.38 Special

Not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Eligible since: 2003

First Recording: 1977

Previously Considered? No  what's this?

.38 Special
HALL OF FAME INDICATORS
🔲Rolling Stone 500 Albums
🔲Rolling Stone 500 Songs
🔲Rolling Stone Cover
🔲Saturday Night Live
🔲Major Festival Headliner
🔲Songwriters Hall of Fame
🔲“Big Four” Grammys

Essential Songs (?)WikipediaYouTube
Hold On Loosely (1981)
Caught Up In You (1982)

.38 Special @ Wikipedia

Will .38 Special be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
"Musical excellence is the essential qualification for induction."
Yes: 
No :


Comments

20 comments so far (post your own)

38 Special has made outstanding songs over 40 yrs. I always enjoyed Mr.Barnes singing voice. You never hear him mentioned as 1 of the great rock singers. A shame. Hold On Loosely,Caught Up In You, Second Chance,Teacher Teacher etc. were fantastic hits.

I can't understand why 38 Special didn't become mega stars . They had an amazing sound Southern Rock & most people in the rock circle give 38 Special high marks for musicianship & entertainment.

Right now,I think 38 Special will not make RRHOF due to the backlog of bands trying to get in:Deep Purple,Chicago,Scorpions,Def Leppard,Bon Jovi ,etc. KING

Posted by KING on Tuesday, 01/28/2014 @ 15:42pm


Talent wise they had it all-every instrument maxed out with a superb musician and man could Barnes sing. I thought they were more talented in terms of playing and singing than all the other southern bands. Rockin into the Night has to be one of the best straight ahead rockers to drive to. When Wild eyed southern boys came out they got big with Hold on Loosely and Fantasy Girl. Thought they lost their edge alittle after that while still releasing really good songs. Great live act but no to Rock Hof.

Posted by Rock Authority on Thursday, 08/28/2014 @ 22:33pm


They deserve it more than than, blonde,more hits better music and the most fan friendly band ever..

Posted by James Moore on Sunday, 05/7/2017 @ 05:43am


38 Special Should have been elected into RNR HOF back in 2002! Why is the talentless Nirvana and Rappers in the RNR HOF ? Dave Ghohl only one with Talent and Should be in with his accomplishments not that turd Curt Cobain!We also have a Pedefile in M.J. and everyone is ok with that ? If 38 Special doesn't get in the RNR HOF truly is a Joke and should not be an honor to get into. It is Called The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame not the Rap HOF or Hip Hop HOF or Big Band HOF ! Only Rock Bands/Blues Rock Bands and Hard Rock and Metal and Punk I guess but not Rap !!!!

Posted by Redrocker on Thursday, 08/17/2017 @ 21:53pm


Absolutely they belong!

Posted by Chris on Thursday, 12/28/2017 @ 21:59pm


RIP Larry Junstrom

Posted by Roy on Friday, 10/11/2019 @ 11:39am


Simply a great rock and roll band in the 1980s. They had a great number of hits that never get played on Classic Rock Stations like:
- If I Had Been The One; You Keep Running Away; Back Where You Belong: Like No Other Night. Rockin Into The Night!! Plus they left some great, great songs on the albums that should have been released like: Fantasy Girl, Long Distance Affair, and my
two favorites See Me In Your Eyes and Hitting & Running. Plus their hit Second Chance was #1 on the chart in 1988. I saw them in 1984 twice where they sold out the NY Metro Area areas the Meadowlands in NJ & Nassau Coliseum on Long Island. They blew the roof off both areas, with on audio taped that was played over and over by radio stations and the other where their CD "Wild Eyed and Live". In 1986 BonJovi was the opening act at a sold out Meadowlands again. I just dont understand how this band cant get a mention, and others that are so less deserving are in the Hall already!!

Posted by Bobby Mack on Tuesday, 07/28/2020 @ 15:39pm


Great thoughts Bobby Mack on 38 Special. I think the backlog of worthy RRHOF bands has hurt 38 Specials recent chances. Groups like Chicago, Moody Blues, Steve Miller and YES finally have been inducted recently. Was a youngster in the early 1980's but remember their hit songs. Barnes was always an underrated singer. You never hear him mentioned in some of the great singers lists. Caught Up In You is an outstanding song. Incredible musicians! I like plenty of guitars. April Wine I recall had 3 guitarists. That's a great sound. Southern Rock at its finest. Hold On Loosely absolute Classic. You are right about their power on stage. 1 of the best live acts with Blue Oyster Cult and Iron Maiden. KING

Posted by KING on Tuesday, 07/28/2020 @ 17:08pm


It blows me away that they haven't been inducted the band and their music is good enough in my eyes come on Hall of Fame.

