Looking at the wide array of 246 performer inductees and comparing it to the long list of those who aren't in, it's possible to draw some general conclusions about what it takes to get into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Hall doesn't list any official criteria, but the three primary traits of performer inductees tend to fall into these broad categories:

• Popularity
• Critical Acclaim
• Industry Connections

History has shown that artists who do well in at least two out of the three categories have a solid chance at making the Hall of Fame, and those who check all three boxes likely get in on the first ballot. This is why having massive record sales and radio hits (aka "Popularity") on their own isn't typically enough to break through (e.g. Huey Lewis & the News, Styx, Backstreet Boys, etc.), while the same is true of Critically Acclaimed artists who never fully entered the mainstream (e.g. Can, Hüsker Dü, PJ Harvey). The Industry Connections category can take many shapes, such as having your record executive or manager on the Rock Hall Nominating Committee, but it can broadly be thought of as artists who often show up at awards shows or special events, and play the showbiz game (e.g. John Legend, Alicia Keys, Green Day, Gary Clark, Jr.). Having those industry relationships is often the missing piece of the puzzle that helps separate artists from their musical peers in the eyes of the Hall of Fame.

It should be noted here that there are dozens of artists who satisfy two or three of these categories that aren't in the Hall of Fame yet, but should be considered qualified.

It wasn't long ago that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was criticized for being self-centered and run by elitist critics when it would repeatedly nominate artists like Patti Smith or The Stooges while ignoring (or outright disparaging) populist artists like KISS or Chicago. While there was unquestionably an element of truth to that reputation, the overall list of inductees was fairly balanced between popular and critical favorites.

Over the last decade, there has been a noticeable shift in the Rock Hall's stance towards critically maligned but popular artists, as more and more famous snubs finally broke through with a nomination and then were quickly inducted.

Continuing that trend, take a look at the performers nominated in 2022 and how they best fit in the diagram above (bold artists were inducted):

• C/P/I (1st Ballot): Eminem
• P/I: Lionel Richie, Eurythmics, Carly Simon, Dolly Parton*, Duran Duran
• I/C: Beck
• C/P: A Tribe Called Quest, Judas Priest, Rage Against the Machine
• P only: Pat Benatar, Dionne Warwick
• C only: Devo, Kate Bush, Fela Kuti, MC5, New York Dolls

* - Dolly is critically acclaimed in Country music circles, but generally not considered by the Pop/Rock critics, which are relevant here.

The only common denominator among the winners is Popularity. When evaluating such a musically diverse ballot, voters heavily gravitated towards the most iconic names, most of whom are deeply entrenched in the music industry. Any artist without household name recognition, a significant Billboard chart presence, or couldn't plausibly appear at the American Music Awards were passed over again.

To be fair, the Nominating Committee has tried to create well-balanced ballots, but it has become incredibly predictable to see that the Voting Committee now favors shiny stars over influential pioneers. The Rock Hall's "solution" to this problem is to use their special categories to induct handpick a few artists who can't get past the voters (like Judas Priest, Kraftwerk and LL Cool J), rather than addressing the systemic deficiencies in their ballot construction or voter demographics.

While some may see lack of balance unsettling, those in charge at the Rock Hall and HBO (its induction ceremony broadcast partner) almost certainly see this populist direction as a feature rather than a bug (especially with their new interest in the superstars of Country to choose from). Now that the precedent has been set for the amount of star power expected on stage at induction ceremonies, there's no turning back now.

In another universe where there isn't an endless backlog, this could be the 2021 Rock Hall ballot — styled after the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. (Illustration by Future Rock Legends)

One of the primary reasons that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame generates so much derision from fans is that there are literally hundreds of artists who can make a Hall of Fame case, but due to the nature of the induction process, will never get a shot on the ballot. The unfairness of the system creates a visceral reaction among casual observers of the Rock Hall who simply can’t understand how legendary artists don't even get a chance after decades of eligibility. Don’t all these artists deserve an opportunity to have their names appear on a Hall of Fame ballot, ideally while they're still alive?

Compare the Rock Hall’s current system, where even once-in-a-generation artists can’t get on the ballot, with the Baseball Hall of Fame induction process where every notable player gets a shot at their first opportunity.

Some quick background: players are eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame five years after they retire. In that first year of eligibility, a six-member Screening Committee adds every reasonable new candidate to the ballot along with all players that met a minimum 5% vote threshold from the previous year. That leads to ballots that typically have anywhere between 25 and 40 names. When the votes come in, marginal candidates quickly fall out of contention for the next year, but others are allowed up to 10 chances to get the 75% approval needed for induction before they fall off the ballot and are left for the Eras Committees to consider (formerly called the Veterans Committee).

The benefits of Baseball's system:

• Every quality candidate gets at least one chance on the ballot.
• A 10-year nomination cap provides enough time to build momentum for those who don’t get in right away, and also provides urgency for the voters when a player’s reaches their final ballot.
• Voters can vote for between 0 and 10 candidates each year, which gives voters plenty of options to give support to all those who deserve it without having to vote strategically.
• A low vote threshold to get back on the ballot allows nominees to get a multiple chances if they get caught in a stacked year.
• Players on the ballot are all from roughly the same era.

All of these attributes stand in stark contrast to the Rock Hall’s system:

• Most quality candidates never get nominated.
• There’s no nomination cap, so voters can endlessly procrastinate voting for certain artists who seem to come up every year.
• Voters are limited to selecting five artists from the ballot which leads people to vote strategically for lesser known candidates over obvious Hall of Famers, which occasionally backfires.
• While some artists get multiple chances on the ballot, many are “one and done,” even after they had never gotten a fair shot at induction because they were nominated in a strong year, or they were pitted against similar artists which split the vote.
• In any given year, voters are forced to compare artists from the 1960s to those up through the 1990s, when the context of their careers could not be more different.
• Nearly every nominated artist is Hall of Fame-worthy, making the voters choices come down to personal preference. Recently, a great induction class can be created by pulling six random artists from the ballot, since they all have their merits.

If the Rock Hall adopted a system like Baseball’s, the image at the top of this post could be the 2021 ballot, with its mix of newly eligible artists and those who have recently missed out. That fantasy ballot has many advantages over a typical Rock Hall ballot:

• Those with Hall of Fame careers clearly stand out from the rest.
• Artists with good careers get a chance at renewed exposure through their Rock Hall nomination.
• Evaluating contemporaries is much easier and a lot more fun to debate.
• It's fair to the artists and their fans.

Could the Rock Hall ever adopt a system like the Baseball Hall of Fame’s? Sure, anything is possible. There is nothing sacred about the current induction process. The Hall of Fame has always had the ability to do whatever it wants and be the type of institution it wants to be. A fair Rock Hall system structured like baseball’s, with the potential for large induction classes, a robust Veteran’s Committee, and a clear and transparent voting process could ultimately lead to a Hall of Fame that doesn't make people so mad.

Spin is marking its 35th anniversary with a series of features and lists, including a ranking of the 35 "most influential artists of the past 35 years." Seventeen of the artists have already been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, including 15 of the top 20. The remaining artists will likely be in the Rock Hall conversation for the next 20+ years.

Here is Spin's ranking, with the eligibility year listed for non-Rock Hall artists:

1. Nirvana
2. Prince
3. Madonna
4. N.W.A
5. Nine Inch Nails
6. 2Pac
7. Run-DMC
8. R.E.M.
9. Public Enemy
10. Rage Against the Machine (2018)
11. Guns N' Roses
12. Beastie Boys
13. Dr. Dre (2018)
14. U2
15. Pearl Jam
16. The Neptunes (2029)
17. Notorious B.I.G.
18. Tori Amos (2017)
19. Michael Jackson
20. Jane's Addiction (2013)
21. Outkast (2019)
22. Radiohead
23. Kanye West (2029)
24. Jay-Z (2021)
25. Eminem (2022)
26. Beyoncé (2029)
27. Ricky Martin (2017)
28. Lady Gaga (2034)
29. Tyler, the Creator (2035)
30. Spice Girls (2022)
31. Bikini Kill (2017)
32. Drake (2035)
33. Billie Eilish (2042)
34. Sublime (2018)
35. No Doubt (2018)

Of the eligible artists, only Rage Against the Machine and Jane's Addiction have appeared on a Rock Hall ballot. The others are still waiting to get an opportunity from the voters.

Is being influential enough to get you into the Hall of Fame on its own? Probably not. It usually takes an additional mix of commercial success, critical acclaim, and industry connections to get you over the top. Fortunately for many of these artists, they can score on multiple fronts.

Journalism professor and former pop music critic Evelyn McDonnell is one of the most vocal advocates for properly recognizing the importance of women's contributions to rock music. Her essays regarding the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's deficiencies in that area have led to a heightened awareness in the media and public that just 7.7% of inductees are women.

In 2018, McDonnell released her edited collection of essays, Women Who Rock, which celebrated the careers of over 100 artists, 30% of whom are already in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. While many of the remaining women highlighted in the book are clearly worthy of the Hall of Fame, most of those eligible haven't even been nominated due to the Rock Hall's flawed induction system.

