Top 100 Rock Hall Snubs (1955-1989) ranked

The top 100 acts not inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, from 1955 to 1989

INTRODUCTION:
So let me just start by stating how one group or artist gets in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If you look at the list of inductees, you'll see a lot of important names and maybe some of your all-time favorite bands. Then you may be thinking of re-looking over the list, checking to see if a certain group is in. From 1955 to the present, or what is known as the "rock era" to most musicologists, has given us several important acts and several songs that have helped shape our culture. Rock and roll has stretched to several subgenres, and has formed a bridge between country and rhythm/blues, as well as other genres including jazz and world music.

When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was started in 1983, its original intention was to record the most influential artists, producers and others that have in some major way influenced the music industry, particularly rock and roll. According to the Rock Hall's website, a performer/group, in addition to their talent/musical excellence, has to have had a significant impact on the development, evolution and preservation of rock and roll. Over the years, people from fans to the stars themselves have questioned that. Many believe album sales and chart positions should be a factor. Or the number of concert tickets sold, or how about all the major industry awards they have won? If this doesn't define musical excellence, I do not know what does.

I will admit this: most of the acts listed are put on there because of their positive impact on music. These people were, and still are, a part of our everyday lives in a good way. We've seen them on television, or heard them on the radio. Some of them write their own songs, some don't. Some have longer careers than another, some disappear after a certain amount of time. But they're never forgotten.

There's no need to get into the politics and controversy surrounding the Rock Hall. For me to do that would take up several paragraphs. Most people are already aware of it anyway. It would be best if I would just focus the other direction, like providing hope and recognition for those who are not in as of yet. Some of these acts were not ever considered. Some have been nominated more than once. And a few are already in for other reasons.

WHAT HELPED ME WITH THIS LIST:

One night I typed up a list of groups/artists that I felt belonged to the Rock Hall. The number was a little over a hundred, surprisingly. And these were just those that were popular before 1989! These are just not my personal choices, but there are those that have been brought up many times in conversations between Rock Hall watchers, as well as those on the Future Rock Legends website. Yes, a lot of other’s lists of such kind inspired me (of course, I put it all in my own words). I was also driven to pull out my Joel Whitburn books (like the Top Artists in his Top Pop Singles & Albums books). Even the back of Jeff Ament’s shirt (which he wore to his band Pearl Jam’s induction ceremony), which listed those he felt were excluded. There’s also the Rock Hall kiosk, which lets fans vote in their favorites.

Ranking all the acts was not an easy task, although the Top 10, especially #1 was easy for me. I tried to be musically eclectic as possible for this list - I wanted to have every genre and sub-genre represented to its best. And of course, one of the current issues many people have pointed out with the Rock Hall - not enough black artists and women. The bases have been covered.

EXPLANATION:
You may not be familiar with some of the terminology I use on this list:
-Rock Hall, short for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
-NomCom, short for the Nominating Committee
-FRL, short for the Future Rock Legends website
-Rock Hall watcher, a term that is used as those who have interacted online (and in some cases, in person) on social media sites, most of them having met on the FRL site
Also, the year in which some acts were nominated, was the year for that ceremony (ex. John Prine was nominated in 2018 for the 2019 Induction Ceremony).

ON THE LIST:
The groups, duos and solo artists who are eligible for enshrinement into the Rock Hall.
As of this writing, the cut-off date is 1994. For this list, the cut-off date is 1989. This is why
you won't be seeing acts like the Smashing Pumpkins, Beck and OutKast, who all started
their careers in the '90s. I will probably stretch the date in future lists (that is, if some of
these acts will get inducted). Some artists that have been nominated in the past that haven't gotten in yet are on here - but not all of them.

There are 100 acts on the list. The ranked acts are not necessarily grouped together...at least that wasn't my intention. The first half (1-50) are mostly artists/groups that have regularly been brought up in Rock Hall watchers' conversations, and have appeared in numerous other "snub" lists. Then I threw in a few names myself. The last half? I found them mostly to be more mainstream, or "pop" acts that I feel deserve to be in the Hall of Fame for their contributions to music. Some have appeared on "snub" lists too. Also, a lot of them were those that I felt were like "if so-and-so is in the Hall of Fame, why not this group?". Stuff like that.

NOT ON THE LIST: 
(1) Acts that debuted (in Rock Hall terms) in the '90s to beyond.

(2) I did leave out some artists that technically started their careers in the '80s, but did not become mainstream until the '90s. A fine example is Soundgarden. I am aware that they were a huge regional hit in the Pacific Northwest, but they did not "make it" until the '90s during the peak of the grunge boom. Other examples include the Flaming Lips and Phish, who probably could have made this list. (For those wondering why I didn't include the Pixies or Jane's Addiction, both of which were influential in the '80s and '90s, it was a dilemma on where to put them on the list - so I decided to focus my energy on other artists.)
(3) Acts that are suitable for other categories, including "Early Influence" (Big Mama Thornton, Wynonie Harris; I did include a few 1950's groups that would probably qualify for that category), Non-Performer, Sideman, etc. Only those who are/were performers.

NOTE: So about the "Singles Category": I almost did not include those who were inducted into Stevie Van Zandt's personal club. This was before the 2019 Ceremony, when I thought it would (kind of) become unique on its own. Instead, me and the Rock Hall watchers came to a consensus that it's already becoming a disaster and who knows how long it will be around. So, I went ahead and threw a few into the list.

Will these artists/groups ever get in? I don't know the answer. Yes, some will eventually get inducted. As for the others, a lot will not. They'll be remembered in some way.

There is no reason I should be having all the fun. Tell me in the comments below who you would like to put in the Rock Hall. (And keep it 1955-1989, please! Thank you.) Or what do you disagree with? Who would you have ranked higher? Thanks for reading.

Here we go:


1. Kraftwerk Nominated 5 times, most recently in 2019
This one was easiest, and it's funny because Troy Smith of Cleveland.com (who has written plenty of great Rock Hall-related articles) placed them at #1 for the same reasons I did. It's all innovation, and what came because of them. In the US, Kraftwerk hasn't been very much of a household name; in Europe, that's a different story. But, experimental artists never seem to get a lot of credit and respect, and luckily the NomCom has recognized this - just not the voters. Until then...

2. Willie Nelson
I feel like I’m wasting this space, but then again, I could be the saying the same about others on this list. Willie has been one of the music legends whose name keeps popping up in and out of a Rock Hall watcher’s conversation. Not many people are sure where he stands on the rock spectrum. Of course, he’s deservingly in the Country Music HOF. The Rock Hall has been kind to a few Country crossover artists like Elvis, Cash and Brenda Lee. Willie Nelson, who I feel is too big of a name to pass up, has quite an image as the “anti-establishment” and he is widely credited with founding the “outlaw movement” in music. Willie has put out lots (I mean, several) of albums and singles since the 1960s. Into his mid-80s, he is still going strong. The Hard Rock-brand (as in Hard Rock Cafe & Hotels) had their own version of a Hall of Fame twenty years ago and inducted him along with many others into their “Legends” group. Not sure if this still exists. Anyway, I don’t care if he gets inducted into the Performer or Early Influence categories, get this guy in. Disagree? Prepare yourself for a bar-room brawl.

3. Carole King Inducted as a non-performer with Gerry Goffin;
nominated in 1989
In addition to being a super songwriter, King proved to the world she could definitely sing and perform. It was her and the piano that gave her new success in the early 1970s, and she has put out more than 25 solo albums. Many of them were high charters and gold sellers. She was an inspiration to many women, especially for those who were singer-songwriters. King has received several industry awards over the years.

4. Dionne Warwick
I rank her over all of the divas because, well, Warwick was among the first. I wasn’t going to put her below Tina Turner, that’s for sure. She is compared to the late Dusty Springfield (who is in the HOF), but also to Barbra Streisand. I can see the similarities but no matter; she has sold over 100 million records worldwide and she has been active since the early 1960s. Warwick, along with the legendary songwriting team Bacharach/David (who aren’t in either) created their own kind of songbook that helped define pop music. Warwick also has a reputation for giving back, supporting and giving to numerous causes and charities.

5. Todd Rundgren Nominated in 2019
To me and many others, Todd Rundgren is rock’s chameleon. He’s a performer and a behind-the-scenes guy. It’s a mixed blessing, because some people may question if he belongs as a non-performer. After all, he did have a successful career as a producer. But as an artist, he took many chances, not conforming to tradition and became somewhat of a cult favorite. His double-album Something/Anything is one of the most successful of that kind, and Axl Rose admitted that it helped inspire him. And I don’t want to leave out Utopia. Todd is still active in music as well as touring. However, his latest remarks about the Rock Hall may have some got some people scratching their heads.

6. Tina Turner Inducted as part of Ike & Tina Turner in 1991
I’ve read that people have called Tina the “queen of rock and roll”, a title that has never been officially given to any female artist. From her Ike & Tina Turner days to her solo career, she has been known for her energetic stage presence (influencing Mick Jagger) and powerful vocals. After leaving Ike in 1976, Tina slowly rebooted her career and repaid her dues all over again, which would later become one of rock’s greatest comebacks of all time. Several people are wondering how she is not in (as a solo artist), including Bette Midler’s recent tweet in May.

7. The Smiths Nominated twice, most recently in 2016
One of the most important indie rock groups that emerged in Britain during the 1980s has had a rough time getting into the Rock Hall. Four out of five of their albums released by them have made Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums list. It was the lack of synth-pop that a lot of other bands used during that period, as well as Morrissey’s complex lyrics with themes including ordinary people have gotten them great attention. The Smiths would later be considered a cult band, and they would influence several British groups, as well as American pop-punk bands.


8. Motley Crue
We all know there’s a huge backlog with hard rock groups, and perhaps the one that stands out the most is the Crue. That may change, however, if their popular Netflix biographical film, The Dirt, influences the NomCom’s decision to include them on the 2020 ballot. Before Guns ‘n Roses, Motley Crue re-defined the rock star image with literally sex, drugs and yes, rock and roll. All four members of the classic lineup were all arrested at one time, individually. They also defined the glam metal genre with their image and sound. As some of us know, the drugs and drinking took their toll on the band, but they put aside everything and the rest is history.

9. The Monkees
“Here we come, walking down the street….”  This one I’m still kind of torn. There’s a lot of different reasons why they’re not in the Rock Hall, the biggest possibility is because the Monkees were created for a TV show. They auditioned, formed and performed great music for a brief period (1966-1968, the time their show was on the air) and decades later, their songs like “Daydream Believer” and “Last Train to Clarksville” have stood the test of time. Recently I watched a VH1 Behind the Music special on Youtube that aired probably 20 years ago. It described how the band, during the peak of their success, was kept from branching out as an independent musical act. They eventually fought and won, but by that time it was too late. The boys were fighting in the studio and band members left one by one. Sadly, we never saw any success from that time on. The Monkees have sold over 75 million records to date, but of course sales have never been a factor in Rock Hall induction.

10. "Weird Al" Yankovic
Every generation seems to have its novelty/comedy musician that represents them. The WWII generation had Spike Jones. The baby boomers had Frank Zappa. Gen-X and beyond has Weird Al. The undisputed king of parodies has gained plenty of respect in recent years, and I'm betting that some of those people were those that dismissed him as being famous just for parodying songs. These are people who are probably not aware that it takes tremendous talent to do what he does. And Al has also written plenty of original material, though mostly "style parodies" - but a couple of them nearly hit mainstream ("You Don't Love Me Anymore" and "One More Minute"). Al has lasted longer than a lot of artists he's parodied (remember Chamillionaire and the Crash Test Dummies?). I hope I've proven my point. And I'm sure if the time comes soon, there will be an extreme outrage.

11. Bad Company
Paul Rodgers is a notable vocalist not in the Hall, as he is ranked on many lists. Was this because he’s not in with the right people? Probably not. But he’s made more than a name for himself for nearly 50 years with Free, Queen and others. Bad Company is where he mostly made his name, however, and the supergroup enjoyed massive success in the 1970s, and their music continues to be played on rock radio. The band has some confusing history as there would be plenty of members the Hall would have to induct. They weren’t very much a singles band (a few of their well-known songs were not released as singles) and they didn’t generate much sales, but I feel they belong in the Hall because of their positive contributions to rock, especially their rock and roll fantasy.

12. Duran Duran
After listening to the recent “Who Cares” podcast episode about DD, I had to rank them this high. Every 80’s child grew up listening to them, watching their videos and maybe copying their fashion styles. Duran Duran was a struggling British New Romantic group until MTV made them heroes, and a string of hit singles happened throughout the 1980s. They were one of the few that led the “2nd British Invasion” in America, and they would be known for their stylish, uplifting pop music. Some say they are rooted from progressive rock, but who knows. The band’s sound has influenced today’s stars including Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake and the Killers.

