WE WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO ENTER THE HALLOWED HALLS OF THE AMERICAN ROCK N ROLL MUSEUM

Posted by GFW on Friday, 10/10/2014 @ 19:06pm

"Just for the sake of discussion here are the 45 artists who have been nominated for the Rock Hall at one point or another before, bu are currently not inducted."

Johnny Ace- who?
Afrika Bambaataa- who?
Bon Jovi- shameful given his phenomenal success. Idiots.
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band- Don't know their work.
The Chantels- who?
Chic- Just get it over with.
The Cure- Really?! If they don't get in the Smiths they must hate Post Punk then.
Deep Purple- Shame since one of their classic members suffered from a terminal illness for a long time and then passed two years ago.
The Dominoes- I assume the doo-wop group? They did have many hits including Little Darlin'.
Eric B. & Rakim- don't really follow old school rap
The "5" Royales- who?
The J. Geils Band- classic rock filler as far as I care
Green Day- NOT UNTIL SONIC YOUTH GETS IN
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts- perhaps as this year's classic rock?
Ben E. King- he didn't do much after he left the Drifters
Carole King- um...she was only a pop singer
Kraftwerk- if they get in can we have Trio too?
LL Cool J- it's too early for 90s rap
The Marvelettes- please get it over with
The Meters- who?
MC5- Was "Kick out the Jams" that significant?
N.W.A.- we don't need any more 80s rap
New York Dolls- They had an influence on Twisted Sister
Nine Inch Nails- are we ready for them yet?
Gram Parsons- who?
Esther Phillips- who?
Procol Harum- I don't know what to say about them.
Lou Reed- The Velvet Underground was enough
The Replacements- They get the boot in favor of Green Day?
Rufus with Chaka Khan- don't know much
The Sir Douglas Quintet- who?
The Smiths- PLEASE OH PLEASE! AND THEN THE CURE!
The Spinners- don't know much
Sting- Please, no! I don't care how many spectators he'll attract. The Poice was enough.
Joe Tex- who?
Conway Twitty- I have nothing to say.
Stevie Ray Vaughan- Maybe wait until Double Trouble?
War- maybe
Mary Wells- I don't know
Chuck Willis- who?
Steve Winwood- Nah. I'd rather have Huey Lewis
Bill Withers- don't know much
Link Wray- Dick Dale first
Yes- do I have to say it?
The Zombies- maybe

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, 10/10/2014 @ 19:17pm

Here are my picks for the 2015 nominees:

Green Day
Nine Inch Nails
NWA
The Smiths
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Sting

Posted by Andrew on Friday, 10/10/2014 @ 20:11pm

Hello everyone!

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee has announced which artists are nominated for the RRHOF Class of 2015. As I mentioned before, I did not give as much active promoting for worthy artists this year as opposed to years before. None the less, I do continue to be involved with bringing forth my opinions and predictions. Here are my thoughts on this upcoming ceremony.

I am rather dismayed there will only be 15 nominees instead of 16. Granted, this is certainly better than the years wherein only 9 artists were considered. By the same token, although there will be at least 6 inductees, I think 7 or 8 would fit more perfectly.

Like pretty much everyone, I am disappointed and stunned that Yes are not one of the nominees this year. From what Alan White mentioned, Yes only needed 20 more votes to get inducted last year. I can remember the 2007 snafu that drew criticism on Jann Wenner for not putting the Dave Clark Five in that year's class; a omission that was rightly rectified the next year. One would think Yes would get back on the ballot and receive those 20 votes and then some to get inducted. Indeed, past living and surviving Yes men would be more than willing to be in the same spot again without animosities taking place. This is a glaring omission on the part of the RRHOF.

I can understand why Deep Purple might not have gotten a nomination this year. As I mentioned before, many Deep Purple fans, myself included, would like nothing better than to have the living Mach II lineup appear again for one last time. This, though, will never happen. Ritchie Blackmore has no intention of being in the same room with Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Ian Paice again: and frankly, neither do they want to associate with Blackmore. I also think the probability of including Rod Evans as an inducted member threw the ire of all other Deep Purple members past and present. Any person that knows Deep Purple will know what I am taking about.

For any person that thinks the nominees should be only the sort of hard rock acts approved and liked by Eddie Trunk and other like minded people: this will not happen every year. It is not to say there will not be hard rockers in the Hall of Fame; far from it. Yet, this form of music encompasses all forms of popularity.

Now, here is my handicapping of whom will be inducted and why an induction for these artists may or may not occur. Mind you, this is only my inferences and ideas for whom will be honored and what will happen.

Virtual locks:

Green Day: not much will need to be said on one of the better rock bands of the last 20 years.

Nine Inch Nails: an induction is secured, in no small part due to the induction ceremony being in Cleveland, Trent Reznor's hometown. The only question now is who will be included with Reznor as an inducted member.

Chic: 9 times nominated is enough to finally get an induction to happen. Not inducting Chic would just be cruel and unfair.

N.W.A.: these individuals will be inducted and rightly so. Indeed, this is long overdue.

May likely get inducted:

Stevie Ray Vaughan: it is rather sad that SRV did not live to see an induction in his lifetime. The least the RRHOF can now do is to honor Stevie Ray Vaughan while a great deal of his family are still alive.

Kraftwerk: this group may very well be more close to induction than anyone realizes. Kraftwerk did receive a Lifetime Grammy Award earlier this year. Who will show up and if they perform will be up to the members to decide. I will say that this might be the best, if not only chance, for Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider to reunite.

Joan Jett: by inducting Joan Jett, The Runaways in a form or another get included. Joan Jett will I believe be one of the 6 inductees, if it only goes to 6 inductees.

Could be inducted:

The Smiths: Morrissey and Johnny Marr would be on my ballot assuredly. I do not know if the certainty of no reunion will be a factor if they get inducted or not.

The Spinners: one of the best soul vocal groups of all time, in my opinion. Sadly, since much of the members have died, I do not know who will show up if an induction were to occur.

War: this would be an excellent choice for a potential induction. I do not know if they will get in this year, though.

Might not happen:

The Marvelettes: being the first female singing group to have a number one hit should be an automatic inclusion to get inducted. Yet, I am not sure if the stigma attached to the Marvelletts of being a group with minimal hits will get the traction most needed.

Interesting cases:

Bill Withers: I will be putting Bill Withers on my Revisited/Projected Rock Hall Project ballot. Knowing Withers' impressive career and widespread influence, I could see Withers be inducted before the year is out.

Lou Reed: I will also be putting Lou Reed on my Revisited/Projected ballot. Reed should have gotten inducted for his life's work before he passed away. I am not too sure if there will be room to have Reed in for a class of possibly 6. This is one reason why the inductees this year should be 7 at least; possibly 9 at most.

Not getting inducted, so there:

Paul Butterfield: if this was Mike Bloomfield, an induction would be forthcoming. And again, the focus of a Paul Butterfield and the Blues Band nomination is on Bloomfield. The NomCom really should have their priorities straight in who to honor in these situations.

Surprise of the lot:

Sting: for some odd reason, I thought Sting getting in with The Police would be sufficient. Yet, on his own Sting has been massively influential than one might initially assume. I think one reason Sting is nominated on his own this time is for a really important award he will be getting. Sting is one of the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors. For anyone that is aware, receiving a Kennedy Center Honor is equivalent to being knighted for the arts in the US. Maybe this can be considered the Hall of Fame's one-upmanship for a potential induction of Sting on his own. Now, at this time, I do not have any plans on putting Sting into my Revisited/Projected ballot. This is only because I find Sting and The Police to be one continuous output. I truly have no idea what will occur if Sting gets inducted on his own this year.

Well, those are my opinions and prognostications at the moment. I am sure there will be more to discuss, including non-performer and special category inductees. Let me know what you fellow posters think of these opinions. I am sure there will be more to consider in the weeks ahead.

Prepare for an induction with clams on the half shell and roller skates,

Lax31

Posted by Lax31 on Friday, 10/10/2014 @ 21:39pm

^^^ Well written Lax31, will give you three (3?) thumbs up for your insights and analysis. I wouldn't disagree with you. My own personal fave is SRV who is (imo) in a class far above any of the other noms. Being a blues lover I like The PBBB but they don't seem at all popular in this voting. Spinners not spinning many votes either. Chic probably needs to be inducted if only by some unwritten mercy rule for bridesmaids! Kraft were I don't love, how could you love machine music? Marvelettes are a little short on repertory. War is a worthy group. NIN and NWA look like favorites, neither is a favorite of mine. Green Day is a great group, should at some point get inducted.

Posted by Telarock on Friday, 10/10/2014 @ 22:21pm

This is my breakdown of each artist’s chances of getting into the Rock Hall this year. Let me know what you guys think of it.

Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Jann Werner and Paul Shaffer have openly acknowledged their support for the Paul Butterfield Blues Band which could explain why they have consistently appeared on the most recent ballots (2006, 2013, 2014, 2015). As deserving as they may be, the Chicago-based group stands little chance on this year’s ballot (this could be said about any future ballot they might appear on).

Chic: This is Chic’s 9th nomination and they need to be inducted very soon, like the 2015 class. Nile Rodgers’ collaboration with Daft Punk last year made him relevant once again. Nobody can deny Chic’s influence on modern rock and pop music—“Good Times,” “Le Freak,” “Everybody Dance,” and “I Want Your Love.” I would love for them to get inducted and expect them to get inducted this year.
Green Day: Of the newly eligible artists this year, Green Day was a no-brainer to appear on this year’s ballot. If anything, Green Day is the only act on the ballot guaranteed to get inducted this year—enough said.

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts: After this year’s electric performance at the 2014 Rock Hall ceremony, Joan Jett got the nominating committee’s attention once again (she was nominated in 2012 and 2013). Being one of the only two female acts on this year’s ballot (the other being the Marvelettes), Jett’s chances to becoming a Rock Hall inductee seem highly likely for a number of reasons. First, the Rock Hall’s constant criticism that women are underrepresented and they want to change that. Obviously, the Rock Hall likes Jett and I fully expect her to get inducted in the 2015 class (the logic being that she will be the female act; the Rock Hall cannot go a year without inducting a woman—which they shouldn’t). It is now or never for Jett’s induction and timing couldn’t be any better.

Kraftwerk: Kraftwerk should already be in the Rock Hall as they particularly popularized and perfected electronic music throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Their influence on popular music is so widespread that most people don’t know how important Kraftwerk really is. Glad to see them on the Rock Hall ballot (they appeared on the 2003 and 2013 ballots) and should get inducted. I think they are a long-shot to get inducted on this year’s ballot at this point.

Marvelettes: Besides Mary Wells, The Marvelettes are the last of two great Motown acts not to already be inducted into the Rock Hall. They influenced and shaped the model of the girl groups that later Motown acts would follow—Diana Ross & the Supremes and Martha & the Vandellas. Although these two later acts were more famous and created a ton of more hits, the Marvelettes laid the foundation and deserve their rightful place in the Rock Hall. Plus, “Please Mr. Postman” is Motown’s first number-one hit so bonus points for them. As deserving as they are, I doubt they will get inducted this year due to this year’s stacked list of nominees.

Nine Inch Nails: First, I’m very glad that Nine Inch Nails made the ballot this year, especially given that this was their first year eligible to appear on the Rock Hall ballot. Green Day appears to be more of a given in terms of getting inducted in their first-year, but Nine Inch Nails has more obstacles to overcome. It would be fitting for Nine Inch Nails to get inducted, given they are from Cleveland, but they are less of a sure-thing at this point. I think they warrant an induction in their first-year, but I don’t think it will happen. Personally, I think this will get passed this year and get nominated next year on the 2016 ballot where they will get inducted.

N.W.A.: Being the only Hip-Hop/Rap act on this year’s ballot, N.W.A. should have no problem getting into the Rock Hall this year. They have appeared on the ballot the last two years in a row; the first (2013) suffered from appearing alongside Public Enemy (who were first-ballot inductees). They appeared on the 2014 ballot alongside LL Cool J, but the Rock Hall passed on a Hip-Hop/Rap act. Nobody can deny N.W.A.’s influence and excellent output (no matter how short the group’s lifespan was).

Lou Reed: It’s a shame that the Rock Hall waited until after Lou Reed’s death for the legendary singer-songwriter to appear on the Rock Hall ballot once again. The last time Reed (as a solo act) appeared on a ballot was 2000 and 2001, this so a long time has passed since then. Reed’s support from Rock Hall committee members will help him. Plus, his recent death will hopefully speed up the process. At this point, Reed seems like a lock to get inducted this year. He will fill the singer-songwriter slot.

The Smiths: I had a feeling someone would appear on the ballot that most of us weren’t expecting but totally excited they are appearing on this year’s ballot. This year was definitely The Smiths, one of the defining rock acts of the 1980s. Personally, the Smiths should already be in the Rock Hall and it’s a shame they haven’t been nominated until now. Many will be their nomination as this year’s “alternative” act (The Cure, The Replacements have appeared on recent ballots) and perhaps that can be justified. Given Morrissey’s recent health battles, maybe the Rock Hall will speed up the process and get the Smiths into the Rock Hall this year. However, I think the Rock Hall would want to avoid another Kiss fiasco and the Smiths would be like child’s play. If the Smiths were inducted, I highly doubt any of them would show to the ceremony. They should get inducted this year and they have a good chance, but less of a sure-thing at this point.

Spinners: First, I’m glad the Spinners made this year’s ballot and they were one of the great soul/R&B acts from the 1970s. Given there are several soul/R&B acts on this year’s ballot, everyone should expect one act from this genre to get inducted in 2015. The Spinners stand a good chance at this point, although I could see Withers or War taking that spot as well.

Sting: I love the Police, don’t get me wrong, but why Sting (as a solo act) appears on this year’s ballot as a solo act is beyond me. Personally, this seems like a wasted spot on this year’s ballot. After the Police, Sting’s solo work hasn’t come close to matching his success with them. Like I said in a previous post, someone like Peter Gabriel definitely deserved an induction as a solo artist because that work is of equal stature to that of his involvement with Genesis. However, I don’t think Sting should be inducted as a solo act into the Rock Hall, however his induction might happen. Sting has tons of name recognition and he is already in the Rock Hall already, this could make his induction a surprise.

Stevie Ray Vaughn: Like most people on this site, I’m very glad Stevie Ray Vaughn has finally appeared on a Rock Hall ballot. One of the greatest contemporary guitarists, Vaughn’s guitar work is highly influential and he had worked with some of the greatest blues artists (Albert King and Buddy Guy immediately come to mind) during his short career. He will likely top the fan ballot and will properly get inducted (and rightfully so).

War: Like Santana, War is one of the revolutionary rock acts of the late 1960s and 1970s fusing multiple musical styles, Latin and African music, to create a distinctive sound. This is War’s third appearance on the Rock Hall ballot (2009, 2012, 2015) and it seems odd they appear on ballots every three years. They are a deserving act that I wouldn’t mind seeing as 2015 inductees, although this year’s list is quite stacked.

Bill Withers: One of the great 1970s singer-songwriters, Bill Withers wrote and sung some of the best songs of that era—“Lean on Me,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and “Use Me.” His smooth vocals and excellent lyrics made Withers a distinctive singer-songwriter of his time. Usually the Rock Hall inducts at least one singer-songwriter each year, I think Lou Reed will get that honor this year. Instead, the only way I can see the Rock Hall inducting Withers is that he could be the soul/R&B act inducted. There are quite a number of soul/R&B acts on this year’s ballot (which is welcoming given they have been underrepresented on recent ballots). Withers might be inducted this year, although I predict he get passed over.

Right now, here are the top five acts that will have the most votes on the fan ballot (when it closes later this year):
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Green Day
Nine Inch Nails
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Bill Withers

Here at the six artists that I think will be the Rock Hall class of 2015:
Chic
Green Day
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
N.W.A.
Lou Reed
Stevie Ray Vaughn

Posted by Nick on Friday, 10/10/2014 @ 22:24pm

What happened to the "progressive rock" acts this year? Where is Yes? Where is Procol Harum? Where is Deep Purple?

The hall has seemed to have reverted back to their original stance. There was hope that after Rush's induction in 2013 and Peter Gabriel's induction earlier this year, that Yes would follow those titans in, but this was certainly not the case. The sole "prog" representative this year is Kraftwerk. Their genre is "Krautrock."

Since the induction ceremony is in Cleveland this time, maybe the nominating committee had felt that this ceremony is somehow less important, or perhaps less significant? Los Angeles and New York City are the places where you induct the icons, such as Rush. I would venture to guess that Yes will be inducted in 2016, the year when the ceremony returns to Los Angeles, along with Duran Duran and perhaps, The Moody Blues?

Okay, so I will not have to take a vacation until 2016 at the earliest, my last "proper vacation" was almost 26 years ago, unless you count my recuperation time in Scottsdale, which was over 22 years ago.

As far as my ballot is concerned, I had voted for the following artists: Sting, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kraftwerk, Lou Reed and Bill Withers.

As far as who will get in, is concerned, I think that four of those artists, along with Green Day will be inducted.

So, I am venturing to guess that these artists will be next year's inductees:

Green Day
Stevie Ray Vaughan (posthumously)
Lou Reed (posthumously)
Sting (as a solo artist)
Bill Withers
Kraftwerk

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 10/11/2014 @ 05:32am

Hello Everybody. Well the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame has announced what artists are nominated for the RRHOF class of 2015. I didn't post the same day of the announcement I was getting over the shock. Some artists I predicted did get on the ballot like Lou Reed and Chic. I do have to tell you soo many of my Classic Rock choices are shot to hell. No Chicago, Deep Purple, Doobie Brothers, ELO, Moody Blues or Yes. My goodness. I truly think some writers for Rolling Stone and other magazines on the committee have it in for the Moody Blues. I am stunned that none of the Classic Rock acts above were nominated. Someone else said it. I can see why Deep Purple would be left out. There is the fact that Ritchie Blackmore has no intention of being in the same room with Ian Gillan. Also though after all the controversy of Kiss last year I think the Hall wants to stay away from Hard Rock altogether. I mentioned the constant omission of the Moody Blues. I seem to recall when I was a kid over 30 years ago that writers panned their albums as boring to them even though they it's exciting listening to me. Several of those writers from the 70s era are now on the Committee. Others like Chicago and Doobie Brothers. Both key in the 70s are left out too. I think they were going for more R&B acts this year as well as Revolutionary acts. So in any case I won't make this too long.I will now predict 2015 R N' R Hall of Fame Inductees. This is why I wait until the Nominees are announced so I know who I'm really dealing with. Now knowing that people like Deep Purple and Moody Blues are not here I know who to choose from. I would have been predicting those but sadly they are not here.
Virtual locks are Chic after 9 nominations and Green Day. Green Day is a key 90s band and they are on the ballot.
Small breakdown of others.
Lou Reed:He sadly died last October. I am not a big fan but do know he was revolutionary and had a long solo career. Last year's ballot was while he was alive. It's a shame they waited until after his death to nominate him again. I predicted that.
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts: I expected her to be nominated. There is a lot of competition here though. I think they may wait one more year in favor of others. The Rock Hall like Joan Jett but there are others to go in first.
The Marvelettes: They influenced and shaped the way Girl groups did things. They would be a good oldies act to be inducted but I say No they won't be. Forget it due to the stack list.
Spinners: Grest R&B choice for this year's ballot. They were one of the great 70s R&B groups. There are going to be some hard driving aggressive artists going in. There is always a mellow choice. Spinners stand a good chance then. In 2014 this could be considered Oldies.
Stevie Ray Vaughan: I too am very glad Stevie Ray Vaughan is finally on a ballot. One of the greatest contemporary Rock and Blues guitarists of all time. I saw him twice in concert back in the 80s. His guitar work is highly influential. I think he'll be inducted.
I don't want to make this too long. So I will cut short this breakdown. Those are just some thoughts. Ok. Here are the 6 artists I predict for the Rock Hall class of 2015.