Will this list predict who the next women inductees will be? The only three women who have been inducted by the Rock Hall since publication were featured in the book, Janet Jackson, Stevie Nicks, and Whitney Houston.

Here is the full list of women from the book (linked artists are not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; Hall of Famers noted with their year of induction):

• Bessie Smith (1989)
• Sister Rosetta Tharpe (2018)
• Mahalia Jackson (1997)
• Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton
• Wanda Jackson (2009)
• Patsy Cline
• Nina Simone (2018)
• Odetta
• Joan Baez (2017)
• Carole King (1990 as Non-Performer)
• Celia Cruz
• Tina Turner (1991 with Ike Turner)
• Aretha Franklin (1987)
• Darlene Love (2011)
• Ronnie Spector (2007 with The Ronettes)
• Diana Ross (1988 with The Supremes)
• Dusty Springfield (1999)
• Marianne Faithfull
• Grace Slick (1996 with Jeffeson Airplane)
• Laura Nyro (2012)
• Janis Joplin (1995)
• Carol Kaye
• Cher
• Dolly Parton
• Mavis Staples (1999 with The Staples Singers)
• Joni Mitchell (1997)
• The GTO's
• Yoko Ono
• Patti LaBelle
• Linda Ronstadt (2014)
• Karen Carpenter
• June Millington
• Bonnie Raitt (2000)
• Betty Davis
• Suzi Quatro
• Chaka Khan
• Emmylou Harris
• Stevie Nicks (2019 solo and 1998 with Fleetwood Mac)
• Donna Summer (2013)
• Patti Smith (2007)
• Heart (2013)
• Debbie Harry (2006 with Blondie)
• Joan Jett (2015)
• Grace Jones
• Poly Styrene
• Siouxsie Sioux
• Kate Bush
• Alice Bag
• Chrissie Hynde (2005 with The Pretenders)
• Exene Cervenka
• Poison Ivy
• ESG
• The Go-Go's
• Laurie Anderson
• Diamanda Galás
• Cyndi Lauper
• Madonna (2008)
• Kim Gordon
• k.d. lang
• Whitney Houston (2020)
• Janet Jackson (2019)
• Salt-N-Pepa
• Sinéad O'Connor
• Angélique Kidjo
• Lucinda Williams
• L7
• Selena
• Queen Latifah
• Ani DiFranco
• Kathleen Hanna
• Courtney Love
• Liz Phair
• TLC
• Tori Amos
• PJ Harvey
• Gwen Stefani
• Björk
• Lauryn Hill
• Aaliyah
• Shirley Manson
• Sleater-Kinney
• Fiona Apple
• Missy Elliott
• Erykah Badu
• Neko Case
• Dixie Chicks
• Beyoncé
• Tegan and Sara
• Peaches
• Sharon Jones
• Laura Jane Grace
• Amy Winehouse
• M.I.A.
• Rihanna
• Ana Tijoux
• Taylor Swift
• Adele
• Janelle Monáe
• Lady Gaga
• Santigold
• Nicki Minaj
• Pussy Riot
• Brittany Howard

It should be noted that McDonnell's book is not meant to be a comprehensive list of women who are worthy of induction, because there are many others who should be considered.

The Midnighters were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 in an effort to correct a previous oversight when Hank Ballard was inducted solo in 1990. According to the Hall of Fame’s website, The Midnighters enshrined that night included seven members: Henry Booth, Cal Green, Arthur Porter, Lawson Smith, Charles Sutton, Norman Thrasher and Sonny Woods. Alonzo Tucker and guitarist Billy Davis were notably not included. In January of 2013, Hank Ballard’s son, Daryle even noted Davis’s omission in the comment section of this website, hoping he would be included at some point. Someone at the Rock Hall must have had a change of heart, because later that year, Davis’s name was quietly added to the official website.

As with the Kenny Laguna situation, the result isn’t the issue, it’s the process where the Rock Hall tries to secretly rewrite its own history.

thanks, Jake

The “so many others” that Ament mentioned in the speech were listed on his t-shirt (most also appear on our own Snub List):

Since he wore that shirt two years ago, Ament should be pleased that quite a few of the 97 artists he listed have been nominated and/or inducted:

There have been a total of twelve artists inducted in the performer category in the last two years, five of whom appear on Ament’s list. Another five were nominated in 2018 or 2019 but didn’t make the cut. It’s worth keeping an eye on this list to see if it will be a road map for the Nominating Committee in the coming years.

[Props to Jeff Ament for shining a light on the Rock Hall’s huge backlog problem.]

In 1999, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the “Early Influence” category. For years, the Rock Hall clearly listed all of the Playboys individually on their website as inductees, as this screenshot from 2010 shows:

When the new Hall of Fame exhibit at the Museum was unveiled last year, the Texas Playboys were omitted from the signature plaque and removed from the website:

Why on earth* would the Rock Hall remove Tommy Duncan, Leon McAuliffe, Johnny Gimble, Joe Holley, Tiny More, Herb Remington, Eldon Shamblin, and Al Stricken? We all know the Rock Hall has a problem inducting women, but throwing out dead male inductees doesn’t seem like a good solution. If you’re going to erase history, at least provide an explanation for what you’re doing.

* - Please don’t say it’s because they didn’t fit on the plaque.

Update (May 4, 2019): The Rock Hall Museum’s President and CEO, Greg Harris, tweeted today to say that the Texas Playboys have been restored to the website and will be added to the signature wall soon.

All, thank you for bringing the Bob Wills item to our attention, we’ve checked our records and updated the website to reflect the way we’ve had it since 1999 including the Texas Playboys. Plaque will be updated shortly again thanks.

— Greg Harris (@rockhallceo) May 4, 2019

Update (January 22, 2020):

Happy to report that the Texas Playboys are once again displayed in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Thanks to @KatBoydRocks for the photo pic.twitter.com/5JsAsPOpb5

— Future Rock Legends (@futurerocklgnds) January 19, 2020

In Rolling Stone’s article announcing the nominees, reporter Andy Greene wrote that only six members of Roxy Music were included by the Rock Hall, and John Gustafson and Graham Simpson were not among them:

The classic Roxy Music lineup of Bryan Ferry, Brian Eno, Andy Mackay, Phil Manzanera, Eddie Jobson and Paul Thompson made the cut, though none of their many bassists did.

After the inductees were announced in December, John Gustafson’s contributions to the band were still mentioned in the Rock Hall’s biography, but his name disappeared from the inducted members listing:

A month later, Andy Greene spoke with Andy Mackay about the inducted lineup:

RS: They’re taking in Brian Eno, Bryan Ferry, Eddie Jobson, you, Phil Manzanera, Graham Simpson and Paul Thompson. Did they get that right? Did they miss anybody?

Mackay: It’s difficult, isn’t it? Over the band’s career there were many different people. For a period, we worked with American session musicians on a few records. By and large, the four of us there at the beginning were there at the end. That’s probably what counts. And Eddie Jobson obviously did play on three records in the middle of the band’s career. With bass players, it is hard to say who is the definitive bass player. The guy who played on “Love Is the Drug,” John Gustafson, died a few years ago. He was a fantastic player who had been in a Liverpool band before the Beatles. He was a great player that did a lot of session work in London.

The official Rock Hall program doesn’t specifically list which members were inducted, but the front and back covers illustrate each inductee. There are only seven yellow circles for Roxy Music, and Gustafson is not one of them.

The Rock Hall already changed course with this class when they decided to include The Cure’s current guitarist, Reeves Gabrels, but it’s not so clear why Gustafson was removed from the Roxy Music lineup. Did the Rock Hall change its mind? Was there input from the band?

The Rock Hall started announcing the band lineups with the nominations each year in an effort to avoid these types of controversies, but it’s clear they still have no problem making things up as they go along.

Many people are wondering why was John Gustafson dropped from your original list of eight Roxy Music band members to be inducted after the details were displayed on the HOF website during the weeks before the ceremony? 🙄

— Roxy (@Roxysiren) April 7, 2019

For the record, we had been listing Gustafson as an inductee since December, but based on the above information, he has now joined the list of Snubbed Members.

Big thanks to Joe Kwaczala, host of our favorite podcast, for bringing this to our attention.

After the Rock Hall introduced the “Singles Category” at the 2018 ceremony there were no shortage of questions, criticism, and speculation about the purpose and future of the award. After all, the Rock Hall had previously published a list of the “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll,” so how would this be different? Last year, Steven Van Zandt made clear to state that there was only one rule for a song to be honored: “the records are by artists not in the Rock Hall.” With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 2019 recipients*:

• The Chantels - "Maybe" (1957)**
• The Champs - "Tequila" (1958)
• Barrett Strong - "Money (That's What I Want)" (1959)
• The Shangri-Las - "Leader of the Pack" (1964)
• The Shadows of Knight - "Gloria" (1965)

• The Isley Brothers - "Twist and Shout" (1962)

The whole point of this category is that its artists that aren’t in. Bullshit.

— Who Cares About the Rock Hall? (@rockhallpod) March 30, 2019

As you probably know, the Isley Brothers are in the Hall of Fame, inducted in 1992. So in the second year of this brand new Rock Hall category, the one and only rule gets trashed.*** What are we even doing here?