13. Big Star
One of the earliest, though not the first, groups to have limited success with critic and fan-acclaimed albums but little promotion and sales hailed from Memphis. They are cited to be one of the first alternative bands, influencing those like Peter Buck (R.E.M.). Their first three albums continue to be hailed by critics, as well as their songs - even making Rolling Stone lists. Unfortunately most of the original members are deceased, but there will be plenty who would give the band the tribute they deserve at the Rock Hall.

14. T. Rex
A band that started out as a psychedelic folk band would become one of the most influential and innovative acts in the glam-rock genre. They would be really big in the UK, scoring four #1 hits in that country. In the states, they would be a one-hit wonder...until decades letter with songs like “20th Century Boy” would be heard in American pop culture. T. Rex would influence several genres besides glam, including punk and alternative, and of course they would inspire Mott the Hoople’s “All The Young Dudes”.

15. Judas Priest Nominated in 2018
As we all know, the Rock Hall hasn’t been kind to the hard rock genre, with some exceptions here and there. Tom Morello has pushed the Priest, and it sort of worked but didn’t gain very much in the Fan Vote. I put these guys on top over the rest because they are considered pioneers in metal, especially its subgenre, glam metal. Putting two lead guitarists instead of one was originally an attack on Led Zeppelin, and it proved to be a success. Rob Halford’s fashion and vocal style helped define the group’s sound. The group has made several lists over the years including MTV’s #2 Greatest Metal Band.

16. Chic Nominated 11 times, most recently in 2017
I almost didn’t put them on the list, for numerous reasons. Nile Rodgers is in, but not Chic, so that may eliminate their chances. But the rest of the group did work together in putting out several R&B/disco hits fittingly during that short-lived era, while calling themselves a rock band. “Good Times” would inspire the first hip-hop smash. But it wasn’t just that and Rodgers’ later successful production career - it was their groovy sound that helped define 80s and 90s R&B for later acts.

17. Neil Sedaka
Sedaka is not only known as an artist from the 1960’s Innocent Age/pre-Beatles era, but as a gifted songwriter (he has composed over 500 songs, a lot of them hits). He and Howard Greenfield were one of the legendary duos to come from the Brill Building. Sedaka’s hits would stop with the British Invasion but it was Elton John who would help revive his career in the mid-70s. Today, he is still recording and making covers albums but his songwriting legacy is matched with some of those in the Rock Hall. Little Stevie has shown support for him (I’m actually kind of surprised one of Neil’s songs is in his “Singles” category, haha), and he very well deserves his long overdue recognition.

18. Eurythmics Nominated in 2018
Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox were the duo that not only were part of the MTV/New-wave field, but also blended parts of R&B and rock into their sound. Their sound was unbeatable, combined with Stewart’s production and Lennox’s vocals. Both have had successful solo careers, and Lennox would win Billboard’s short-lived Century Award. The duo was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Their songs and albums have made several lists over the years, so its very surprising they are not in the Rock Hall as of yet.

19. The Guess Who
I always think of this one as something to fill the classic rock void - it seems like the Rock Hall has inducted so many of those bands in the last 7 years, but there are quite a few that are missing. And this one’s debatable, the Guess Who. One thing’s for sure, they are one of the most successful, as well as the first, to come from the Great White North. They have received several honors in their home country, but now it almost seems like they haven’t got the respect they deserved. As a singles band, they had a great run on the charts from the late-60s to the mid-70s, cranking out rock anthems like “American Woman” and “These Eyes”. It’s very easy to forget that a lot of their songs were covered, some of them by Rock Hall of Famers. And not many people know that all surviving members are still musically active and touring, even though some aren’t allowed to use the Guess Who name.
20. The Spinners Nominated 3 times, most recently in 2016
It seems just about every important group to come from Motown and Atlantic has been inducted into the Rock Hall, but then you have the Spinners, which have been associated with both. Unfortunately they were overshadowed by other groups while with Motown, but Atlantic was where the group’s biggest hits happened. They became one of the top Soul groups of the 1970s. Their hits would be sampled in songs later on, and they would be part of “oldies” touring circuits. Henry Fambrough (with the group since 1954) is the only surviving original member, so it would be nice to see a Rock Hall induction happen sometime during his lifetime.

21. Iron Maiden
The next in many hard-rock groups snubbed are Iron Maiden, who are considered pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal. Largely influenced by prog and (of course) metal/heavy rock, Steve Harris and his band paved the way for several bands from Metallica to Avenged Sevenfold. Oddly enough, their style hasn’t changed in 40 years as they didn’t re-invent themselves quite much. And they didn’t receive a lot of support from radio - but no matter, Iron Maiden has been recognized as guitar icons with fans all over.

22. MC5 Nominated 4 times, most recently in 2019
The band that re-defined Detroit rock as well as heavy rock, with their political anti-establishment message has yet to get in. Truthfully, I thought they would be in the Singles category by now - but its back to the drawing board. They deserve to get in as a performer. As long as Tom Morello is on the NomCom, it could happen.

23. Nick Drake
One of the least common success stories lies here: when Drake was alive, he released three solo albums with very little success. He even refused to give interviews or perform live - even so, it was rare. In fact, no video of him exists. Instead of fading off into obscurity his recordings have gained much critical acclaim. His honest views on life, among other things, have gotten him praise from those such as Robert Smith and Peter Buck. It was several decades after Drake’s death that he was the subject of BBC documentaries and having his songs getting a new generational audience.

24. Depeche Mode Nominated in 2017 and 2018
Not that many people know that the English electronic group has been continuously putting out albums since the 1980s, and still is musically active. It is also not very well known that Depeche Mode has sold more than 100 mil albums worldwide, which is quite impressive though it seems they haven’t gotten a lot of respect from the rock press. It wasn’t just the techno/electronic pop that made the band, but its dark moods and themes of their sound that helped inspire future artists. Several acts from the 80s to today consider them an influence, including Nine Inch Nails, No Doubt, the Killers, even the Pet Shop Boys. With Depeche Mode’s contemporaries The Cure now pushing for their nomination and induction, their chances are looking better than ever.

25. King Crimson
Prog-lovers are quick to point out that King Crimson are one of the most influential in that genre of theirs. Genesis and Yes have cited them, as well as Tool and Bad Religion. There’s a handful of more to that list. Also said to be one of the pioneers of progressive metal. They have been around, off and on for more than 50 years now, with several members that have came and went.

26. Sonic Youth
When most people think of indie/alternative rock, Sonic Youth may come to their mind. The group started out as an experimental band, a move that paid off - to the point where they are considered one of the most innovative acts in the last 30 years. Going back to 2008, Thurston Moore did express some criticism of the Rock Hall, comparing it to the Grammys. At the same time, he seemed unbothered that his group hadn’t been considered.

27. The Clovers
One of the few 1950s acts that is still not in are the Clovers. They have been historically important during the formation of rock and roll, and their songs have been covered by numerous acts.

28. Pat Benatar
She’s a real tough cookie with a long history...okay maybe not, really there’s not much controversy about her, except she is part of a long line of female solo rockers needed to get in the Hall. At times, Pat Benatar is compared to Joan Jett (just ask Britney, haha). Benatar was influenced by several rockers, but she took things and made them her own way. She stood out during the 1980s on the radio and MTV (her cover of the Rascals’ “You Better Run” was the 2nd video played on that channel), and still tours today. In fact, 2019 marks her big 40th anniversary tour. Even this generation is familiar with Pat Benatar, with Rebel Wilson belting out “We Belong” in Pitch Perfect 2! Still, get her in. Who knows, she may be the first female “Fan Vote” pick!

29. The B-52's
For this one, I believe it is best that I send you over to Rock Hall Watcher Nick’s blog post about the B-52’s. He describes it better than I would: https://audiovisualrepository.squarespace.com/blog/rockhallcontendersb52s

30. The Shangri-La's Inducted into the "Singles" category (2019)
A girl group with the New York-style rebel image (which from what I believe, was intended to promote “Leader of the Pack” temporarily), singing teen melodrama songs. The Shangri-La’s only lasted for two years (1964-66) but it is like the group’s legacy is still alive. In fact, several acts from around the world have considered them an influence, from punk-rock groups like Blondie and the New York Dolls, to 2000s acts such as Amy Winehouse and Lana Del Ray.

31. The Go-Go's
They weren’t the first all-female band to write their own songs and play their own instruments - unless you’re going by the first of such kind to top the Billboard album chart. But Beauty and the Beat, the Go-Go’s debut album, broke some barriers and influenced several new-wave acts. For a while, the group was a staple on MTV, and then in ‘85, they broke up. At least two of the members had successful careers outside the Go-Go’s, but arguably lead singer Belinda Carlisle would be the biggest. They have reunited several times since then, and they are “unofficially” together at the moment.

32. The Doobie Brothers
It’s kind of complicated how to describe this group...blue-eyed soul? Classic rock? Roots rock? Biker bar rock (this is what the group’s website says - no joke)? Were they innovative or influential? No matter - the Doobie Brothers conquered the 1970s with their rock/pop classics “Long Train Runnin” and “Black Water”. After adding Michael McDonald as lead singer, they arguably became a yacht-rock group and became a soft staple. While members have came and went, Tom Johnston (one of the mainstays) has always maintained the band’s commitment of touring and making new music.

33. Jethro Tull
Named after the 18th century inventor of the seed drill, Jethro Tull had done a lot more to mix several elements in rock. For me, it is hard to classify them in one subgenre, but to most they are a prog band. Folk and heavy music are heard in their recordings, and of course, the one instrument the group is notorious for using - the flute. Ian Anderson and his ever-changing lineup band have sold so many albums, along with placing plenty on the Billboard chart. They were the 1st (and maybe only?) to place a concept album at #1.

34. Paul Anka
To most, he’s a forgotten hitmaker teen-idol that hasn’t been brought up since the 70s. To me, he’s that plus a guy who has written some good songs for other artists. There’s a lot that people don’t know about Anka, like he’s Canadian. Okay, nationality doesn’t really matter- but some have considered him along with other teen sensations of the late 50’s as pioneers of rock and roll, while some consider him too pop. Anka is still alive (77, as of this writing) so its best to get him in sooner rather than later.

35. The Replacements Nominated in 2014
Originally a punk band, the Replacements were one of the pioneers of modern rock. They also helped develop the “Minneapolis rock sound” for future bands from that city, as well as being notorious for their drunken live shows. More importantly, they set the tone for alternative and grunge acts that would follow - including Nirvana, Green Day and the Goo Goo Dolls.

36. Harry Nilsson
It’s a wonder why one of the first singer/songwriters of the era is not in - perhaps he was ahead of his time? Who knows. Nilsson wrote and performed many hit songs (not just for him, but for others) and he famously befriended the Beatles during their psychedelic phase. He was well-known for his defiant, and often humorous songwriting, which would pave the way for many others. Nilsson is credited for having the first remix album, the first mash-up, pioneering vocal overdubs, among other things. The man who lived a short lifetime at 52 years deserves his due.

37. Bobby Vee
This one was kind of a head-scratcher for me, and I’m sure it will for the other Hall watchers. But I feel like the Hall of Famers from the pre-Beatles era is not complete without a few, and Vee is one of them. Yes, he had a lot of hits and his band famously filled in for the Crickets on the Winter Dance Party Tour. He was also supposed to headline Dick Clark’s special concert in Dallas, the same day JFK was assassinated. Very few were inspired by teen-idol Vee, but fellow Northerner Bob Dylan saw a great friendship in him. 

38. The Commodores
One of the most popular funk/soul acts of the 1970s to the mid-80s, brought us Lionel Richie, one of the top composers/singers of all-time. One can argue that their greatest success was during the Richie years, while another can argue they did very well without him. No matter; one of Motown’s biggest during the disco/funk era hasn’t appeared on the Nominations list. The good news is, the group is still performing - even though Richie has branched out to be one of the biggest soloists ever.

39. Johnny Burnette & the Rock 'n Roll Trio
Rockabilly is a subgenre rarely touched upon these days, except in certain parts of the world. This one may be debatable on whether Johnny Burnette’s solo career should be tied with his early group he started with Dorsey (his older brother) and Paul Burlison. It was a sound that was unheard of for most people, with the heavy guitar riffs and all. The group was short-lived, never mainstream but highly influential, which should get them in the Rock Hall alone. But you know how that goes for some innovative groups…

40. Devo Nominated in 2019
I know a lot of people will give me crap for placing them this low, but I wish I can put ‘em higher. Also, since they were recently nominated - they are now on the board so now the group got the NomCom’s attention. Anyway, so...I find it very sad that Devo is considered a one-hit wonder, thanks to their lone Top 40 hit “Whip It”, which is obviously their signature song with its memorable video. But anyone who hasn’t looked into their lower-charting singles as well as the early albums...yeah, you’re missing out! Start with the “Are We Not Men” album and go from there.