Chic
Green Day
NWA
Lou Reed
The Spinners
Stevie Ray Vaughan

Posted by Ben on Saturday, 10/11/2014 @ 06:20am

Ok. Those are my predictions for the 2015 Inductees. I think it's Fair to give a Breakdown of more Nominees. Here is a Breakdown of a few more. Paul Butterfield Blues Band: I have heard of them. Yu see I worked at a Used Cd shop in The late 80s. I had this Hippie boss. He was a teenager in the late 60s. He listened to FM at that time. He said they were a key group at the time. They will not be Inducted I feel. Not enough support Now.
Kraftwerk: Electronic group of the 70s. Never liked them at all. Made the ballot because Electronic music is popular. Very little Chance.
The Smiths: A British group of the 80s. It's the Hall's way of having more 80s. Also Very little chance of Induction.
War: Great R&b group of the 70s. I would say they would go in this year but Spinners have more chance. War were influential but some other year.
Bill Withers: A good mellow R&b singer. Good mellow choice for Induction. Tunes like Ain't No Sunshine and Lean on Me are good
But No. It was a toss up btwn him and Spinners. I go with Spinners. Yu never know though.
So there is more breakdown. Another 5. We shall see in Dec.

Posted by Ben on Saturday, 10/11/2014 @ 09:50am

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 2015 nominees, with a slight modification:

These are the artists whom I would like to see nominated for the rrhof induction in 2015

1. Duran Duran
02. The Moody Blues
03. Yes
04. Pearl Jam
05. Sade
06. Doobie Brothers
07. Carly Simon
08. Chicago
09. Deep Purple
10. Electric Light Orchestra
11. Nine Inch Nails
12. Phish
13. The Meters
14. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
15. Tupac Shakur
16. Queen Latifah



And as producers:

Todd Rundgren
Brian Eno
Nile Rodgers

And as songwriter: Bernie Taupin

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 10/11/2014 @ 14:08pm

@Enigmaticus:

From your list of the newly eligible 2Pac is a lock for a nomination. It'll be interesting to see if Phish gets any support.

Still no love for Janet Jackson?

Carly Simon would be a pleasant surprise!

Posted by Mike on Saturday, 10/11/2014 @ 14:12pm

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. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
15. Chic
16. Queen Latifah






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

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 10/11/2014 @ 14:16pm

Janet is still a hard one for me to recommend. If I can be assured with 100% certainty that she had written all of her lyrics by herself and that she had contributed greatly to the writing of her music, then I would have absolutely no problem with her nomination.

Unfortunately, she had a team of great songwriters working with her.

Otherwise, there is still the issue of "Nipplegate" to deal with. When Justin Timberlake may have suggested this, she should have told him "No, are you crazy? Children and their parents watch that show. It could adversely effect my career. I am not doing it!" If it had been late at night on H.B.O., then it would have been very different. But, unfortunately the Superbowl half-time show is viewed as family entertainment, and conservative parents do not like their children to view anything deemed too "sexy," or "controversial." Nor do program sponsors. After all their puritanical methods are still quite the norm, even today, are they not?

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 10/11/2014 @ 14:31pm

Janet wrote and contributed quite a lot actually. You can check many interviews by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis - they praise her work ethic during the creative process.

One of the first songs Janet wrote and produced 100% by herself was "Black Cat" on 1989's "Rhythm Nation 1814". "Black Cat" is a proper rock track, hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was even nominated for a Grammy in the Female Rock category.

Janet's songwriting credits are not bogus. Jam & Lewis provided outstanding beats, that's for sure. And they had to really coax ideas out of Janet during the "Control" era, which is why they were adamant that she move to Minneapolis while recording that album. From that point forward, however, Janet was heavily involved in every aspect of every project.

The SuperBowl performance should have zero bearing on a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination. That's only my opinion, of course. There are inducted artists who have done FAR WORSE things and were still nominated/inducted.

Just my two cents.

Posted by Mike on Saturday, 10/11/2014 @ 15:10pm

Ridiculous to include poseurs such as Green Day and ignore one of the GIANTS in rock history who has steadily performed & left a long, classic legacy in his wake...RICHARD THOMPSON. From his beginnings with arguably the best folk-rock group (Fairport Convention) to his work with wife Linda Thompson to his long solo career, Thompson has defined originality, versatility, and longetivy. 20 albums (plus 5 with Fairport), numerous collaborations, 4 soundtrack albums, a huge body of work as session guitarist with the likes of Nick Drake, Bonnie Raitt, Los Lobos, Loudon Wainwright, and many, many others. Two tribute albums devoted to his work, 3 box set collections, a bunch of live albums & DVDs, recognition from RS itself as one of their top 20 rock guitarists, songs covered by a who's who of noted performers (including even a song-of-the-year win for a cover from a band in an entirely different genre)...hard to imagine a more impressive resume for someone never even nominated. His exclusion & similar others (Jethro Tull, for instance) makes the Hall a bad joke.

Posted by Rich on Saturday, 10/11/2014 @ 15:11pm

Haha poseur...

Posted by Gassman on Saturday, 10/11/2014 @ 18:24pm

Just some other thoughts. I am staying with my Inductee predictions. The ones I like the most are Lou Reed, Spinners and Stevie Ray Vaughan. I do predict Chic, Green Day and NWA as well. Not a Rap fan at all but I do face facts. There is usually a Rap artist in recent years. My predictions remain. However just to cover myself a little. I do want to mention alternate possibilities. The Marvelettes most notably. It is very possible they could be inducted to get another Older Oldies group out of the way. This has happened before. Surprise Oldies. The Ronettes went in the same year as REM and Van Halen. Dave Clark Five went in same year as Madonna. The Hollies in 2010 is another example. I am still saying it will be tough for the Marvelettes due to the stacked list but you never know. Also there could be Bill Withers. The reasoning here is someone real mellow to counteract Sure ones like Green Day and NWA. That happens all the time too. Just last year both Linda Ronstadt and Cat S went in at the same time as Kiss and Nirvana. I am staying with my predictions though. Enig I know yu are out there! I saw your posts. I would like your responses or anyone else's. I love responses!

Posted by Ben on Sunday, 10/12/2014 @ 07:23am

Here's my opinion, ballot and prediction for the Class of 2015:

Paul Butterfield Blues Band:
One of the few 60’s era artists in this group, they are clearly somebody’s pet project on the Nominating Committee, as they appear every several years or so. I am a fan and a great admirer of their sophomore effort, 'East-West' (the title track is groundbreaking). Butterfield was a great singer and harp player, guitarist Michael Bloomfield was one of those genius junkie stories in the music’s lore. The bi-racial composition of the band at a time when that was unusual was bold and their adherence to Chicago blues roots plus bringing it forward with rock and roll energy and unusual experimentation all make them worthy in my book. Not a chance of induction this year, though. I find it interesting that so many people (even here) don't know much about them or dismiss them. 'East-West' really was groundbreaking, and the song is one of the foundations of jam bands that came later.

Chic:
Somebody REALLY wants them in. Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards are both hugely important figures, as producers as well as musicians. They were one of the better dance/disco groups, and excellent musicians as well. Hall-worthy, sure. But if they have not been selected by the voters eight times previous, I don’t see that changing with a ninth nomination.

Green Day:
This is the first year of eligibility for them, and I think they are a shoo-in. I am not a fan, but they are a critical darling (leftie manifesto 'American Idiot' sealed the deal for many, I am sure). The Hall loves the punk ethos, and then when they get arty on top of that. absolutely. I don’t argue against their credentials.

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts:
I dig Joan Jett. She is supercool and rocks. I just don’t think she is Hallworthy. No innovation. Several of her biggest hits were rockified covers or songs written for her by others (good songs, I love her “Crimson and Clover” cover and “Light of Day” was written for her by Bruce Springsteen). Influence? I think she influenced female rockers more with her attitude and look vs. the actual music. Is that enough? But as one of the few women on the ballot (other than Chic’s singers, but Chic is more about Rodgers and Edwards; The Marvelettes), she has a good shot at getting in.

Kraftwerk:
The most influential artist in this whole group? Good argument for it. They are basically ground zero for modern synth and electronic music. Krautrock gods. The only problem is that many people have never heard of them. Those that have heard of them have only heard of them, but not actually heard their music. I don’t think they will make it, but they are probably the most deserving of all of these nominees. On a scale of 1 to 10, their influence is at 11, their innovation is a 10 and musical excellence up there as well.

The Marvelettes:
Not as big as, say, The Supremes or Martha and the Vandellas (although I prefer Marvelettes over both), but they were also an important Motown girl group. In fact, they had Motown’s first number one hit, “Please Mr. Postman.” I would never say that any of Motown’s first tier (or second tier, on which the Marvelettes reside, as all of Motown’s first tier acts have long since been inducted) don’t deserve induction. They do. I doubt they will make it this year, though.

Nine Inch Nails:
aka Trent Reznor. Another first year eligible nominee. Reznor’s induction chances this year are less certain than Green Day’s, though. He/they are a definite eventual inductee. Out of all of these nominees, I probably know the least about their music. But by reputation, I figure they are worthy.

NWA:
Like them or not, repelled by them or inspired by them, you cannot deny their importance. As far as influence, I think they are second only to Kraftwerk in that department amongst these nominees. Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Wren, DJ Yella…these guys defined gangsta rap in the 1990’s. And this induction would go to honor Dre and Cube for their later work as well, probably. Dre is perhaps the most important rap producer ever, and Cube was one of the most talented and provocative rappers in this violent subgenre. Uncompromising and controversial, it is clear that the Nominating Committee (or some members of it) want them in, as they didn’t nominate any rap/hip hop competition this time around to split votes. I think they make it in this time and definitely deserve it.

Lou Reed:
Already in as a member of Velvet Underground, if he gets in for his solo work he’d be a two time inductee. He was nominated once many years ago, I bet they gave him another shot due to his death earlier this year. Nothing raises your profile like dying. But I say he clearly deserves induction for his solo work. One of the most uncompromising, challenging, and interesting rock artists of the last 40 years, Lou has done it all. I would love to see him get in, but I’m not sure he will in this competition.

The Smiths:
YES! One of my main complaints about the Hall has been their dismissal of the 80’s in general as a worthy period in music (they love the 60’s and 70’s, and seem to want to leapfrog the 80’s and get right to the 90’s), but slowly they have started to acknowledge the decade. The Cure were nominated a couple of years ago, last year saw a surprise nomination for The Replacements (neither were inducted). Here is another absolutely essential 80’s group. How fun would it be to have this year’s Rockhall fight be Morrissey vs. his former bandmates? I’m afraid, though, they will meet the same fate as The Cure and Replacements and not make it in.

The Spinners:
Look, I’m not going to complain about any important R&B artist nominations, as this genre (and blues) are so much in the DNA of rock and roll. Daryl Hall, in his acceptance speech last year for Hall & Oates, admonished the Hall for generally overlooking Philly Soul, and The Spinners nomination may be a response to that. Love this group, but I doubt they get in.

Sting:
Hmm. This is tough. He is already in with The Police, so this would be solely for his solo work. I mean, how do you deal with this? His first four solo records (I’m including the live Bring on the Night) were brilliant and daring in their way in that he made a real break from The Police’s sound and forged his own identity. But then? Horrible, saccharine, generic, lazy (especially considering his abilities) work. I find his work from Ten Summoner’s Tales forward infuriating. I guess I wouldn’t be upset if he got in (The Police are one of my favorite bands and his early solo work I adore), but he needs to be punished severely for most of the 90’s and beyond.

Stevie Ray Vaughan:
FINALLY! It is ridiculous that this is his first nomination. Year after year he appears near the top of most “biggest snubs” lists. He almost singlehandedly revived blues as a vital musical form in the 80’s and set it on a healthy track for beyond. He also influenced a generation of guitar players. Who doesn’t love this guy? Even if you don’t listen to him much anymore. But do you notice that his name looks a little odd there? A little bare and lonely? Where is the "& double Trouble?" I find it odd and dumb that his crucial band Double Trouble was not nominated with him, especially in light of the Rockhall righting past wrongs over the last several years with inducting backing bands like Springsteen’s E Street Band, James Brown’s Famous Flames, Smokey Robinson’s Miracles, etc. years after their leaders were inducted. I mean, Double Trouble (Chris Layton, Tommy Shannon and Reese Wynans) were essential to SRV’s sound. If Stevie were still alive, I think he would demand that his band go in with him, he wouldn’t be happy with going in alone. I always said that when they finally get around to nominating him that he’d be a sure thing, and I don’t see any direct competition this year, so I say he definitely gets in.

War:
Great group that melded soul, rock and latin sounds in the 70’s. I especially like their shortlived collaborations with Eric Burdon. A longshot for induction this year.

Bill Withers:
Nice. Fairly eccentric artist who walked away from the industry before he needed to. He is as respected as a singer-songwriter as he is an R&B artist, and wrote some fantastic, funky and lasting songs. Wouldn’t mind seeing him go in at all, and I’m a little surprised that this is only his first nomination.

Dez’s Ballot:

Stevie Ray Vaughan
Kraftwerk
The Smiths
Lou Reed
NWA or Sting: I cannot decide yet on my final slot. I don’t listen to NWA much, but they are hugely important. See my Sting discussion above.

Dez’s Predictions:

Stevie Ray Vaughan
Green Day
NWA
Lou Reed
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (I hope I’m wrong here)

Posted by Dezmond on Sunday, 10/12/2014 @ 07:23am

Not a big fan of this ballot at all. A lot of acts that are only pretty good. A lot of missed opportunities.

Green Day is getting in. I said the same thing about GNR. When a band has Diamond certified albums it doesn't matter what we think personally.

The Smiths-Nice to see some acknowledgement of the early 80s rock scene. British magazines like NME worship them. They are a good band and they represent a neglected musical era. But somehow I see them being left out. They don't have the same reputation in the US.

N.W.A.-Should get in. They were a major rap act, and the R&RHF has made clear that it wants to include rap acts.

The Marvelletes-Historically important early Motown act. Will probably get in.

Chic-Has been nominated multiple times and Nile Rodgers made his presence felt in contemporary music with Daft Punk. Rodgers himself could also get in as a producer.

Kraftwerk-A band whose influence on music is very overrated(even though I think they were influential, just not to the absurd degree as has been argued so often), but they are synonymous entire genre of Krautrock/electronic and they were again influential. A worthy inductee.


I do not consider the rest as that strong.

Joan Jett is worth inducting herself (like they did with Joplin), but Joan Jett & the Blackhearts are not.

Bill Withers-Good songwriter. A few successful albums. A couple of classic songs. Won't be upset if he gets in, but there are more worthy acts out there.

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band-Still have no clue why they have been nominated. Again.

War-A successful funk band. A couple of successful albums, including a No. 1. Again, wouldn't be upset if inducted but their are more worthy acts.

Stevie Ray Vaughn-Had a successful career. Had a No. 1 song and good selling albums. But pretty good, not great.

The Spinners-No comment.

Nine Inch Nails-Another successful band. DEvoted fans. Maybe one song (Hurt) that people recognize thanks to Johnny Cash. Could get in.

Sting and Lou Reed-Both are already well represented in the R&RHF. Sting wasn't anything special in his solo career. Lou Reed had a great album, Transformer, but his main impact is with the VU. I'd say between the two, Reed is more worthy.

Posted by astrodog on Sunday, 10/12/2014 @ 07:44am

How about Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Pink Floyd...american idiots...

Posted by Marin on Sunday, 10/12/2014 @ 08:07am

To not include Janet Jackson for "Nipplegate" when many male singers already in the hall flaunted their sexuality freely would be utterly absurd.

Posted by GFW on Sunday, 10/12/2014 @ 10:32am

Marin, you do realize that Pink Floyd was inducted way back in 1996, almost 20 years ago, right?

Posted by Nick on Sunday, 10/12/2014 @ 11:02am

Those are great lists, astrodog and Dezmond. Unfortunately my particular in this induction ceremony has waned considerably. I really have zero interest in attending it.

I am glad to see that there are more deserving rhythm and blues artists on this list, however.

But I will be much more interested in the return of the "art rock" and "progressive rock" acts to the nomination ballots over the next two years. Also, I wonder why they do not hold the induction ceremony on more neutral ground, in a city like Chicago, instead? I know that Cleveland is the home of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, but wouldn't Chicago be a better choice for the induction ceremony, at least?

Posted by Enigmaticus on Sunday, 10/12/2014 @ 11:55am

Mike,

I have been used to dealing with a "double standard" throughout my entire life. My older sister, my parent's favorite, would constantly do bad things which I would end up being blamed for and as a result, punished for when I was much younger. When I would bring home straight A's on my report card, it was expected, not rewarded. Never mind the fact that my classes were much more difficult, or that I had zero help. My parents never had the "sex" talk with me. They did not need to. I was familiar with the subject of reproduction when I was 7 years old. I had read an article in the medical encyclopedia and had figured it out for myself, instead.

I was spelling at the second year of college level when I was in third grade. I was 7-10 years ahead of most of my peers, in almost every subject. The "school system" did not educate me; teachers may have inspired me, but I had ultimately educated myself, because I had
possessed an overwhelming desire to learn.

Even so many decades later, I am still detested by many of my so-called peers. I am constantly expected to know things that others do not. Some people think they have the right to unleash their venom, or frustration against me, as a result I have become very much a cynic, or a misanthrope. I have never had a physical relationship, nor do I ever intend to.

But this is not about me, this is about Janet. As far as Janet is concerned, she happens to have an even more famous sibling. One simply cannot deny the genius of Michael Jackson. He basically re-invented the sound of pop. For two such geniuses to exist within the same family would be exponentially improbable. So, perhaps the Hall doesn't believe that she did this entirely by herself, n'est-ce pas?

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

I'm actually not the one that brought up the "double standard". And nobody is debating Michael Jackson's legacy.

The mere fact that Janet was able to emerge from her big brother's shadow and create her own path was quite impressive. Even MORE impressive was that she was able to (arguably) eclipse his popularity during the early 90's.

You do realize that big brother begged little sis to record a duet with him after the "Control" album blew up. She kindly declined. And he continued to ask. She finally agreed (when HE needed her most, mind you, amidst the child molestation allegations) and the result was "Scream". Listen to the track and watch the video. Janet all but upstaged him. Janet was VERY into the lyrics and vibe of the track and really kicked it up a notch in support of her big brother.

N'est-ce pas?

Posted by Mike on Sunday, 10/12/2014 @ 12:53pm

Mike,

I honestly have no objection against Janet Jackson being inducted, especially over several other artists, but I am not on the committee. I am just simply trying to explain why others perhaps, do not feel that she might be deemed Hall Of Fame worthy. Remember, I am very familiar with the "double standard." My older sister happens to be an attorney, I may not be as financially successful as she is, but I definitely do not live in my parent's basement, either. ;-(

Posted by Enigmaticus on Sunday, 10/12/2014 @ 13:09pm

Enig, I'm not sure if Mike is saying this or not... but the overall impression I'm getting from skimming your spat with him, is that NO ONE BUT YOU thinks that her wardrobe malfunction actually has anything to do with her not being in the Hall. GFW is just trolling for fun to show how absurd the notion is, and pretty much everyone else is saying it shouldn't matter and in fact it doesn't. You may very well be the only person who thinks that this is delaying her induction.