The Rock Hall’s own website and museum have been slow to acknowledge the category after it was introduced as a surprise at last year’s ceremony. Greg Harris, the Museum’s president and CEO has tried to emphasize that the songs are not inducted into the Rock Hall, and “Singles” isn’t even a Hall of Fame category (what?). A year later, the museum still hasn’t accommodated the song list in its Hall of Fame exhibit (although Harris says the songs will eventually receive a special place of honor). It took months, but their website finally listed last year’s singles on the “Induction Process” page (but they weren’t actually inducted, right?), and hasn’t bothered to add this year’s winners, four weeks after the ceremony.

Just like last year, the artists of the honored songs were not in attendance at the Induction Ceremony, and according to a source close to one of the artists, weren’t even notified about the “honor” in advance.

In January, Joel Peresman, the Rock Hall Foundation’s President & CEO, who is theoretically in charge of this mess, said that this category “will be included again this year and always going forward.” Always! If that’s the case, someone needs to turn Steven Van Zandt’s vanity project into something meaningful. Otherwise, there’s really no point in discussing it further.

* - In his introduction, Steven Van Zandt said they don’t always select the original version of the singles, but they honor “the most iconic versions that time has proven to have had the biggest impact on the soundtrack of our lives.”
** - With this honor, it’s likely the Chantels won’t be back on the Performer ballot, where they had been twice been nominated. The other non-Hall of Famers have never been nominated.
*** - So, out of the hundreds of foundational songs to break the non-Hall of Famer rule, why “Twist and Shout”? It was written by Bert Berns, whom Van Zandt had gotten inducted in 2016. Just one more reason the entire system is broken.

Steven Van Zandt, of course, narrates the new Berns documentary and is a producer for the Broadway show about Berns. #RockHall2016

— Future Rock Legends (@futurerocklgnds) March 24, 2016

[Janet] Jackson is one of only two women being inducted into the hall this year, out of 37 inductees, including the members of the five all-male bands being inducted. The other woman is Stevie Nicks. During the 34 years since the hall was founded by Jann Wenner and Ahmet Ertegun, 888 people have been inducted; 69 have been women. That’s 7.7 percent. The problem is spreading.
...
The Rock Hall is the most obvious offender in what I’ll call the manhandling of musical history. Manhandling is akin to, and often — as with the Rock Hall — intersects with, whitewashing. Manhandling pushes women out of the frame just as whitewashing covers up black bodies. People of color account for 32 percent of Rock Hall inductees, a far better figure than for women, but still not representative of the enormous role African Americans and Latinx people have played in American popular music.

McDonnell makes the case that the gender disparity was baked in from the first induction class and takes aim at one of the Rock Hall’s founding members:

[Buddy] Holly and [Chuck] Berry were both among the first 16 acts inducted in the Rock Hall, in 1986. All their fellow inductees were male. Built on such grotesquely imbalanced footing, the institution may never get itself right. After all, its main instigator was Ahmet Ertegun, an admittedly legendary records man who treated women abominably, according to Dorothy Carvello’s 2018 memoir Anything for a Hit. Carvello is a music executive who began her career working for Ertegun at Atlantic. Ertegun subjected her to crude sexual harassment and once fractured her arm in anger. The Rock Hall named its main exhibition hall after Ertegun. How can this ever be a place where women feel welcome, let alone safe? Just as universities have removed from buildings and fellowships the names of film executives who gave them money, such as USC renaming their Bryan Singer Division of Critical Studies, the Rock Hall should remove Ertegun’s name from the building and from the annual industry executive award that bears his name. It’s an award that has never been given to a woman.
...
Guys like Ertegun, who died in 2006, reportedly manhandled in the workplace, in addition to creating the Cleveland shrine to gender inequity. Carvello’s book documents in scandalous detail how he and other executives created a boys’ club environment where women had to either pretend to be one of the boys, betraying their sisters, or trade sex for promotion. In Ertegun’s world, women were not allowed to step up; they were stepped on. Having systematically excluded and oppressed women from the business of making music, Ertegun and his cronies at the Rock Hall then carved that exclusion into stone by essentially writing them out of history, year after year after year. When women do get let into the Rock Hall boys’ club, it is on the arms of men: Carole King is there for her songwriting with Gerry Goffin, not as the woman who recorded numerous hit songs herself, including those on the record-smashing album Tapestry. Tina Turner was inducted alongside her abusive ex-spouse Ike.

McDonnell also points out that the induction system created by the Rock Hall perpetuates the gender imbalance every year because each inductee becomes a voter, who then “vote in their friends and heroes, who tend to be men.”

Those of us who criticize the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame do so because despite its flaws, the institution does matter. McDonnell feels the same way:

It’s tempting to just say so what. I would like to not care about what institutions such as the Met and Hall of Fame do. They are essentially shrines to white men created by white men, so of course, they honor white men. But they pretend to serve the public — and in the Met’s case, it is in part a publicly funded institution. The Hall of Fame and its associated museum have enormous cultural power, writing in stone the historical importance of individuals in a way that no other institution or publication or organization does. They also create real economic benefits for culture workers. Being inducted into the Rock Hall doesn’t just look good on your resume, it helps sell records and tickets. Most importantly, these institutions provide inspiration — role models — for future generations. And if the only women you’re going to see receiving awards on that stage at the Barclays Center are Janet Jackson and Stevie Nicks, would you, if you were a little girl, go pick up a guitar?

It should be noted here that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum is also supported by taxpayers to the tune of over $125 million since 1995.

McDonnell offers a course of action for the Rock Hall:

There are three things the Hall of Fame can do to rectify that imbalance: 1. Flood the nominating committee and voting membership with more women. Six out of 29 members of last year’s nominating committee were women; the notoriously tight-lipped hall has not revealed this year’s committee members. 2. Reduce the voting power of members inducted as players in bands (so, say, the five dudes in Def Leppard each get one fifth of a vote). 3. Nominate a shit ton of all-female bands next year.

Evelyn McDonnell also edited last year’s Women Who Rock anthology.

Just down the road stands the world’s leading institution celebrating the history of rock and roll. We stand here to honor the careers of musicians whose incredible work helped shape that story. But we all know the history of music can be changed by just one song, one record. In three minutes we suddenly enter a new direction, a movement, or a style. Experiencing that three minute song results in a personal revelation, an epiphany that significantly changes our lives. This year we are introducing a new category to the Rock Hall. We’re calling it the “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Singles” as a recognition of the excellence of singles that changed rock & roll -- kind of a Rock Hall jukebox. The records are by artists not in the Rock Hall. Which is not to say these artists will never be in the Rock Hall, but just that they are not in the Rock Hall at this moment.

• Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats - "Rocket 88" (1951)
• Link Wray & His Ray Men - "Rumble" (1958)
• Chubby Checker - "The Twist" (1960)
• The Kingsmen - "Louie Louie" (1963)
• Procol Harum - "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (1967)
• Steppenwolf - "Born to Be Wild" (1968)

At first blush, this appears to be a new backdoor into the Rock Hall for artists who can’t get over the hump with the voters. The Rock Hall used similar methods to bypass their own Voting Committee to induct Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the “5” Royales, Freddie King, and Wanda Jackson as Early Influences, after they had each been on the ballot as Performers. Unlike Early Influence inductees, the newly honored Singles artists are still not Hall of Famers, so they could theoretically still be nominated, but it sure feels like the Rock Hall is trying to clear out some names from their growing backlog of candidates. We would be shocked to see any of these artists on the ballot next year.

At this point, there are still many more questions than answers, since the Rock Hall has yet to acknowledge this award on its website or in a press release. When they do provide some information, perhaps they can answer these questions:

1. Why was this announced as a surprise at the ceremony? Wouldn’t announcing it in advance provide more exposure for these songs and artists?
2. Were the honored artists and their families invited to the Induction Ceremony? Chubby Checker has been extremely vocal about his absence from the Hall of Fame, so it’s odd he wasn’t at the ceremony.
3. Will songs be honored annually, or is this a one-time award?
4. Will the artists honored in this category become members of the Voting Committee like other inductees?
5. Who is on the committee that picked the first songs?
6. How will these songs be recognized at the Museum? Will they be listed next to the other 2018 inductees on the signature wall?
7. What are the eligibility rules for this category? Does a song have to be older than 25 years?

All of the honored songs are part of the Rock Hall’s 2004 list of the “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll,” so it seems likely that future inducted singles will come from this list. There are over 220 songs left on that list from non-Hall of Famers, so it will take decades for them to honor them all if they continue with the category.

If we had to guess, Steven Van Zandt created this category out of his frustration that many seminal artists have little chance of ever being inducted, and he wanted to do something, anything, to honor them before it’s too late. While the intentions may be pure, the execution was ham-fisted at best. Not inviting the artists and their families to the ceremony, or even notifying them of the honor in advance, just seems sloppy and inconsiderate. The Rock Hall itself has created this situation by limiting the number of inductees to five or six per year while simultaneously lowering the bar by inducting marginal candidates. That generates even more artists who can genuinely be considered snubs who will never be inducted at the current pace.

There are lots of ways to address these problems, but the Rock Hall never seems willing to experiment with their induction system beyond force inducting artists into categories in which they don’t belong.