41. Warren Zevon
“The singer-songwriter that the NomCom seemed to forget…” Zevon is best known for not only his lone Top 40 hit, “Werewolves of London”, but he’s also known for his dry wit and his standout songwriting. He had worked with so many artists, even forming a short-lived group with members of R.E.M in the late 80’s. A man who had a lot of substance in his music, he had a cult following. One of his famous fans is David Letterman, who has pushed for Zevon to get in the Rock Hall.

42. War Nominated 3 times, most recently in 2015
The group mostly responsible for bringing Latin grooves to the mainstream, as well as blending them with funk and other elements, has snuck on the nominations list unlike a lot of other 70s R&B acts. War was also one with a multi-ethnic lineup, one that constantly changed. It was Eric Burdon of the Animals that helped them get their first hit “Spill the Wine”. Even though they are “on the board” with the NomCom, it is hard to determine when their time will be to get inducted at this point.

43. Gram Parsons Nominated 3 times, most recently in 2005
Parsons may have passed at an early age, but he is cited to be the founder of both the country-rock and alternative country genres. His influence still rolls on today, with several who have carried it - from the Eagles to Wilco to Lucinda Williams, even though country-rock has faded from the mainstream. Emmylou Harris has championed his work throughout her career, even trying to get him into the Country Music Hall of Fame (Harris is an inductee). NOTE: Parsons is not inducted with the Byrds, though he was a short-time member of the group.

44. Carly Simon
A lot of singer-songwriters (many females) have been inducted, though Simon is the one of them that has not filled that gap as of yet. She had a respectful chart run in the 1970s (her marriage to James Taylor helped, I guess), going into the next decade. To this day, she continues to put out albums. Simon has won many industry awards, and a Rock Hall Induction would be great as one of them. She didn’t really re-invent herself throughout her career, but many women consider her an influence: Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen and Natalie Maines.

45. LL Cool J Nominated 5 times, most recently in 2019
Don’t call it a comeback...yet. Mr. Smith is arguably the first successful solo rap/hip-hop artist, as well as being the first to perform on American Bandstand. He’s had quite a great career from the mid-80s to the new millennium, but these days Smith is best known as an awards-show host and an all-around entertainer. Voters have not let him in for various reasons over the years, perhaps due to competition on the ballot. At this point, he may be competing with 90’s rappers pretty soon, so its gonna be quite a challenge for L.L. to get in.

46. Link Wray Nominated in 2014 and 2018;
Inducted into the "Singles" category (2018)
Not very many can get recognized for their influence based on one song (Rumble). Even though it didn’t make the Top 10 charts at the time, “Rumble” was the song that stood out and set the tone for several hard-rock songs. It was the one song that would make people like Pete Townshend pick up a guitar and play. Of course, Wray had a large body of work, having released over 30 singles around the world - but with not very much US chart success. He still performed up until his death.

47. Dick Dale
Another guitar hero who helped change guitar sound, was Dick “King of the Surf Guitar” Dale. His recent passing made people wonder how a guy like him is still not in the Rock Hall. He helped push the limits with electric amplification technology, and pioneered “surf rock”. Richard Monsaur was originally going to be a country/rockabilly singer and was given the name Dick Dale because it sounded like a typical Country artists’ name. He would learn to surf, and would experiment like no other in the 1950’s, and venture into mixing Arabic sounds.

48. Captain Beefheart
I don’t really have much to say about Captain Beefheart because I never really took the time to listen to him. However - he is listed on several lists as one of the top snubbed artists not in the Hall so it got my attention, enough for him to make my Top 50. After doing some research, I concluded that he was one of the direct forces that led to alternative rock and new-wave, inspiring those from Tom Waits to Jack White. There you go.

49. Patsy Cline
Like Willie Nelson, maybe she belongs only in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Cline had crossover success, inspiring countless female singers - which is enough that would make her deserving for the Rock Hall. Since her tragic death in 1963, so much has been covered about Cline’s life: tribute albums, movies, documentaries, posthumous awards and hit singles. A Rock Hall induction of any kind, even if it were to be inducted into the Early Influence category, would make it feel complete.

50. Kate Bush Nominated in 2018
She may not have dented the American charts that much, but it was her vocal and songwriting styles that had tremendous impact, influencing countless women - many of them include Annie Lennox and Bjork to current hitmakers like Florence Welch and Ellie Goulding. And I definitely shouldn’t leave out the men who were inspired by her - Prince, Johnny Rotten, Robert Smith, the list goes on. Bush has been reclusive for many years, occasionally making appearances mostly in England.

51. Connie Francis
Dick Clark was inducted into the Rock Hall as a non-performer (rightfully so), but oddly enough - a lot of the stars that he had a hand in creating have not gotten a lot of respect from the Rock Hall. Chubby Checker, Dee Dee Sharp, and then there’s Connie Francis. In terms of chart success, she’s the biggest female solo star from the pre-Beatles era. At 80, she is still performing, while being a longtime activist for many causes. Gloria Estefan, who planned to do a biopic based on Francis’ life, had even criticized the Rock Hall for not including her. I say, make it happen soon. Not many (if any) have been inducted while in their eighth decade.

52. Afrika Bambaataa Nominated in 2008
Party people, party people! It’s ironic that the song that was used in Bambaataa’s classic “Planet Rock” was by the #1 act I put on this list. Bambaataa experimented with rap like no other during its time when it was considered kind of a novelty thing. He was also an activist, putting together the 1985 anti-apartheid project. His influence still stands today, but in 2016, sexual abuse allegations made against Bambaataa may hurt his chances of getting in.

53. Cher
As I’ve said many times before, the Rock Hall has not been kind to divas...well, maybe Madonna. Cher has come up in many recent RH Watchers’ conversations because she’s sort of back in the spotlight again, with a new tour and acting gig (Mamma Mia 2). Cher, who has been an icon of many sorts, has continuously re-invented herself and has made several comebacks as something else. Of course, she’s had a career, off and on, in show business that all started when Sonny Bono got his shy then-wife to sing in the studio. A lot more I can say, so can we please induct her while she’s still hot?

54. Peter, Paul and Mary
It’s strange to say folk music hasn’t gotten a lot of cred, or much representation in the Rock Hall (despite of Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, and belatedly Joan Baez being in the Hall), given that the genre sort of evolved into psychedelic and protest rock. The trio had million-selling, chart-topping albums during the pre-Beatles era, plus the top final charting song of all-time (to this day, “Leaving on a Jet Plane”) so this one is a mysterious omission.

55. John Coltrane
Okay I’ll admit it, I’m not very much a fan of jazz, meaning the type of jazz that was over 50 years ago. Like bebop, clarinets, that sort of thing. But I do know that Miles Davis and Coltrane were the top two guys who helped change a movement. I know very little about Coltrane, so it was a big surprise to discover he had recorded more than 50 albums in his lifetime! He was mostly a session man, appearing on more albums. He died at the early age of 40, but his legacy still lives on.

56. The Marvelettes Nominated in 2013 and 2015
While the Motown label is highly represented in the Rock Hall, there are still some signature acts during their most successful decade that have not (yet) been inducted. A lot of people (as in commentators on the FRL site) have said the Marvelettes didn’t have a lot of exposure on TV and such, but they had a respectable run on the charts. People have also somehow compared them to the Ronettes, but that’s different if you ask me. Maybe it’s the youth thing. 

57. Junior Walker & the All-Stars
Another Motown signature act of the 1960s that has yet to be nominated, even though they recorded under its Soul label. Walker and his crew (originally known as “The Rhythm Rockers”) weren’t really innovative, and most of the group is now gone...still, it would be nice to have these guys enshrined.

58. Boston
I’ve been told “once you listen to one of Boston’s albums, you’ve heard them all”. While I don’t know if that’s true, it can be said that Boston was one of those groups that resisted disco during that short-lived era. “More Than a Feeling” has made several lists as one of the top songs ever, and for nearly two decades Boston had the distinction of having the biggest-selling debut album of all-time (which would be beaten by Alanis Morissette). Call it corporate rock, dad rock, classic rock, whatever, Tom Scholz is actually a genius behind the music, holding many patents.

59. Styx
Speaking of “dad-rock”, here’s another band that was never really liked by the critics, but loved by radio and the fans. A band with longevity, that still tours (even though DeYoung doesn’t play with them no more) and is enjoyed by fans all over (well, mostly the Midwest). Styx originated as a prog-rock band, but evolved into art rock, classic guitar rock, pop, soft rock, then art rock again with “Mr. Roboto” - which would break up the band for awhile. One of those bands some have a soft spot for, others feel they don’t belong in the Rock Hall.

60. Kenny Loggins/Loggins & Messina
You’re probably wondering why I’m grouping these two together, so let me just say that it’s very unlikely at this point that both will get inducted. One of them should, at least. But yeah, Loggins can be considered ‘dad-rock’ as his music is still played on radio stations (variety, soft rock, etc.). Adding his solo career (which mostly was overdone with soundtracks) and his work with Jim Messina would blend into a Hall-worthy career, in my opinion.

61. Sting Inducted with The Police in 2003;
nominated in 2015
It goes without saying that Gordon Sumner is well-respected of just about everyone in the music biz. He’s won several industry awards, even with a Kennedy Center Honor. His solo career may not have been as notable as his days with The Police, but he has stayed true to his roots with world-music and activism. And of course, his songwriting skills and vocals.

62. Barry White
Alright, now we’re back into the 70s soul snubs, and here is one of music’s deepest voices - Barry White! He, like many other soul stars of the 1970s, had a string of hits during their prime. White was influenced by many of the early Rock Hall inductees, but he crafted what he could and became known for his funky, romantic image. He was also known for his contributions to dance and disco music, being inducted posthumously into the very short-lived Dance Music Hall of Fame. How about a redo into the Rock Hall?

63. Jim Croce
A singer-songwriter that had a short, great body of work while he was alive, but died too young (at the height of his career). Croce wasn’t, however, an overnight sensation. Playing music with his wife, Croce temporarily quit the business and worked odd jobs before he was got back in. During his final tour, he wrote to his wife saying he wanted to withdraw from public life after his realization with fame and being away from home.

64. Billy Preston
We’re not gonna debate on whether he was the Fifth Beatle, as this is all about his career as a musician - working with Little Richard to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. As Neil from FRL put it, “When you look at Preston’s career and how it intersected with seemingly half the artists in the Hall of Fame, you have to believe that if he ever gets nominated, he’ll be inducted easily..” Unfortunately, that moment hasn’t happened...yet.

65. Gil Scott-Heron
I admit that even though I knew his name, it wasn’t until after his death that I became more familiar with his influence in music. Heron was known to be an artist of many kinds, but music-wise he was all about poetry (like spoken-word) and he called himself a “bluesologist”. I once had a conversation with two of my black friends and they credit him for being the first hip-hop musician. Several historians agree, but apparently not the NomCom as a whole.

66. Lesley Gore
I know, I get it that it's very depressing going through a lot of the deceased acts on this list,
and none of them have gotten their due yet. Well, it took a while for Quincy Jones (who
produced her early hits) to get in, so why stop now?

67. Joe Tex Nominated 5 times, most recently in 2017
It was reportedly Dave Marsh who has been endlessly advocating for Tex, who has been nominated for a great period of time. Still, voters haven’t got him in. During Tex’s lifetime, he was often compared to Jackie Wilson and James Brown, as far as dancing and live performances. His song “I Gotcha” has become controversial over time. In all honesty, I’m not so familiar with his work but according to my research he was respected as a musician, with several covering his songs.

68. Diana Ross Inducted with The Supremes in 1988
It’s rare at any time that a world-famous group and its lead vocalist have the same amount of success as a solo artist. Yes, Ross was (and still is) a talented performer who had an impressive solo career - a lot of it sounding different than her work with the Supremes. And she had a great acting career, and won several lifetime awards and titles (like Billboard’s “Female Entertainer of the Century” and such). But in the public eye, it always seemed her success got to her head as she was (and I guess, still is) the negative stereotype of a diva. Just ask Jon Bon Jovi. That’s Ms. Ross to you.

