The B-52's

Not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Eligible since: 2004

First Recording: 1978

Previously Considered? Yes  what's this?

The B-52's
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
500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll

Inducted into Rock Hall Projected in 2014 (ranked #217) .

R.S. Top 500 Albums (?)RankVersion
The B-52's1982020
The B-52's1522012

R.S. Top 500 Songs (?)RankVersion
Rock Lobster (1978)3002021

Essential Albums (?)WikipediaYouTube
The B-52's (1979)
Wild Planet (1980)
Whammy! (1983)
Cosmic Thing (1989)
Good Stuff (1992)

Essential Songs (?)WikipediaYouTube
Rock Lobster (1978)
Planet Claire (1979)
52 Girls (1979)
Private Idaho (1980)
Party Out of Bounds (1980)
Love Shack (1989)
Roam (1989)
Channel Z (1989)

The B-52's @ Wikipedia

Will The B-52's be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
"Musical excellence is the essential qualification for induction."
Yes: 
No :


Comments

24 comments so far (post your own)

B-52's are original,fun, & have great songs. I'm biased because Kate Pierson is one of my FAV vocalists. Love the sound of her voice & pretty too.

They have that Alice In Chains quality Staley-Cantrell had alternating verses with different singers usually producing a good harmony.

I would say Roam is my FAV song by B-52's with the vocals & guitar work. My guess they will be nominated in next 5 years. They are also a unique group which will help selection time.(inating one when 3 rock or metal bands are slugging it out,elim)
KING

Posted by KING on Friday, 01/31/2014 @ 03:32am


Not going to lie, I thought they were kind of a gimmick band when I was younger. For years, I only heard "Love Shack," which is a really fun song, but is something I've heard at every wedding I've ever been to. However, over the last two weeks I've been looking at their performances on Youtube and have fallen in love with them. After going through their history, which was way more tragic than I anticipated, I would strongly push for their inclusion as soon as possible, not just for their musical notoriety, but as one of the first bands that stood up in the fight against AIDS, back when it was something people didn't want you talking about.

Posted by NixtonV on Friday, 07/4/2014 @ 16:30pm


I've always loved the B-52s, but I really don't know any way they can get into the HOF. In fact I don't even know what kind of genre they belong in, besides New Wave! They're music has always been described as 'party' or 'beach' rock. I don't even know where the 'influence' part comes in. Can't take the fact they put out great music, starting with their first album, going up to their post-Ricky cut, Cosmic Thing. I feel they would have to induct a few other New Wave/80s bands before they get in. JMO

Posted by Jason Voigt on Saturday, 07/11/2015 @ 11:28am


Truly one of the most innovative bands of all time. Their vocal harmonies are 2nd to none. Should have been elected into the hall as soon as they were eligible.

Posted by Lee Pendleton on Wednesday, 09/9/2015 @ 00:31am


Great band, I find it shocking that they haven't even been nominated yet, because they deserve it

Posted by Christian on Thursday, 12/22/2016 @ 22:55pm


Great band with exciting songs and very
Good live
Please let into Hall !!

Posted by Mitch on Saturday, 01/7/2017 @ 22:44pm


Great band with exciting songs and very
Good live
Please let into Hall !!

Posted by Mitch on Saturday, 01/7/2017 @ 22:44pm


I really think it's about time to get the B-52s into the RRHOF. One of the most unique bands with their sound and look. Their 2nd album 'Wild Planet is one of the best albums ever recorded. They are America's party band. Seeing them live is an amazing experience all on its own. Come on board...lets at least nominate them.

Posted by Ed on Thursday, 10/19/2017 @ 13:38pm


Great Band you hear there songs all the time

please let in the Hall !!

Posted by mitchell on Friday, 11/17/2017 @ 20:46pm


One of the Big Three of early new wave

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, 08/27/2018 @ 11:58am


https://audiovisualrepository.squarespace.com/blog/rockhallcontendersb52s

Here's my blog entry on The B-52's and why they are should be inducted into the Rock Hall.

Posted by Nick on Monday, 05/20/2019 @ 23:36pm


Excellent writeup, Nick! Thanks for sharing it!