The low point of the 2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was undoubtedly the Dire Straits segment. It was the culmination of what must have been a messy behind-the-scenes drama.

Soon after the inductees were announced, it became clear that Mark Knopfler was not particularly interested in the honor. He didn’t provide the usual interviews to Rolling Stone or the Plain Dealer, and there was virtual radio silence from the band’s camp in the months to follow. In late March, keyboardist Guy Fletcher responded to a comment on his website saying there would be no performance at the Induction Ceremony and there would only be a video presentation. A week later, word started to trickle out that David Knopfler had decided not to come to Cleveland after being told the Rock Hall would “only pay certain expenses after telling him it was all covered,” and that Mark Knopfler wasn’t coming either. The iciness continued when the Rock Hall announced the list of presenters for the ceremony and there was barely a mention of Dire Straits.

At the induction ceremony, the Dire Straits induction segment started off in typical fashion with well-produced video showing old footage of the band during their heyday, but then instead of introducing the presenter, the announcer simply introduced the band members who showed up: John Illsley, Guy Fletcher and Alan Clarke. Illsley then awkwardly inducted the band himself:

In the absence of someone here to induct Dire Straits into the 2018 Hall of Fame. As a founding member, I felt perhaps I might be the best qualified one to do this. [puzzled applause] It’s a bit weird, but there we are, life’s strange...

So, I know it’s a bit odd, but it is my honor to welcome Dire Straits into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

According to an interview, he mentioned it to the person that runs the Hall to be the one doing it as a joke, however, the person responded by asking if he wanted to and that's why he actually did it.

— Nathan Miller (@NathanMiller88) April 15, 2018

In the 32 Induction Ceremonies leading up to this, lots of artists have been no-shows, but every single inductee has had a presenter. For the Rock Hall to spitefully take that away from one of their own honorees is shameful. Can artists be difficult? Of course. But three Dire Straits members did show up and should have been given the respect they deserved. It’s not just an insult to the band, but also to the fans as well.

The Dire Straits portion of the 2018 inductee exhibit is also an example of the Rock Hall doing the bare minimum. Granted, they don’t have control over whether or not the artists provide them instruments or clothes, but the exhibit looked pretty sad -- a fan’s tour jacket, some albums (still in plastic) and an accordion.

Today’s exhibit guide at the @rockhall is dripping with irony since Knopfler is just blowing off the event tonight. Also the Dire Straits portion of the exhibit is noticeably thin. pic.twitter.com/5acqcKoqS6

— Jonathan Hopwood (@jonathanhopwood) April 14, 2018

Update: Billboard reports some additional information about the Dire Straits situation:

Dire Straits John Illsley decided to handle the band’s induction speech himself on Saturday morning, when it became apparent the Rock Hall hasn’t found anybody to do it that night (Keith Urban and Neil Young were reportedly approached but declined). “We didn’t have anybody to induct us for all sorts of reasons.,” Illsley said in the press room, “so I said, ‘Would it be crazy if I did it?’ And (producer Alex Colleti) said, ‘What a great idea.’ I sort of wrote it about 15 minutes before we came down, so that why I had to read it out, because I couldn’t remember what I had written down.”

There’s also this report that the Rock Hall turned down Robbie Robertson’s offer to induct them after the other choices had fallen through:

There was a journalist on @siriusxmvolume Friday who said Keith Urban was going to cancel a show to do the induction but once he found out Mark Knopfler wasn't coming, he backed out. Also said Robbie Robertson was willing but the @rockhall said were just doing a video.

— Greg P. (@GregP821) April 17, 2018

Update 2: A rep for Keith Urban denies the story.

In an attempt to get ahead of these controversies, the Rock Hall has started releasing which members are included at the time the nominees are announced, in the hopes to get the furor out of the way by the time the inductees are announced in December. So, of the 2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominees, which members of the nominated bands made the cut? Let’s take a look:

Bon Jovi

Nominees: David Bryan, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Alec John Such, and Tico Torres

Who did the Rock Hall miss? Hugh McDonald has been Bon Jovi’s (unofficial?) bass player for the last 20+ years (maybe since the beginning?) and might be this year’s most egregious snub. [Update 12-19-2017: Hugh McDonald has been added to the list of inductees.] Also, Phil X has filled in recently for Richie Sambora on guitar.

The Cars

Nominees: Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes, David Robinson, Ric Ocasek, and Benjamin Orr

Who did the Rock Hall miss? No one.

Depeche Mode

Nominees: Vince Clarke, Andy Fletcher, Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, and Alan Wilder

Who did the Rock Hall miss? Touring members Christian Eigner and Peter Gordeno.

Dire Straits

Nominees: Alan Clark, Guy Fletcher, John Illsley, David Knopfler, Mark Knopfler, and Pick Withers

Who did the Rock Hall miss? Guitarists Hal Lindes, Jack Sonni, and drummer Terry Williams would seem to have a case for inclusion.

Eurythmics

Nominees: Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart

Who did the Rock Hall miss? No one.

The J. Geils Band

Nominees: Stephen Jo Bladd, Magic Dick, J. Geils, Seth Justman, Danny Klein, and Peter Wolf

Who did the Rock Hall miss? No one.

Judas Priest

Nominees: Les Binks, K. K. Downing, Rob Halford, Ian Hill, Dave Holland, Glenn Tipton, and Scott Travis

Who did the Rock Hall miss? Halford, Downing, Tipton, and Hill formed the core band while they had a revolving door of drummers. Drummers Binks, Holland and Travis were included, while early drummers John Hinch, Alan Moore and Simon Phillips were left out. Short term subs, vocalist Tim Owens and guitarist Richie Faulkner, were not included.

MC5

Nominees: Michael Davis, Wayne Kramer, Fred “Sonic” Smith, Dennis Thompson, and Rob Tyner

Who did the Rock Hall miss? Early contributors Leo LeDuc, Billy Vargo, Bob Gaspar and Patrick Burrows were left out.

The Meters

Nominees: Joseph Modeliste, Art Neville, Cyril Neville, Leo Nocentelli, and George Porter Jr.

Who did the Rock Hall miss? Pretty much anyone who joined the group after 1976: Willie West, Russell Batiste, David Batiste, Sr., Brian Stoltz and Ian Neville.

The Moody Blues

Nominees: Graeme Edge, Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Mike Pinder, and Ray Thomas

Who did the Rock Hall miss? Early members Denny Laine [Update 12-16-2017: Denny Laine has been added to the list of inductees.] , Clint Warwick, and Rodney Clark. Also missing is 80’s keyboardist Patrick Moraz.

Radiohead

Nominees: Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Philip Selway, and Thom Yorke

Who did the Rock Hall miss? Producer Nigel Godrich has been an indispensable 6th member and deserves some kind of recognition, even though he’s not officially in the band.

Rage Against the Machine

Nominees: Tim Commerford, Tom Morello, Zack de la Rocha, and Brad Wilk

Who did the Rock Hall miss? No one.

Rufus featuring Chaka Khan

Nominees: Dennis Belfield, Al Ciner, Andre Fisher, Chaka Khan, Tony Maiden, Kevin Murphy, Ron Stockert, Bobby Watson, Willie Weeks, and David Wolinski

Who did the Rock Hall miss? Even with 10 nominated members (so much for the rumored cap?), there are others who didn’t get named: Paulette McWilliams, James Stella, Chuck Colbert, Jr., Lee Graziano, Dennis Belfield, Nate Morgan, Richard “Moon” Calhoun and John Robinson.

The Zombies

Nominees: Rod Argent, Paul Atkinson, Colin Blunstone, Hugh Grundy, and Chris White

Who did the Rock Hall miss? They nominated the classic lineup but left off more recent band members Keith Airey, Tom Toomey, Jim Rodford, Steve Rodford and Sebastian Santa Maria.

So, did the Rock Hall get it right this year?

Obviously this gesture didn’t sway the powers that be at the Rock Hall. Thirteen years later and Checker still hasn’t even been on the ballot for induction. Needless to say, there’s no statue of him in front of the Museum in Cleveland either.

In 2012, a more wistful Checker spoke to Joel Selvin of the San Francisco Chronicle about not getting the same exposure as some of his peers.

”I have only one regret in my whole life," he says. "This is my greatest regret - that my music is not being played and more people aren't seeing Chubby Checker. That's very painful for me. Many nights I have tears in my eyes about that. While I'm praying to God and thanking him for all the good things, I ask, 'Why don't they play my music? Did I do something wrong? Is there something about it?’

”It's not just any music - the No. 1 song in the world, the only song to be No. 1 twice - why don't they play my music? It's so painful. Why isn't Chubby getting his music played like the rest of the white boys?”

Now 72, Checker was asked about the Rock Hall again last month (after taking a break from suing HP):

”I don't want to get in there when I'm 85 years old. I'll tell them to drop dead, so you better do it quick while I'm still smiling. If you put me in when I'm too old to make a living, then it's no good for me to be in there. The Rolling Stones, they're in there. The Beastie Boys are in there, they're young. Hall and Oates were just in there and they're still making money.”