69. Kool and the Gang
Several years ago, I saw - of all acts - Kool & the Gang open for Van Halen. (Apparently it was Roth’s idea after seeing them live) Afterwards, I started questioning…”if Earth, Wind & Fire is in the Rock Hall, why not them?”. Yes, there are some differences between the two. Both were big around the same time, had a long cast of group members, had nearly the same amount of pop chart success, yada yada. In 2018, Kool and the Gang were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Should they get in the Rock Hall, it would call for a celebration.

70. Joe Cocker
It’s funny, this morning I read a Twitter conversation between two fellow Rock Hall watchers, as they were talking about the difference between a cover artist and one that makes songs their own. Joe Cocker was the latter. With his voice, he developed his own kind of sound - earning him much recognition. He was also known for his stage performances in the 1970s, especially the one with John Belushi on Saturday Night Live.

71. New York Dolls Nominated in 2001
One of the early punk bands not in the Rock Hall is also one that helped build the glam-rock movement. A lot of their musical styles have been imitated by several, including Hall of Famers Axl Rose, Kiss and the Ramones. They had very little commercial success, but tours in the last 15 years have helped introduce their music to a new generation.

72. Tommy James/Shondells
To some he was nothing but a pop hit-maker, but me and a few Rock Hall watchers agree he’s got a Rock Hall-worthy career. We all know he’s been widely covered, and he famously shot himself in the foot after refusing to play at a pig farm, aka Woodstock. James is still very active, as he performed at the 2015 Rock Hall ceremony with Joan Jett. He also does a Sirius XM show on Sundays, and he recently put out a new album, with a little help from Little Stevie Van Zandt. That should build hope for his chances of getting in.

73. Patti LaBelle/LaBelle
Like Kenny Loggins, you’re probably wondering why I grouped LaBelle and the disco group she started. Same reason: I hope at least one gets in. Despite her long career, it is seemingly forgettable about her recognitions: she has several lifetime achievement awards and has been ranked on Rolling Stone lists (ex. Top 100 Singers). The group LaBelle was the first African-American group to be on the cover of Rolling Stone. LaBelle has been given the unofficial title of “Godmother of Soul”.

74. Rufus/Chaka Khan Both have been nominated, combined 5 times,
most recently in 2019
I’ll admit it, while I think Khan has a great talent and has put out good music, I was very shocked that she was nominated before several women in her genre. Now, I do recognize her influence among music; after all, she is known as the “Queen of Funk”. And I can’t leave out her powerful vocals. With her and (sometimes) Rufus getting nominated many times in recent years, she’s on her way to being enshrined. Let’s hope with Rufus.

75. Phil Collins Inducted with Genesis in 2010
Hall of Fame bands like Buffalo Springfield, the Yardbirds and the Beatles have at least two of their members inducted - wouldn’t it be nice if Genesis be the next? Collins is one of only three artists who has sold 100 million records worldwide as both a solo artist and their group. While a lot of his work is mostly soft-rock music, Collins has stood out many times in the last 35 years.

76. Herbie Hancock
I think I’ve overused this phrase in this post, but yeah, Hancock is widely respected all over the music community, especially with the number of prestigious awards and accolades. No doubt that he is an icon in jazz, fusion and funk. His tunes have been sampled all over the place. Like I said for others, a Rock Hall induction would be complete for his career.

77. Ben E. King Nominated 3 times, most recently in 1988
Best known as one of the main voices of the Drifters, and one of the most iconic songs of all-time (Stand By Me), King had a little trouble breaking away from his image with his old group. It does come as a surprise that his name hasn’t appeared on the Nominations ballot in over 30 years, even after his death.

78. The Bar-Kays
A group that started out as a backing band for Stax artists was chosen by Otis Redding to go on tour with him. Unfortunately, tragedy struck as Redding and four members of the band died in the famous plane crash. Surviving members Ben Cauley and James Alexander re-formed the Bar-Kays and made them into one of music’s funkiest acts, with songs that broke onto the R&B/disco charts, though not having much mainstream success.

79. Huey "Piano" Smith/Clowns
Another 1950s act, as well as a New Orleans act that has been forgotten over the years. Smith got his start recording for Savoy Records, then as Little Richard’s piano player in the mid-50’s, before venturing out on his own. The group had two well-known songs, but it was Smith’s playing skills and sounds that made him stand out. Smith is still alive today, as he is 85 years old as of this writing.

80. Grand Funk Railroad
The classic rock fans will probably not forgive me if I exclude the GFR, so here you go. Another one of those “loved by rock music fans, hated by critics” acts that had a successful run of hit singles and albums from 1970-75. I’m not really sure as to why it suddenly stopped after that time, but no matter - their music is still played on radio stations all over and they continue to tour. It really does not help that Mark Ferner made some odd comments about the Rock Hall, but we shall see.

81. Gary U.S. Bonds
One of many from the pre-Beatles era during the 1960’s that has not yet been considered for the Hall is Bonds. I’m actually surprised that Stevie Van Zandt hasn’t championed for him, given that he and Bruce Springsteen are fans (they helped briefly revive his career in the 1980s). Bonds, who recently turned 80, still performs to this day.

82. Motorhead
Seems it has been awhile since I’ve covered heavy metal music on here, so now I bring you Motorhead. They helped pioneer speed metal and thrash metal while combining the elements of punk rock and heavy guitars, although Lemmy stated that his band’s music “was simply rock ‘n roll”. While the three original members are now gone (all of them passed away within a three-year time period), it would be great to have such tribute at the Rock Hall (though Lemmy didn’t care too much for the museum).

83. Three Dog Night
I’ve always had mixed opinions about Three Dog Night. They were a hit-making machine from 1969-74, having put out successful albums and singles, while being criticized for not writing their own hits. But they did get plenty of credit for bringing such songs by Laura Nyro and Randy Newman into popularity. TDN is still performing today (mostly on nostalgia cruises), but former member Chuck Negron recently published his thoughts about the Rock Hall, with some questionable “facts” he presented.

84. Johnny Nash
Reggae music was brought into the mainstream thanks to Nash, as the genre became very popular outside its home country, Jamaica, in the late 1960s. Nash, who wasn’t Jamaican, has been around the music scene since the 1950s, although he has dropped from the public eye a long time ago. He wasn’t innovative and influential, but somebody should really give Nash plenty of credit for helping to popularize Reggae.

85. John Prine Nominated in 2019
Again, here’s another I knew very little about a year ago (at this writing) until he was put on the ballot. (Of course, I knew he was an artist, just not that important! lol)  Prine has fans in Bob Dylan and Roger Waters, among others. He was never on the mainstream level, which is probably why a lot of people have never heard of him. But he is known to be one of the most influential songwriters in the last 50 years, as his songs have been covered by so many acts.

86. J. Geils Band Nominated 5 times, most recently in 2018
My blood runs cold, yeah…..it’s easy to forget that the group started out as a Boston blues-influenced band that just happened to rock and roll. I almost didn’t put them on the list, because every year they were nominated, I was like “WTF?”. So it is very clear someone in the NomCom wants them in, possibly Jann Wenner or someone. Anyway, according to most people, they have all the great elements of a classic rock ‘n roll band, with the underrated front man Peter Wolf.

87. The Jam
One of the most successful British bands that didn’t do quite well in America, is also one of the most influential. The Jam were often compared to the Clash (the group that frontman Paul Weller admits inspired him to form the band) and Sex Pistols, but the main difference was the revival sound, as in 60s influences such as Motown and Pop groups. Despite of their continuing success into the ‘80s, Weller suddenly broke up the band. But the music continues to inspire both American and British rock groups.

88. Spencer Davis Group
I originally was going to put Steve Winwood on this list for his solo work, but I kept second-guessing - coming back to his roots as the lead singer of the Spencer Davis Group. The group, mainly during their days with Winwood, were influential as their songs have been covered by many from Chicago to the Dead. Davis himself would work with Christine McVie and Bill Wyman - before they got really big.

89. Chuck Willis Nominated 6 times, most recently in 2011
One of the 1950’s biggest R&B stars who died too soon at the height of his popularity - Chuck Willis wrote and recorded several songs that were widely covered by HOFers. With nicknames such as “King of the Stroll” and the “Sheik of Shake”, Willis was known to be a perfectionist with his craft. It may be very likely that he could get into the Early Influences category, as we shall see.

90. Cyndi Lauper
I’ll admit that one of my earliest memories is confusing Madonna and Cyndi Lauper. Of course, Madonna went on to a monumental career, but that didn’t push Lauper down. She had a good run of singles throughout the mid to late-1980s, and it was not just her voice that became iconic with her activism. It is not well-known that Lauper is one letter away from being a member of the exclusive EGOT club (she needs an Oscar!).

91. Mitch Ryder/Detroit Wheels
Even though Ryder still performs, tours, and records music today, it almost seems like him and his group’s history has been erased. Ryder helped inspire many of today’s heartland (or blue collar) rockers, including Bob Seger, John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen. Surprisingly, Winona Ryder adopted her stage last name in honor of him. Anyway, it was Ryder’s gruff singing-style, energetic sound and dynamic stage presence that paved the way for many.

92. Jan & Dean
Both the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean made everyone want to move out to California and enjoy the surf craze in the 1960s. Yes, Jan & Dean were mostly in the surf-rock genre, but there was more to them than that - Dave Marsh said that “the attitude and public persona of punk rock”  can be traced back to these guys. They had a string of hits, but the duo wasn’t the same after Jan’s near-fatal car accident in 1966. Dean has stated that they should be inducted, although at the same time he seemed glad not to be part of such establishment.

93. Paul Revere/Raiders
Who would have thought that a band from Idaho would be competing on the charts and rock scene with British rock groups? Paul Revere and the Raiders did just that. They put out several hits, but perhaps their most famous is "Kicks", the first such song with an anti-drug message. Little Stevie Van Zandt, who has said that they deserved Rock Hall induction, believes they're not in because of their costumes.

94. Johnnie Taylor
There’s a woman who has commented on Johnnie Taylor’s FRL page, who claims to be his daughter. Maybe so, and she, like many is disgusted with the Rock Hall. And she also claims to have communicated with Terry Stewart, the Rock Hall’s former president, questioning about the induction process. Taylor was billed as “the Philosopher of Soul” and “The Wailer” who put out several singles and albums during his lifetime. “Disco Lady” was the first single certified platinum by the RIAA in 1976.

95. Peter Frampton
I'm not sure what his chances of getting in are, but I will include him in my "2020 Predictions" list in the Fall. He's putting out a farewell tour (for health reasons) and he just released a new album. Frampton, though he is best known for his popular double-live album, has remained involved in music since the 1970s, and has worked with so many...a lot of them Rock Hall inductees.

96. Fela Kuti
Fela dominated African culture: he was credited for pioneering Afrobeat music, something that was inspired from his 1969 trip to the United States. He would become the most popular composer/performer of twentieth-century African music - and also the leading critic of his native Nigeria's repressive governments. A human rights activist, he would be jailed over 200 times. Fela died in 1997 after a long struggle with AIDS.

97. INXS
Australia, or the "land down under", has produced several great bands, especially during the '80s. However, a lot of them I feel are not really Rock Hall-worthy. INXS is one of the few exceptions, as they became an international sensation. After years of college radio hits for many years, they finally hit the big time in '86 with Listen Like Thieves. They would continue that streak for awhile, until the early '90s. The unfortunate also happened, when lead singer Michael Hutchence committed suicide. The band continued on, even doing an American Idol-like show, in finding a new lead singer. The group called it quits, but their music has had a positive effect, even in America.

98. The Raspberries
To my friends who are Rock Hall watchers, they have pointed out that the Raspberries have been worthy for induction. I admittingly haven't paid that much attention to the band's work, though everyone has probably heard "Go All The Way". I don't even know what "power pop" is. Anyway, they gave new meaning to "Cleveland rocks!" as they stood out for their different image and sound in the first half of the 1970s.

99. Violent Femmes
Now to one of my personal favorites: I’ve enjoyed Violent Femmes over the years, off and on, and I feel they have slipped under the radar. Their first album, Violent Femmes, is one of my all-time favorites, and has been placed on several lists. The Femmes were one of the most successful college-rock/alternative groups of the 1980s, with some success into the ‘90s. Were they influential? Probably not. But they were one of those groups who, despite their many breakups, have continued to move a generation.