Posted by Andrew Shepherd on Saturday, 12/5/2020 @ 14:13pm


It's a shame that 38 Special has not been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame even less considered for it. They are one of the pioneers of the southern rock genre and were hugely popular in the early days of MTV. Still recording and touring today 38 Special more than deserves to be in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.

Posted by John Ripka on Friday, 02/12/2021 @ 11:15am


Incredible band, that was one of the top bands for the entire decade of the 80s!! How they are not in with all the hits they had is really disgraceful. Plus they were fabulous in concert!! They belong in the Hall of Fame!!
Rockin Into the Night
Hold on Loosely,
Caught Up in You,
You Keep Running Away,
If I'd Been the One,
Back Where You Belong,
Like No Other Night
Somebody Like You
Second Chance
Sound of Your Voice

Posted by Robert E. Mackoul on Sunday, 02/21/2021 @ 21:57pm


.38 Special may very well get in, just for the sake of having another Southern style band in. IMHO they are a good but not great band, too derivative to be truly deserving of the Hall, although being too derivative never stopped heart or the Foo Fighters. But both bands got in because they served an agenda. Heart got in because the Hall wanted more women, Foo Fighters this year simply because of how well connected Dave Grohl is. I'd have left it at his being in with Nirvana, who actually deserve to be in. My thoughts are, the next three Southern bands should be Little Feat, Marshall Tucker and Charlie Daniels.Is Little Feat considered a Southern band? Unfortunately we may have to wait a while for any more Southern bands because they're not really in vogue right now. Not "politically correct" enough. And I think "Uneasy Rider '88" may have doomed Charlie Daniels' chances of ever getting in. But everybody's entitled to one mistake.

Posted by Mike on Thursday, 05/13/2021 @ 16:59pm


they have paid their dues and theirVocal/ lyrical and guitar excellence is undisputed, why not? there are lesser bands and performers in the hall for certain.........

Posted by kenny baker on Monday, 11/22/2021 @ 09:57am


One of the premier Southern Rock acts of the 70s and 80s. I won't hold my breath for them being nominated, let alone inducted....but they're more deserving than many of the recent inductees.

Posted by StunningStocktaker on Tuesday, 02/1/2022 @ 22:00pm


Just because 38 Special is classified as Southern Rock it doesn't mean they aren't as relevant as Lynyrd Skynyrd. 38 Special has left their own mark on rock & should be given at least some consideration to being inducted into the RRHoF. They have legions of fans & continue to gain fans as I've seen many younger people (well under 40) at their concerts & playing their music.

I just saw 38 Special a few months ago & they can still rock! It was an amazing show even before you consider that they are all nearing 70! Don Barnes is definitely an underrated singer.

Posted by Keri on Sunday, 03/6/2022 @ 17:16pm


I'm wondering why 38 Special hasn't been considered for the Hall of Fame? In 2012 I saw them in a small town concert. They were all I dreamed of when I was younger Their sound helped the Southern Rock sound break through to fans all over the US. Just before that concert I got a tattoo of their name on my person just over my heart. I grew up listening to them, Molly Hatchet, Lynard Skynard. All 3 groups are from the same area of Florida. Everyone write to the people of the hall of fame and tell them to inducte 38 Special to the hall of fame.

Posted by Christine on Tuesday, 11/1/2022 @ 09:59am


Just saw RNRHOF 2023 nominees. Shame that 38 Special was not on the list!

Posted by Christian on Wednesday, 02/1/2023 @ 09:45am


No .38 Special.... but Missy Eliot and an old, stoned Country Dude?

Posted by Gator on Thursday, 02/2/2023 @ 11:38am


.38 Special and Foreigner. I think they both deserve to be in.

Posted by Tookie on Thursday, 02/23/2023 @ 10:12am


I agree that they should be able to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I've been listening to them ever since I was in high school. The lead singer is the brother of Lynard Skynard. And that group was inducted. Another band also should be in the hall of fame is Molly Hatchet.

Posted by Christine Campbell on Tuesday, 01/2/2024 @ 18:15pm


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Future Rock Legends is your home for .38 Special and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, including year of eligibility, number of nominations, induction chances, essential songs and albums, and an open discussion of their career.


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