At the 2014 Induction Ceremony, Daryl Hall spoke up for Chubby Checker and other Philadelphia artists (Todd Rundgren, the Stylistics, the Delfonics, the Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Len Barry) who have been snubbed by the Rock Hall. Philadelphia DJ Jerry Blavat also recently noted many Philadelphia artists who deserve induction.

”Absolutely, Chubby belongs in there. But there are so many artists that belong in it," he said. Blavat thinks it's a shame Checker and other great Philadelphia rock pioneers, such as Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell - are continually snubbed.

Blavat blames rock and roll Hall of Fame co-founder Jann Wenner for so many rock pioneers being overlooked while modern artists who had less of an impact on the music are honored.

”He knows nothing about rock and roll except past 1965. It took me forever to get Little Anthony and the Imperials and Darlene Love in there," Blavat said. "Everything is political.”

Last year, Philadelphia natives Questlove and Greg Harris joined the Rock Hall Nominating Committee. Questlove openly campaigned for Hall & Oates, so perhaps he and Harris will continue to champion other Philadelphia artists in the future.

Update: Chubby Checker alleges racism is keeping him out.

We were inspired to delve into this further after reading this recent tweet:

Are you kidding me? Only 4% of the inductees @rock_hall are women??! What can be done about that? #Cleveland

— Folk 'N Great Music(@FolkNGreat) August 26, 2012

Some additional data points:

• Of the 186 performers inducted, 31 include at least one woman (16.7%).
• There are 98 duos and groups that have been inducted in the performer category, accounting for 494 of the inductees. Of these, there are 36 women from 19 groups.
• Of the 88 individuals inducted in the performer category, there are 12 women (13.6%).
• There are no women in the “Clyde McPhatter Club” -- Hall of Famers inducted multiple times.
• In 1986, 1992, 2001, 2003 and 2004, no women were inducted.

It’s difficult to find a similar institution to compare to the Rock Hall. (For example, the Baseball Hall of Fame only has one woman inductee!) Another music industry benchmark might be the Grammy Awards. Their marquee award, Album of the Year, has included a woman 31% of the time (17 out of 54). This issue isn’t exclusive to music. In the U.S., only 5% of the art on display at museums is made by women.

After all of the “Women Who Rock” publicity last year, many of us thought that might inspire a more female-centric 2012 induction ballot. When the finalists were announced, five of the fifteen were women, a relatively high percentage by Rock Hall standards. But after the voting, and when it was all said and done, out of the 69 trophies handed out at the Induction Ceremony in Cleveland this year, just two went to women.

* - We haven’t been able to fully document all of the inducted members of Early Influence groups. This may be where the discrepancy lies between our total number of inductees. The Rock Hall lists 681 and we counted 685. The percentages of women remain largely unaffected either way.

See also: Heart wants to break into the “brotherhood”

• Blue Caps (Gene Vincent)
• The Comets (Bill Haley)
• The Crickets (Buddy Holly)
• Famous Flames (James Brown)
• Midnighters (Hank Ballard)
• Miracles (Smokey Robinson)

In each of these cases, the backing group failed to get into the Hall of Fame at the same time as their frontman - sometimes causing a great deal of controversy. The Hall of Fame's failure to induct the Miracles along with Smokey Robinson in 1987 caused a particularly large uproar. Hall of Fame rules state that artists are eligible for induction 25 years after their debut release. At the time, Robinson had been a solo artist for only 14 years.

The newly announced honorees were not nominated on the latest Rock Hall ballot. Instead, they were designated by a special committee.

"There was a lot of discussion about this," said committee member Terry Stewart, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

"There had always been conversations about why the groups weren't included when the lead singers were inducted," Stewart said.

”Very honestly, nobody could really answer that question -- it was so long ago. . . . We decided we'd sit down as an organization and look at that. This is the result.

"You're looking at some of the lynchpins between rockabilly and vocal-harmony and straight-ahead rock 'n' roll. It speaks to when this music took off. It's a great statement about the early years.”

. . .

As for other groups that were not inducted alongside their frontmen -- Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, for example -- Stewart said they might have a shot at getting in someday as recipients of the Rock Hall's Award for Musical Excellence.

"The great thing is that the organization recognizes that it needs to look at the process from time to time, and look at the results," Stewart said.

”If there are things that we think need to be modified or changed, then that's what we do."

Congratulations to the members of these groups (and their families) who are finally getting the recognition from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame they deserve. A shout-out also goes to the community members of Future Rock Legends who have been banging the drum on this issue for so long (especially Bill G. and Roy).

More to come...

I'm in the Long Island Rock N Roll Hall of Fame along with Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, KISS, Billy Joel, The Rascals and many other legends. That's pretty good company. I should be satisfied with that but like all seasoned musicians... we want it all!

By the time I get in... I'll be an urn on my wife's fireplace. They don't call me the Pete Rose of Rock for nothing.

So to all my fans out there... please make your opinions known for THE MONEY MAN to be inducted into THE ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME IN 2013!!

Thanks, Jason.

Shouldn’t you be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Yes we should. But as it’s taken so long, I’ve a mind that if it ever comes up, I would probably refuse it. I think it would probably be insulting. That’s my personal view — I’m not speaking for the other guys in the band. But I’ve seen so many nonentities get into it that I’m not sure it’s that hallowed a place anymore.

”Just take our name off the list," Ozzy's statement began. "Save the ink. Forget about us. The nomination is meaningless, because it's not voted on by the fans. It's voted on by the 'supposed' elite of the Industry and the Media, who've never bought an album or concert ticket in their lives, so their vote is totally irrelevant to me.”

He concluded, "Let's face it, Black Sabbath have never been media darlings. We're a people's band and that suits us just fine.”

Uber-Springsteen fan Gary Dell’abate brings up the fact that the E Street Band isn’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Bruce. Van Zandt doesn’t personally feel snubbed, but he feels Clarence Clemons, Max Weinberg and the rest of the band deserve to be honored. What Van Zandt fails to mention in the interview is the fact that he is one of the key people responsible for making those Hall of Fame selections! Not only is Van Zandt on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, who come up with the ballot each year, he is also one of eight members on the sub-committee which selects the Musical Excellence Award winners each year, the category in which the E Street Band would likely qualify. All of that goes unmentioned by Van Zandt as he tried to defend Howard’s claim that the Hall of Fame is a joke. Van Zandt only said he was a supporter of the Rock Hall.

Listen to the rest of the Rock Hall talk in the next section.

Motörhead’s Lemmy has always been like the honey badger of rock and roll. He recently spoke to Noisecreep about the Hall of Fame:

Lemmy, there are lots of petitions online to try and get Motörhead into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Do you care about all of that?

Not at all. Have you been there? What a monumental waste of space. The biggest room there is the freaking gift shop. Do you know what I mean? It's all politics, that place. All a load of f---king politics.

Guns N’ Roses is the only band where the exact members have been confirmed -- the five original members, plus Dizzy Reed and Matt Sorum -- but that didn’t come directly from the Rock Hall.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have a long history of band members, but so far, it’s unclear who is being inducted. There was a recent article where it claimed early drummer Cliff Martinez was being inducted, but again, nothing has come directly from the Rock Hall. The “Robert Trujillo Precedent” would imply that new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer would be inducted with the band, but that hasn’t been confirmed.

Just this week, former Beastie Boys collaborator, DJ Hurricane complained about not being included in the Rock Hall induction. Presumably just the three Beastie Boys are being inducted, but the Rock Hall hasn’t said anything publicly one way or another.

The joint induction of the Small Faces and the Faces contributes roughly a dozen different people who were members of either band. Will they all be inducted?

The Rock Hall should be able to confirm the inductees by the time the induction ceremony rolls around on April 14th.

Cher was on the Late Show with David Letterman over a year ago and Dave asked why Sonny & Cher weren’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (the relevant portion starts at 3:55).

It was an awkward exchange, highlighted by Paul Shaffer claiming with a wink that he didn’t know anyone at the Rock Hall, when in fact he has been on the Nominating Committee for years.

It’s common knowledge that nearly all of the questions during talk show interviews are pre-screened with the guest, so it’s interesting that Cher was theoretically willing to discuss the Rock Hall with Dave (and in the presence of Paul Shaffer no less). Her campaigning obviously didn’t work last year, but keep her in mind as a dark horse candidate for the 2013 ballot.

"I don't know," Perry says.  "I'm not a big fan of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's just a personal thing, not an ego thing. I think that, honestly, Journey doesn't need to be in the Hall of Fame. With everything we accomplished...we've had our Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, you know? It's in the hearts of the people out  there and their experiences and their memories of what we did together and how we all had the time of our lives with the music that we loved to perform and they loved to hear. I really don't want someone to qualify it any more than that.”

Stephen Colbert: Why aren't you guys in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Is it because you used steroids? Did you juice?

Ric Ocasek: You know I really don't know. I don't know if I want to be in it.

Stephen: Really?

Ric: But if I did want to be in it, I don't know why we're not in it.

Stephen: There's no award I wouldn't accept. Can I have it if they give it to you? Can I have yours?

Ric: Well, yeah. I'll bring it in and you can put it up there.

The Cars (and Rush) are included on our list of the Rock Hall's Biggest Snubs.

