2023 Inductee Predictions

 Hello and welcome to.....

my predictions for who will go in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023! I think a lot of us saw this to be a challenge as this was a very competitive ballot. I can’t even remember the last time there was one. FRL even pointed out six possible shoo-ins. Everyone has their opinions and their own logic as to why they put acts on their predictions list. At the same time, it’s the same feeling: if I had a ballot, who would I choose? Who do I want to see before (random act)? Which five of these (#) do I want to see on stage, or get special acknowledgement for their groundbreaking, memorable careers? 

Again, this was a ballot that everyone agreed that all of the acts listed were deserving, as did I. So, who WILL get in and who will be benched for the next or future years? There were a lot of first-ballot acts, including one that was first-year eligible. Well, actually two as I personally didn’t consider the White Stripes a FYE. Disagree if you must but I still think it was a crap move on the Rock Hall’s part to put them on a ballot early. This is not to say I don’t think they are deserving. I just hope that voters have stuck to putting in long overdue acts. There are at least a few acts that are no longer with us. (Actually let me explain myself: George Michael, Warren Zevon, Chris Cornell, Ian Curtis, and most of the members of the Spinners) Luckily, the Rock Hall knows how to handle that situation when it comes to ceremonies. And then, as usual, those who keep showing up on the ballot waiting for their turn. I think we can all agree it was a very musically diverse ballot as it featured all (or most) genres. And that’s another thing worth thinking about: the artist would represent the genre they are best known for, which voters liked the most. That’s kinda my way of thinking. As I completed my list, I realized that more than half of my inductee predictions would not be able to perform at the ceremony. Weird how that happens. (Then again, Dave Grohl could easily replace somebody who isn’t there…) Lastly, there were at least four that I found to be instant shoo-ins, which are highlighted below.

Willie Nelson - Disagree? Then get ready for a barroom brawl. I would’ve said the same thing 10 or even 20 years ago. It’s embarrassing that the Hall has let Willie and his fans waiting this long…but, better late than never, I suppose. And he’ll be 90 in a few days (at the time I’m writing this) In truth, I originally thought that he would automatically be put in a side category like Musical Excellence or Early Influence. (After all, he’s been around musically since the 1950s) However, I’m convinced that the Rock Hall won’t let that happen as the voters will gladly put him in. Eddie Trunk even managed to put a checkmark by him, though I’m sure he had a little help from his listeners.

Cyndi Lauper - I’m just gonna call it; this is her year. Even though there have been a few that didn’t vote for her (those who have shared their ballots). She’s had quite a long career, having been in the pop spotlight for a few years. Still, she’s iconic in several ways. With the MTV theme going (prominent acts like Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, Eurythmics, etc getting in recent years), it just seemed obvious that somebody overdue like Cyndi will make the ballot in just a matter of time. Just about every person and/or organization that has pushed for this to happen will finally be able to celebrate.

George Michael - This one definitely came as a surprise to some of us RHWs (though some did put him on their prediction ballots) when Michael appeared on the ballot. Well, at least to me because despite of his hit-filled career he never really was on my radar to get in, even after his death years ago. But I think he’s a shoo-in, either way. It’s hard to forget that he’s remembered as one of the biggest artists of the 1980s/early 90s. I’m sure when his enshrinement happens, there will be a big all-star jam with his songs. Side question: what about Andrew Ridgely? I would hate for this guy to be left out of the Hall. Maybe put him in a side category or something…

Kate Bush - We all, or most of us RHWs predicted her to be on the ballot and to no surprise she made it again for the fourth time. And this time around, Bush had some serious competition. Despite of that, I still think she has a shot of getting inducted. It’s been said, don’t underestimate the British vote. And also the millennials who have a ballot. Even though she has somewhat came out of reclusiveness recently, I’m not confident she’ll show up to the ceremony…but I wouldn’t rule out a video or audio message from her. I’m aware that it has been suggested by two RHWs that she should be put in the ME category, but I doubt that will happen. I’ve been wrong before…

Soundgarden - I think at least one hard rock act will get in this year, and between them, Iron Maiden and RATM, it’s almost got to be another Seattle grunge group. I really hope they’re not in the club where they are struggling to get in, while appearing on several ballots. Part of me thinks most voters will give them a chance to get in. The recent news about the surviving band members amending with Cornell’s widow may even help, who knows. Sometimes media attention works.

Warren Zevon - Another overdue artist that finally made the ballot is this well-respected singer-songwriter. There have been several people yearning for him to be in the Rock Hall, and it finally took Billy Joel, reportedly, because of his open letter to the NomCom. Of course, it worked. Zevon will definitely get the votes from more people than we all think. I’m already predicting an all-star gathering featuring dad-rock (oops, classic rock) artists performing his songs.