Posted by Philip on Sunday, 10/12/2014 @ 15:54pm

It is absolutely ridiculous that Tommy James and the Shondells have never been nominated and snubbed 23 times, WTF!

Posted by sandra najiy on Sunday, 10/12/2014 @ 16:12pm

I'm sure you were.

Posted by Dezmond on Sunday, 10/12/2014 @ 21:56pm

(sigh).

Posted by Bill G. on Sunday, 10/12/2014 @ 22:48pm

I voted on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's poll and on FRL's poll for Chic, War, Bill Withers, The Spinners, and The Marvelettes. They deserve to be inducted already. Enough is enough! Too many recent acts on the list, plus, Lou Reed and Sting are already inductees. I voted mostly for seniority.

Remember who got inducted this year, three solo acts: Peter Gabriel, Cat Stevens, Linda Ronstadt, and i'll add Hall & Oates too.

I have a feeling that might happen again next year with Bill Withers, Lou Reed, Sting, and Stevie Ray Vaughan being inducted.

I can't make a prediction of the 6 inductees for 2015 yet!

Posted by Roy on Monday, 10/13/2014 @ 06:22am

WHEN VOTING SENIORITY

THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

01. The Marvelettes
02. The Spinners
03. Bill Withers
04. Lou Reed
05. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
06. War
07. Kraftwerk

WHEN VOTING FOR THE MOST RECENT ACTS

THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

01. Green Day
02. Nine Inch Nails
03. N.W.A
04. Stevie Ray Vaughan
05. The Smiths
06. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
07. Chic

Posted by Roy on Monday, 10/13/2014 @ 06:31am

I see the current crop are up for nominations.

Green Day is the Gimme' here. They'll probably close the show, & the ratings will be great, which is exactly what the Hall is hoping for.

So many of these are returnees, that it's hard to figure out whether the Hall's taking a breather, or whether they really think this is the best they could offer?

I'd still like War to make it in, though I'm starting to wonder. I have the same feeling about Chic, & to a lesser extent, Joan Jett.

Kraftwerk should have a strong shot, as everyone's talking about the dance music again. They did zilch for rock outside of the initial stuff, which had some rock-ish sounds. Still, if the Hall wishes to be hip...

NWA is another that has no real rock influence, but probably will see the light of day.

It's already been noted that Sting & Lou Reed are already in there. Makes one wonder why they received solo bids.

The Spinners & the Marvelletes might take the Motown/oldies/R&B spot, though deciding between them will be tough. Bill Withers also has a chance here, I assume.

The Smiths might make it, though I have a theory that, due to continually ignoring certain acts (& then feeling confounded about fan response) the Hall seeks to let them in courtesy of a "partner" act of sorts. I think the Smiths will get in, but only when a group like a Blur or Oasis become eligible. It lessens the embarrassment factor of the Hall over these semi-"slights".

SRV finally shows up? I hope this isn't akin to Link WRay's one and done of last year.

NIN? Perhaps. Remember, Reznor has an Academy Award to his name, for a soundtrack to a film I forget. It may sound silly, but it's those little things that play out well to an older body of voters.

----------

Right now, I'd give it to Green Day, WAR, The Spinners, Bill Withers, & maybe the Smiths.

Beats me whose actually getting in, though. I'll wait on the goodies of next yr.

Posted by Cheesecrop on Monday, 10/13/2014 @ 06:35am

MY FINAL 2 PREDICTIONS

THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

01. The Marvelettes
02. The Spinners
03. Bill Withers
04. War
05. Chic
06. Kraftwerk

OR

01. Bill Withers
02. Lou Reed
03. Sting
04. Stevie Ray Vaughan
05. Nine Inch Nails
06. Green Day

Posted by Roy on Monday, 10/13/2014 @ 06:51am

One other thing - It's a shame that only one other person here (I believe Enigmaticus) mentioned Soundgarden anywhere in their posts.

SG toured this summer w/NIN, so it's not as though they are off the public's radar. They certainly fit the bill of a band who had some success. Why exactly the Hall should nominate NIN while excluding Soundgarden is beyond me. Perhaps they are waiting for Alice In Chains to show up next yr., and do a double whammy here.

I'm actually beginning to wonder if perhaps this yrs. ballot, aside from Green Day, will be stacked w/oldies instead. If next yrs. crop features, AIC, the Smashing Pumpkins, and Blur, you could easily see an act such as the Smiths shoved back a yr. In addition, add Soundgarden to this list, & you'd have a partial ballot that read:

Alice in Chains
Blur
Soundgarden
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smiths

Toss in the gimme hip-hop act (perhaps a delayed NWA) and a modern R&B artist (pick it), and you have what would be a staggering modern ballot. Someone else mentioned inn an earlier post that we might see the first modern ballot w/this election. Personally, I might like to see a primarily oldies ballot, & really do it right, modern-wise, next yr.

Posted by Cheesecrop on Monday, 10/13/2014 @ 07:08am

"plus, Lou Reed and Sting are already inductees" - Roy, seemingly explaining why he didn't vote for them.

Why does that matter? Don't vote for them if you do not think their solo careers warrant induction based on the Hall's criteria, but it doesn't make sense to me to not give them a vote simply because they've already been inducted with a former group. Sting's solo career is questionable, but I think Lou Reed is a no-brainer. One of the most deserving on this list. By that logic, why induct Michael Jackson, afterall, he already went in with the Jackson 5.

Posted by Dezmond on Monday, 10/13/2014 @ 08:28am

Dezmond wrote:
"plus, Lou Reed and Sting are already inductees" - Roy, seemingly explaining why he didn't vote for them.

Why does that matter? Don't vote for them if you do not think their solo careers warrant induction based on the Hall's criteria, but it doesn't make sense to me to not give them a vote simply because they've already been inducted with a former group. Sting's solo career is questionable, but I think Lou Reed is a no-brainer. One of the most deserving on this list. By that logic, why induct Michael Jackson, afterall, he already went in with the Jackson 5.
Monday, 10.13.14 @ 08:28am


Lou Reed and Sting inductions can wait, but they won't!

Posted by Roy on Monday, 10/13/2014 @ 09:07am

http://rockhall.com/voting/2015-rock-hall-nominees-fan-vote/

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Poll

Nine Inch Nails 25.32%
Stevie Ray Vaughan 21.48%
Kraftwerk 12.59%
Green Day 8.77%
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 5.32%
Bill Withers 4.33%
Lou Reed 4.28%
The Smiths 3.84%
Sting 3.16%
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band 2.53%
N.W.A 2.53%
War 1.97%
The Spinners 1.40%
The Marvelettes 1.39%
Chic 1.10%

Posted by Roy on Monday, 10/13/2014 @ 10:50am

THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

01. Bill Withers
02. Lou Reed
03. Sting
04. Stevie Ray Vaughan
05. Nine Inch Nails
06. Green Day

Posted by Roy on Monday, 10/13/2014 @ 11:45am

I posted this on Alex Voltaire's blog, but I felt like it would be worth getting my opinion out there on the lack of Classic Rock nominations on this ballot.

"Personally I zero problem with the lack of a ton Classic Rock nominations for this round. I too was at first disappointed that Deep Purple was not present on the nomination list, but after thinking about it I was actually fine with their choices. For one, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Joan Jett are totally Classic Rock nominations. They are played all the time on Classic Rock stations. Also, I feel like the Hall has done an excellent job in making the genres that make up Classic Rock (Prog, Hard Rock, etc) an emphasis the past five years. This goes back all the way to Genesis in 2010, Alice Cooper in 2011, Guns N Roses in 2012, Rush and Heart in 2013 and lastly KISS and Peter Gabriel last year. They have done a great job with easing some of the Classic Rock backlog that had accumulated. Plus, usually when there is outrage about them snubbing a genre, they almost always correct it the next year so I would except at least 2-3 pure Classic Rawk acts next year. Lastly I don't feel like the Rock Hall should go out of there way to make Eddie Trunk and his minions happy. Personally I can't stand the guy and I don't think he knows much about music other than his niche.

It is now time to do the same with R&B and Alternative Rock that they did with Classic Rock and make an push with these genres. Both of these genres have been essentially ignored during that some time period. Really the only R&B act to have been inducted since 2010 has been Hall & Oates last year. Also I can't imagine it looked good for the Hall to have Clarence Clemons as the only person of color inducted last year.

While Alternative Rock has pretty much only seen the obvious choices get in with The Stooges in 2010, Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2012 and Nirvana last year. 80's Alternative other than R.E.M. and U2 have been essentially ignored. Fixing this by getting The Smiths, The Cure, The Replacements, Joy Division and Sonic Youth in is more important to me than making sure that Deep Purple and Yes finally get in."

Posted by Gassman on Monday, 10/13/2014 @ 13:35pm

"Why exactly the Hall should nominate NIN while excluding Soundgarden is beyond me."

Because it seems nominations are more about critical acclaim and popularity than innovation/influence. Yes, usually critical acclaim goes hand-in-hand with innovation/influence, but not always. Guns 'N Roses and Smashing Pumpkins for instance seem to have much more critical acclaim than direct influence on their subgenre, as few future bands sounded like them as opposed to the vast number of Pearl Jam or Radiohead imitations for instance. For most of the acts that seemed to be snubbed, they invariably aren't as critically acclaimed as the general public thinks they are or arguably should be (Stevie Ray Vaughan (954), Judas Priest (1100), Iron Maiden (421), Rush (481), and Alice in Chains (721, who will inevitably be snubbed for like 15 years or something)...all these guys are actually behind Britney Spears (394)!) So there's that. Obviously all those acts are better and more influential than Spears, but this lack of respect among critics has likely kept them out.

So which acts had the most critical acclaim according to acclaimedmusic.net this time around? (This site is based on a worldwide ranking, not a US ranking, which might be more relevant, and people like Vaughan would likely do better among US only critics but still):

The Smiths - 26
Lou Reed - 51
Kraftwerk - 57
Green Day - 155
Nine Inch Nails - 165
Chic - 198
N.W.A - 219
Bill Withers - 556
War - 640
The Spinners - 697
Sting - 729
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - 887
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - 913
Stevie Ray Vaughan - 954
The Marvelettes - 1101

Smiths, Reed, and Kraftwerk have the most overall critical acclaim, but perhaps more of that is in Europe than in the US and they were likely more popular elsewhere as well. Essentially, it will usually come down to the most critically acclaimed mega-selling acts, which implies Green Day and NIN. Most of your questions can probably be answered by this critical acclaim ranking.

"Why exactly the Hall should nominate NIN while excluding Soundgarden is beyond me."

NIN is more critically acclaimed and even though Soundgarden had much more of a hand in innovating grunge than NIN did in innovating industrial, NIN is considered to the general public as "the industrial band", while Soundgarden is not considered "the grunge band". It also doesn't help that Soundgarden seemed to have the least direct influence on post-grunge acts (Nirvana primarily influenced Bush, Everclear, Foo Fighters, etc...; Pearl Jam primarily influenced Candlebox, Collective Soul, Creed, etc...; Alice in Chains primarily influenced Godsmack, Staind, etc...; but Soundgarden seemed to be less directly replicated besides Chris Cornell's side projects I guess perhaps because they were more technical musicians who were harder to duplicate) while NIN had more bands obviously citing them. I do think Soundgarden is the stronger act, but I also get why they're not considered that way.

"Alice in Chains
Blur
Soundgarden
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smiths"

No way. AIC will be snubbed for a long time due to less critical acclaim than they deserve. Blur will be snubbed for a long time because even though they have massive critical acclaim and popularity outside the US, they're erroneously considered a one-hit wonder novelty here. They'll both get in after a long time. AIC will need to wait for Soundgarden who will need to wait for Pearl Jam, while Blur won't be until after The Smiths, Radiohead, and Oasis at least. Soundgarden could appear on the ballot shortly after Pearl Jam and it wouldn't surprise me (The Hall does like Chris Cornell), but it seems they're waiting for Pearl Jam first (and they definitely seemed to have more direct influence, even if any bands Soundgarden influenced were likely better than most of the bands Pearl Jam influenced). Smashing Pumpkins like Soundgarden seem to have fewer bands that sound like them, and much like GNR don't seem to be as important as they are critically acclaimed since their sound wasn't replicated often, but I suppose their critical acclaim + popularity might be enough even if they haven't been taken seriously since the late '90s (I basically consider them dead even with Weezer (two big acclaimed albums in the mid-late '90s followed by not much), and are they considered first ballot anymore? I don't know). I could easily see nobody being first-ballot from the 2015 eligibles. I think A Tribe Called Quest, Alice In Chains, The Black Crowes, Blur, Mariah Carey, Moby, and Smashing Pumpkins will all eventually make it, but none of them will be close to first ballot, except for Smashing Pumpkins whom I'd guess would wait a couple years but not many. The rest would probably take a decade or more. I'd actually say it would be easier for '80s alternative to get in next year rather than harder because nobody, not even Smashing Pumpkins (who are more acclaimed but probably less influential than Green Day/NIN) stands out among the next year's future eligibles, even if a lot of them will get in.

Posted by Sean on Monday, 10/13/2014 @ 14:11pm

Also with regard to NIN, I think the Johnny Cash cover of "Hurt" is a big deal, more than his score for "The Social Network" (although that could help since that was the most acclaimed movie of its year even if it didn't win the Best Picture Oscar). Having an act already in the Hall of Fame cover your work is huge, especially when it became considered as one of the most important songs in Cash's career. Soundgarden admittedly has also been covered by a HOF act (Guns 'N Roses covered "Big Dumb Sex" on "The Spaghetti Incident?", but that is not considered monumental or important, while Cash's "Hurt" is. That alone could make a difference...)

Posted by Sean on Monday, 10/13/2014 @ 14:21pm

Because it seems nominations are more about critical acclaim and popularity than innovation/influence. Yes, usually critical acclaim goes hand-in-hand with innovation/influence, but not always.

etc., etc., on down---

Posted by Sean on Monday, 10.13.14 @ 14:11pm
--------------------------------------------------
I'd say "a little bit yes, a little bit no", to what you wrote.

I understand where Soundgarden isn't really considered "the" grunge band, & perhaps they'll need Pearl Jam's induction to get in. I had no idea you were going to drag world rankings into this either. I just found it interesting that one of the better modern bands has gone ignored over the past few yrs.

I will say that I think you vastly underestimate the current crop of modern acts coming up. While I would understand if some acts didn't make it in right off the bat, I definitely think they'll be in w/in a few yrs. of their eligibility. I'd say that they might let one or two in on the first ballot as a signal that they are changing their viewpoint regarding modern acts (something that probably should've been done several yrs. ago, as it were). Call it a public pronouncement ballot, if you will.

BTW - the artists you listed would make a great class.

Posted by Cheesecrop on Monday, 10/13/2014 @ 15:57pm

My final call is:

-5 Minimum-
1. Kraftwerk
2. Green Day
3. Stevie Ray Vaughan
4. Lou Reed
5. N.W.A.

-6 to 8 possible-
6. Bill Withers
7. Nine Inch Nails
8. Chic

-Other Nominees-
9. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
10. The Smiths
11. The Spinners
12. The Marvelettes
13. War
14. Sting
15. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Posted by SotN on Tuesday, 10/14/2014 @ 03:55am

What happened to the "progressive rock" acts this year? Where is Yes? Where is Procol Harum? Where is Deep Purple?

The hall has seemed to have reverted back to their original stance. There was hope that after Rush's induction in 2013 and Peter Gabriel's induction earlier this year, that Yes would follow those titans in, but this was certainly not the case. The sole "prog" representative this year is Kraftwerk. Their genre is "Krautrock."

Since the induction ceremony is in Cleveland this time, maybe the nominating committee had felt that this ceremony is somehow less important, or perhaps less significant? Los Angeles and New York City are the places where you induct the icons, such as Rush. I would venture to guess that Yes will be inducted in 2016, the year when the ceremony returns to Los Angeles, along with Duran Duran and perhaps, The Moody Blues?

Okay, so I will not have to take a vacation until 2016 at the earliest, my last "proper vacation" was over 26 years ago, unless you count my recuperation time in Scottsdale, which was over 22 years ago.

As far as my ballot is concerned, I had voted for the following artists: Sting, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kraftwerk, Lou Reed and Bill Withers.

As far as who will get in, is concerned, I think that four of
those artists, along with Green Day and possibly, NIN will be inducted.

So, I am venturing to guess that these artists will be next
year's inductees:

Green Day
Nine Inch Nails
Stevie Ray Vaughan (posthumously)
Lou Reed (posthumously)
Sting (as a solo artist)
Bill Withers
Kraftwerk

Posted by Enigmaticus on Tuesday, 10/14/2014 @ 09:03am

Perhaps being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame only once is not enough. Now, in order to truly be recognized, you need to be inducted at least twice. The new "black," or so to speak is to join the so-called "Clyde McPhatter's club."

That may be why, the late Lou Reed and Sting are up for nominations for their solo careers. One may argue that Sting's solo career was more "jazz oriented," but that may not seem to matter.

I happen to own quite a few of Sting's solo albums.

Now, could Stevie Nicks be the next artist on the list to join this exclusive club?

Posted by Enigmaticus on Tuesday, 10/14/2014 @ 09:13am

It's so good to hear from you, Cheesecrop.

Those are great lists, astrodog and Dezmond. Unfortunately, my particular interest in this induction ceremony has waned considerably. I really have zero interest in attending it.

I am glad to see that there are more deserving rhythm and blues artists on this list, however.

I will be much more interested in the return of the "art rock" and "progressive rock" acts to the nomination ballots over the next two years. Also, I wonder why they do not hold the induction ceremony on more neutral ground, in a city like Chicago, instead? I know that Cleveland is the home of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, but wouldn't Chicago be a better choice for the induction ceremony, at least?


Posted by Enigmaticus on Sunday, 10.12.14 @ 11:55am

Posted by Enigmaticus on Tuesday, 10/14/2014 @ 09:20am

War has 11 RIAA certified Gold albums. Including 3 Platinum selling albums.

Posted by Joe-Skee on Tuesday, 10/14/2014 @ 14:44pm

My Predictions for 2015
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Green Day
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Kraftwerk
Nine Inch Nails

Posted by A.Long on Tuesday, 10/14/2014 @ 14:47pm

Wish List of 6 (I'm going with 6 since that seems to be the trend the past few years):
The Smiths (one of my favorite bands of all time)
NIN
Kraftwerk
Lou Reed
NWA
The Spinners

Guess on who actually gets in:
Stevie Ray Vaughan (why DT was excluded is another RRHOF failure)
Lou Reed (sadly a death or illness seems to awaken the nom committee and voting body from their slumbers)
The Marvelettes (Jon Landau, Little Stevie and co. will make sure they get in)
Green Day (I'm not as sold on them as a lock as Nirvana was....see Ian McLagan's comments about them....do other older gen HOF musicians feel the same?)
Sting (all the insiders love Sting....too bad, as he doesn't deserve this over the other nominees)
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (some goodwill left over from the Nirvana performance)

Posted by boar on Tuesday, 10/14/2014 @ 17:48pm

Ever since the fan ballot appeared two years ago, the acts with the most votes from 2013 (Rush) and 2014 (Kiss) were inducted in those classes. Right now, there is a constant back-and-forth for Nine Inch Nails and Stevie Ray Vaughn for the top spot on the fan poll. Personally, I think Nine Inch Nails will finish with the most votes, although I wouldn't be shocked if Vaughn got the most votes. Oddly enough thou is that Nine Inch Nails and Vaughn have double-digit leads over the other nominees (both acts have 23-25% each; the closest is Kraftwerk with roughly 11-12%). I think the Rock Hall has to change their criteria for the fan vote next year. Users should vote for five and only five choices on the ballot (not just one vote for either Nine Inch Nails or Vaughn). This kind of voting really makes the results quite lopsided. Long story short, whoever gets the top vote on the fan ballot will get inducted (I'm already betting this will happen).