"Only because... Didn't Metallica get in this year or last year or something? And I'm like, oh yeah, they've experienced and experimented with more of a pop angle, so I can definitely see them," he said. "Whether our time comes and people say, 'You're going to go into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.' I'd kind of be surprised if we did because we are the anti-everything."

Hetfield expressed some embarrassment at being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before some acts who were an inspiration for Metallica. Metallica will be made a member of the illustrious club on April 4.

"We've been nominated and we are still alive," he said.

"It's ironic that a band that has been inspired by all of these other ones are getting in there before them. We are going to go up there and kick some ass and kick the door down for some heavy bands that have not been recognized, like Rush and Kiss."

NHOR : I don't see [MTV] as being that interested in music anyway anymore for the most part...

SL : No, but it's just ironic because we were the 4th video ever played on MTV when they first started. We were there from the beginning. And they just shit on us. We also were the only band in history to turn down being on the cover of Rolling Stone. We told Jann Wenner to stick it up his ass.

NHOR : I guess that answers the question on whether or not Toto will ever be in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame...

SL : We were never getting in anyway. It's amazing some of the people they're letting in now, and the people who have been left out. They put Patti Smith in there but not Deep Purple? What's the first song every kid learns how to play?

NHOR : "Smoke On The Water"...

SL : And they're not in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame? The glaring omissions...Yes, Genesis...they don't like prog rock. They don't like anybody who has any chops, basically. All of the people who SHOULD have been in there were in the first couple years. It's not like the baseball hall of fame, where it's based on stats. If you have the stats, they don't have to like you. You deserve to be in there based on what you brought to the table. But I'm not going to get too much into it, because ultimately it's a boring conversation. You know what? I've got awards. I've got two houses full of gold records. I've got to start taking them down because it starts becoming ridiculous, like my own personal mausoleum. I'm not saying it wouldn't be cool to be in there, but at the same time, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has lost its cool because of the glaring omissions. Alice Cooper's not in there? They were the first theatrical band out there. When I was in junior high school, I went from 8th grade until 9th grade listening to 'School's Out.'

I could make up my own hall of fame that would have more credibility. It's also like Rolling Stone's 'Top 100 Guitar Players', where they leave anybody out who has any chops. Somebody even wrote a letter to them, "How come Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Lukather etc. aren't on there, and Kurt Cobain is?" Kurt Cobain was a great songwriter, but a great guitar player? I don't think so. Eddie Van Halen at #78? Gimme a break. (Laughs)

I'm just happy to have a job. I'm a musician, not a rock star. Anybody can be a rock star, apparently. It's manufactured, hyped, and that's how you become a rock star. But if you can really play, then people are actually threatened by you.

Founding member of Grand Funk Railroad, Mark Farner, had some strong words to say about his band's exclusion from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in a recent chat with Nightwatcher's House of Rock Interviews:

NHOR : What do you feel at this point are the chances of Grand Funk Railroad ever getting into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame? Why do you think the band isn't in there already?

MF : I think it's political. I think it's because we haven't obtained the brown ring around the mouth from kissing somebody's hind end. That's not who I am. I'm not going to bow to that god. It's only important to me at all for the fans, for the sake of the fans. From that viewpoint, yes. Because it is something which is supposed to be representative, but it's the same thing as where the Congress of the United States is supposed to be representative of us by coining and controlling the money. But that ain't happening either.

"A lot of those guys on the [Nominating Committee] board can go and get my sandwich when I want, and I mean that in the nicest way," he said. "There are disco bands, rap bands, Yiddish folk song bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but not Kiss. I believe we have more gold records in America than any other group, but it's OK."

Simmons is probably just trying to be outrageous for his reality show, which was filming his speech, but he has a right to be bitter towards certain members of the Nominating Committee who have effectively black-balled them from the process.

As much as the Beasties want to be part of people's reasons to get out and vote next month, [Michael] Diamond says they're not as concerned about another vote: whether or not the group gets inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Beasties were nominated last year but not inducted; this year, they didn't even get a nomination.

As if to prove that all of their politicking isn't just an attempt to increase their stature and legitimacy, the Beasties think they're better off not getting the Rock Hall nod.

"We didn't realize we were nominated at first, and then we thought it was kind of funny," says Diamond. "Then, when we didn't get in, we thought, 'This is for the best.' No disrespect, but I think we like being against all that. When you get down to it, we're a hardcore band and a hip-hop band, and we don't need to be part of all that."

Thanks, David.

Daryl Hall recently sat down for an interview with the UK magazine, Record Collector. Naturally, the topic of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame came up:

Question:  It's puzzling why Hall & Oates are not in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Daryl Hall:  Who cares about the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame? They're f-ing dinosaurs too.  Maybe we'll get in and maybe we won't.  It depends on who's running it, once these old fools get out there with their old agenda.  If you said The Ramones were the greatest band in the world, you can't possibly let us into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Hall & Oates have been eligible for eleven years and they have never been seriously considered by the Nominating Committee. So it's good that Daryl Hall isn't bitter about the snub.

Update: John Oates was also asked why he thought Hall & Oates weren't in the Rock Hall yet:

"There is a lot of politics involved," Oates said. "There are a lot of personalities involved. I personally feel we deserve it and that goes without saying. But we're not in a position to dictate that kind of thing.

"You know, Daryl and I were voted into the American Songwriters Hall of Fame about four years ago and we were also won the BMI Icon Award (on May 20, 2008, as part of the 56th annual Pop Awards), both of which are awards for songwriting. And for us, personally, I find it satisfying to be in that category and to be among the people in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

"For me, it's all about the songs and all about the songwriting and that's how we started and I think that's essence of what Daryl and I do individually and collectively, so I'm proud of that. If the day comes and we get voted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, that will be amazing; I'll be there with bells on. But until that happens I won't lose any sleep over it."Thanks, Tom.

Comments

NHOR : Alice was quoted earlier this year as saying he kind of likes the idea of being blackballed from the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Do you think Alice really thinks that, and would you agree with his comments, that it's more of an honor not to be in there than to actually be in there?

NS : Well, I know a little bit about the politics around the hall, so I'm not really at liberty to say anything about that. I think whatever he thinks are his thoughts and opinions. I would like to be in there, but the way I look at it the true band Alice Cooper pissed people off way back then, and apparently we are still doing it. When you think of the things we started then, there's a whole vein of music which didn't exist before us. Everybody from Kiss all the way up to Marilyn Manson. All the bands in between in that vein were one way or another inspired by Alice Cooper. I read, and hear things from people all the way up to this day all the time, that they wouldn't be playing an instrument if it weren't for us.

Steve Vai, the first album he ever learned from beginning to end was 'Love It To Death'. A lot of great musicians, and just that whole vein of music, the shock rock thing, or whatever you want to call it was brought upon by us. And to totally ignore that, and pass it over year after year just surprises me, that's all. My spin on it is if we're blackballed, who needs 'em anyway. I look at it as we're still ruffling feathers after all this time. Somewhere, somebody doesn't set easy with us. But you know what? When we were with Warner Brothers, they were ready to cancel our contract after every single album. We had to renegotiate after every single one. They kept thinking it was a fluke. The only ones who believed in us were us and Shep Gordon, our manager. That was it, and our fans. We had to cut a demo for 'Love It To Death'. It was always a fight and a struggle for us. So the fact that somewhere somebody doesn't like us, that's fine with me. (Laughs)

NHOR : Well, let's face it Neal, the Alice Cooper Band was never one of Rolling Stone Magazine's darlings, which seems to be a criteria to being inducted...

NS : I always said that, the magazine's not called, "Alice Cooper", it's called "Rolling Stone". And bearing in mind with what you just brought up, and I'm not going to elaborate on it much more, but we're talking about that whole San Francisco area there. Which does have a lot of influence on what goes on with the Hall. It's all politics, and there's nothing wrong with The Talking Heads, but when I saw that they got in I said, "You've got to be kidding me". I know they had a couple of hit songs but I can't even really tell you what they are. The Alice Cooper 'Greatest Hits' album is really a greatest hits album. How many records did they sell? I don't know.

I think they should start up a Shock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The Hall Of Fame's cool, I've been there, and it's got some great stuff. The majority of the people who are in there certainly deserve to be in there and it's cool for the fans. And the other question is, if it happens, are they going to put Alice in by himself, or the whole band? That would be the biggest kick in the head for us, if they'd put Alice in by himself. Actually, I've had a couple people I've talked to from the Hall in New York, and they've said, "Believe me, everybody knows the original band was THE band".

NHOR : Do you think that Alice would actually accept an induction without the rest of the original band being voted in as well?

NS : He didn't have any problem accepting the Alice Cooper star on Hollywood Boulevard, did he? He actually had the balls to tell me, "I actually thought of you guys". You thought about us? Gimme a break. We used to walk up and down that street starving every day, day after day, thinking someday we'd have our name there, and it gets there and you're by yourself. That's awful nice you thought about us. I think it's great that it's there, but sometimes it's better to say nothing than to say something that stupid. That band was put together through the blood, sweat and tears of 5 people. Each one of them deserves 100% credit, not just one getting 500% of the credit. That's the reason Dennis is writing a book and I'm writing a book. It's just a factual documentation of what we went through.