Posted by Paul in KY on Tuesday, 05/21/2019 @ 08:48am


Nick
I noticed your write-up on The B-52s. Thinking about it again this morning, I would be inclined to vote for them. They have a smaller discography for a group with 40+ years as a band. The Bangles are another band in that category low discography. B-52's best points are their innovation and uniqueness. I can't think of any band like them. Dee-Lite I remember had a few hit songs in the 90's. They were different too. I've always liked Kate Pierson's voice. She's also had some great featuring spots in "Candy" with Iggy Pop and "Shiny Happy People". I remember "Roam" and "Love Shack" as hit songs back in the day. Would I be shocked if B-52's was nominated this cycle? NO. I probably would choose B-52's over Devo or B-52's over another 80's new wave band if I was on the Nomination Committee. I believe they will be nominated in the next 2-3 years. KING

Posted by KING on Tuesday, 05/21/2019 @ 11:12am


Thank you for the kind words Paul K!

KING,
I'm glad you read my blog and happy to hear you would support their HOF inclusion. They are definitely unique and that makes them stand out from the crowd (although some might argue their influence could be harder to pinpoint as their contemporaries). They strike me as an "any year now" type of candidate and I definitely think you're right to say they will be nominated shortly. They just need a stronger advocate Nom Com member to speak on their behalf.

Posted by Nick on Thursday, 05/23/2019 @ 01:29am




Let’s re-do that last post -

Paul K,
Thank you for the kind words.

KING,
I’m glad you read my blog and I’m happy to hear you’d support The B-52’s’ Rock Hall inclusion. One of my favorite New Wave bands and they are so unique (although their detractors might argue their influence is harder to pinpoint than their contemporaries and they’re a novelty act). I definitely think your correct to say a nomination is on the way for them. They just need a stronger advocate on the Nom Com and they’ll definitely appear on a future ballot.

Posted by Nick on Thursday, 05/23/2019 @ 02:13am



Let's consider this, REM (great band by the way) is from Athens, GA and came about a few years after the B-52s already dominated this college town. In 2007, REM gets in, a very deserving title; however, we have yet to see the B-52s get a fair chance. Forget "Love Shack" and "Rock Lobster", look at what they have accomplished musically. Ricky Wilson tuned his strings to whatever he thought sounded good (and removed the middle strings for good measure), and wrote some hits off that. After his passing, Keith Strickland learned all the parts and brought the band to a whole new level. There are no vocalists like Fred Schneider, Cindy Wilson or Kate Pierson in the world. You know it's a B-52s song because of their unique style, and there's only a few bands that can really say they've accomplished something like that. If there is any band that should have gotten in on their first year, it's this one

Posted by Dan Hoyt on Tuesday, 04/6/2021 @ 01:57am




Forgot to mention it here, but I saw the B-52s at Riotfest back in 2019. Great show that I attended with my then fiancé (now wife). They played em all and we had such a good time. My girl is from Uganda and was not/is not familiar with alot of contemporary American music and for her all their music was fresh & she loved them.

Glad they are retiring, as none of them are getting any younger and I'm sure they have other things they want to do before they get too decrepit to do them. I think they should have been inducted years ago and I feel they will be some day. Just hope it is while they are still alive.

Posted by Paul in KY on Wednesday, 04/27/2022 @ 06:31am


With Duran Duran & Eurythmics getting in and B-52's going on one final tour, I have a feeling we'll see them on the 2023 ballot.

Posted by Garrick on Sunday, 05/8/2022 @ 09:16am


Without doubt, the greatest party band of all time. Saw them live in Michigan about 12 years ago or so and they absolutely did not disappoint! I don't know what the rationale for them not being inducted is, but, with all due respect, looking at some of the groups recently inducted, the B-52s were simply a better band!

I hope you're right, Garrick!

Posted by SlickMic on Friday, 07/8/2022 @ 23:58pm


RIP Astrud Gilberto

Posted by J.W. on Tuesday, 06/6/2023 @ 20:02pm


One of the biggest snubs of the rock hall, they should be inducted as soon as possible.

Posted by power on Sunday, 07/23/2023 @ 11:53am


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Future Rock Legends is your home for The B-52's 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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