On a side note, does anyone else think that the fan vote is a little bit racist? Look at the results of the bottom six acts (in order)--Chic (sadly the lowest), Marveletttes, Spinners, NWA, War, Paul Butterfield Blues Band. All these acts feature black performers (the last one has white and black members thou). Only Bill Withers is closest to the top five (currently #6). Just wondering if anyone else noticed this and had any thoughts about this. On a side note, I voted for Nine Inch Nails, Chic, Marvelettes, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and the Smiths.

As it stands right now, this is who I think will make up the 2015 class:
-Chic
-Green Day
-Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
-Nine Inch Nails
-Lou Reed
-Stevie Ray Vaughn

I wouldn't be surprised if Bill Withers or the Spinners get inducted instead one of these acts.

Posted by Nick on Wednesday, 10/15/2014 @ 18:15pm

Nick, on the racist question it depends. It depends if someone didn't vote for the black artists because they are black vs. they didn't vote for them because they honestly preferred the other artists, who happen to be white.

I get sick of the "quota" arguments, that the Rockhall needs more women, or more black artists, or whatever. (Comparing genre representation is a little different and more legitimate). I think the Hall has done well as far as diversity goes. Percentage-wise, the Hall has more black artists than is the black population percentage in the U.S., for instance.

I never consider race, gender, etc. in my calculations or who I push. I find those factors irrelevant. If you really want racial equality, then race needs to not even be a factor. Then you have racial equality. Not with quotas where you stress the differences.

Out of these nominees, my ballot (assuming five) would be Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kraftwerk, Smiths, Lou Reed and either Bill Withers or NWA. Only one choice out of five would be black. Does that make me racist or out of this list, do I just happen to prefer the artists that are mostly white?

On your fan ballot suggestion, I agree. Perhaps only ballots that are filled out completely should count to avoid the NIN fanboys from packing the ballot box with NIN-only ballots.

Posted by Dezmond on Wednesday, 10/15/2014 @ 20:14pm

Like the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, War is also a multi-ethnic music group. This is something worth noting that I forgot to put in my original post. Also, I'm not trying to say that the fan ballot is racist, but I think the results are a little questionable. With the lack of white rock stars/bands, I wonder if this is a reaction to the frustration of those fans. This year's ballot, unlike what many people might say otherwise, is really stacked. Acts like Stevie Ray Vaughn, Nine Inch Nails, Green Day, and The Smiths make it hard to narrow to just five selections (although we all know there will probably be 6 inductees). I wholeheartedly agree that race should never be a determination if an act deserves to be in the Rock Hall, but I think the lack of African-Americans and other minorities in recent years should be addressed.

Posted by Nick on Wednesday, 10/15/2014 @ 23:39pm

http://ourrockandrollhalloffame71305.yuku.com/reply/26775/2014-Nominees-2015-Induction-RampRHoF-#reply-26775

Charles Crossely Jr. just posted his break down of the 2015 nominees.

Posted by John R.C. on Friday, 10/17/2014 @ 01:07am

So there is a few topics being discussed on here. I will mention the lack of Prog Rock and Classic Rock in general. I was so sure Deep Purple and Yes would be nominated. I think what happened is due to the lack of R&B nominees in the last couple years the Hall wanted to make up for that instead. I am glad to see more R&B artists on the Ballot. Marvelettes is an Oldies choice. R&B in its time. The Spinners are an R&B choice I predict to win and get inducted. Since War and Bill Withers are on the ballot too clearly they were stressing R&B more. A bunch of those Classic Rock predictions should show up on ballot next year. Moody Blues apparently had no chance of nomination since they have never been on a ballot in the first place. Ok. So we move on for now. I do think similar to last year there will be 70s choices along with a 90s choice. Green Day in this case. I am also Glad to see Stevie Ray Vaughn on the ballot. I think he'll be Inducted. Technically he's an 80s choice. I still think they'll be 3 actual 70s choices. I'm going with 6 altogether. I predict Chic, Lou Reed and the Spinners. They are all 70s. So there is less Classic Rock on the ballot but the Inductee list has great potential to be Diverse.

Posted by Ben on Saturday, 10/18/2014 @ 05:21am

Here's a possible scenario that no one has brought up, probably do to it being very unrealistic. But what if the class turns out to be artists that are mostly black?

There is absolutely no possibility of having an all black class, as to me Stevie Ray Vaughan at the very least is a virtual lock for induction. He's not only winning the fan poll, and we all know what happens to the artist/band that wins the fan poll. Not to mention he's going to be the sentimental favorite for any blues and/or blues rock inductee.

And I imagine that between Sting, Lou Reed, Green Day, and NIN, at the very least one of those will go in.

But what if the other four inductees are black artists? First off, you've got Chic who have now been nominated 9 times. What is the voters finally give in and induct them? You have three very strong figures of 1970's R&B music with Bill Withers, the Spinners, and War. And then there's N.W.A. who is so deserving of induction it's ridiculous. And there's the Marvelettes who could provide female representation as well as serve as a 50's/60's inductee.

So imagine a class of say Stevie Ray Vaughan, Green Day, N.W.A., Chic, the Spinners, and the Marvelettes?


Again, I think that's unlikely as I'm predicting an all 80's/90's class for the first time ever (which I brought up earlier)?

But what if? After all it's obviously the Nominating Committee was wanting to make up ground on alt-rock and classic R&B. To me getting in at least 2 out of 4 of the combination of Chic, War, the Spinners, and Bill Withers would be a nice dent in the 70's R&B catalog. Getting N.W.A in will make room for LL Cool J, and then we can get to the 90's for rap inductees.

I mean we have no classic rock snubs from the 60's and 70's that should've been in years ago on the ballot. Might as well induct one of the big name alt-rock acts (Green Day or NIN) to headline the show, get your big rap snub with N.W.A., represent one final nod to the blues with Stevie Ray Vaughan, and then make some headway on the R&B backlog?

Who knows?

Posted by Donnie on Saturday, 10/18/2014 @ 07:53am

Anyone not predicting Sting is kidding themselves.

He is the most well connected artist (to previous nominees) out of the 15 on the ballot.

Posted by Guru on Saturday, 10/18/2014 @ 15:36pm

^ (wrong word)

Sting is the most well connected artist (to previous INDUCTEES) out of the 15 on the ballot

Posted by Guru on Saturday, 10/18/2014 @ 15:38pm

"Here's a possible scenario that no one has brought up, probably do to it being very unrealistic. But what if the class turns out to be artists that are mostly black?"

I wouldn't worry too much about THAT scenario, Donnie. The chance of that happening is almost NIL.
The R&R HOF'S record in inducting classic R&B groups in the last several years is shamefully spotty...Only 6 R&B groups have been inducted in the last 11 years.

Three of those were inducted by the voting body: The Dells in 2004, The O'Jays in 2005,and Little Anthony & The Imperials in 2009.

The other three, The Miracles, The Famous Flames, and The Midnighters were special committee inductees that should have gone in with their original lead singers...and were NOT voted in,so the voters didn't have a CHANCE to reject them.

That means that , when you eliminate those three groups, only 3 R&B groups were put in by the voters in the last 10 YEARS.

The other Black artists that were inducted were not R&B identified: Donna Summer is Disco, Albert & Freddy King were Blues ,Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five and Public Enemy are Rap, and Jimmy Cliff is Reggae .
Bobby Womack IS R&B identified, and Percy Sledge shouldn't have been inducted at all...not before such heavyweights as Barry White, Lou Rawls, The Commodores, Dionne Warwick, War, and The Spinners.
So, as much as I'd like to think that The Spinners and The Marvelettes have a chance , I think that , if ANY Black artist gets in for 2015, it will probably be Bill Withers.

Posted by Bill G. on Saturday, 10/18/2014 @ 17:13pm

I'm sticking with my final prediction and I hate it, except for Withers!!

THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

01. Bill Withers
02. Lou Reed
03. Sting
04. Stevie Ray Vaughan
05. Nine Inch Nails
06. Green Day

Posted by Roy on Saturday, 10/18/2014 @ 19:21pm

I'm not a fan of Bill Withers at all. I do think he's deserving, but not before The Spinners or The Marvelettes.

That's why I know that, of the three, HE will probably be the one that gets inducted.

Posted by Bill G. on Saturday, 10/18/2014 @ 20:01pm

Who I want to be inducted:

1. Kraftwerk
2. Stevie Ray Vaughn
3. Nine Inch Nails
4. The Smiths
5. Bill Withers
6. N.W.A

Who I think will be inducted:

1. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (they've made it clear that they want one female indcutee, and I don't think The Marvelettes are getting in this time)
2. Green Day (obviously)
3. Lou Reed (see: guilt)
4. Stevie Ray Vaughn (I feel like after all this time they would not of nominated him if they weren't leaning to get someone of his notability in in)
5. Kraftwerk (solid left field pick, plus faring suprisingly well in fan pole)
6. N.W.A (the love of hip-hop is strong in the rock hall, and a rap group running unopposed is usually an instalock)

Posted by Boomstick on Sunday, 10/19/2014 @ 01:56am

Hey Enig. I'm going to address an issue yu had. It's pop Performers like Janet Jackson and mayb Mariah Carey. I don't think Nipple gate has anything much to do with it. I'm going on a Limb here. Michael Jackson and Madonna went in. Key pop performers. 2 Icons. However other Key Pop people will either never b Inducted or b delayed in favor of actual Rock, R&b and folkie artists. Janet will wait in favor of true Rock and also Folk. This keep things diverse. Even the Hall will not go that far. So I with an Influx of 90s Rock coming. 9 rock before Janet. SoundGarden before Janet. Also backlog artists like Chicago before Janet. That's that.

Posted by Ben on Sunday, 10/19/2014 @ 06:27am

Ben,

Thank you for your analysis. I am not entirely certain what constitutes something being "pop," or "rock" anymore.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Sunday, 10/19/2014 @ 06:45am

I will elaborate slightly. Artists like Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson are at least going toa wait. Eventually perhaps. There is going to be a 90s ROCK Blitz GOING on. SoundGarden and others. That's one thing. Also there's the last backlog with those like Chicago, Doobie Brothers, ELO, and Yes. I won't focus on Moody Blues here. Since the Hall has not made any effort for them. There's also R&b like War and others to Consider. I predict Spinners this year. So with all this Janet and Mariah I think will wait. That's the way it went with those like Abba. Which is fortunate in my opinion. At least some like Bob Seger and Traffic got in first. There are some thoughts. Enig. I'm hoping yu respond

Posted by Ben on Sunday, 10/19/2014 @ 14:18pm

So can we number down the predictions to categories?

1. Alernative/Punk/Hard Rock (Nine Inch Nails, The Smiths, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Green Day)
2. Blues (Steve Ray Vaughn, Paul Butterfield Blues Band)
3. Solo Artist (Lou Reed, Sting)
4. Dance Act (Kraftwerk, Chic)
5. Urban Act (N.W.A, Bill Withers, The Spinners, The Marvelettes, War)
6. One extra

Posted by Boomstick on Sunday, 10/19/2014 @ 17:53pm

Ben,

Regarding Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey, I think that their nominations, as well as inductions are still several years away. Although, I feel that Mariah Carey will receive a nomination prior to Janet.

It's very difficult to predict who the nominees will be next year, but I think that Duran Duran, Yes and The Moody Blues could be very good possibilities. If they want female songwriters, then either Stevie Nicks, Carole King, Carly Simon, or Sade might be great choices, also.

It is certainly possible that Deep Purple may also return to the ballot, but they may also receive some competition from groups, such as Bad Company, Foreigner and possibly, Blue Oyster Cult.

I think that E.L.O. May receive a nod, to compete with other "prog rock" giants.

The Zombies may also return, but if The Moody Blues are on the ballot also, The Zombies may have to wait an additional year, or so. Nominating The Moody Blues would be a very good move and lead to their immediate induction.

Duran Duran is expected to release another masterpiece next year, which might lead to their nomination. If they receive a nomination, they may get in also.

I think that The Doobie Brothers would be another great choice for induction, as well.






As far as Janet Ja

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 10/20/2014 @ 04:41am

Ben,

2016 could be a very exciting year.

I think that Yes will return to the nomination ballot and subsequently be inducted.

We may also see a nomination for either The Commodores, or Lionel Richie as a solo artist.

Queen Latifah would be a good choice, as far as female rappers are concerned.

I really do not think that Janet Jackson will be nominated, nor inducted until she is in her late fifties, or early sixties. I think that their will be several R k B artists who will precede her.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 10/20/2014 @ 04:54am

I am very surprised that Digital Dream Door has not yet provided their opinion about the 2015 nominees. Usually, they would be providing a synopsis of the nominees.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 10/20/2014 @ 13:44pm

Yes, Sampson is late this year.

Posted by Roy on Monday, 10/20/2014 @ 13:53pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXRiZRiqzp0

FOX NEWS on the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Posted by Roy on Monday, 10/20/2014 @ 15:31pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXRiZRiqzp0

FOX NEWS on the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Posted by Roy on Monday, 10/20/2014 @ 15:45pm

http://hitparadehalloffame.com

The 2014 Hit Parade Hall of Fame Nominees

Alabama
Joe Cocker
Jim Croce
Herman’s Hermits
Whitney Houston
The Kinks
Reba McEntire
Conway Twitty

Posted by Roy on Monday, 10/20/2014 @ 17:31pm

Your 2015 RNRHOF Inductees:

Green Day
Nine Inch Nails
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Lou Reed
Sting
N.W.A.

Posted by Classic Rock on Monday, 10/20/2014 @ 18:55pm

About the 2015 Nominees, Classic Rock wrote:

Your 2015 RNRHOF Inductees:

Green Day
Nine Inch Nails
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Lou Reed
Sting
N.W.A.

Monday, 10.20.14 @ 18:55pm

Bill Withers has a lot of friends. Plus, he is number 4 on the Rock Hall's official fan poll. I'm still sticking with my prediction.

THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

01. Bill Withers (This year's Albert King)
02. Lou Reed (This year's Cat Stevens)
03. Sting (This year's Peter Gabriel)
04. Stevie Ray Vaughan (This year's Nirvana)
05. Nine Inch Nails (This year's Metallica)
06. Green Day (This year's Red Hot Chilli Peppers)

Posted by Roy on Monday, 10/20/2014 @ 19:29pm

http://rockhall.com/voting/2015-rock-hall-nominees-fan-vote/

UPDATE! Official 2015 Rock Hall Fan Vote Poll

01. Nine Inch Nails 28.92% (WHITE)
02. Stevie Ray Vaughan 24.31% (WHITE)
03. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 8.34% (WHITE)
04. Bill Withers 7.43% (BLACK)
05. Green Day 6.65% (WHITE)
06. Kraftwerk 5.69% (WHITE)
07. Sting 4.33% (WHITE)
08. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band 4.23% (WHITE AND BLACK)
09. Lou Reed 2.54% (WHITE)
10. The Smiths 1.89% (WHITE)
11. War 1.39% (BLACK AND WHITE)
12. The Spinners 1.19% (BLACK)
13. N.W.A 1.10% (BLACK)
14. The Marvelettes 1.09% (BLACK)
15. Chic 0.90% (BLACK)

Bill Withers has a lot of friends. Plus, he is number 4 on the Rock Hall's official fan poll. I'm still sticking with my prediction and I hate it.

THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

01. Bill Withers (This year's Albert King)
02. Lou Reed (This year's Cat Stevens)
03. Sting (This year's Peter Gabriel)
04. Stevie Ray Vaughan (This year's Nirvana)
05. Nine Inch Nails (This year's Metallica)
06. Green Day (This year's Red Hot Chilli Peppers)

Posted by Roy on Monday, 10/20/2014 @ 19:51pm

Bobby Womack would be the more appropriate comparison for Bill Withers, inducted on the first try!

Posted by Roy on Monday, 10/20/2014 @ 20:06pm

Roy says:

"01. Bill Withers (This year's Albert King)
02. Lou Reed (This year's Cat Stevens)
03. Sting (This year's Peter Gabriel)
04. Stevie Ray Vaughan (This year's Nirvana)
05. Nine Inch Nails (This year's Metallica)
06. Green Day (This year's Red Hot Chilli Peppers)"

Roy, explain. How is Bill Withers this year's Albert King? Then only thing they have in common is skin color.

How the hell is Lou Reed this year's Cat Stevens? What remotely do they have in common? They both wrote songs, I guess. Listen to 'Metal Machine Music' and then 'Tea For the Tillerman' and explain how that comment makes any sense? At all.

I think I see where you are getting the Gabriel/Sting connection, but they are hugely different artists.

SRV/Nirvana? White and popular amongst classic rock fans? The only connection I can see.

NIN/Metallica? I guess both started as cult artists and then gained mainstream popularity?

Some of these are stretched so thin as to be meaningless, while a few of them are just plain insane. I really want you to explain the Stevens/Reed. And DO NOT tell me singer-songwriter slot. Lou Reed is and has never been within miles of that genre.

Posted by Dezmond on Monday, 10/20/2014 @ 22:20pm

I see your comment below, saying that Withers and Womack are a better comparison. That I can go with and agree with.

Posted by Dezmond on Monday, 10/20/2014 @ 22:22pm

I would MUCH rather see the Spinners or The Marvelettes get in than Bill Withers.

....And that's why he'll probably get inducted in the 2015 Class.

Posted by Bill G. on Tuesday, 10/21/2014 @ 00:30am

05. Nine Inch Nails (This year's Metallica) (Roy)

NIN/Metallica? I guess both started as cult artists and then gained mainstream popularity? (Dezmond)

I'm just going to comment on this point because I, for a while and even now, thought of Metallica when NIN came up, but for likely a different reason than Roy.

In my case, I always thought of Metallica when NIN comes up because Metallica was a band that EASILY deserved first-year ballot induction but, for whatever reason, got shifted out one year and was inducted then. Given that even early on it was likely going to be a case of one major 90s band vs an important figure in that decade, it seemed clear that one was likely going to snuff out the other, and NIN looked like the one most likely to get snuffed. Not helping is the fact that several of the Nails' influences, like Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, and Gary Numan (with or without the Army) are not in, while many Punk luminaries like Ramones, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, the Clash, and Sex Pistols are.

So the reason I at least imagine Metallica with Nine Inch Nails is because I believe they'll have to wait one year when they should be getting in first-time eligible.

Posted by SotN on Tuesday, 10/21/2014 @ 01:14am

Enig, It is great getting your response. I see you tend to agree with me on Janet and Mariah. It is true they are Pop. They are considered Giants of Pop the way Michael Jackson and Madonna are. It is sad that Classic Rockers like Chicago, Doobie Brothers, Moody Blues and others didn't go in before those 2 were even eligible. Madonna was inducted at the 2008 ceremony! Clearly a band like Chicago were already overdue. However as I said Janet and Mariah are not the Icons those 2 are. So gratefully they will wait. I can see a nomination for Mariah Before Janet's. The 90s rock Blitz is starting. That will prevent Mariah's. The 90s Rock blitz started with Nirvana. I am not a fan at all. It includes Green Day, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Smashing Pumpkins among others. There's the large backlog of Classic Rock that's been snubbed. Chicago, Doobie Brothers, ELO, Yes among others.