[Jones] told me he'd given up on being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, possibly because Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner hadn't liked it when Jones started Vibe magazine. This week, for the zillionth time, Jones was overlooked despite his enormous contribution to rock, R&B and jazz.

Friedman is a little premature in stating that Jones has been passed over again this year since the Sidemen, Non-Performer, and Lifetime Achievement awards will be announced in January with the inductees in the Performer category. It is still unknown what the selection process is for those other awards, but they are presumably picked by a select few members of the Nominating Committee along with Wenner.

Update: From the comments, Joe has another possible reason for the Quincy Jones snub:

A listing in "The New Book of Rock Lists" (Dave Marsh and James Bernard, 1994, p312), in a subchapter titled "Worst Career Moves", suggests a different reason: Jones was selected to give the speech inducting Neshui Ertegun into the Hall. The speech "said little about Ertegun but a great deal about himself...[mostly] concerning his own qualifications for the Hall. Those twenty minutes probably cost Quincy whatever chance he may have had for induction, at least during his lifetime, since all inductees give speeches and nobody's about to risk sitting through another of his." (Any spelling or grammatical errors are mine.)

Wilson adds that she hopes recognition from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame comes next, though she feels it's hardest to come by, especially since they're a female-fronted band.

"It's harder to be taken seriously by the brotherhood. So it might take the Hall of Fame people long to figure it out," she says. "But we're serious about our art, and there's no band like this: an original, authentic, vital rock band. People realize it more now and appreciate it."

Heart aren't among the artists we're predicting will be nominated this year, but the Nominating Committee has been known to throw curveballs in the past, so anything is possible.

Metro Times: You have so many awards and accolades. Why aren't you in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Sharp: [laughs] That's a good question! I got a Rhythm & Blues award in 2001. But I don't know. I can't answer that. Maybe I'm just not blessed enough; I don't know.

MT: Well, you should be.

Sharp: Well, I appreciate that. But I found that sometimes tooting your own horn just doesn't work. But I really can't answer why I'm not in. I do know that I was the first woman to do a lot of things. I was the first African-American woman to ever be placed on the cover of 16 Magazine. So I don't understand. I have no idea as to why I'm not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's ridiculous as well that I don't have a star on the Walk of Fame in Philadelphia.

Future Rock Hall currently gives Dee Dee Sharp a 3% chance at future induction.

Stephen Colbert asked the band, "You are yet to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Is there any chance that your next album will be titled That's Bullshit?"

Rush's exclusion from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a common thread through these media appearances and Wired's Listening Post is trying to get to the bottom of the issue. Wired's Scott Thill has a Rock Hall contact in Cleveland who will answer three questions about Rush and the induction process, and he is seeking input on what to ask.

Although it's unlikely Rush will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 (after 10 years of waiting), there are signs that this might be the best chance they've had in years. Never underestimate the Colbert Bump.

Do you think Sonic Youth will ever be voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Do you care?

I have no problem with awards or awards ceremonies. I don't take issue with them; what it means is that people are celebrating your work in some capacity. But the Hall of Fame - whatever. It's a certain cabal of people who created this institution. It's not like real people are voting. It's like the Grammys. Very rarely does something win that doesn't have to do with sales of the record or the lobbying of the record label or management. It's the same thing with the Hall of Fame. You start lobbying your artist a decade early and the cabal votes. But that was before the Sex Pistols got in, so who knows?

Future Rock Hall predicts that Sonic Youth has a 58% chance at induction, one of the highest ratings of the eligible artists. Here's to hoping they get in sooner rather than later.

In 2006, Rock Hall snubs KISS, Def Leppard and Judas Priest were all honored (as well as Hall of Famers Queen). In 2007, three more Hall of Fame outsiders, Heart, Genesis, and Ozzy Osbourne were featured (ZZ Top too). Going in a different direction this year, the show focuses exclusively on The Who (inducted into the Rock Hall in 1990).

It's not hard to imagine that future years of Rock Honors could pay respects to Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden, Rush, Motörhead and others who probably aren't going to get much attention from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame anytime soon.

The band was asked about their being snubbed by the Rock Hall in the article:

Self-effacing poise may be rare to arena rockers, but like Green Party candidates and Nascar heroes, the members of Rush have adjusted to both idolatry and disregard.  Just prior to tonight's dinner, they were once again snubbed by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which instead inducted no greater rock luminaries than the Dave Clark Five. But Rush seem convincingly unfazed.

"I just keep saying we're too young to be in there," says [Geddy] Lee.

"Yeah," says [Neil] Peart.  "Unlike all those other people, we're still working."

"I think it upsets our fans,"  allows [Alex] Lifeson.  "It's a big issue for them."

"It doesn't matter at all," Lifeson says. "If we were inducted it would mean we'd probably have to go up there (to Cleveland) and play there."

Though they still come out with fresh experiments like [their new concept album, Nostradamus], Priest have been banging their heads for more than three decades. But the veterans have never been considered for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, despite being eligible since 1999. Tipton said it's an honor the band would welcome but one he doesn't expect anytime soon.

"We'd absolutely be honored by it, but we have no control over that," he said. "Besides, we haven't been noticed for 30 years. Maybe they'll notice us now that we've crossed that 30-year mark."

His case for Chicago:

Chicago... were revolutionaries. "CTA," "Chicago," "III," "V," "VI" and "XI" pushed the limits on conceptual boundaries and displayed superb musicianship. And they had hits, which has somehow been labeled as a sin over time.

I have been appalled by the acts that have made it in ahead of them. It shows the bias of the hall's voters - they are either too old to have the wistful childhood memories of the early '70s or too young to fully appreciate how distinctive they were in the pop landscape at the time. Chicago made a difference back then.

Idolator came up with a list of 70's snubs:

ABBA Bachman-Turner Overdrive Boston Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band Cars Deep Purple Devo Neil Diamond Doobie Brothers Electric Light Orchestra Emerson, Lake & Palmer Foreigner Peter Gabriel Genesis Guess Who Hall & Oates Hawkwind Heart

Jethro Tull KC & The Sunshine Band King Crimson Kiss Moody Blues Procol Harum Randy Newman Todd Rundgren Roxy Music Rush Styx Supertramp Richard & Linda Thompson Three Dog Night Loudon Wainwright III Yes

"We've done tours with the Pretenders, the Go-Go's, Tom Tom Club, Blondie," Schneider says, rattling off several of B-52's' musical era contemporaries.

"Each time, each band had a new album out, so it was groups from the past with new records," he says. "It wasn't like an oldies tour. Well, except for us."

What most of those groups also have is a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (The Go-Go's the one exception, with the Tom Tom Club in through the back door as members of Talking Heads.)

The B-52's were eligible for the hall in 2004 – 25 years after their debut album appeared – but have so far been ignored by the nominating committee, possibly because their songs were always frothy, fun party music.

"We created our own genre," Schneider notes, which should count for something in Hall of Fame consideration. "We should have been in four years ago. The most recent years, (the acts) who got in are sort of our peers.

"But what can you do? Hopefully I'll be in there (some day) so my mother can have this plaque or something on the mantle.

Future Rock Hall projects that the B-52's have a 44% chance for induction.

The star is disappointed he is continually turned down by the panel - even though he thinks he has made a very significant contribution to the industry.

He says, "It makes me wonder. I've paid my dues, I think, and I think I've done good work. I'd like to be in there with my peers.

"Maybe you just have to keep doing it and I'll get in there some day."

The vast majority of Future Rock Hall voters (87%) are confident that Neil Diamond will one day be inducted.

Thanks, David & Tom

1. You have to rock. If Janis Joplin, Bon Scott or Joe Strummer wouldn’t have toasted your tunes with a pint, you’re out.

2. You have to blow minds. The Beatles and Hendrix switched the world from black and white to color. Well, you gotta do that. Or at least come close.

3. You have to have done at least one thing that categorically qualifies as rock ’n’ roll: lighting your guitar on fire, getting busy with your 14-year-old cousin or writing a letter to the Hall of Fame calling it a, um, urine stain after being inducted (as the Sex Pistols did) all qualify.

Hidden Track also comes up with a list of 10 bands they want to see inducted: Tom Waits, The Cure, Genesis, Rush, Willie Nelson, The Stooges, KISS, Metallica, Sonic Youth, and Alice Cooper. Videos, career highlights and ten more names at Glide Magazine.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee could do a lot worse than start with the names from these two lists when they're putting the ballot together for 2009.

Yes founder and singer Jon Anderson speaks out on his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snub:

Have to ask you this: How do you feel about not being recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

I'm am so annoyed! So [angry]! You can quote me on that. [Dramatic pause.] No, I don't care. [Laughs.] When it happens, it will happen. It never bothered me until 10 years ago. The manager who was managing Yes said 'I'm going to put you in the Hall of Fame next year' and we said 'cool.' And then it didn't happen. We said, 'What happened?' He said, 'They don't want you.' It went on for five, six years, with him making this pitch. ... When it happens it will happen.

Craig: Hey, I wanted to ask you something. This is something that came to my attention today. And I am furious, furious about this. Wait until you hear about this, you're going to lose your minds with rage. You're not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Alice: No.