-Should there be a 7th Performer inductee-

Joy Division/New Order - RHW blogger Tom Lane interestingly said that this was the third time the Rock Hall had grouped together acts (Parliament/Funkadelic; The Small Faces/Faces) and both got in on their second and first ballots, respectively. Will JD/NO get in right away? Similar early alternative/new-wave groups including The Cars, The Cure and Depeche Mode did not make it on first try, so this will get very interesting indeed.

2023 Nominee Predictions

 Thinking and typing up lists like these is more than a challenge, but also fun. I could think of several names. There really is no right or wrong answer; well, actually there is when the ACTUAL list comes out on February 1st, 2023 (lol). This is just something me and other Rock Hall watchers (RHWs) have been doing year-by-year and it never seemingly gets old. It is not to say that times haven’t changed, as they surely have. Not just because of the events of the last three years, but the Rock Hall has changed as to how their induction classes have looked. The Rock Hall doesn’t want us to think they are predictable, as they are not. We’re always hit with surprises all the time, sometimes we don’t find out things until the ceremony! (Remember the Singles category?) I’ve met a lot of great people over the years online because of futurerocklegends.com (FRL), although I’ve never met most of them in person. Still hoping that will change once I attend an induction ceremony. At this time (late January 2023), nobody knows for sure where this year’s ceremony going to be. Most likely it will be in NYC, or maybe Cleveland - who knows. 

Again, predicting the nominees is a lot tougher than it looks, especially with the backlog of Rock Hall-worthy artists that are likely to get in. This year’s cut-off year is 1997. While some may have included Destiny’s Child and Missy Misdemeanor Elliott on their lists, I decided not to put any first-year eligible artists. Sometimes you have to use your best judgment on how big of a name they are. And unfortunately, there aren’t that many first-year eligibility shoo-ins left in the coming years, except maybe a few. Some people may see this as a great thing as it provides an opportunity for the Rock Hall to “Heinz 57” on their ballots. 

In many ways, things are kinda getting back to normal as the way things looked in early 2020. More and more public events, such as concerts and awards ceremonies have happened in 2022, and likely to be that way in ‘23. Some acts are back to releasing albums and touring. Some have maintained a presence on social media. Or their work. These are factors that influence what I put on my list. Sometimes another determining one is about what has happened at previous ceremonies. Sheryl Crow and Lenny Kravitz made appearances at the last ceremony. (Funny, a couple people gave me crap for putting Kravitz on my list last year, but wouldn’t you know he would be the one to induct Lionel Richie?!)  But truthfully, sometimes what it all comes down to is: what will the Rock Hall induction ceremony be like? Will it sell tickets? Will this be HBO-worthy? Will this be the all-star jam from heaven? I’ve heard just about everyone’s positive accounts on last year’s ceremony, as I’m sure it was one to remember. (I’m still too piss poor to get HBO, but luckily there’s this thing called YouTube…) 

Last year’s nominees and inductees totally changed the way I (and maybe we) looked at things as in who are the next priorities or genres to watch out for. The biggest one being that Dolly Parton was the first country artist inducted in a long time. Does this mean Emmylou Harris or the recently deceased Loretta Lynn will be inducted soon? When predicting these things, I like to keep it eclectic as much as I can. Maybe a couple classic rock acts, a few women, a couple 90s or more recent acts. The 1950s era is long-gone, and the 1960s has been looking that way for years, as they may sneak in a few one at a time. The 1980s so-called “MTV-era” seems to be where the Rock Hall is, at this moment. There is always that “one act” that nobody ever sees coming. Last year, arguably it was Lionel Richie and Dolly Parton. Admittingly, picking the “left field” spot has always been fun, as is reading everyone elses. In the past few years, I picked Lenny Kravitz, George Thorogood and Peter Frampton. This year, it’s…well, below. 

Last year, 17 nominees were on the list. But I’m still going to pick just 16, evenly dividing between previously nominated and never-before-nominated. As always, I’d love to read your thoughts. Be sure to check out other’s lists on the links on the right. Enjoy!

Previously nominated:

Beck - I could easily put another 90s’ act in this slot (besides DMB below), but I don’t think a lot of us saw Beck sneaking onto the ballot last year, so now that he’s on the board…

Kate Bush - Need I say….

Jane’s Addiction - I could have easily went with Sonic Youth, the PIxies or some other alternative act from the 80s/90s but I think Farrell and crew may have another shot coming soon.

Fela Kuti - it sounds like the NomCom really believes this can happen, meaning Kuti’s induction. (I know that came out kinda terrible…) But the Rock Hall, as I’m sure everyone feels, needs more international artists, especially from outside North America and Europe. If more and more voters would educate themselves about Kuti, then an induction may take place. In all honesty, it’s very likely he will be put in a different category. Still, they’re going to continue to put him on the ballot.