I agree about Deep Purple returning to the ballot. I can see Bad Company and Foreigner in the next few years as nominees. Bad Company more so. Perhaps there's support for Paul Rodgers.

2016 could be a very exciting year but I am just not ready to comment on that at all. I was chatting here about nominees in this decade in general. ELO inducted in 2019 perhaps.

Duran Duran is good 80s nominee. Better than the Smiths they had for this year

Posted by Ben on Tuesday, 10/21/2014 @ 05:31am

Something strange is going on right now on Stevie Ray Vaughan's page at Future Rock Legends. For the past eight years the page read Stevie Ray Vaughan. Now it reads Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, even though he is nominated as Stevie Ray Vaughan. Is the Rock Hall going to induct Double Trouble separately as an addendum to Stevie Ray Vaughan if he gets enough votes?

Or maybe, this is the new Rock Hall plan that we are not being let in on yet? They nominate someone and if he or she gets enough votes to be inducted, they also induct their band automatically, but not separately? We'll have to wait and see. The owner of the Future Rock Legends website gets insider information from people with connections to the Rock Hall. I asked him what was up with Stevie Ray Vaughan's page and he did not answer and he deleted my question from Stevie Ray Vaughan's page. No one else was concerned.

...but the ballot still says Stevie Ray Vaughan

Maybe there will be another batch of addendum inductions next year as well: The Belmonts, Wings, The Wailers, The Silver Bullet Band, The Mothers of Invention, The Revolution, Double Trouble.

Posted by Roy on Tuesday, 10/21/2014 @ 06:35am

Yes, it's the singer/songwriter thing with Lou Reed and Cat Stevens.

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Kurt Cobain both died tragically.

Maybe Stevie Ray Vaughan is this year's Albert King. Blues guitarist slot.

Posted by Roy on Tuesday, 10/21/2014 @ 06:40am

It is true they are Pop. They are considered Giants of Pop the way Michael Jackson and Madonna are. It is sad that Classic Rockers like Chicago, Doobie Brothers, Moody Blues and others didn't go in before those 2 were even eligible. Madonna was inducted at the 2008 ceremony! Clearly a band like Chicago were already overdue. However as I said Janet and Mariah are not the Icons those 2 are. So gratefully they will wait. I can see a nomination for Mariah Before Janet's. The 90s rock Blitz is starting. That will prevent Mariah's. The 90s Rock blitz started with Nirvana. I am not a fan at all. It includes Green Day, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Smashing Pumpkins among others. There's the large backlog of Classic Rock that's been snubbed. Chicago, Doobie Brothers, ELO, Yes among others.

Posted by Ben on Tuesday, 10.21.14 @ 05:31am
--------------------------------------------------
While I agree w/you that there are older acts that should already be in, I do question the negative categorization of the upcoming groups. I wouldn't hold it against the Green Day's & the Soundgarden's of the world that Chicago or Bad Company or Deep Purple aren't already in. That's the nominating committee's issue, not the musicians.

I've always said that the idea of "wait your turn" is a bit foolish. The real issue (at least as I see it) is that they didn't bother w/keeping the ballots expanded, beyond the mid-70's. If every yr. from 2000 onward had simply had one extra spot on the ballot, this issue would be moot (actually, this site would also be a moot point under these circumstances) :)

As an example, pick any 14 extra bands (any 14) & see what the Hall would look like. I'll choose 14 at random:

Deep Purple
The Monkees
Link Wray
Dick Dale
Soundgarden
War
Kool & the Gang
Chicago
T-Rex
Steve Miller

LL Cool J
The Cars
Duran Duran
Def Leppard

Question: would you necessarily say the Hall was still lacking as much, if those artists were already in?

As a matter of fact, this is something this whole site can do, real fast. As a quickie poll, list 14 artists (one for each yr.) you'd have tacked on to the real Hall. Than ask yourself how much you'd still say their were issues w/the whole thing. Rate yourselves on a 1 to 10 scale. You'd have an idea of how much you feel the Nom Com botched it.

In my case, I'd say only about a 4 out of a 10.

Posted by Cheesecrop on Tuesday, 10/21/2014 @ 06:59am

The 2015 Rock Hall will be ultra-crony

01. Bill Withers
02. Lou Reed
03. Sting
04. Stevie Ray Vaughan
05. Nine Inch Nails
06. Green Day

Posted by Roy on Tuesday, 10/21/2014 @ 10:59am

While I agree w/you that there are older acts that should already be in, I do question the negative categorization of the upcoming groups. I wouldn't hold it against the Green Day's & the Soundgarden's of the world that Chicago or Bad Company or Deep Purple aren't already in. That's the nominating committee's issue, not the musicians.

I've always said that the idea of "wait your turn" is a bit foolish. The real issue (at least as I see it) is that they didn't bother w/keeping the ballots expanded, beyond the mid-70's. If every yr. from 2000 onward had simply had one extra spot on the ballot, this issue would be moot (actually, this site would also be a moot point under these circumstances) :)


Posted by Cheesecrop on Tuesday, 10.21.14 @ 06:59am

Hope you don't mind somebody that was a teen in the early 70's jumping in on this one.

the problem isn't with the bands but the attitudes of the fans which I feel in many instances disrespects what we of an older generation hold dear. I will make an exception though with one of Ben's suggestions, Smashing Pumpkins. This comes from a comment a certain moron in the group made about being unsure that a Jazz drummer would work in a Rock band. Maybe the average person wouldn't be aware that Danny Seraphine of Chicago is a Jazz drummer. A musician that grew up in the suburbs of Chicago should know and is only trying to pump up his credentials.

I don't think your idea that adding 1 more artist a year would have been enough. The problem is more systematic because it's almost entire sub-groups missing from the Hall. Where are the Garage bands from the late 60's? Why aren't the Canadian and American artist of the late 60's and 70's not in but we have just about every Brit (including ones that weren't the ones we listened to) in. Why are there such huge gaps of American artist that did folk-rock (country and blues) fusion from 60's and 70's?

The Hall messed up by who they designated as artist. Non-Rock artist should have been put in as Influence (exception to genre crossers and jumpers). An artist should not have been until they charted or a contemporary charted at a certain level (exceptions could be made but they should be far and few between).

The Hall is very lucky that they have skated under the radar with who is not in and who is in. If somebody organizes a movement they could be in for a huge backlash. They need to add several more people to take up the slack and they need to concentrate on the big name American Rock icons. They also need to include some of the Folk and Country artist that were a huge impact. They need to back off the British, R& B, Californian, later and WTF (nobody heard of their or their work)artist until the Hall becomes a more balanced representation of Rock and Roll history.

Posted by Zuzu on Tuesday, 10/21/2014 @ 21:01pm

Cheesecrop, That was an excellent response. I wasn't too clear about my feeling on 90's artists. I meant nothing negative about 90s artists in general. I like many 90s artists. I didn't like Nirvana however I like many others. I was simply pickier with 90s than 60s 70s and 80s. I'm huge with 70s Rock. As you can tell. I like quite a bit of 80s and some 90s. I like some Green Day and a few tunes from Alice in Chains. Soundgarden a little. I do like Pearl Jam quite a bit. The Nirvana negative may have thrown you. I just think personally there is a lot better 90s than them. I knew they would be the first though for 90s rock. I do not hold it against those bands that Chicago, Doobie Brothers or Deep Purple aren't in. It just means that in addition to the 90's Rock Blitz there will be the Classic Rock back log the Hall goes to.

Posted by Ben on Tuesday, 10/21/2014 @ 21:03pm

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

DIGITAL DREAM DOOR'S CRITIQUE OF THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME NOMINEES

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 10/22/2014 @ 01:04am

Hope you don't mind somebody that was a teen in the early 70's jumping in on this one.

Posted by Zuzu on Tuesday, 10.21.14 @ 21:01pm
--------------------------------------------------
Definitely do not mind.

First off, the bit w/the Pumpkins indicates someone was asleep at the switch. There's lots of jazz influences in the Hall. I know Ginger Baker & Mitch Mitchell had jazz connections, & from the American side, John Densmore w/The Doors fits here as well.

I'm quite aware that adding one more artist to each yr. from 2000 onward couldn't satisfy everyone. Even after I finished what I wrote, I found myself going back & substituting names. I simply wished to show that, on a personal level, adding one name each yr. would mollify a great deal of contempt people feel for the Hall. You suggested adding artists from the 60's & 70's. On your own, just pick 14 artists & add them in. Then ask yourself, "is it better by my standards?" You'll still probably feel more needs to be done, but overall, you may not disparage the Hall so badly. If we could all personalize the Hall, there'd be no controversy.

You're right about the garage acts from the 60's. A lot of that has to do w/how the people running the show feel the music should be portrayed. They want the late 60's to move beyond three chords & novelty numbers, and into the realm of "high art". Hendrix, Cream, the Airplane, etc., can't be the next step in musical evolution if you've The Blues Magoos or ? & the Mysterians sharing the same space. Never mind that they're good - they're not the new definition of "art".

If you're following the actual route the music took, as "music", there's a greater argument for groups like Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, Blue Cheer, Vanilla Fudge - perhaps even more than some of the folk artists as well.

Posted by Cheesecrop on Wednesday, 10/22/2014 @ 07:09am

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

Sampson's 2015 Nominees Qualifications Scale:

01. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - 5 - Worth Examining, But Will Often Fall Short / Worthy Of At Least A Debate For A Nomination
02. Kraftwerk - 5 - Worth Examining, But Will Often Fall Short / Worthy Of At Least A Debate For A Nomination
03. The Marvelettes - 7 - Solid Choice / An Eventual Induction Is Likely
04. The Smiths - 6 - Strong Case To Be Made / Should Be Nominated At Some Point
05. The Spinners - 6 - Strong Case To Be Made / Should Be Nominated At Some Point
06. War - 7 - Solid Choice / An Eventual Induction Is Likely
07. Bill Withers - 5 - Worth Examining, But Will Often Fall Short / Worthy Of At Least A Debate For A Nomination
08. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - 4 - Modest Accomplishments / Not Insignificant, But Shouldn't Be Nominated
09. Chic - 7 - Solid Choice / An Eventual Induction Is Likely
10. Green Day - 8 - Unquestioned Credentials / Should Be Guaranteed An Induction
11. Nine Inch Nails - 7 - Solid Choice / An Eventual Induction Is Likely
12. N.W.A - 8 - Unquestioned Credentials / Should Be Guaranteed An Induction
13. Lou Reed - 5 - Worth Examining, But Will Often Fall Short / Worthy Of At Least A Debate For A Nomination
14. Stevie Ray Vaughan - 5 - Worth Examining, But Will Often Fall Short / Worthy Of At Least A Debate For A Nomination
15. Sting - 3 - Recognizable, But Minor Credentials / No Business Being Debated By Committee

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 10/22/2014 @ 07:22am

Roy,

The fact that Digital Dream Door had waited for this much time, in order to release an analysis of the (2015 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominees) definitely speaks volumes about how unimpressed they certainly must have been with the nominees this year. Nevertheless, I strongly disagree with their assertion that Rush was only a 7; I would rate them at least at a 9, if not a 10, but that is just my opinion. Yes should rank similarly to Rush and a 5 rating for The Moody Blues is positively absurd; after all, we are talking about a band who's members were instrumental in engendering progressive rock, are we not? In this case, a rating of 9 for The Moody Blues is more appropriate, if not a 10 for them, as well. Procol Harum and Jethro Tull should be ranked much higher as well; I would give both of them a rating of 8. Genesis deserves an 8, as well if not a 9. Pink Floyd should have a 9, as well.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Wednesday, 10/22/2014 @ 09:51am

I see now that the Rock Hall website has changed Stevie Ray Vaughan to Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble. Excellent move. I wouldn't want them to make another Springsteen without the E-Street Band type of situation.

Posted by Steve Z on Wednesday, 10/22/2014 @ 19:17pm

But this means the ballots that the voters got only say Stevie Ray Vaughan on them, or do they? Or have the ballots not been mailed out until now and now they say Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble? Or SRV and DB won't get enough votes this year.

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 10/22/2014 @ 19:31pm

Great news about Double Trouble being included!

Posted by Gassman on Wednesday, 10/22/2014 @ 19:34pm

Kudos to the Rock Hall for doing the right thing. To answer Roy's question, I guess we will know when a handful of voters instagram their ballots, but to the best of my knowledge, it hasn't happened yet.

Posted by PopeCharming on Wednesday, 10/22/2014 @ 20:39pm

Maybe Double Trouble was on the ballot, but the person who takes care of the Rock Hall website wasn't careful when creating SRV's page and someone called him or her on it.

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 10/22/2014 @ 20:42pm

This is a decent ballot probably give it a B-. This seems to be a ballot of multiple nominees who they can break through the logjam. Sting has Superstar recognition & it would be difficult to see him not make it. Green Day has some landmark albums Dookie & American Idiot that really helps induction time. I don't think Kraftwerk or The Smiths will break through. NWA & Joan Jett really have a good chance. Not much competition in their genres. King's prediction 2015 RRHOF. 1.Green Day 2.Lou Reed 3.Sting 4.NWA 5.Joan Jett & B 6.Chic KING

Posted by KING on Wednesday, 10/22/2014 @ 23:06pm

THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

01. Bill Withers
02. Lou Reed
03. Sting
04. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
05. Nine Inch Nails
06. Green Day

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 10/23/2014 @ 07:14am

Hey Roy I will respond to Roy on his Inductee predictions. I do think it's doubtful that 2 90s artists will be inducted this year. It's not because it should be that way. It's because fo the Conservative nature of the people that Run the Hall. I think for now it will be one 90s choice despite the 90s Rock blitz coming. It is true that if you go back 20 years to when the 70s were just coming into focus at the upcoming 1995 ceremony the Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin and Neil Young all went in at the same. However those are the pride and Joy of the Hall. Basically the same people run the Hall. 90s are not their pride. They would still lean towards that era a little. I do not speak as that big a 90s fan myself. I am stating a fact. I go with Green Day as the 90s choice just as Nirvana was last year. Totally agree with Lou Reed and Stevie Ray. Both Well deserved. I really think Sting will not go in. He is super popular as a Name but his Body of Work is kind of Weak as far as success and reputation as compared to others on the ballot. I can see Bill Withers as a mellow R&B choice but I go with Spinners instead. They've been nominated before. As much as I don't like Rap I say NWA. The influence thing and they skipped Rap last year. I made my list. Anyone can feel free to give their opinion.

Posted by Ben on Thursday, 10/23/2014 @ 08:05am

Ben,

The reason why I think that Green Day and Nine Inch Nails will be inducted in 2015 is due to the fact that both were successful, critically acclaimed and immensely popular. For some reason unbeknownst to me, critics have been on the so-called "punk bandwagon" for several decades. Green Day represents the epitome of punk for many of them.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Thursday, 10/23/2014 @ 09:37am

Cheesecrop posted:

As an example, pick any 14 extra bands (any 14) & see what the Hall would look like. I'll choose 14 at random:

Question: would you necessarily say the Hall was still lacking as much, if those artists were already in?
__________________________________________________

This was an interesting challenge and these were 14 that I came up with to fill some gaps:

The Moody Blues (Prog and British Invasion)
The Spinners (70's R&B/Soul)
Deep Purple (Hard Rock)
The Replacements (80's Alternative)
The Zombies (British Invasion)
Yes (Prog)
Chic (R&B/Disco)
Peter, Paul & Mary (Folk)
The Doobie Brothers (Classic Rock)
Chicago (Classic Rock/Fan Favorite)
N.W.A. (Rap)
Kraftwerk (Electronic)
Judas Priest (Metal)
War (Funk)

Would there still be some gaps to fill? Absolutely, but it's a start and it would take care of some fan favorites and musical pioneers (Not to mention some multiple nominees from clogging the current ballot).

Posted by Tom H. on Thursday, 10/23/2014 @ 10:54am

Cheesecrop posted:

As an example, pick any 14 extra bands (any 14) & see what the Hall would look like. I'll choose 14 at random:

Question: would you necessarily say the Hall was still lacking as much, if those artists were already in?
_______________________________________________

This is tough, as frankly the RRHOF is at least 40 artists or so behind since cutting down the number of inductees around 2004 or so.

Kraftwerk (Electronic)
Johnny Burnette & the Rock n Roll Trio (50s)
T. Rex (Glam)
Judas Priest (Metal)
Motorhead (Metal)
The Spinners (70s Philly Soul)
Janet Jackson (80s/90s pop)
Sade (80s/90s R & B, jazz rock)
Joy Division/New Order (punk, post-punk)
The Smiths (80s alternative, Britpop)
Chicago (Classic Rock/Soft Ballad Kings)
The Go-Go's (80s rock/female influence)
Eric B. & Rakim (Hip Hop)
King Crimson (Prog)

I feel artists that debuted or had their most succes in the 80s have been greatly under-represented in the past 10 years or so that they have been eligible.

Posted by boar on Thursday, 10/23/2014 @ 17:31pm

No Deep Purple, Yes, Jethro Tull, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Cheap Trick, The Cars, Chicago, The Monkees, J Geils Band, I mean that right there says it all, I'm sure I left out countless more. The hall of fame is such a joke and its a travesty that these bands have been ignored once again, so disrespectful.I like Green Day but they need to wait, same with Nine Inch Nails. Sting is already in with The Police. NWA...no. Chic...sorry but wern't they a two hit wonder? I respect Nile Rodgers but come on they don't belong in. I hope Stevie Ray Vaughn gets in its nice to see him finally getting noticed by the hall. This is quite possibly the worst nominees they've had. They're all just clueless Rolling Stone yuppies that'd probably vote for Clapton's hand, which would be the 4th for Clapton.

Posted by Grant on Thursday, 10/23/2014 @ 17:41pm

Stevie Ray Vaughan is such a sure candidate that I almost haven't bothered to comment. Just to watch his performances at Montreux - anybody would be deaf and/or dumb not to appreciate his superior artistry. Altho Double Trouble was per se a backing band, they are all 1st-rate musicians and were with Stevie thru-out his recording career. If SRV is not elected in (this year) it would surprise me. It would actually piss me off to be truthful.
I am not passionate about any of the other nominees. As re Chic: they have more than 2 hits, but several of the songs sound the same, with Nile Rogers distinctive guitar chucking. Bernie Edwards was considered a great bassist. They also composed hits for Diana Ross and Sister Sledge, among others.

Posted by Telarock on Thursday, 10/23/2014 @ 21:15pm

You're right about the garage acts from the 60's. A lot of that has to do w/how the people running the show feel the music should be portrayed. They want the late 60's to move beyond three chords & novelty numbers, and into the realm of "high art". Hendrix, Cream, the Airplane, etc., can't be the next step in musical evolution if you've The Blues Magoos or ? & the Mysterians sharing the same space. Never mind that they're good - they're not the new definition of "art".

If you're following the actual route the music took, as "music", there's a greater argument for groups like Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, Blue Cheer, Vanilla Fudge - perhaps even more than some of the folk artists as well.

Posted by Cheesecrop on Wednesday, 10.22.14 @ 07:09am

Thanks for replying.