100. Chubby Checker Inducted into the "Singles" category (2018)
I think it’s only appropriate that if I were to include Checker, it would be at the very bottom. Especially since I almost didn’t put him on the list. This has always been a debatable one, and I’ve heard both sides of the argument. One, when people think of the 1960s, he’s an icon...then on the other, he’s just a novelty act who added movements to Hank Ballard’s song. Checker is a frequent critic of the Rock Hall, even taking up a full-page ad in Billboard pleading his case on why he should be enshrined. As for the “Twist King”, I’m just gonna stay on the fence.
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Definitely check out these other "snubbed" lists, on my fellow Rock Hall watchers' blogs:

Future Rock Legends' Biggest Snubs (not ranked)

Troy Smith (Entertainment editor at cleveland.com)'s 100 Biggest Snubs (2018)
       (He has published many other related lists, but this one is a great one to start at)

Tom Lane's Music Blog ...and his Wishlist (not ranked) (both 2019)

Donnie's Blog (his is a five-part post, with all acts ranked. Link is the introduction)

Rock Hall Monitors (this one is just previously nominated acts, ranked, recently posted)

The Northumbrian Countdown

If your blog or list isn't posted, please feel free to contact me and I will do so.

Hall of Famers I've seen live

This is where I got to do the "me" thing, talking a lot about memories. Don't worry, I won't be that creepy guy at the diner who will endlessly tell tales of generations ago. These are all stories from the times where I saw Rock and Roll Hall of Famers perform in concert. Maybe you relate; like you have something similar to share, or maybe you saw that same artist. I also talk about the few times where I actually got to meet the artists, as it was always a thrill to get that close. I'm speaking as a fan and someone who always appreciates music. I thought I'd post these stories, before the memories leave my mind slowly. There's a lot of them, so if you're up to it...read on!

Some of you know, I am a concert and live show guy. I've seen over 300 acts live, from local musicians to internationally-known. I don't remember exactly when, possibly earlier in the 2010s when I made it a plan to see as many Rock and Roll Hall of Famers as possible. I am aware that I can't see all of them. There are several reasons for that:

1) death. Elvis, Frankie Lymon, John Lennon, Bob Marley and some others were all gone by the time I was born. A lot have passed over the years. I was lucky to see a few while alive (like Bobby Womack and Tom Petty) but there were plenty I missed out on like Prince, James Brown and David Bowie.
2) many Hall of Famers don't perform anymore. Bill Withers and Linda Ronstadt are in this group. I can totally understand their reasons why. Also many groups haven't been together in several years (or decades) including the Dave Clark Five, Talking Heads and Led Zeppelin. However, if a member of these groups performs with another group or as a solo act, I will include them in the list. There's also that new trend where rock stars are "retiring", as I missed my chance to see Paul Simon.
3) Some groups/artists still tour, but to a limit. Examples include The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison and ELO. I hope to catch them locally before one of us passes.

My original rule was as long as at least half of the inducted band members were present when I saw them, they would count. I abandoned the rule the night I saw the Beach Boys. This was in 2014, two years after the reunion tour. Mike Love was there, and so was Bruce Johnston. Johnston was not inducted with the group, despite of being part of the Beach Boys since the mid-60s. I personally think he should have been inducted with them. Who knows, maybe in the future. All of the other inducted members were not there. Brian Wilson, of course, performs solo along with Al Jardine and a couple other Beach Boys members from the past.

The list below consists of the inducted group/artist, the year I first saw them, and the venue and city. There's also a link to that show's setlist (if available) from setlist.fm, which I consider to be the true source for that kind of thing. Please keep in mind that the venue names have changed over the years and that was what it was called at the time I saw them. I included some photos that I took at some of those concerts. I also took video at a lot of these shows, but for obvious reasons I won't post them.

So in chronological order....here is the list of all Rock and Roll Hall of Famers I've seen live:

JAMES TAYLOR  (1998, Riverport Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - This was my first-ever concert. My oldest sis Jenny won tickets through a local newspaper and I guess she had no one to go with, so that's where I came in. Again, this was my first "real" concert and my first time seeing a famous person in person. It was quite a thrill, even though I wasn't as much of  a JT fan back then as I am today.

BLACK SABBATH  (2004, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - I had seen Ozzy's solo performance two years before at Ozzfest 2002.
  - Ozzy's trademark stage moments include dumping water on pit ticketholders, clapping on top of his head, and other strange, unique things.
  - All of the classic lineup was there (Osbourne, Butler, Iommi, Ward) and Ozzy was the only one wearing makeup. It is interesting to note that Butler lived in St. Louis for a time because he met his wife there.

TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS  (2005, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO; 2013, Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN)
  - Both concerts were great, and memorable. Tom Petty used to come to St. Louis just about every year, but entering the 2010s decade, it slowed down. His final performance in STL (Scottrade Center) was a few months before his death.
  - The Black Crowes opened on the 2005 date. We only caught the last two songs of that set.
  - Before I saw his headlining set at Bonnaroo '13, I met up-and-coming Kacey Musgraves and her small crew as they were getting ready to catch Tom Petty too! I took plenty of pictures and video during the performance. It did start to rain near the end and it would continue throughout the night. But either way, it was a great cap-off to that year's festival. Of course, it would be the last time I would see Petty live.

Tom Petty headlining Bonnaroo 2013 (this was him on-screen)

NINE INCH NAILS  (2005, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO)

  - I remember me and a friend of mine sat in the back, so we had a hard time seeing Trent and the band. The room was very much dark the whole time and he did have a big screen to accompany the show but it was mostly a blurred image. Still, Trent & crew played a great set. Surprising to me, he didn't perform a lot of his current hits at that time like "Only".

JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS (2006, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO (Warped Tour); 2006, Mississippi Nights, St. Louis, MO)
  - Saw the group within four months between dates in 2006. The second time was at Mississippi Nights. I left the show near the end, as it was the same day the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series (10/27/2006). People were yelling and shouting during her performance, so I thought it would be best I would leave since I was blocks away from the stadium.
  - Unfortunately, it was my only time at the legendary Mississippi Nights club, where several bands got their start. Several forgotten alternative bands from the 80s and 90s performed there, as well as Nirvana, Jane's Addiction, Blind Melon and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The small venue was torn down three months later to make room for a casino. To this day, people still share stories about how they got up close to their favorite bands of yesterday. Wish I was there all those times....

  **MEETING JOAN JETT**
 - I got to meet her, very briefly, after her set at the Warped Tour. She was signing autographs for dozens of fans behind a fence. When I asked her if she was able to say a liner for my 80's radio show, she was like, "Not right now...". I didn't blame her, of course! (laughs) But at least I got to say something to her.

RUSH  (2007, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO; 2012, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO)
  - Both shows were killer. I saw them on my birthday in 2012, as that was the show where Rush did their complete Clockwork Angels album.

DAVID BYRNE  (inducted as a member of Talking Heads)
   (2008, Fabulous Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO; 2013, Bonnaroo (w. St. Vincent), Manchester, TN)
  - He put on a great show at the Fabulous Fox (that was my first time there). After the show, I walked past Jackson Browne and his bodyguard(?). Apparently, Browne (who was to perform at the Fox the night after) was in town because Obama did a public campaign speech in St. Louis early that day and Browne is a prominent Democrat. I would later see Browne in concert in 2018.
  - I would later catch parts of Byrne's performance at Bonnaroo '13, when he was on tour with St. Vincent. I remember they played a few Talking Heads songs.

BILLY JOEL  (2009, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO (w. Elton John)
ELTON JOHN
    (2009, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO  (w. Billy Joel); 2014, Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN)
  - That night in 2009 was one of the greatest ever, especially with two of my all-time favorite legends. They both performed their own sets, as well as singing together on several songs. This was my first time hearing the funny side of Billy Joel, as he is known to crack jokes on stage.
  - Five years later, I saw Elton John headline and close out Bonnaroo '14. This was a rare thing for him to perform at a major US festival, and I remember him saying that "Bonnaroo is the greatest music festival in America". He performed most of the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album, as well as his many hits. Ben Folds (who hosted the Superjam the night before) joined in on a couple songs. One of the highlights was John's tribute to Casey Kasem, who passed away early that day. John credited him for partly inspiring his music career in the early 70's, and he dedicated "Don't Let The Sun..." to Kasem. Kasem is my all-time radio hero, so it was sad to actually hear the news from Elton John. Apparently people around were shocked as well, even people were still talking about it when the show was over.

CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH  (2009, Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, MO)
  - The group was in good spirits that night, as they played their hits, including my favorite "Long Time Gone". They even did "For What Its Worth" and I think "Love the One You're With"

AEROSMITH  (2009, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - I remember this show was partly cut short because of a thunderstorm, as the people who sat on the lawn area were forced to go back to their cars.
  - This was the first city of the tour where Aerosmith would play the Toys In The Attic album in its entirety. They would omit "You See Me Crying", possibly due to time constraints. They did perform a few of their classics, including "Dream On". A few of the songs played that night were the first performed in several years (including "Combination" which hasn't been played live since 1978, and "Round and Round" which was never performed live until that night). Brad Whitford was not present that night, as a replacement (who was given hardly any attention) played rhythm guitar.

ELVIS COSTELLO  (2009, Gateway Arch, St. Louis, MO; 2015, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - Both times I saw Elvis he was an opening act. In 2009, he and Sheryl Crow performed a free concert on the Gateway Arch grounds in St. Louis, celebrating the MLB All-Star Game week festivities. Six years later, he and his band, the Imposters, opened for Steely Dan.

CHUCK BERRY  (saw him five times starting in 2009-2013 Blueberry Hill and The Pageant, St. Louis, MO)
  - It was in 2009 when I first saw Chuck at The Pageant. He would play there on occasion (like once a year), but his mainstay was down the street at Blueberry Hill's Duck Room. Chuck had played 209 live shows at that place, from 1997 up until October 2014. I was able to catch him three times there. The last Chuck Berry show I attended was in November 2013. Each show was more than a thrill to see such a legend live, and Chuck still had it. However, at that last show me and my friend Kevin agreed that he was "slipping". No disrespect to the man, but we sensed that he was ready to hang up his rock and roll shoes when he kept forgetting lyrics and he didn't play long that night. In addition to the five times I saw Chuck live in concert, I saw him in person at three special occasions, one of them was for his appearance on-stage with Aretha (see below) and another was during the unveiling of his statue across from Blueberry Hill.
  - He had a wonderful band, and his two children backed him up each time. One time, his wife was in the crowd at The Pageant. Chuck would always play his classics like "Sweet Little Sixteen" and "Johnny B. Goode" and some of his blues favorites. Somebody once told me he strongly disliked playing his only #1 Billboard Pop hit, "My Ding a Ling" live - but I did catch him playing it once.

   **MEETING CHUCK BERRY**
  - I can't remember if it was 2010 or 2011, but it was after one of Chuck's Duck Room shows. Rarely, he would come out after his show and sign autographs. He never liked posing for photos with his fans, with a few exceptions (that is, if they were famous people). I'm not sure if it was because of the flash, or whatever. But Chuck was in the bestest of moods that night and some that stayed in the basement venue long enough were able to get in line and have their memorabilia signed. I had nothing for Chuck to autograph, but I figured well, I might as well say a few words to him. I was the last person in line, and when I got up close to him....I was nervous as hell! But Chuck was very cool, and he asked me how I was and all. I think I said something like, "I don't have anything for you to sign, but I would like to just shake your hand!". He smiled, looked at me and was like, "Right on, brotha, right on!" and laughed. I don't remember what else happened at that small moment. The rest of the night I was like, "Dude, I just shook hands and talked to the man who inspired the most important people in rock history!".
  - I hope you can stand another story. This one involves my mom and my Grandma Young. Chuck would be seen sometimes around the local casinos. My Grandpa Young once said that he would see Chuck at some local diner (don't know which one) where he would be sitting alone and reading the newspaper. I don't remember exactly when (late 2000s), but one day my parents took my Grandma out to the casino (I believe it was Ameristar in St. Charles, Mo). I wasn't with them, but from what I heard, I missed out! (laughs) My mom and Grandma were playing the slots, and Chuck was playing them a few or so machines down. Grandma quietly asked the waitress if it was really him and she said something like yes, but he always prefers not to be bothered. Minutes later, my mom got up to get a drink and as soon as she came back, her face turned red. It looked like Grandma had been chatting it up with the rock legend, saying "her kids and grandkids loved his music and owned his records...". Chuck apparently was very delighted, nodding off to everything. My mom interrupted and took Grandma back to where they were playing. Mom later said she was so embarrassed at that, but we all had a good laugh. We shared the story at my Grandma's funeral years later.

Chuck Berry performing at Blueberry Hill's Duck Room (November 2013)

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E-STREET BAND
           (2009, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO)
    (Springsteen was inducted alone in 1999; the E-Street Band would be inducted in 2014.)
 
  - They performed the entire Born To Run album. I remember all the lights were turned on as soon as "Born To Run" and "Dancing In The Dark" came on. One of my favorite highlights was Springsteen crowd-surfing, something I wouldn't expect a 60-year-old man to do!