[audience gasps]

Craig: Ah! I can't believe that! They've got Madonna in there! They've got that Alf the alien puppet in there! I can't believe that. Did you piss someone off?

Alice: I must have stepped on someone's glasses or something. No honestly, I don't know how they work it. It's not a popularity contest.

Craig: Clearly!

Alice: It's who they decide that's going to be in the Hall of Fame. The longer I stay out the better the story gets. Because apparently I did something really bad to somebody. I can't imagine what.

Craig: What you mean is you can't remember what.

Alice: I've been a model citizen in rock and roll. I think the best thing in the world would be to get kicked out of the Hall of Fame.

Craig: What are they going to kick you out for, "You were using drugs when you were making that music!" "Yeah, yes I was."

Alice: I'll tell them,"I haven't had a drink in 25 years. You're outta here!"

Craig: Yeah, that would be it. You weren't using drugs. You claimed you were using drugs, but you weren't. "Get out."

Alice: Everyone thinks it's a popularity contest, and you can call in and vote. You can't. You get nominated and then you get either in or you're out. I'm sort of the Pete Rose of rock and roll right now. And I didn't even bet on my band.

Alice Cooper's quip that he's the "Pete Rose of rock and roll" doesn't seem quite right since he's not being kept out of the Hall of Fame because of a scandal. Who is a better baseball player comparison? Andre Dawson? Jim Rice? Bert Blyleven?

Metallica were thought to have been Rock Hall favorites, having had the honor of inducting Black Sabbath (and performing for them) in 2006.

Genesis is in the midst of a reunion tour and bassist Mike Rutherford was recently asked about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and their exclusion from it.

You're not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What are your thoughts on the British progressive rock bands being overlooked?

It seems the thought-base [of the Hall] is that it's geared toward more guitar-oriented bands. I'm not going to lose sleep over it, but I think it's odd. It would be nice to be in there, but it's not something I'm going to worry about.

Do you hear the music of Genesis reflected in current bands?

I know bands like Coldplay ... Chris Martin said he enjoyed our stuff. I think in the last few years what's quite nice is that English bands have reappeared a bit. Snow Patrol, Coldplay, bands who create moods and atmospheres again. For a long time in America, these bands couldn't get in the top 30. Now, these atmospheric bands are coming back in America, I think. It's a sound that America doesn't really do, does it?

Thanks, David.

In 2004, the Rock Hall leaked a list of all of the previously nominated artists, as well as a list of artists who have been discussed at the Nominating Committee meetings over the past 18 years or so, but have never made the ballot. It's a rare and fascinating look into the musical tastes of the Nominating Committee members:

So, since there is such intrigue on who almost made the final ballot--and there have been some well publicized run-offs, here are the runners-up:
Alice Cooper
Average White Band
Jeff Beck (solo artist--a Hall of Famer with The Yardbirds)
The Big Bopper
Blues Project
The Paul Butterfield Band
Canned Heat
Captain Beefheart
Chicago
Jimmy Cliff
Joe Cocker
The Commodores
Ry Cooder
Country Joe & the Fish
The Crystals
Dick Dale
Dave Clark Five
Deep Purple
Neil Diamond
Dr. John
Dr. Hook
Doobie Brothers
ELO
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
E Street Band
The Five Satins
Flying Burrito Bros.
Peter Gabriel
Gap Band
Genesis
Buddy Guy
Slim Harpo
The Harptones
Herman's Hermits
The Hollies
Hit Tuna
The J. Geils Band
Wanda Jackson
Tommy James and the Shondells
Jethro Tull
Albert King
Kiss
The Last Poets
Little Anthony and the Imperials
Marshall Tucker Band
Steve Miller Band
Moody Blues
Randy Newman
Laura Nyro
Junior Parker
Esther Phillips
Poco
The Ronettes
Roxy Music
Todd Rundgren
Mitch Ryder
Boz Scaggs
Neil Sedaka
Huey Smith & the Clowns
Sonny & Cher
Spencer Davis Group
Donna Summer
T. Rex
Rufus Thomas
Three Dog Night
The Turtles
Van Halen
The Ventures
Tom Waits
Junior Walker
War
Billy Ward & His Dominoes
Junior Wells
Johnny Winter
Barry White
and Yes.

Take a look here for a list of artists who are eligible.

Thanks, David.

I wasn't a big Monkees fan, because, um, I don't know why I wasn't, but I tell you now, I like the records better now that I'm an old guy. You're on the oldies stations all the time. And you know what, Mr. Jones, you guys deserve to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame... and I'm gonna try to make it happen for ya.

The indie legends are reported to be among the groups set for induction into the music pantheon next year in New York City.

However, the band's iconic former singer has apparently already ruled out attending the ceremony because of an ongoing rivalry with drummer Mike Joyce.

The Smiths were embroiled in an acrimonious lawsuit over royalties in 1996, and Morrissey has always spoken bitterly about his former bandmate.

"Morrissey has never forgiven Joyce and if organizers think he's going to bury the hatchet by joining him to accept this award, they've got another thing coming. The only way he could be persuaded to turn up would be if Joyce decides not to attend," a source explained.

Thanks, David & Tom

Peter Tork... says the Monkees merit consideration for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but one man opposes their induction.

"The only person ... holding a grudge is Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone," says the former Monkee. The magazine editor "has never written a gracious word. He personally has the veto power to keep us out."

Wenner - who didn't reply to an interview request - allegedly denounces Tork, Dolenz, Davy Jones and Mike Nesmith for not playing their own instruments on the band's first albums.

In this "American Idol" era, when acts are "manufactured" like toasters, fewer critics crucify the Monkees for being a TV show that spawned a band. So have they faced an unfair standard? Were they, in fact, a "real" group?

"I've not heard the slightest murmur about the Monkees being fake," Tork, 65, says from his Connecticut home. "Everybody's forgotten it, except Wenner. He's been vicious."

One Rolling Stone reporter, Tork says, wrote a glowing story crystallizing their merits. But before publication, Tork adds, "The writer said, 'Jann took my article, gutted it and rewrote it to [bury] you.'"

Thanks, David.

[The Max Weinberg 7 plays returning from commercial break.]

Chris Rock: You know Max... Max got the funk tonight! Are you in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Max?

Max Weinberg: No, no.

Conan O'Brien: What are you talking about? What do you mean, the E-Street Band is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Max Weinberg: No, actually. No. No, I looked last night. No.

Conan: You check every night?

Max: Yes, yes I do.

Conan: You go online every night to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame dot com?

Chris: What happened, you bet on baseball?

Max: [looks puzzled] Yeah!

Conan: You should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and I'm going to see to it that you are!

Max: Okay, thank you Conan! I love you! [applause]

Chris: We gotta do somethin about that, man.

Conan: Why would you applaud that? I have no power.

Chris: Isn't Tone Loc in?

Conan: Tone Loc is in, yeah...

Chris: [to Max] And you're not in? That's horrible, man.

Conan: Funky Cold Medina is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Chris: Young MC is in there.

Conan: Oh yeah.

Chris: Color Me Badd, they in there! You really must have pissed somebody off!

Max: Yes, yes.

Conan: We're going to find out more about this. We're going to find out what you did.

So, Conan, it's your move. If you need help getting Max into the Hall of Fame, just let us know.

At one time in the '70s and early '80s, instrumentally adroit bands such as Yes, Genesis, Emerson, Lake and Palmer and The Moody Blues ruled radio-land, with others -- King Crimson, Rush, Jethro Tull, The Electric Light Orchestra -- dabbling in similar approaches but with their own unique stylings.

For good or bad, the genre has spawned dozens of stepchildren, from Styx to Supertramp, from the Alan Parsons Project to Kate Bush, from Dream Theater to Porcupine Tree. But just try to find a prog-rock band among the 153 inductees thus far.

Let me save you time, because there's only one: Pink Floyd...

When I called the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland the other day, curatorial director Howard Kramer declined comment on the situation, noting all inductions are handled by the Hall of Fame Foundation.

But he conceded the fan contingent backing "prog-rock probably is the most vocal" in e-mailing and campaigning for the genre, which certainly has been represented in museum exhibits if not the Hall of Fame itself.

Singer/guitarist James Young of Styx, a progressive rock band eligible since 1997, is accustomed to musical ostracism.

"Like any sort of competition for awards, it's decided by human beings who have bias," he says, noting that Styx has been copiously rewarded in record and ticket sales. "I celebrate the people who went to the trouble to form the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Without it, I'm not sure a lot of black artists would have been recognized."

Besides, he hasn't given up. "How long did it take for Martin Scorsese to win an Oscar?" he says.

AVC: The A.V. Club recently did a feature weighing the possibility of various bands making the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. We said XTC wouldn't make it. Do you think it will?

AP: I hope not! Hard Rock Café sent a letter asking if they could have one of my guitars. I just said, "Fuck off! Of course not, I bought that, you go buy one." No, we won't make the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. You know why? Because it's down to sales figures, ultimately, and we never sold that many records, because we were too off-the-wall for most people. A lot of people really don't like what we do. I don't think it's anything unusual. I think it's kind of interesting pop music. It's guitar, bass, and drums. It's really pretty damn straight stuff. But for some reason, people think I'm expecting them to eat barbed-wire salad with fetus in it.