Regarding the Smashing Pumpkins I think you might of misinterpreted the point I was trying to make. I think he was intentionally blowing off Chicago because he wanted to be seen as the alpha dog in town and not the beta following in the footsteps of the alpha.

For the garage bands, topping the list would be Tommy James and the Shondels and the Buckinghams. These two do have substance. You should see who comes up in Forgotten Hits survey on garage bands.

http://www.forgottenhits.com/your_top_50_all-time_favorite_garage_bands

The Exceptions' members although known only locally did go on to bigger and better things. Kal David formed Illinois Speed Press, Marty Grebb joined the Buckinghams and Peter Cetera was the last founding member of Chicago. James Vincent, Jim Nyeholt and Billy Herman joined by Bobby Jones went on to for Aorta. Billy Herman later joined New Colony 6. The Dells hooked them up with a record company. Their Rock and Roll Mass is actually early Christian Rock. they were also back up musicians along with members of the Paul Butterfield Blues band for a Dick Campbell album.

The American Breed morphed into Rufus. With Vehicle and LA Goodbye, Ides of March was morphing into a rock band. Plus member Jim Peterik went on to form Survivor in addition to producing. Let's also not forget Canadians, The Guess Who.

For folk what about Joan Baez and Melanie. Don't forget the 70's Old Town Triad of John Prine, Steve Goodman and Bonnie Koloc. Then there are singer/songwriters, Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver and Don McLean.

for country: Patsy Cline, Dottie West, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. Oh for the hell of it let's add David Allan Coe since he could probably get even Punkers and Rappers to take a second look at Country? Do they bleep things out on cable? Notice that everybody I mentioned are crossovers.

The people you mentioned are fairly minor 70's players. California and New York was not where it was at in the 70's. For that you need to go to the heartland. That's where things were happening.

Zuzu

Posted by Zuzu on Thursday, 10/23/2014 @ 21:26pm

Is anyone else surprised how well The Paul Butterfield Blues Band is doing on the Rock Hall's online fan poll? Yesterday they were in 6th place but are now in 7th place (with 5.45%). I'm very impressed by their high placement so far. I think the majority of people posting on this forum might think that they have no chance of getting inducted, but I think it would be awesome for them to get into the top 5 on the fan ballot.

Posted by Nick on Thursday, 10/23/2014 @ 21:52pm

Hey Enig, Good to hear from ya. I see your point about Green Day and Nine Inch Nails. I actually don't know much about Nine Inch Nails. Only that they were very popular 90s Industrial Band. Both bands were Successful and Critically acclaimed. I just don't think there's enough support for 2 90s artists at the same time yet. This is due to the age of most of those on The Voting Committee and the Judges. They tend to still be people who grew up in the 60's and early 70s. As I mentioned 20 years ago there was a big fuss over 70s starting. Allman Brothers, Led Zep, Neil Young and Pink Floyd went in around that time. Things being equal the same would happen with the 90s Now. However, the Age of the Committee and Judges hasn't changed that much. So I'll stick with my predictions. Those include Lou Reed, The Spinners and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He is actually 80s but is a Blues Rock Icon. This cuts down on the 90s right now. However since you spoke of 2016. I do expect 2 90s to be inducted at the same time in 2016! I'm figuring that Nine Inch Nails will go in Next year along with perhaps Soundgarden. Just not this year. Hey those 2 could go in at the same time as the Moody Blues. You never know. I'll stay away from comments on 2016. Not ready for all that yet really.

Posted by Ben on Friday, 10/24/2014 @ 07:33am

Thank you, Ben.

I really do not know that much about Nine Inch Nails, either.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Friday, 10/24/2014 @ 09:28am

Hey Enig, So all I was saying is that this year. The Hall would likely stick with 1 90s act. I predict Green Day as that one. They've appeared at the Hall a few times already. They inducted GN'R. You may recall. So the same way Nirvana were the one 90s act last year Green Day would be the one for this year. I said this is due to the age of a lot of the people on the Voting Committee. The Hall is starting slow with the 90s Rock blitz I figure. That's right now. Starting next year though The Hall will probably start going to 90s acts. So I conclude that those Nine Inch Nails will wait one year. Now I understand the age of a lot of people on the Voting Committee grew up in the 60s and early 70s. This is why it's soo puzzling and heartbreaking that so many great artists from that time have been snubbed. Some of my fav artists like the Who, The Doors and Steely Dan are in. Yet they forgot about Chicago, Doobie Brothers and of course the Moodys among others. Really no excuse. I know who's in. Somehow Percy Sledge got in and so did Leonard Cohen. Yet names like those above did not. I like some Leonard Cohen. I'm not sure he should go in before Moodys or Yes. Since they don't like Prog Rock I guess it makes sense. That's why we have this problem

Posted by Ben on Sunday, 10/26/2014 @ 05:01am

They altered the nomination to Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble? That's nice of them. It seems that they improve a little every year.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, 10/26/2014 @ 13:23pm

Thank you, Ben.

Of course there is also the fan favorite poll to consider, which Nine Inch Nails appears to be leading in. Although it appears that they have forgotten about Chicago and The Doobie Brothers, the Rock Hall may want to induct them later.

I definitely would not give up on The Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, or Yes, either. All of them are considered to be "progressive rock" icons. Additionally, "Jethro Tull" now has a page on the Rolling Stone Magazine website.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 10/27/2014 @ 09:45am

I didn't realize that. I thought Stevie Ray was leading the poll actually. I'll check it out. If it's just Green Day then Nine Inch Nails next year. This would b the last year with just one 90s choice. I just think those Old guys on the Committee are ready yet. They are certainly lagging with Classic ones like Doobies. Jethro Tull are one of my fav bands. Mayb even more so than the Moodys. Love them both. Sooner or later both will b inducted.

Posted by Ben on Monday, 10/27/2014 @ 13:47pm

I'm still sticking to my prediction based on what happened in 2014 and 2013

THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

01. Bill Withers
02. Lou Reed
03. Sting
04. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
05. Nine Inch Nails
06. Green Day

...But this is who I actually want inducted:

01. War
02. Chic
03. N.W.A
04. Bill Withers
05. The Spinners
06. The Marvelettes

Bill Withers on both lists!

As to FRL's Tweet about where all the Paul Butterfield votes are coming from on the official Rock Hall poll--I think they are coming from Stevie Ray Vaughan and Joan Jett fans.

Posted by Roy on Tuesday, 10/28/2014 @ 06:13am

Hey Enig. I was looking at your predictions of Nominees for 2016. I'm not ready for something like that but I would say besides 70s artists. The Hall needs to catch up on 80s. I don't get into 80s art Rock bands too much. Duran Duran is one of the few I don't mind. Duran Duran should go in. I will say that they will be Nominated in the next few years. Sade also. As far as 90s I was playing Phish in the car ysterday. There's a band to go in. Most key grunge will b Inducted first.

Posted by Ben on Tuesday, 10/28/2014 @ 19:03pm

Roy! Knock it the f*ck off! Your delusional, self absorbed BS is ruining the site for everybody else. It's not cute or funny.

Posted by DarinRG on Wednesday, 10/29/2014 @ 17:10pm

My kingdom for an ignore button!

Posted by DarinRG on Wednesday, 10/29/2014 @ 17:13pm

My God, Roy. How did it take you to compile this completely meaningless, devoid of any factual basis, list? So based on you list of who will vote for whom, Green Day will not be inducted.

Posted by dezmond on Wednesday, 10/29/2014 @ 20:32pm

I love how Roy has entire bands listed who are voting for a certain artist. Didn't the Grateful Dead get, like, eleven or twelve members inducted? So according to Roy, for instance, when he lists "The Grateful Dead" as voting for Lou Reed, he is saying that all 11 or 12 will each cast a ballot with Lou Reed on it? Without exception? See Roy, this is way too general. I think next you need to break it down by every single individual in every single band ever inducted, and then show us what each of their ballots will look like. Then you need to break down each ballot of every music critic, record exec, etc. who also get ballots. Get to work. I want to see this by sunrise.

Posted by Dezmond on Wednesday, 10/29/2014 @ 22:25pm

Well, not all 11 or 12 of the Grateful Dead since some of them are, err, dead. And not very grateful about it. But you know what I'm saying.

Posted by Dezmond on Wednesday, 10/29/2014 @ 22:27pm

Hey Enig, I was looking over your predictions for the 2015 Inductees. If I got this right. You're predicting Green Day and Nine Inch Nails along with people like Lou Reed and Stevie Ray Vaughan. You also list Sting solo and a couple others I didn't predict. Now you see I think the Hall will Induct 6 again. Also I think a Rap artist will be chosen. I am venturing to say that Green Day and Nine Inch Nails could be inducted at the same time when I think about it. I think NIN will be prevented this year though due to NWA. I don't like Rap but since they skipped Rap last year they'll have one this year. If you consider that Lou Reed and Stevie Ray Vaughan are pretty sure ones out of the 6 and that I predict Chic after 9 noms. There is also a mellow old R&B choice with Spinners I predict. Then there's no room for NIN. Now if the Hall goes back to 7 choices then I do think Nine Inch Nails can go in. The Hall likes being somewhat older with choices. Hence the Lou and Stevie Ray

Posted by Ben on Thursday, 10/30/2014 @ 06:28am

Since the inclusion of the fan ballot on the rock hall website, I believe whoever has the most votes is guaranteed induction that year. Rush and Kiss received the most votes and got inducted and I believe their high marks on the fan ballot plays a major factor here. Remember Rush and Kiss were never critics' darlings (especially Kiss) but receiving the most votes on the fan ballot pushed them toward an induction. Plus, both fans have devoted fan bases that will (and did) anything in their power to receive at the top of the fan ballot in their induction years. At the end of the day, the Rock Hall is an institution with the intention of making profits. It would look ready bad on the Rock Hall to not induct the person who receives the most votes on a given year. This year will be no different: Stevie Ray Vaughn or Nine Inch Nails (or both, let's hope) will get inducted.

Nine Inch Nails or Stevie Ray Vaughn will have the most votes on the fan ballot this year (by a wide margin). They are neck-to-neck for first place. By December, I think Nine Inch Nails will still be number one on the fan ballot because they have a devoted fan base that will vote for them tirelessly. I think Stevie Ray Vaughn will probably be an inductee for 2015; Nine Inch Nails is not as much of a sure-fire thing with Green Day also being a first-ballot nominee this year. However, if Nine Inch Nails receives the most votes, the Rock Hall cannot deny the impact of the fan ballot. If Nine Inch Nails gets the most votes and doesn't get inducted, that would be a middle finger to the fans voting for them.

Posted by Nick on Friday, 10/31/2014 @ 17:31pm

Ok. I was looking at the Fan Ballot. I was voting in the actual Rock Hall. The ones I voted for are different than what I predicted. I want to keep this a little short. I'll list them if someone asks. I saw that Stevie Ray and Nine Inch Nails are both high on the Poll. Near the top. NIN is #1 right now. Now I am not changing my predictions. I did notice that NWA is at the bottom of the poll. They have the least votes. Now I believe the Fan poll counts for a small percentage of the whole Vote. I still think NWA will go in because the actual Hall committee will want to make up for no Rap last year. However you never know. If Rap is skipped again. Well then NIN and Stevie RAy Vaughan can clearly go in at the same time. I am not a fan at all of Nine Inch Nails. They do seem to have a big Fan base though. It's like Nick said Rush and Kiss received the Most Votes and got inducted. Kiss were especially hated by critics. Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone and a couple others swore to no end that Kiss would never get in while he was alive. Yet Kiss did get in last year. They were #1 on the Fan poll. I am not changing my predictions but I do see the point. If NWA is inducted. That could shut out Stevie Ray a hero of mine if NIN is #1. This is because I feel Chic, Lou Reed and probably Spinners are such sure ones. A mellow R&B choice anyway. I may change my predictions when we're closer to the announcement if NIN is still #1. Good point Nick

Posted by Ben on Saturday, 11/1/2014 @ 06:48am

Just to clarify. The list of the artists I voted for is different than the list of ones I predict. A few I voted for I do predict being Inducted indeed. Most notably I voted for Lou Reed and Stevie Ray Vaughan. I am predicting them to go in.

Posted by Ben on Monday, 11/3/2014 @ 03:29am

How most 50s-60s-70s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees will vote based on Terry Sylvester's tweeted votes:

01. The Marvelettes
02. The Spinners
03. Bill Withers
04. Lou Reed
05. War

OR

01. The Marvelettes
02. The Spinners
03. Bill Withers
04. Lou Reed
05. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

OR

01. The Marvelettes
02. The Spinners
03. Bill Withers
04. Lou Reed
05. Kraftwerk

Posted by Roy on Monday, 11/3/2014 @ 09:26am

Will Roy stop posting these stereotyped predictions of whose voting for who? If Roy is correct (and he's not), then most of the voters would vote for those 7 acts? What about contemporary artists nominated like Nine Inch Nails, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Green Day? Roy's logic here makes no sense and he is one of the reasons why this forum has such problematic outlooks on predicting who'll get inducted. Terry Sylvester is just ONE person and does NOT constitute how other votes will cast their ballots.

Posted by Nick on Monday, 11/3/2014 @ 12:42pm

http://twitter.com/ndmusic/status/529650892552032257/photo/1

SO NOW WE KNOW THAT DOUBLE TROUBLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE BALLOT. ONLY ADDED LATER ON TO THE ROCK HALL'S PAGE FOR STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN.

Posted by Roy on Tuesday, 11/4/2014 @ 12:31pm

The rock hall of fame,which is a joke should show respect to the older bands who put their time in.I'm convince its about money. The MOODY BLUES, CHICAGO, ZOMBIES, TOMMY JAMES,and BAD COMPANY are my FIVE respect! Tony

Posted by Tony on Tuesday, 11/4/2014 @ 23:54pm

My favorite songs from each nominee:

Paul Butterfield Blues Band- Get Out of my Life, Woman
Chic- Good Times
Green Day- Basket Case
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts- Bad Reputation
Karftwerk- Tanzmusik
The Marvelettes- Please Mr. Postman
NWA- Express Yourself
Nine Inch Nails- All the Love in the World
Lou Reed- Sweet Jane
The Smiths- How Soon is Now?
The Spinners- Could It be I'm Falling in Love
Sting- An Englishman in New York
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble- Pride & Joy
War- Low Rider
Bill Withers- Lean on Me

Guys, feel free to post your lists too.

Posted by Andrew on Wednesday, 11/5/2014 @ 17:37pm

I thought Johnny Mistrol was on this years ballot?
How do we get his much deserved artist inducted?

Posted by Diane Lindsay on Thursday, 11/6/2014 @ 09:21am

Andrew, I like that concept for a list. fav songs for each Nominee. I dig it. It's kind of an exercise while we wait. I need to warn you I don't know Rap really So no song for NWA. Also years ago I had my Bias to Rock and didn't go much for Disco so No Chic song. Most of the Rest. Here's the list.

Paul Butterfield Blues Band-East-West
Green Day-Basket Case
Joan Jett& The Blackhearts-Bad Reputation
The Marvelettes-Mr. Postman
Lou Reed-Sweet Jane
The Smiths-How Soon is Now
The Spinners-Could it Be I'm Falling in Love
Sting- An Englishman in New York
Stevie Ray Vaughan-Tin Pan Alley
War-Cisco Kid
Bill Withers-Ain't No Sunshine
You can certainly get an idea of my music tastes from this. I got a fav for 11 of the 15 nominees at least.

Posted by Ben on Friday, 11/7/2014 @ 04:41am

I'm on board with this one Andrew:

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band--Walkin' Blues
Chic--either Good Times or I Want Your Love
Green Day--Minority
Joan Jett And The Blackhearts--I Hate Myself For Loving You
Kraftwerk--Neonlichten
The Marvelettes--Beechwood 4-5789
Nine Inch Nails--We're In This Together (I think that's the title)
N.W.A.--A Bitch Is A Bitch
Lou Reed--Perfect Day
The Smiths--Sheila Take A Bow
The Spinners--One Of A Kind Love Affair
Sting--none really, maybe Russians
Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble--Crossfire
War--Low Rider, close second to Why Can't We Be Friends
Bill Withers--Lean On Me

Posted by Philip on Saturday, 11/8/2014 @ 23:43pm

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band- Walkin' Blues
Chic- Good Times
Green Day- Longview
Joan Jett And The Blackhearts- I Hate Myself For Loving You
Kraftwerk- Trans-Europe Express
The Marvelettes- Don't Mess With Bill
Nine Inch Nails- Head Like a Hole
N.W.A.- Straight Outta Compton
Lou Reed- Satellite of Love
The Smiths- How Soon is Now?
The Spinners- I'll Be Around
Sting- If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free
Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble- The House is a Rockin'
War- Spill the Wine
Bill Withers- Lean On Me

Posted by Donnie on Sunday, 11/9/2014 @ 07:56am

Why the hell are the Smiths at number 1 now?!

Posted by Roy on Friday, 11/14/2014 @ 13:49pm

Roy, Just a shot in the dark here, but I think it's probably because they've gotten more votes than anyone else.

Posted by DarinRG on Friday, 11/14/2014 @ 17:07pm

Where the hell did all the Smiths fans come from all of a sudden?

Posted by Roy on Friday, 11/14/2014 @ 17:28pm

Probably a lot of The Smiths fans voted over the last couple days.

Posted by Greg F on Friday, 11/14/2014 @ 18:55pm

Thank you Ben,

I appreciate the fact that you had mentioned Duran Duran as being worthy of induction.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Friday, 11/14/2014 @ 22:46pm

This is the first year the FRL poll has had so many changes? In the past it has been very steady.

Posted by Roy on Saturday, 11/15/2014 @ 05:15am

Good to hear from ya Enig. I was giving recognition to the 80's. I know you prefer the term 80s art rock to New Wave. Whatever you call them Duran Duran were very popular band. I wasn't a big fan then. I have a few tunes of theirs on my PC. Hungry Like the Wolf. Ones like that. I was across the board back in the 80s. I have always been into lots of 60s and 70s. Bigger with that but I got my 80s. We seem to be about the same age. I think like me you missed the Fillmore Hippie era but like lots and lots of it. You were a teenager in the early 80s like me I think. Now they seem to avoid 80s Metal. Some of that Ok. So if they avoid that then go with Duran Duran and perhaps the Cars. There was a lot of flash in the pan New Wave. Too many to mention. Duran Duran though had their manic fans back in the early 80s. So I as far as 80s. No reason them, the Cars, B52s and XTC shouldn't go in. Not into synth music though. So there's some 80s picks. Sade I can see. There are others. 80s have been overlooked. Sting was nominated this year. Not sure on that. Police much stronger than the Solo

Posted by Ben on Saturday, 11/15/2014 @ 05:24am

Ok Enig. I was looking at some other 80s artists that can possibly be on ballots in the Near future. Duran Duran is a key one. I mentioned XTC. B52s How about the Psychedlic Furs and Joe Jackson? That's as far as I go. So many others are one hit wonders anyway. Sade I can see. The Bangles? Maybe. Cindi Lauper and Bruce Hornsby are a couple others I can predict happening. However Cindi Lauper I don't predict being Inducted for at least another 10 years. Most other 80s artists aren't really worthy enough. Soo ballots in the next few years could have Moody Blues, Yes, Deep Purple and Duran Duran as well

Posted by Ben on Saturday, 11/15/2014 @ 06:35am

Ben,

I would also be supportive of the induction of XTC and Depeche Mode, as well.