PEARL JAM   (2010, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO; 2016, Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN)
  - Several songs and two encores made that night in 2010. Apparently a few songs that were on PJ's setlist didn't get played. Band of Horses opened.
  - They headlined Bonnaroo in 2016, but their show was at least two hours late due to a thunderstorm and every 'Roo attendee had to evacuate the entire venue and go back to their tents until they received texts. Every act that night had to reschedule at the last minute, which caused confusion to everyone. I think it was around 1:30am (early Sunday) that PJ started, as Eddie joked "Is it past everyone's bedtime?!". He made one Donald Trump joke I remember, "Can't we just build a wall around HIM?".

Pearl Jam headlining Bonnaroo 2016

ALICE COOPER  (2010, Indinanola Balloon Grounds (Lazerfest), Indianola, IA; 2014,  Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - Alice Cooper has always been known to put on quite a show, even to this day. I saw him at Lazerfest outside Des Moines, Iowa (he was touring with Rob Zombie at the time, who was also at the festival). That was one of the best sets that day. I remember the local DJ had us shout "We're not worthy!", in reference to Wayne's World. Four years later I saw him open for Motley Crue's farewell tour. He did the guillotine act as well as sing all the fan's favorite songs. I almost saw him in 2017 with Deep Purple (see below).

BLONDIE   (2010, Illinois State Fair, Springfield, IL)
  - Blondie was part of the double bill with Cheap Trick. It started sprinkling near the end of Blondie's, but the rain got worse - enough to cancel Cheap Trick's set (see below).

WANDA JACKSON  (2011, Blueberry Hill's Duck Room, St. Louis, MO)
                  (Inducted as an Early Influence)
  - Wanda sang a combination of songs from 50 years ago to present (she had recently done an album produced by Jack White at the time). I remember a fan in the audience showed her a record they brought for the show (which was Right or Wrong, released in 1961), and she jokingly said something like she hadn't changed very much!

    **MEETING WANDA JACKSON**
  - Some acts that perform at the Duck Room sign autographs, shake hands or pose for photos. Wanda did just that after her show. I found her to be very sweet and down-to-earth. I couldn't believe I was talking to someone who toured with Elvis Presley and someone who Elvis Costello was a huge fan of. I asked her for a photo and she was like, "That's part of my job!"

Wanda Jackson and me

U2   (2011, Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO)
  - Simply one of the best concerts I've ever attended. U2 had the right idea at the right place, right time with their heavy production, literally going around the world bringing one of the most successful tours ever. There's so much I could write about, from Bono walking the owner of Busch Stadium's son around the field during a song, to the band talking about U2's first St. Louis gig in 1981. And of course, all the great songs they performed, even dedicating one to the tornado victims of Joplin.

Me standing in front of "the claw"

JOURNEY (2011, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - Double headliner with Foreigner. This was one of those nights where its like, "As long as there's the music, all is well". I tried telling myself that most of the time! I think my ticket was $15 or something, so I decided to check this out. Journey had many of its original members on stage, and Arnel Pineda did great being Steve Perry. Foreigner's set was another story. It was Mick Jones and a bunch of younger guys who tried their very best to sound like their records. If there was ever a moment in time where Steve Perry rejoins Journey, I'll do whatever I can to be there. 

HEART   (2011, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
DEF LEPPARD  (2011, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - Both acts toured together that year. This was another one of those that I got a cheap deal on, so again I decided to check it out. Heart came on first, and it was cool. They did a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Battle of Evermore". I didn't know it at the time, but I wasn't aware the Wilson sisters were actually the Lovemongers. This was a group that didn't exist that long, but were part of Cameron Crowe's Singles soundtrack with that song.
  - Def Leppard's set was okay, or in other words not very memorable. I grew up listening to their music and they're one of my favorite bowling-alley/hard rock bands of all-time. But for some reason I felt it could have been better, like more energetic. Had I seen them during their heyday, like 25 years before, I'm sure it would have been a 3x great experience.

CHRIS FRANTZ AND TINA WEYMOUTH (as the Tom Tom Club)   (2011, The Pageant, St. Louis, MO)
     (both were inducted as members of Talking Heads)
  - Opened for the Psychedelic Furs. It was an alright set, as I wasn't familiar very much with the TTC's music. I did get to meet the band after their set.

     **MEETING THEM**
    Truthfully, I don't remember much. I didn't have to pay extra or buy anything. Basically, anyone who was in the merch room got to have a photo taken with them. It was cool to be next to half of the Talking Heads!

ARETHA FRANKLIN  (2011, Peabody Opera House, St. Louis, MO)
  - It was one heck of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Queen of Soul, as well as being part of the grand re-opening festivities of St. Louis' classic venue, Peabody Opera House. Jay Leno was also there, along with a lot of St. Louis' elite, including government leaders, Ozzie Smith, and more. Aretha sang a few songs; in addition, she sang a duet with the late Dennis Edwards (who spent his later years in St. Louis) as well as bringing Chuck Berry on stage briefly. She really brought down the house with "Freeway of Love" at the end.

BOB SEGER    (2011, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO)
  - I was a fan of Seger's when I was growing up, not much now. But it was still cool to experience a Bob Seger show at least once. He had the Silver Bullet band and all, playing their greatest hits as well as a few covers (like "Downtown Train").

VAN HALEN   (2012, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO)
  - The lineup that played during the show was David Lee Roth and the two Van Halen brothers as well as Eddie's son Wolfgang. (I would not see Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony perform until 2015) Eddie, despite of then-recent reports of poor health, looked great and still played the guitar like a master. Dave seemed alright, and in high spirits. I knew he wouldn't move like he did back in the early 80s, but he still had the voice and attitude. I remember seeing a short film about his horses at the show. There was one time that he yelled to the audience, "Come on guys, this ain't no Justin Beiber concert...".

KISS   (2012, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - The two lead men, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, were the only inducted members that performed, which was alright with me. Their show really wasn't that memorable, and it was kind of like a "fans-only" show where they didn't play a lot of their radio songs. Motley Crue opened for them.

MADONNA   (2012, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO)
  - It was more than a thrill to see one of my all-time favorite female singers live, especially one that I grew up listening to all my life. This was Madonna's first-ever show in St. Louis - she promised she'd be back since there were a lot of excited fans. I knew she couldn't play all the hits, but she managed to pull off quite a show. Her set started very late, for reasons I probably know why! I did leave early since I had to be at work at 6am the next morning. Had no regrets. DJ Paul Oakenfold opened.

PAUL MCCARTNEY  (2012, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO; 2013, Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN; 2016, Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO)
  - When I first saw Paul I was very blown away. Anyone who has seen Paul McCartney live knows he definitely gives it his all. He'll pick any greatest hits from the Beatles, solo and Wings era, even some album cuts not very many are familiar with. His 2012 St. Louis concert was my all-time favorite, until months later I saw him headline the Bonnaroo farm. It was like a life-changing event, and I can speak for the 80,000 people who sang along and danced to the hits. Singing "Hey Jude" along with tens of thousands of people with Paul was one of my all-time favorite moments. Paul is also known for doing encores like crazy - in fact, he did three at Bonnaroo! One of them I remember he ran on-stage carrying the U.S. flag and the State of Tennessee flag and everyone cheered. Then he broke into "Helter Skelter". It was like Paul didn't want to leave the stage, and no one wanted him to. To this day, I'm sure many veteran Bonnaroovians cite that performance as the most memorable. Nothing would ever top it for the festival. Thank goodness for Youtube, so I can re-live some of those moments.
  - I saw him three years later (2016) at Busch Stadium, as I bought an S.R.O. ticket. It was a great concert, but I didn't expect it to be as big as Bonnaroo's. I do hope to see Paul again sometime in the future, because he isn't getting any younger, though it seems like he is!

Sir Paul at Bonnaroo '13 (this was from a monitor)

THE YOUNG RASCALS  (2013, Argosy Casino, Alton, IL)
  - Probably the only inducted member that night was Felix Cavaliere  (it was a bunch of younger guys playing the instruments). All of the Rascals' well-known hits were played, as well as great covers from the band (including their version of "Whole Lotta Love"!).

   **MEETING FELIX CAVALIERE**
   At some casino shows, its actually easier to meet the band/artists since the venue is small. Right after the show was over, Felix got off the stage and went to the crowd as people started to approach him. When he got to me, I told him that I was very honored to meet him, and I grew up listening to his music. He appreciated it and we shook hands. I asked him if he could take a picture, but he wanted to comply with casino rules with their "no pictures" policy. He said something like, "Maybe later, backstage?", but I knew that wasn't realistic (laughs). I didn't want to take up his time and he asked me my name, and I thanked him again. This was a guy who helped create the soundtrack to the late 60's, and he was very down-to-earth and seemed appreciative to young fans like me.

ZZ TOP  (2013, Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN; 2014, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO; 2018, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)

  - I always loved their music, but the first time I saw ZZ Top was right at midnight at Bonnaroo. They came on right after Paul McCartney, and they knew they couldn't top that. Their set seemed kind of boring as it seemed they didn't move very much. Thankfully, the next two times I saw the group it was better - its probably that way when they are the main attraction.

B.B. KING  (2014, Peabody Opera House, St. Louis, MO)
  - This one is a bit complicated. It was more than a thrill to be under the same roof and breathe the same air with the all-time blues legend, B.B. King. I didn't expect much of a performance because of his age (he was 88, the oldest person I've seen live). But everyone else at the venue expected quite a lot; King played four songs that night, but mostly talked throughout the show while the band played. He sang "You Are My Sunshine" with others singing along, but got old for most people. The crowd's reaction became negative during the middle of the show, with people walking out and quietly booing. I didn't like that kind of disrespect, especially toward someone who devoted his energy to come to St. Louis that night. King did save the night by breaking into "The Thrill Is Gone" which made everyone happy. That performance briefly made national news. King would pass away a year later.

B.B. King at Peabody Opera House, 2014

ICE CUBE  (2014, Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN)
    (he was inducted as a member of N.W.A.)
  - His was one of the late-night shows, after I saw Kanye West headline. I didn't stay for the whole set, but I do remember there was a large backdrop with Ice Cube making one of his goofy, mean poses. I also recall he would yell to the DJ: "Play some old-school shit!" (meaning old hip-hop jams like Salt -n-Pepa and Tone Loc) "What else ya got?"  It was easy to forget that this was the same guy from N.W.A., as well as one that transitioned to an actor. He sure didn't forget his roots that night!

BOBBY WOMACK  (2014, Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN)
  - I knew this was my opportunity to catch a rock/R&B legend during one afternoon on the Bonnaroo farm. Found it very odd that he was playing nearly at the same time as Damon Albarn, who Womack collaborated with in the past for the song "Skylo" (on the Gorillaz' 2010 album, Plastic Beach). It would have been cool had they gotten together for that song at the festival! But I gotta respect that it didn't happen.
  - I remember there weren't that many people in the tent, as Cage the Elephant was also playing at that time. But I was very happy being close to the stage, hearing Womack and his hits. I also remember he was 15 minutes late, and he had to be walked on/off stage. Once he started singing, he was having a great time. I did notice he was showing signs of "slipping", like not remembering the names of his band members and going off-key. I didn't take it too seriously, as I was enjoying the moment.
  - This would be his final performance. When I got home, I looked to see if Womack had any more tour dates, and he was supposed to hit Europe the next month. Of course, I was very shocked to hear about his death, which was nearly two weeks after I saw him. Apparently, he had health problems (some drug-related) as well as dementia in his later years.

The late Bobby Womack at Bonnaroo 2014

BONNIE RAITT   (2014, Art Hill (Fair St. Louis), St. Louis, MO)
  - I'm not much of a fan of Raitt's music, as it never really captured me. But Raitt did headline Fair St. Louis in 2014, as it was a free concert. I only stayed for a few songs.

JEFF BECK   (2014, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - Opened for ZZ Top (or was it a double headlining bill?). Honestly, his set wasn't really that memorable. Maybe if I were a guitar nerd, although he can play a mean guitar like a ring in a bell. Still, it is impressive that he's in the Rock Hall twice.