As I had stated before, here are my choices for 2016 nominations:

1. Duran Duran
2. The Moody Blues
3. Yes
4. Sade
5. Carly Simon
6. Electric Light Orchestra
7. Doobie Brothers
8. Foreigner
9. Deep Purple
10. Queen Latifah
11. Phish
12. Jim Croce
13. XTC
14. Lionel Richie

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 11/15/2014 @ 10:36am

Ben,

Regarding age: if you are in your early to mid 50's then we are roughly the same age; I will turn 53 years old in early February.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Saturday, 11/15/2014 @ 11:42am

Well. Enig. As far as age. I am 49. I'll be 50 in late Jan. So yu are just a couple years older. Close enough. Our Music tastes are somewhat similar. Hey we both like Moody Blues, Yes and Chicago for instance
Coool.

Posted by Ben on Saturday, 11/15/2014 @ 17:25pm

Yes, we do Ben,

Most of my present musical tastes were developed during my late teens through mid 20's; although my interests in instrumental music stretch back as far as my early childhood.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Monday, 11/17/2014 @ 08:06am

Enig, Same here. I was in my late teens thru mid 20s in the late 70s thru the 80s. I will add I first knew huge hits in childhood. I don't support later electronic music as yu seem to but besides that. Hey I did mention Psych furs. They are not really electronic. Neither are the Smiths who are currently nominated. I don't mind a couple tunes from them. I am very diverse. My Favs do tend towards the 60s 70s Rock.

Posted by Ben on Monday, 11/17/2014 @ 18:17pm

Soo I think many of us would agree the Rock Hall of Fame seemed on the mark at one time. For instance when the Allman Brothers, Led Zep and Neil Young, Frank Zappa all went in at the same time. That was the 1995 ceremony. 20 years ago in fact. We see now where the Rock Hall is at 20 years later. I have heard some say this was the last great Hall of Fame ceremony where they were on the mark. I disagree though. I think they were fine until 2002. I think the 1999 ceremony was fine with Billy Joel, Curtis Mayfield, Paul Mc and Bruce Springsteen all going in. I think by 2002 it was going down a bit though. It was around then that me and others realized there's people missing. The Punk New wave thing got eligible. So then many key old acts were getting ignored. Ramones and Talking Heads were inducted. Those make sense. They caught up on Brenda Lee and Gene Pitney at that time. Those should have gone in much earlier if at all. Easily others like Chicago, Doobie Brothers, Genesis and Yes could have gone in. Of these only Genesis went in later on. I got no problem with a little catching up. Loved it when Neil Young and Frank Zappa went in back in 95. Didn't mind that Crosby Stills and Nash and Joni Mitchell were slightly late. All these years later though we see all the errors though. Case in point the 2005 ceremony saw the Percy Sledge and Buddy Guy go in. I do like Buddy Guy a lot. That's an error right there. He should have gone in at least 10 years earlier. The wrongs picks and late picks has caused problems. This is what the Future Rock Hall is all about. I just thought I'd look at the past before I look to the Future of the Hall again. What ceremony do some you think was the last good ceremony. Feel free to respond. Enig You're out there somewhere!

Posted by Ben on Thursday, 11/20/2014 @ 06:04am

In my opinion, Ben, the last great Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction ceremony was the induction ceremony for Randy Newman, Donna Summer, Albert King, Quincy Jones, Lou Adler, Public Enemy, Heart and Rush in 2013. I had also liked a few of the 1acts inducted in 2010, namely Genesis, Abba and The Hollies, but the 2013 induction ceremony was iconic.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Thursday, 11/20/2014 @ 07:53am

I am sorry, I had meant to say acts, instead.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Thursday, 11/20/2014 @ 07:56am

   In my opinion, Ben, the last great Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction ceremony was the induction ceremony for Randy Newman, Donna Summer, Albert King, Quincy Jones, Lou Adler, Public Enemy, Heart and Rush in 2013. I had also liked a few of the acts inducted in 2010, namely Genesis, Abba and The Hollies, but the 2013 induction ceremony was iconic.

I would have liked to have seen the 1996, 1997, 1998 & 2002 induction ceremonies also.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Thursday, 11/20/2014 @ 09:13am

Hey Enig. Very nice response. My Post was aimed at anybody. Very good point. I had the last great ceremony as 2001. I was saying they were fine until 2002 which was slightly disappointing with people like Gene Pitney who could have gone in years earlier. Barely know who that is myself. Out of fairness to an older age group than me he may have been deserving as an early 60s guy. I didn't even watch the 2001 ceremony of a year earlier. The artist list was great. Aerosmith, Queen, Paul Simon, Steely Dan. Ones like that. When I think about it 2004 was real good. Jackson Browne, Prince, Bob Seger, Traffic, ZZ Top and George Harrison. I did watch this one. Not a Prince fan at all but can understand him going in. I didn't watch 2005. I was disappointed. I've watched most since then. Whether disappointed or not. You are right the 2013 ceremony was good with Randy Newman, Donna Summer, Heart and Rush among others. So realizing that There is Hope for the ceremonies. The 2015 ceremony can be good This brings things back to my predictions. I mean if Green Day, Lou Reed, Spinners and Stevie Ray Vaughan all go in it Can. Tributes to Lou and Stevie Ray would work well. I've paid attention to previous ceremonies. John Mayer and Gary Clark Jr will probably be in that tribute. Not sure who would be in the Lou Reed tribute. I can think of some for who would induct Lou Reed though. I'll mull that over. In any case Good point Enig. There is Hope for the Ceremonies.

Posted by Ben on Friday, 11/21/2014 @ 05:29am

Who I believe will be inducted in 2015:

Green Day
Nine Inch Nails
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Lou Reed
Bill Withers

Like most recent years, I predict there will be SIX inductees, and I hope there's more! After all, there are several on this ballot (actually, all) who deserve to get in. But this is my 'realistic' view of what I think will be of 2015.

I'm gonna take the chance of putting both first ballot acts on here, just because they both more than deserve it.

Green Day- there's a shoo-in. Enough said.
Nine Inch Nails - whether or not you agree, he's bound to get in real soon. There's more to say, plus a lot of people have forgotten he's still active doing movie scores...
Lou Reed- hate to say this, but a sympathy vote will get him in.
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts- we all know she's been on the ballot for years now, and I see her being the female representative next year. That would be cool if she were inducted with Trent Reznor, who both appeared in the 1987 film 'Light of Day'.
Paul Butterfield Blues Band- I don't know what's on the voters minds, and I can't speak for them. But if I were one of them, I'd just induct these guys and get 'em overwith.
Bill Withers- I think voters are looking for a fresh view of inducting people, and Withers, to me, looks like he's got it in him. One of my favorite soul crooners will likely bring down the house at the ceremony.

And there you have it. I do hope Kraftwerk (the most important influential act not in) will make it too, but who knows. Not sure about Stevie Ray Vaughan or Sting. I'm one of the very few on here that doesn't see much in SRV. I'll say this again: I hope the voters put a lot of acts on the ballot that have been nominated many times, like Chic, NWA and many others.

Posted by Jason Voigt on Sunday, 11/23/2014 @ 22:36pm

Excellent writeup on your induction predictions, Jason. Very sound logic, IMO.

Posted by Paul in KY on Monday, 11/24/2014 @ 08:25am

Thanks, Paul! I'm just sitting here chillin' while hearing and reading about my city being destroyed....

Posted by Jason Voigt on Monday, 11/24/2014 @ 23:35pm

Jason, very sorry about the whole situation. Seems like it is very easy to kill someone, when you are a cop.

Posted by Paul in KY on Tuesday, 11/25/2014 @ 07:24am

It's GREAT to see that the Hall realized their error and included Double Trouble with Stevie. Thanks to EVERYONE who voiced their displeasure on this. That was simply embarrassing!

Posted by V.F.T. on Friday, 11/28/2014 @ 19:05pm

December has arrived!

I'm still sticking with my prediction and I don't like it!

THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

01. Bill Withers
02. Lou Reed
03. Sting
04. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
05. Nine Inch Nails
06. Green Day

Posted by Roy on Monday, 12/1/2014 @ 05:08am

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME PREDICTIONS

CHIC
GREEN DAY
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS
NINE INCH NAILS
THE SPINNERS
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN AND DOUBLE TROUBLE

For some reason I think either Chic or War will get inducted in 2015. Both acts were hugely influential on hip-hop, this is more of a hunch but I think one of them will get inducted. The other acts fill necessary spots: female act (Joan Jett), first-ballot act(S) (Both Green Day and Nine Inch Nails), and Blues Rock (Stevie Ray Vaughan). Traditional R&B has been neglected in recent years and with so many from R&B nominated this year, expect at least one act to get inducted. I'm going with The Spinners, one of the best 1970s R&B acts with plenty of hits.

Posted by Nick on Monday, 12/1/2014 @ 22:25pm

My Final Rock N'Roll Hall of Fame Predictions for the 2015 Ceremony

Chic
Green Day
Nine Inch Nails
Lou Reed
The Spinners
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Yes. Those are my Final Predictions for 2015. You will notice that I added Nine Inch Nails. I did take out NWA as a result of that. Some fine people on this site pointed out about the Fan poll. S Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble are holding steady at #1. NIN are #2. So I think both will go in. I am not a Rap fan but recognize the fact that Rap acts have gone in Recently. Maybe next year. Sorry NWA maybe next year I Now say. I feel too strongly about the others. You will note I corrected myself with S Ray Vaughan by adding Double Trouble to him. Tommy Shannon, Chris Layton and the rest of the Back up band deserve credit! I figure the announcement of the 2015 Inductees is next week so it was time for my Final Predictions. I read that the Fan Poll ends on Dec 9th. I would say that means Dec 10th,11th or 12th is the announcement. So I withdraw my Rap selection. African Americans would be represented with the Chic and the Spinners in my predictions. I'm simply going with Seniority as far as African Americans. I do now predict Nine Inch Nails. Got very little knowledge on them. I'm an Old Classic Rocker. Who am I to judge though. I didn't Judge when Martha & the Vandellas went in back in 95. They are from an Era before me. So in the same way I won't judge about an Era slightly after me. I missed the Boat on them. It don't mean they shouldn't go in. So I do say there will be 2 90s acts. Green Day and NIN. The Spinners make a Nice Opposite as a Mellow 70s Oldie this Year I say. Well As they say I guess we'll Find out what Happens.

Posted by Ben on Tuesday, 12/2/2014 @ 05:41am

My pegs for the likely 2015 Inductees:

Green Day
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
NWA
Lou Reed
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
Bill Withers

Posted by Ian on Wednesday, 12/3/2014 @ 18:41pm

I do want to add that as a Back up prediction I will predict The Marvelettes instead of the Spinners. I say this because a couple years ago for 2013 I predicted the Marvelettes and as the Oldest choice they went with Albert King instead. I didn't think of that until The 2013 Inductees were announced. Albert King started out about 10 years before them Overall. I am sticking with the Spinners as an Older choice. I can see them Inducting Marvelettes instead. Old Blues Players are off the plate in Performer Category Now. This does leave A Motown Oldies group like the Marvelettes to go in. I will stick with the Spinners though. They are more popular over the years. It's one or the other for me because I feel so strong about the Others. Chic, Green Day, NIN, Lou Reed of course and Stevie Ray of course. Someone please Respond.

Posted by Ben on Friday, 12/5/2014 @ 06:22am

Ben, don't know what to tell you. My dream class would probably be SRV&DT, Spinners, Marvelettes, Smiths, N.W.A., and War. As posted on my blog, my predictions are Green Day, SRV&DT, N.W.A., Bill Withers, Lou Reed, and Sting. Chic, JJ&tBh, and NIN are wild cards; Spinners, Marvelettes, and War are uneasy upsets (meaning I feel bad for ranking them that low and think they have a real chance to surprise me); and Kraftwerk, PBBB, and Smiths having little to no chance.

It's funny/scary how closely I agree with both Roy and Ian, and I think one other person on here, I match 5/6 prediction-wise.

Posted by Philip on Friday, 12/5/2014 @ 13:47pm

I know that I haven't post a lot in this site lately (besides the projects), but here are my final predictions:

Green Day
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Lou Reed
Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble
Sting
Bill Withers

Like some people say, Joan Jett will be inducted is because she's had a lot of publicity with Nirvana induction. The voters might notice that and they will get her inducted. Lou Reed will get inducted due to sympathy vote. Stevie Ray Vaughn and Bill Withers have some friends in the voting committee that will vote for them. Sting will be inducted because from what I've seen, Clyde McPhatter members are always inducted on first nomination (with the exception of David Crosby) and he is one of the bigger names on the ballot. No need to explain Green Day.

Now here are my alternatives or potential "7th" inductees:

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Chic
N.W.A.
Nine Inch Nails
War

I think with them getting more votes on the fan poll, PBBB or NIN might get a bump from it even if they are one vote short. For Chic, N.W.A. and War, this might be their chance if one or two of them gets picked as inductees.

But by then, we'll have to wait for a couple of weeks for the hall to announce the Class of 2015.

Posted by John R.C. on Friday, 12/5/2014 @ 14:00pm

Philip. I can certainly see NWA going in. I just withdrew that prediction in Favor of NIN. I am not a favor of Nine Inch Nails I read up on them and saw they were so High on the Fan Poll. As far as Bill Withers and Sting. I feel they will go in but at a later time. I am not a fan of Chic at all. I predict Chic due to being Nominated 9 times! I feel strongly about the Spinners because they have been nominated before and were a key R&b group in the 70s. So I'll stick with my predictions. Marvelettes as a backup instead of Spinners. The Oldies thing they do.

Posted by Ben on Friday, 12/5/2014 @ 17:07pm

"As posted on my blog," -Philip

Even though I yelled at you on Twitter for the Filter comment, I did enjoy your blog and thought it was well thought out.

Posted by DarinRG on Friday, 12/5/2014 @ 18:32pm

At the risk of devolving into groupthink, I'm also getting a little bit bearish about NWA's chances. Even with lots of Nom Com support, even with a ballot cleared of other rap acts, even with lots of recent events breathing new life into their political material, I'm just not sure I see the support for them. The last three rap-oriented acts- Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, and Run DMC- were all no-brainers, and the consensus seems to be that NWA isn't ~quite~ in that category.

Here's how I'd rate the artists' chances at this time:

I'd Bet the Farm On: Green Day, Stevie Ray & Double Trouble

I'm Pretty Confident About: Lou Reed, Nine Inch Nails

But those other two spots are up for grabs, and I can see maybe seven artists taking them.. Joan Jett is probably the most likely of those remaining, due to her standout performance at last year's ceremony, and a ballot that has only one other entirely female artist, and one other real guitar hero. NWA is still one of them, to be sure- for the reasons I outlined earlier. Bill Withers probably has the most famous individual song on the list, and he's the purest singer-songwriter on the list. Given the Rock Hall's recent history of inducting singer-songwriters, that can't be ignored. Chic may get in due to raw fatigue- people wanting them off the ballot, since its clear they will be inducted every single year until they get in.

Sting is the most famous individual on the ballot- and as I said on my blog a while back, its not inconceivable that he's met or had a picture taken with half of the people who will be voting on this. The Marvelettes have the advantage of being the oldest act, and its very easy to see lots of Motown and British Invasion acts voting for them in a fit of nostalgia. And finally, The Smiths have enjoyed perhaps more success, a broader fan base, and had a more memorable personality as frontman- they may succeed when other proto-alternative acts like The Cure and The Replacements faltered.

Finally, I don't see much of a chance for War, The Spinners, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, or, alas, Kraftwerk.

If forced to pick the six who will get in: Green Day, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Nine Inch Nails, Lou Reed, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, and a tough call for the last spot, but Bill Withers.

Posted by PopeCharming on Friday, 12/5/2014 @ 19:26pm

You have to think like the current voters.

THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

01. Bill Withers
02. Lou Reed
03. Sting
04. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
05. Nine Inch Nails
06. Green Day

Posted by Roy on Friday, 12/5/2014 @ 19:50pm

Final Predictions:

01. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
02. Bill Withers
03. Green Day
04. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
05. N.W.A
06. Chic

07. Lou Reed (if there is a 7th inductee)

Posted by rockstar23 on Friday, 12/5/2014 @ 19:58pm

My dream class from this ballot would be:

Chic
Kraftwerk
Lou Reed
Nine Inch Nails
Paul Butterfield Blues Band
The Smiths

My actual prediction is identical to Roy's:

Bill Withers
Lou Reed
Sting
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Nine Inch Nails
Green Day

With Joan Jett as a darkhorse.

Posted by DarinRG on Friday, 12/5/2014 @ 20:07pm

My fiance's prediction:

1. Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble
2. Lou Reed
3. N.W.A.
4. Chic
5. Green Day
6. Sting

Darkhorse 7th: the Smiths

Posted by Philip on Saturday, 12/6/2014 @ 00:56am

I voted in the public poll for:
- Kraftwerk
- Chic
- Lou Reed
- The Smiths
- N.W.A

But my predictions are:
- Lou Reed
- Bill Withers
- Sting
- Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Chic
- The Spinners

I'm predicting that Green Day will be inducted after their 2nd nomination, just like the Peppers a few years back. And N.W.A are for gangsta rap what the Sex Pistols are for punk and Black Sabbath for metal. Ergo, it will take them 4+ nominations before they are inducted.

Posted by The_Claw on Saturday, 12/6/2014 @ 04:23am

Philip, I will tell you my Dream Class. My Dream Class is Green Day, Joan Jett & the BH, Marvelettes, Spinners, Lou Reed, and Stevie Ray Vaughan and DT. I truly like all those. Our Dream Classes are more similar. As I said my predictions are
Chic
Green Day
Nine Inch Nails
Lou Reed
The Spinners
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

I am not a fan at all of Chic and Nine Inch Nails. Sorry for my Mistype yesterday. It didn't make sense. I was saying. I AM NOT A FAN of Nine Inch Nails. I read up on them and saw they were so High on the Fan Poll. I didn't hide in the 90s. I know they were huge. Simply missed the Boat. I got pickier in the 90s. You will note that Green Day are in my Dream Class. I can see NWA going in. I predict Chic going in. I say Joan Jett & the Bh, Marvelettes and NWA are the Wild cards. I agree with you that Paul Butterfield BB, Kraftwerk and Smiths have little to no Chance. I just covered myself with the Wild cards. This will be my last post before the Big Announcement of the Inductees by the Rock Hall of Fame. Philip or anyone Please respond! Nobody really knows exactly who will be Inducted. As they say I GUESS We'll Find Out!

Posted by Ben on Saturday, 12/6/2014 @ 07:00am

Ben, I agree with almost all of your predictions for the 2015 class (expect i chose Joan Jett/Blackhearts over Lou Reed). I think the strong presence of Nine Inch Nails on the fan ballot really helps their stock in terms of getting an induction on their first-ballot year. Green Day is thought to be a given at this point, but I think their relatively weak presence on the fan ballot shocked a lot of people and might make some committee members second guess their first-ballot induction. I think Green Day will get inducted in the 2015 class (as well as Nine Inch Nails); hard to deny the success and impact those two bands played throughout the 1990s onward. The only other nominee that's a sure-thing for induction this year is Stevie Ray Vaughan/Double Trouble; he is #1 on the fan ballot and the Rock Hall loves inducting blues performers especially on their first appearances (e.g., Buddy Guy, Albert King). The other three spots, as others points out, are tougher to call (in my opinion). Because there are a large number of R&B/Soul acts nominated this years, expect at least one to get inducted (the best bets are either The Spinners or Bill Withers; personally I'm rooting for the Spinners). I think Joan Jett will get inducted, if for anything she's one of only two female acts on the ballot this year. She is the equivalent to Linda Ronstadt, in the sense that she's a given because of the circumstances. The Rock Hall will not go a year without inducting a female act in the performer category. That would lead to bad press and they had enough of that with Kiss' induction earlier this year. The sixth and final spot will be the wild-card inductee (in my opinion). This is where all bets are off and where we are not sure how to approach a sixth inductee. Although many people complicated about this batch of nominees for the 2015 ballot, it is really tough narrowing down to only six acts (almost all of them warrant an induction sooner or later). Voters could vote for Lou Reed or Sting (Singer-Songwriters) OR Chic or War (Disco/Funk/R&B). I think the sixth and final spot will go to Chic, after all this is their 9th time nominated. I want Chic to go in the Rock Hall and I think this will be their year. Chic deserves to be in the Rock Hall and by constantly getting nominated time and time again, clearly there is a block of voters who want them in the Hall. I hate to say this, but just let them in so they let someone else deserving on next year's ballot. If they get passed up again this year, expect them on next year's ballot again for the 10th time.

I would love to see The Smiths get inducted, but I don't think they have a chance on this ballot. If The Cure couldn't get in a couple of years ago, the Smiths don't have a chance. Hopefully more 1980s alternative rock bands/acts are inducted soon (i.e., The Cure, The Replacements, Sonic Youth). Either does Kraftwerk, who particularly invented electronic music as we know it but lack name recognition here in the U.S. The Marvelettes stand little chance on the ballot given this is another stacked list of nominees. Although the Motown relation greatly helps them. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band stands little chance either, although almost all of us are shocked they are #4 on the fan ballot right now. With Stevie Ray Vaughan taking the Blues spot, they will not get inducted this year.

N.W.A. poses a unique situation: they are the only rap act on this year's ballot, so they would seem unstoppable in terms of an induction this year? Not really, especially since the Rock Hall rarely inducts rap acts after a few nominations. The only exceptions were RUN-DMC and Public Enemy. N.W.A. will have to wait because they are the most polarizing of all rap acts, nominated or inducted on a Rock Hall. They have their critics who say they don't belong in the "Rock" Hall (I don't agree at all with this notion), but it's hard to deny their impact on virtually every rap act following them. They remind me a lot of the Sex Pistols in the sense they had one great album and that's pretty much it. A short window in terms of success but tons of innovation. I think they will get inducted, but it will take another year or two for their induction. As someone has pointed out, N.W.A. will have to wait especially when ballots are as stacked as the ones they have appeared on since 2013. N.W.A. will get inducted soon, but their time isn't now. I will admit I wouldn't be too shocked if they were inducted this year but I don't think this is their year.

By the way, I hate labeling groups/acts to specific genres but I'm just thinking like a Rock Hall voter.

My Dream Ballot:
Chic
Nine Inch Nails
The Smiths
The Spinners
Stevie Ray Vaughan/Double Trouble
War

The Predictions for 2015 Class:
Chic
Green Day
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Nine Inch Nails
The Spinners
Stevie Ray Vaughan/Double Trouble

(If there's a 7th Inductee [which is doubtful] I would choose Lou Reed). I think Reed will probably get inducted this year in the same situation as Donner Summer back in 2013: the performer died before their induction to the Rock Hall. I think the Rock Hall will wait a year or so to induct Reed for several reasons. First being that if they induct Reed to the Rock Hall in 2015, that sends a really bad message--basically, they only see the performer being "worthy" of such an honor until after their death. It makes the Rock Hall look foolish any way one looks at it. However, I think Reed will probably get inducted this year despite my reservations.

Posted by Nick on Saturday, 12/6/2014 @ 12:27pm

I guess while more people are posting final predictions, I'll just make one more final one:

1. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
2. Green Day
3. Lou Reed
4. N.W.A.
5. Kraftwerk (Yeah, I know the water is rushing in and the ship is going down, but I'm sticking to my guns.)
(6. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts)
(7. Nine Inch Nails)
(8. Chic)

Posted by SotN on Saturday, 12/6/2014 @ 23:05pm

Who told you the poll closes tomorrow?

Posted by Roy on Monday, 12/8/2014 @ 15:58pm

Induct Sting and Lou Reed and get it over with so we won't have to see them again on the ballot.

Posted by Roy on Monday, 12/8/2014 @ 16:15pm

THE 2015 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

01. Bill Withers (This year's Bobby Womack)
02. Lou Reed (This year's Jeff Beck)
03. Sting (This year's Peter Gabriel)
04. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble (This year's Nirvana)
05. Nine Inch Nails (This year's Metallica)
06. Green Day (This year's Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Posted by Roy on Monday, 12/8/2014 @ 17:51pm

Can't these year's act just be their own acts without stereotyping labels on them (or comparing them to other acts)? Isn't the point of the Rock Hall that the inductees were pioneers that made distinct achievements in rock music?

Posted by Nick on Monday, 12/8/2014 @ 20:10pm

The 2015 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Poll Now Closed.

01. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble 31.04% (18,331,506 votes)
02. Nine Inch Nails 22.20% (13,114,449 votes)
03. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 15.08% (8,90,7057 votes)
04. Bill Withers 6.49% (383,0587 votes)
05. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band 6.25% (369,2959 votes)
06. Lou Reed 5.29% (312,1379 votes)
07. War 2.67% (157,5036 votes)
08. Green Day 2.59% (152,7135 votes)
09. Sting 1.75% (103,4505 votes)
10. N.W.A 1.29% (76,1395 votes)
11. Kraftwerk 1.15% (68,1999 votes)
12. The Smiths 1.12% (66,2229 votes)
13. The Spinners 1.12% (66,1758 votes)
14. The Marvelettes 0.98% (58,0523 votes)
15. Chic 0.98% (57,8506 votes)

Posted by Roy on Tuesday, 12/9/2014 @ 19:14pm

The 2015 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Poll Now Closed.

01. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble 31.04% (18,331,506 votes)
02. Nine Inch Nails 22.20% (13,114,449 votes)
03. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 15.08% (8,907,057 votes)
04. Bill Withers 6.49% (3,830,587 votes)
05. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band 6.25% (3,692,959 votes)
06. Lou Reed 5.29% (3,121,379 votes)
07. War 2.67% (1,575,036 votes)
08. Green Day 2.59% (1,527,135 votes)
09. Sting 1.75% (1,034,505 votes)
10. N.W.A 1.29% (76,1395 votes)
11. Kraftwerk 1.15% (68,1999 votes)
12. The Smiths 1.12% (66,2229 votes)
13. The Spinners 1.12% (66,1758 votes)
14. The Marvelettes 0.98% (58,0523 votes)
15. Chic 0.98% (57,8506 votes)

Posted by Roy on Tuesday, 12/9/2014 @ 19:21pm

Sorry I had my commas in the wrong spots.

The 2015 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Poll Now Closed.

01. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble 31.04% (18,331,506 votes)
02. Nine Inch Nails 22.20% (13,114,449 votes)
03. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 15.08% (8,907,057 votes)
04. Bill Withers 6.49% (3,830,587 votes)
05. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band 6.25% (3,692,959 votes)
06. Lou Reed 5.29% (3,121,379 votes)
07. War 2.67% (1,575,036 votes)
08. Green Day 2.59% (1,527,135 votes)
09. Sting 1.75% (1,034,505 votes)
10. N.W.A 1.29% (761,395 votes)
11. Kraftwerk 1.15% (681,999 votes)
12. The Smiths 1.12% (662,229 votes)
13. The Spinners 1.12% (661,758 votes)
14. The Marvelettes 0.98% (580,523 votes)
15. Chic 0.98% (578,506 votes)

Posted by Roy on Tuesday, 12/9/2014 @ 19:25pm

Rock Hall inductees will be announced on Tuesday December 16, according to SiriusXM's Rock Hall Radio channel website:http://www.siriusxm.com/rockandrollhalloffameradio

Posted by Nick on Wednesday, 12/10/2014 @ 11:22am

My Prediction for induction this year:
Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble
Green Day
Sting
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Lou Reed
The Spinners

I'm also think that maybe they go ahead and finally get Nile Rodgers in the the HOF via the Award For Musical Excellence, since it doesn't seem like Chic will ever make it in via the standard voting block method.

Posted by shrek on Wednesday, 12/10/2014 @ 14:05pm

The FRL prediction is the same as mine.

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 12/10/2014 @ 16:13pm

Nice find, Nick. Thanks.

Posted by FRL on Wednesday, 12/10/2014 @ 16:49pm

N.W.A finishes 10th and Chic finishes 15th on both, the official Rock Hall poll and the Future Rock Legends poll.

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 12/10/2014 @ 16:49pm

I really hope that they give Chic a rest if they don't get in this year.

Posted by DC on Thursday, 12/11/2014 @ 00:26am

I've been largely absent this season, but my dream class would be:

N.W.A.
The Smiths
Bill Withers
The Spinners
Kraftwerk
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
(with The Marvelettes as the alternate)

I always leave the newly eligibles out because I feel like they can wait. That's not rational, but whatever. Green Day and NIN both deserve it.

I'm fine with War, Joan Jett, Lou Reed and Butterfield's nominations and eventual inductions. Sting and Chic are at the bottom of the list. I'd much prefer a side induction for Nile Rodgers.

As for my predictions:

Green Day
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
Bill Withers
Lou Reed
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Sting (unfortunately).

Posted by DC on Thursday, 12/11/2014 @ 00:35am

Yeah, my dream class of six from this would be SRV&DT, Spinners, Marvelettes, Smiths, NWA, and War, with Bill Withers as an alternate, but that's so not happening.

If we had a class with those seven, that'd be so awesome and hilarious... because every predominantly Black artist would be inducted, EXCEPT CHIC. Would that finally send a message to the Hall.

Also, earlier I posted my list of fav songs from each nominee. I have to revise two: JJ&tBh is now "School Days". And there is a Sting song that I actually like: "Gabriel's Message".... the distant sound of his vocals really give an other-worldly feeling that should be there.

Posted by Philip on Thursday, 12/11/2014 @ 01:22am

Phillip, your dream ballot with an induction of almost all black performers all inducted in the same year iis not entirely out of the question. In 1991, only one of the seven inductees in the performers category was white: The Byrds, Ike and Tina Turner, The Impressions, Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, LaVern Baker, Wilson Pickett. I agree this probably wouldn't ever happen ever, but this did happen at one point of the Rock Hall's induction history.

Posted by Nick on Thursday, 12/11/2014 @ 02:53am

I've held off on making any predictions for this year's Hall of Fame class but with announcement day fast approaching I guess prediction time has come.

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, 12/13/2014 @ 14:40pm

Time to get my prediction in. Assuming 6 entries:

Green Day
Lou Reed
Sting
Joan Jett & Blackhearts
Bill Withers
N.W.A.
NIN (if 7)

My 'dream picks':

Green Day
The Smiths
The Marvalettes
The Spinners
War
N.W.A.
Kraftwerk (if given 7)

Posted by Paul in KY on Monday, 12/15/2014 @ 08:03am

I still think the Hall is gonna go in an all 80's/90's era class, or at the very least pre-dominantly 80's/90's.

Green Day, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Sting to me are sure-fire locks, which makes half the class (if they go with 6) being all 80's/90's groups.

Add in Joan Jett, N.W.A., and Nine Inch Nails whom I feel are gonna be the other inductees, and you have an all 80's/90's class, with the Smiths being the only act from those periods more than likely getting passed over.

The Marveletts, and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, representing the 60's stand little to no chance in making the class. And when it comes the 70's acts, War, the Spinners, and Kraftwerk, unfortunately will also be passed over.

If there's gonna be any 70's representation on the list it'll come from Bill Withers and/or Lou Reed. Two solo, male singer-songwriters are always sure-fire bets for the HOF. And the Hall is not gonna want to have an all-white class of inductees, so if N.W.A. is too controversial, than Bill Withers can easily step in to be "the black inductee" as well as take the singer-songwriter spot, killing two birds with one stone. Lou Reed is one of the most critically acclaimed artists in history, so he's also a strong favorite. The thing is that Sting is much more widely known and a bigger name than both Lou Reed and Bill Withers, which is why I think he's the sure-fire singer-songwriter inductee, though the Hall could go with two.

So to me my final predictions are as follows in order of likelihood of being chosen...

1. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble (the fan poll winner has never lost, not to mention even without a fan poll he'd be a shoe-in. Clapton, B.B. King and all the guitar greats presently in the Hall are not gonna pass on voting for one of the greatest players to ever pick up an instrument. If he had been nominated for the 2009 class when he was first eligible, he would've joined Run-DMC and Metallica as the headliners. He won't get passed on this time either, or I'll cut my right arm off)

2. Green Day (even despite their surprisingly low showing on the fan poll, the Rolling Stone crowd of voters aren't gonna pass on them. Sure-fire HOFers)

3. Sting (Too big of a name, too critically acclaimed, to friendly with many of the current HOFers to get passed over, even his solo credentials are lacking)

4. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (The Hall is not gonna want to have an all-male class, and with Joan's past nominations and headlining appearance at last year's Ceremony, she and the Blackhearts will be voted in).

5. Nine Inch Nails (Another worthy headlining act, I thought they would get passed over and take 2-3 nominations to get in, but they did so strong in the fan polling, that the Hall is gonna want to have another top 5 finisher in the class of inductees to appeal to the populist crowd. Beings NIN and Stevie Ray Vaughan dominated so heavily over everyone else, I don't see the Hall passing on NIN).

6. N.W.A. (The Hall missed out on a rap inductee and excluded any other rap acts from the ballot to make way for N.W.A.. Obviously the heads of the Hall want them in, and they'll get plenty of support from rap fans and even more modern rock fans that vote on the ballot. I think they'll finally make it in, though I won't be surprised if they don't)


The Dark Horses that could make it in instead

7. Bill Withers (if the Hall passes on N.W.A., I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing Bill Withers' name on the list of inductees tomorrow instead. He has some of the most beloved songs of all-time, perfectly fits the singer-songwriter spot, and also takes a classic R&B snub out of the list of HOF snubs. Plus there's also the added appeal of getting an artist who hasn't performed in over 20 years to come out of retirement to perform at the Hall. The Hall loves getting broken-up bands to reunite and perform (see Cream, Talking Heads, the Police, etc.) or artists to come out of retirement to perform. Bill Withers performing on the stage for the first time in decades would be a great story for the Hall. If Bill would be up for it)

8. Lou Reed (one of the most beloved songwriters of all-time who will definitely have the sympathy vote. Easily could make the list of inductees. If Sting wasn't on the ballot, I would definitely say he would).

9. Chic (probably not likely, as I just don't see any momentum for them, but there's always the chance that after being nominated so many times that the voters will finally give in and vote them in, either out of respect, or just to get them off of future ballots).


The remaining nominees to me have no chance of making it in. But if I'm wrong and one of them makes it on the list of inductees, here's the order of likelihood for the remaining nominees...

1. The Spinners
2. War
3. The Smiths
4. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
5. The Marvelttes
6. Kraftwerk

Posted by Donnie on Monday, 12/15/2014 @ 08:43am

My ideal class would be the following....

1. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
2. Kraftwerk
3. Green Day
4. N.W.A.
5. The Spinners
6. War

Posted by Donnie on Monday, 12/15/2014 @ 08:48am

Excellent writeup, Donnie!

Posted by Paul in KY on Monday, 12/15/2014 @ 13:26pm

My absolute final predictions for the 2015 Class:

Chic
Green Day
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Nine Nail Nails
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
Bill Withers

(If 7th Inductee, Lou Reed)

I really hope everyone is wrong about Sting getting inducted this year; I really hope he gets passed over, but I have a feeling most of you are right that he might just get inducted. The Spinners and War would make awesome inductees this year but not sure of their chances right now. Same goes for Kraftwerk and The Smiths, although I think they sure be shoe-ins they will probably not get inducted this year.

Posted by Nick on Monday, 12/15/2014 @ 15:57pm

**Sorry, i submitted accidentally before; disregard the first one**

My absolute final predictions for the 2015 Class:

Chic
Green Day
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Nine Inch Nails
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
Bill Withers

(If 7th Inductee, Lou Reed)

I really hope everyone is wrong about Sting getting inducted this year; I really hope he gets passed over, but I have a feeling most of you are right that he might just get inducted. The Spinners and War would make awesome inductees this year but not sure of their chances right now. Same goes for Kraftwerk and The Smiths, although I think they should be shoe-ins they will probably not get inducted this year.

Posted by Nick on Monday, 12/15/2014 @ 16:12pm

Hello to all!

I do realize I did not do as much pontificating and opinion making over whom will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2015. To be honest, unlike last year wherein several long time nominees that I advocated for induction were finally inducted; this year was somewhat of a rather predictable ideal as to whom I inferred would be inducted. This only changed when two events occurred.

1. In our new Revisited/Projected Rock Hall Project class, Bill Withers and Lou Reed were inducted just after being nominated for the RRHOF.

2. Sting was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor and subsequently nominated for the RRHOF class to be announced.

Both events, coupled with Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble winning the fan vote, have taken into consideration who would be inducted and also how many performers would go in. At the least, there will be 6 inductees. Here is whom I believe will be inducted.

Green Day
Nine Inch Nails
N .W .A.
Chic
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (subsequently an induction for Joan Jett is an induction for the Runaways)

I would prefer 7 inductees. If it is 7, I believe it will be:

Lou Reed

I have mentioned in prior posts why several nominees may or may not be inducted. However, I would not be surprised to see Sting get an induction by later tonight/early tomorrow morning. Should this occur, and it may happen; I will have Sting on my next Revisited/Projected ballot. None the less, I think the six or seven I named above will be inducted.

As for other inductees; I do not have a specified inference as to who will be honored. I think Casey Kasem may be a potential non performer inductee, though I do not have a clear idea. Also, it would be nice if another backing band of a noted inducted artist get inducted alongside the artist. The Wailers easily come to mind; as do Wings, The Blossoms, and Big Brother and The Holding Company. And, I would not be surprised to see Link Wray get inducted as an Early Influence.

Maybe this time I will be 100% accurate:),

Lax31

Posted by Lax31 on Monday, 12/15/2014 @ 21:12pm

Next years ballot should look like this:

A Tribe Called Quest
Afrikabambata
Mariah Carey
Chicago
The Commodores
The Delfonics
The Go-Go's
Jethro Tull
Moody Blues
Gram Parsons
Roxy Music
Neil Sedaka
Smashing Pumpkins
Sonic Youth
Dionne Warwick
Warren Zevon



Class of 2016
A Tribe Called Quest
Chicago
The Commodores
Moody Blues
Neil Sedaka
Dionne Warwick

Posted by Robert Henry on Wednesday, 12/17/2014 @ 18:28pm

Just catching up on the best inductee predictions. Quite a few people correctly predicted 5 out of the 6 inductees: Jason Voigt, Ian, John R.C., PopeCharming, DC, and Tom H. Charles Crossley, Jr. also predicted 5 over on his website. Very nice job, everyone.

Jason Voigt was the only one of those who predicted the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

As for our predictions, we got 4 out of 6.

Posted by FRL on Thursday, 01/1/2015 @ 23:51pm

where is Sonny & Cher??? What a travesty!

Posted by ward on Friday, 01/9/2015 @ 15:31pm

Deep Purple must be inside

Posted by Armando on Tuesday, 05/5/2015 @ 01:42am