THE BEACH BOYS  (2014, Belleville, IL (Bi-centennial festival))
  -The only inducted member that performed that night was Mike Love, along with longtime member Bruce Johnston as well as a bunch of younger guys. It was a great show, even for a free one. Love, always the charismatic Beach Boy, joked on-stage: "I see a lot of you people made it tonight...oh yeah, the price was right!". In all fairness, I would have paid to see them, but luckily the city of Belleville let them help ring in the city's birthday festivities.
  - I do hope to see Brian Wilson (and the rest of the surviving Beach Boys) sometime soon, as in sooner rather than later. He stopped in St. Louis two months ago, but tickets were as low as $120 or something; by that time I waited too long. It would have been very cool to have seen them back in 2012 when they all got back together for that tour, but they skipped St. Louis. 🙁

Mike Love

Love and Bruce Johnston

FLEETWOOD MAC/STEVIE NICKS  (2015, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO)
  - Probably the best show I saw in 2015. A lot of people agreed, as the classic lineup of Fleetwood Mac performed to a sold-out house at Scottrade that night. It was like all five of the members were having the times-of-their-lives on-stage, and were given equal time to show their best. Fleetwood did a drum solo, Buckingham strummed a guitar solo, and a lot of the band was kidding around with Christine McVie, who was back with the group after a long hiatus. Overall, it was a great concert, and a lot of people were blown away by what musicians in their 60s and 70s could still do after all those years of playing.
  - Some people will probably call it "cheating" or "double dipping" as I saw Stevie Nicks (soon to be inducted as a solo artist in addition to being part of Fleetwood Mac). But Stevie did steal a lot of the show that night, so for now, I'm including her as part of my list. Stevie has toured solo many times, as well as visited St. Louis a few times (most recently in 2017), so who knows, maybe I'll catch her own live act sometime down the road. After all, she did once say in an interview: "I'll probably still be singing 'Dreams' when I'm 75...".

JOHN MELLENCAMP  (2015, Peabody Opera House, St. Louis, MO)
  - Carlene Carter opened (I got to meet her in the Merchandise booth!). Mellencamp played it cool and relaxed while singing a lot of his hit songs. The one thing I thought was hilarious was when he started saying something like, "This is one of my least favorite of mine, and I can't believe everyone made it one of my best-known songs!" - and then he broke into "Jack and Diane"!

STEELY DAN  (2015, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - Elvis Costello opened. Steely Dan played most of their greatest hits, with a few covers. I remember Walter Becker did something like a ramblin' speech for a few minutes (can't remember about what...) during the long intro of "Hey Nineteen". (Becker passed away two years later)

EARTH, WIND & FIRE  (2015, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
CHICAGO  (2015, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - Both of the groups toured together during the summer of 2015, and the two groups collaborated for a few songs.

SAMMY HAGAR      (2015, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
               (Inducted as a member of Van Halen, along with Michael Anthony, who was also performing that night)
  - Sammy, who has a special friendship with all of his St. Louis fans (I'll be writing a blog about that in the near future), treated everyone to an electrifying show. He usually performs in the STL once a year (sometimes twice), but oddly enough this was my first time experiencing a Sammy concert. One of my co-workers hooked me up with a seat near the stage, which made things more awesome. Sammy performed with his band, The Circle, which featured Michael Anthony, Vic Johnson and Jason Bonham. They played several songs spanning Sammy's career, including Van Halen (or in this case, Van Hagar), Montrose, and solo Sammy songs as well as their own. However, some criticized the set for being mostly a Led Zeppelin covers show, as there were a few songs by the legendary group that the band performed. All in all, it was a memorable show as Sammy, according to the hardcore fans, is never a let-down. Jason Bonham gave a short speech that ended with a big thank you to the rock fans for showing a lot of respect for his late father.

STEVIE WONDER     (2015, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO)
  - Stevie performed his entire Songs In The Key of Life album, along with a couple of his classics. Very awesome show, and he even got to show his goofy side near the end (he called himself DJ Tick Tick Boom)! Hometowner Nelly came on-stage near the end and did "Hot In Herre" with Wonder.

JOHN SEBASTIAN      (inducted as a member of the Lovin' Spoonful)
               (2015, Wildey Theatre, Edwardsville, IL)
  - He played many Lovin' Spoonful songs as well as his own solo material.

    **MEETING JOHN SEBASTIAN**
  - I got to meet him after the show, as well as getting a picture with him. I'm not gonna lie, he did seem very socially awkward. Not just to me, but in general. I recently watched his performance at Woodstock, and you can tell he's not much of a people person. But he did craft great songs, and that's what makes him unique. I can't find the photo, as its hidden somewhere in my hard drives but I'll post it asap.

THE WHO  (2016, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO)
  - I went with one of my older friends, who was lucky to see The Who when they performed at Busch Stadium in 1989 (that was his favorite concert of all-time). He would always scoff every time The Who would call themselves that (after John Entwistle's death), by saying "There is no Who!". But we went, and had a great time. It was Daltrey and Townshend, along with Ringo Starr's son Zac on drums. I was able to record some of the songs on video.
  - The show was postponed twice. I had the tickets in my possession for nearly a year and a half.

DEAD AND COMPANY    (most of the surviving inducted members of the Grateful Dead performed (Bob Weir, Donna Godchaux, Mickey Hart, etc.))      (2016, Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN)
  - Closing headliner at Bonnaroo '16. They did two sets, while taking a break in between. John Mayer mostly played guitar, as Weir did most of the vocals. Godchaux was not an official member of the Dead & Company, as she was a "Special Guest", singing with Weir on many of the songs that night. Their only encore song was "Touch of Grey" and Weir closed out with some political statements, mostly about Donald Trump.

Near the end of the show, I got closer to the stage

JOE WALSH     (inducted as a member of the Eagles)
          (2016, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - Opened for Bad Company (or was it a double top bill?). Performed his hits, including those with the James Gang and the Eagles.

GEORGE CLINTON     (inducted as a member of Parliament/Funkadelic)
              (2016, Art Hill, St. Louis, MO)
  - Free concert at Fair St. Louis 2016. Played a few of his notable songs, starting things off with "Flash Light". This was on the Fourth of July, and it was during the daytime. Flo Rida would headline hours later.

From my Instagram

BUDDY GUY  (2016, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO)
  - At LouFest 2016. For a guy in his 80's, he put on a great show, and even cracked jokes in between songs. He sure was having a lot of fun on stage, probably more than all of the acts that performed that day. I remember he told a story about Marvin Gaye.

From my Instagram

GREEN DAY  (2016, The Pageant, St. Louis, MO)
  - In a rare move, Green Day did a tour performing at only small venues, as opposed to the large areas they were probably used to. Not surprisingly, tickets went fast (and were not cheap!) as soon as they went on sale. This was the first time The Pageant did not allow people to get physical/online tickets until a few hours before the show - and the results were sort of a disaster as they were very slow in the process. I didn't plan to go until a friend of mine asked me the same day of the event if I was interested (he bought an extra ticket just in case...). Of course, I couldn't turn it down! It was a packed show, and B.J. Armstrong and crew gave it their 100%. Played most of their hits as well as new cuts from their then-latest album. I took a few photos with my phone but a guard had to stop me (haha).

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS  (2017, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO)
  - Finally got to see one of the groups on my bucket list but somehow didn't catch them before. The Chili Peppers have came a long way since their days performing at Mississippi Nights in the mid-80s, going through tragedy and numerous member changes. Great show, but I was mostly disappointed they did not play a lot from the 80s and 90s, besides their two signature songs "Give It Away" and "Under the Bridge". (I'm not really much of a fan of anything after Californication, but I do understand bands will hype up their latest album by playing cuts off of it). Trombone Shorty and Jack Irons (former RHCP member) opened. We (as in me and my friends) did not arrive on time to catch Jack, but I'm sure it would have been cool to see him.

NEIL DIAMOND     (2017, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO)
  - This was another I was long overdue to see, and it couldn't have been more perfect timing. Diamond put on a great show, singing several of his hits. He told the crowd how much he loved St. Louis and visited the Zoo earlier that day. Diamond was so full of energy that night, especially when he led the crowd in "Sweet Caroline" (although I hate the bum-bum-bums added in the chorus!). He even sang directly to those who sat in the cheap seats, or people like me who sat behind the stage! The next year he would announce his retirement from touring, due to his unfortunate diagnosis from Parkinson's.

DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES  (2017, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO)
  - The duo had come a long way: by that I mean they performed at large venues, then small venues now back to big venues again as they seemingly gained a new generation of fans (possibly because of Daryl's TV show?). Either way, it was a great show. True, their vocals didn't sound like a lot of their 70s/80s recordings, but they still knew how to energize the crowd. Tears For Fears opened.

METALLICA     (2017, Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO)
  - One of the greatest shows I attended that year, was also on a wet, cold, rainy night. But that didn't seem to interfere as it got darker outside. The band played their classic 80's hits up to their "Black Album" era, as well as cuts from their then-new album. Nothing from Load to the 2000s era - and that didn't matter. They knew what their fans came to hear. Local H and Volbeat opened. The video below played at the very end of their show, paying a tribute to St. Louis and the fans from there.

FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS  (Valli was the only inductee performer on-stage)
              (2017, Family Arena, St. Charles, MO)
  - Frankie Valli performed all the hits and I'm assuming none of the other original members were there since they were all younger guys. Anyway, it was a great show and Valli still 'had it'.

STEVE WINWOOD    (inducted as a member of Traffic; nominated once as a solo performer)
                               (2018, Fabulous Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO)
  - My first time at the Fox Theatre in nearly a decade! Winwood performed several of his hits spanning his entire career, dating back to his Spencer Davis Group days. He would also perform Blind Faith and Traffic material, but not very much of his later solo career. I was disappointed by that, as I wanted to hear "Back in the High Life Again" and "Valerie" live. All in all, it was a cool show. His daughter, Lilly, opened and performed with her father later on in the show.

JOHN FOGERTY     (inducted as a member of Creedence Clearwater Revival)
        (2018, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - Part of the "Blues and Bayous" tour, with ZZ Top (my third time seeing them). Fogerty's set was very high-energy and he didn't look or seem his age (early 70's)! His daughter, Kelsey, came on-stage briefly to give him a Father's Day gift. Played mostly CCR songs, as well as some cool covers. And yes, Billy Gibbons and Fogerty performed on-stage for two songs!

JACKSON BROWNE    (2018, Peabody Opera House, St. Louis, MO)
  - To be honest, this concert really wasn't that memorable for me. I was only familiar with his radio hits. Most of the people there were baby boomers, and those who listened to his classic albums. Several album cuts from those he performed. I did like how he performed "Take It Easy" (a song he wrote with the late Glenn Frey) and how he did a tribute to Frey at the end.

THE PRETENDERS   (2018, Stifel Theatre, St. Louis, MO)
  - Chrissie Hynde and crew put on a great performance that night. I remember the venue wasn't very full, which I suppose on the band's part was kind of insulting. The band (or Chrissie) is notorious for not allowing photos/video at their shows (not even from phones!) so there was plenty of security on hand, as they repeatedly had to ask people to stop. My take on the whole issue: I always respect artists' wishes on the whole camera/video policy, but at the same time I also say at this point the whole situation is uncontrollable. More and more people are using their phones to capture a memento from that night. That's something people didn't do, say, fifty years ago. Let 'em live in the moment.
  - Peabody Opera House changed its name to Stifel Theatre two days before. This was the first concert under the new name.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD    (the only inducted member on-stage was Gary Rossington)
             (2018, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - This was their farewell tour. 38 Special and Hank Williams, Jr. opened. The most touching moment of that show was their video montage of all deceased band members. Their encore was, not surprisingly, "Free Bird".

ROD STEWART (2018, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)
  - Stewart was on tour with Cyndi Lauper, and they did an outdoor performance (rare for Rod, lol). Lauper would come on first, and then Rod would belt out mostly the hits. He was hyping up his upcoming album, which was released in late September 2018. The two would be on-stage together for "It Takes Two". Me and my friend were a bit disappointed that the show was seemingly cut short and he only did one song for an encore (the fan favorite, "Sailing").

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS  (2019, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)

  - Double billing of the Doobies and Santana. Played most of their greatest hits.

  - They had planned on doing a 50th Anniversary tour the following year, with Michael McDonald, but of course, the Covid-19 pandemic put it on hold.

SANTANA  (2019, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)

  - Santana played one of the greatest performances I've seen in 2019, playing a lot of his greatest hits as well as some cuts from one of my favorite albums, 1999's Supernatural.

SLASH  (2019, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)

    (inducted as a member of Guns 'N Roses)

  - This was Slash's first appearance at the venue since the 1991 Riverport Riot (many people remember him as one of the GNR members flipping off the audience).

 

BOB DYLAN  (2019, Stifel Theater, St. Louis, MO)

  - It was a great show, as Bob had a lot of energy to move around on stage and play with his band, which seemingly had a lot of members!

  - This was the last concert/show I attended before the Covid-19 pandemic - which would put a temporary halt to live performances.

THE ROLLING STONES (2021, The Dome at America's Center, St. Louis, MO)

 - This was my first show since Covid-19 pandemic. 

 - Seeing the Stones was always one of my top priorities and it was well worth the wait (it was originally in the Spring of 2020). The last time they were in STL was in 2005 and I originally thought my chances of seeing them were slim to none (or I could've taken a train to Chicago...).

BON JOVI (2022, Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO)

JANET JACKSON (2023, Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO)

 - Played just about all of her greatest hits, which were mostly medleys from her albums (like the choruses of certain songs segued into other songs)

ROBERT PLANT (2023, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO)

   (inducted as a member of Led Zeppelin)

  - This was my second time seeing a member of LZ (see "Surprise Shots" below)

  - Plant was with Alison Krauss

  - I went in there not expecting him to play very much LZ or 80's solo songs but he surprisingly played some bluegrass versions of those eras

PAT BENATAR/NEIL GERALDO (2023, Stifel Theatre, St. Louis, MO)

  - Played most of her greatest hits as well as some of her minor hits like "Everybody Lay Down"

  - One of the few shows I got lucky and got my seat upgraded to close to the front

ERIC CLAPTON (2023, Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO)

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...and let's not forget the "Surprise Shots"
Darryl "DMC" McDaniels  (2010, appearing onstage with Jackyl)
  -He was inducted as a member of Run-DMC. I'm still not sure of the whole connection to the hard-rock band and DMC, but overall it was a great surprise and it had the crowd energized.
Dennis Edwards  (2011, appearing onstage with Aretha Franklin)
  -He was inducted as a member of the Temptations.
John Paul Jones  (2014, appearing onstage with Seasick Steve at Bonnaroo)
  -He was inducted as a member of Led Zeppelin.

John Paul Jones (center) performing with Seasick Steve

----Bands That I Almost Got To See, But...----

That's right - I had tickets to see the following Hall of Famers, but something happened along the way. Of course, I was very disappointed; in fact, still am. Sometimes things aren't meant to be, as of yet. I thought I'd share these anyway....

CHEAP TRICK - They were to perform after Blondie's set at the Illinois State Fair in August 2010, but it was all rained out. Towards the end of Blondie's performance, it started to sprinkle. Minutes later, it was pouring down rain and I started to hear rumors that the show were to get cancelled. One of the grounds workers did confirm this to me and a few others. I remember it was raining so hard on the hour-and-a-half drive home, which was one of the worst driving nights ever for me. I was refunded my money, so the Blondie show was free. Cheap Trick has played in the St. Louis area many times (including twice in 2018) but I still have yet to see Zander & crew.

DEEP PURPLE - I had tickets to see Deep Purple/Alice Cooper/Edgar Winter in August 2017, which I got for a great $20 deal months before. On the way to the venue, my car's exhaust system broke down and I was stranded for a bit. I was so panicked that I had AAA tow me home, which was far. Looking back, maybe I still could have attended the show. But now my chances of seeing Deep Purple are very low, since they recently announced their retirement.

GUNS 'N ROSES - Scheduled to play at Busch Stadium in Sept 2023. Axl felt ill on stage in Lexington (or was it Louisville?) a couple nights before. The show was originally postponed but eventually cancelled. Not surprisingly, several St. Louisans were like "Classic Axl..., hating on St. Louis" but it turned out not to be the case. I'm sure the next time they do a tour, be it next year or so, STL will be a top priority.

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So what are your favorite concert memories? I always enjoy reading other people's stories about concerts as well as moments with famous people - especially those that happened before I was born. There's no reason I should be having all the fun. Leave me something in the comments - or even better, put it on your blog if you have one.

Check out Michelle Bourg's post (as Iconic Rock Talkshow) about all the Hall of Famers she's seen live, met, etc.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Playlist on Spotify

Hey guys, now's the time that I share one of my playlists...

This one is about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I started the playlist a back in 2013, and have added on to it over the years. After they announced the 2019 Inductees a few days ago, I decided to "revamp" it for many reasons. Since 2013, so much has changed on Spotify. At that time, there were still some artists, such as AC/DC, the Beatles and Bob Seger, that did not have their whole catalog available on the streaming service. One by one, it would be marked as an occasion when that artist would allow the public to stream their stuff on Spotify. Also, there have been some changes to certain artists' catalogs on Spotify. With some of the older groups like the Drifters and the Flamingos, sometimes their songs would disappear and get regrouped under some other album, thus making my playlist uneven. As of 12/19/2018, the only Hall of Fame artist that does NOT have their catalog on Spotify is the Dave Clark Five. Sounds pretty random, I guess.

RANT ABOUT DAVE CLARK:

Since I'm already on the subject, I might as well put my two cents on here about Dave Clark. Clark is one of two surviving members of his Hall of Famed band, as well as the sole rights-holder of its catalog. He's been quite a tightwad since acquiring all of the DC5's songs since 1978. Very rare, especially in these fast-changing times in the music industry, is the fact we'll ever see a re-release of any of the Dave Clark Five's music. Not very much of the band's little-known tracks have ever been released on CD, just a 2-disc Greatest Hits set in 1993. Fifteen years later, Clark would put that same compilation on iTunes. The band's music is still playing on oldies stations all around, but if a 15-year-old was curious about learning about the history of the DC5, they'd have to turn to Youtube. Fans have uploaded their songs on their channels. I'm not sure what's rolling through Clark's head as he hasn't put a stop to any of this, as well as "keeping up with the digital times" - in this case, just sitting back letting the fans take over. To most musicians of all levels, that's a big no-no. The quote "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" is often attributed to Mikhail Gorbachev. That should apply to Mr. Clark, who has no one to blame but himself that not very many people under the age of 40 are not familiar with him or his band's music. You're like Garth Brooks, you seem to be living in your own dream world about making more money (thinking that people will actually buy your stuff these days) and profits. Maybe that's not the case. Just get your head out of your arse. Rant over.

Back to the playlist: two songs are represented by every Hall of Famer, except for you-know-who. Sometimes it's a song that defines their career, or maybe its one of my personal favorites by the band. This was actually a challenge for me. I had to turn to a few good sources on what songs are the artists best known for - mostly for those I wasn't familiar with much, like Jerry Reed, Albert King and Miles Davis. This also goes for groups/artists that had a long catalog of hits, such as Chicago and Janet Jackson. I tried to spread it out from time spans (ex: like one song from Chicago in the 70s, and one from the 80s). Every Hall of Famer was added in chronological order, with the exception of the order of how they were at induction ceremonies.


Shortest song on the list: "Great Balls of Fire" - Jerry Lee Lewis  (1:51)
Longest song on the list: "East-West" - Paul Butterfield Blues Band  (13:12)


Please keep in mind that this list is not really family-friendly, as there are songs that are labeled "Explicit", mostly with hardcore and rap artists. Also, not all of certain artists' catalogs are not available on Spotify. One fine example is Ray Charles, whose post-Atlantic era material is not available on the service. If so, I would have included "Crying Time" and "Busted".

Want to hear? Just click on the big Spotify logo before, and get ready to rock. Putting it shuffle is recommended.

2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

Today is one of the few days us Rock Hall Watchers all get together, and excitedly, go crazy on social media. For the right reasons, of course. We all had mixed thoughts as always; actually, this time around everyone seemed to be in good spirits and satisfied (well, with the exception of some person that calls itself Zuzu...). Satisfied of the fact that some unpredictable moments occurred (which I'll get into). In short, in the words of Hall of Famer Ice Cube, "today was a good day".

Your 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees:

Def Leppard-Stevie Nicks-Janet Jackson-Roxy Music-The Cure-The Zombies-Radiohead


I didn't get all of them right, but close enough. That's usually what happens, with the exception of two years ago! Still, this is great. I agree with all the Rock Hall Watchers that this is one of the best inductee lists in years. I like to think of it as a Heinz 57 class, you know where the Rock Hall 'catches up' with some of the backlog. As Nick B. put it, it is a step forward for alternative rock in the HOF. The baby boomers generation is about to end, which is a good/bad thing - that's for another time. After years of "classic rock-heavy" classes, this may be a new page in the history of the RRHOF. What's even great about this class is the diversity. Even greater is that all new inductees have expressed their appreciation on their social media pages (with the exception being Radiohead...).

Def Leppard easily won the Fan Vote, which to this day has been a success from the beginning. (Like I always say, it only counts for one ballot!) Stevie Nicks was no surprise either. The Rock Hall Watchers community seemed a bit divided on this one. Many feel she isn't deserving as a solo act. As for me, I know about her influence among several female singers today and I do agree her solo career isn't very noteworthy. I look at it both ways, so I see where the others are coming from. But it happened. I'll be the 498th person to say that she will be the first woman to get into the Clyde McPhatter Club - or the 'inducted more than once' group. I do feel that distinction should have went to someone else, be it Carole King, Tina Turner or Diana Ross. I'll save that conversation for another time. Radiohead - hey, I'm happy they got in on second try. At least I don't have to worry about them, Janet or the Cure popping up again on future ballots. The only thing with Radiohead is there's a strong possibility that they won't show up (as Tom Lane pointed out) to the ceremony, so maybe that's why there's an additional spot for them on the list. Roxy Music finally got in, as this was a group that has appeared on several Rolling Stone lists in the past. I'm very happy for Janet, as many have doubted her chances for not being "rock and roll". (Pssttt...tell that to Vernon Reid, who I hope will be part of her induction performance) Many have already pointed out that Janet's induction will open doors for several divas including Whitney, Mariah, etc. I'm happy for the person behind the Twitter account, InductJanet, that their efforts to get Janet in have paid off. The Zombies, I don't even know where to start...in a great way! Finally, the Cure. It is awesome that they will finally open the door to possibly several alternative/80s indie groups. Ever since my big sis turned me on to them when I was little, I've been a dedicated fan of theirs. (I still have to see them in concert though!)

Those who didn't get in: LL Cool J, Todd Rundgren, John Prine, MC5, Devo, Kraftwerk, Rufus/Chaka Khan, Rage Against the Machine

As the saying always goes, "Better luck next time, or in this case, better luck next year...". The biggest shocker is Todd Rundgren, whose name appeared on the ballot for the first time. He's well known all around in the music world, so it was a bit odd not seeing him on the list. I'm positive he'll get in soon, now that he's on the board. Devo and John Prine were also new names, and I also see them getting in sometime in the next few years - maybe sooner. All respect to Tom Morello (nah, I'm pretty sure he's not reading this, haha), I'm not at all worried about Rage. I'm one of many who are concerned about Kraftwerk's chances of getting in. I have to keep telling myself that it took Black Sabbath a ridiculous 8 nominations (in a span of ten years) to get in. But the German electronica pioneers have waited longer, time-wise. Please no back-door inductions for this group! I'm one of the few concerned about LL Cool J. I'm sure he'll get in, but I'd hate to see him get in when its time for Jay-Z and Eminem to get inducted. Many of you know how I feel about Rufus/Chaka Khan. If not, I'll give you the short explanation: I do recognize their worthiness, but I'd rather someone else from that genre and time period get in than them.

Some interesting notes and observations. Many Rock Hall Watchers tweeted about them and/or put them on the FRL site:

-Janet Jackson is the first female inductee born after 1960. There are 66 living male inductees born from 1960 on. (Thanks, FRL guy!)

-With Janet going to be in the Hall of Fame, she will extend the Jackson family's record as the family with the most inducted members (Michael, Tito, Jackie, Marlon, Jermaine - who were all part of the Jackson 5, and Janet). All members of the family were involved in music and released singles of their own, but its very unlikely any more will be inducted into the Hall.

-One more thing about Janet: she is the first living black woman to be inducted since Claudette Robinson (who was inducted with the Miracles in 2012). (thank you Alex Voltaire!)

-According to one of FRL's tweets:
     -This is one of the largest class of performers since 2004.
     -5 out of the Top 6 finishers in the official fan poll were inducted
     -3 of the inductees were inducted on first nomination
     -36 total people inducted (4 are deceased)
     -2 woman inductees

-5 out of the 7 inductees are British acts (thank you Gassman)

-Many are already saying that this will probably be the best Induction Ceremony in years. Anyone who will be lucky to get a ticket will get to witness several legends on-stage, that's assuming most will show up! One pointed out that Janet, Def Leppard and Stevie Nicks may have to fight over the headlining spot. It will for sure be a star-studded event, maybe with some surprises. Even if Radiohead chooses not to show.

I'm sure there's more, just can't think of any at the moment.

Overall, I'm very satisfied with this class. I can't wait to do my annual Rock Hall Special on my radio program in March. I know I'll be playing lots of Cure! (laughs)   I am disappointed, like every recent year, there are no inductees in the other categories (outside of Performers). However, it was revealed there will be more Song Inductees - we all can't wait to hear who/what they are. Now for predicting, who will induct whom.....