Dave Matthews Band

MC5 - As Hall Watcher Nick B. said in one of his blog posts, “Something’s gotta give for MC5”. If nominated this year, it will be the group’s 7th time and usually that is not a lucky number for those who have been picked that many times. Might as well be a Musical Excellence or even an Early Influence pick.

New York Dolls

Dionne Warwick 

Never before nominated:

The B-52’s - Third year in a row that I put these guys on the Noms list…will that be a charm? Sure hope so. Like fellow RHW Tom Lane said, it’s time to temporarily put aside Devo and substitute them with a similar act. (I know he didn’t say it like that, but…) Save Devo for Cleveland!

Sheryl Crow - I’ll admit, I was either going to put her or Alanis in this spot. Both, while they seem different from each other, have had great, long successful careers from the 1990s on. Alanis had a documentary made about her a couple years ago (highly recommend!), but Sheryl has had quite a presence in Rock Hall ceremonies, especially last years. It’s clear they want her in sometime - maybe sooner rather than later. 

Kool and the Gang - I’m willing to put any 70s/80s R&B act in this slot - but for now, I’m focusing on the Kools. Yes, the Spinners, War and many other similar acts from that era are way overdue for getting in but this group stands out as I’m writing this piece. 

Cyndi Lauper - For the 2nd consecutive year, I’m putting her back on my predictions as the path to the Rock Hall seems very clear. We all know the Rock Hall is in the MTV era and they’re all going crazy with 80s big-names. 

Kenny Loggins -or- Loggins & Messina    Carly Simon’s nomination and induction last year reminded us that the Hall is still paying attention to the 70s/80s singer/songwriters, and I believe Loggins is next in line. According to FRL’s website Loggins has not been previously considered and he’s been eligible for over 20 years now. And that’s him as a solo artist. No, he hasn’t really stood out this century. Loggins turned 75 this month. The Huffington Post says he’s the King of the Movie Soundtrack. That and he wasn’t very innovative/influential would probably keep him out. But he maintained a great presence in music and rock & roll throughout the 70s and 80s. I wouldn’t count out Jim Messina; he is touring this year (he’s actually coming to my hometown, Edwardsville, IL!). “Your Mama Don’t Dance” would be a cool all-star jam number. 

OutKast - Every ballot always has at least one rap act, and some have been successful to get in the Rock Hall (N.W.A., 2Pac and others), one was backdoored (LL Cool J) and some kinda fell off the radar. OutKast has been the one that many of us have waited for to finally get on the board. Though they haven’t been active since 2014 when they did their festival run, I see the duo putting on a great performance when their time comes for an induction.

Diana Ross - Do I really want to put Cher or Mariah Carey on here? Yes. I’m not sure if Cher (because of her comments toward the Rock Hall) are getting her blackballed, but to be on the safe side, I’m putting Diana Ross on mine. I’ve said in the past that Ross will, of course, be a two-time inductee and she would be the fourth woman to accomplish that. As for Carey or those from the 80s and 90s, I believe the NomCom will be putting one more classic diva before they get to the modern age. It wouldn’t hurt for Carey since it seems like she’s going to be known for her holiday song that hits #1 each year. Ross teamed up with Tame Impala last year and came up with a catchy song (“Turn Up the Sunshine”), even though it couldn’t compete with Bad Bunny, Drake, Beyonce….

Slade - As you may have guessed, this is my left field pick this year. For whatever reason, I think they’re going to go with these Brits instead of Iron Maiden for a change. I started listening to them last summer, and I was blown away. I already knew they were influential, but the list of bands that consider them an influence is mighty long. This includes those that are in the Rock Hall. I’m positive that if they were to make an appearance on the ballot, they would get in right away as one should never underestimate the power of the British vote. An act like Slade probably won’t sell tickets to the induction ceremony, but it would be great to have the original members (who still perform!) together with the other big names. 

Also considered:

Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Iron Maiden, Lenny Kravitz, George Michael, Television

2022 Inductee Predictions

 Here we go....just going to keep this short and sweet.

Eminem - need I explain why? Usually this is how it goes with most (keyword is "most", think Radiohead) first-ballot prospects. They just get in right away. He may just be one of the last ones left...for now. Eminem is one of the top people in music this century, with sales and all, and I could go on. He's a shoo-in. But with a big "however", I can actually see some voters passing him up, as he may have a 45% chance of not getting in. But I'm sticking to my gut (and everyone elses) on this one!

Duran Duran - compared to Slim Shady, this is the act that I will be very shockingly surprised if they don't get in in 2022. On top of that, they have won the sole ballot for the Fan Vote, which is usually an indicator in most cases. This is the one that mostly everybody is predicting, aside from Eminem and the next one below.

Pat Benatar - pretty much for the same reasons that everyone else said. Voters didn't put her in in 2020 and this is just the perfect moment for their (Benatar and her husband Neil Giraldo) Rock Hall induction. Of course, both have not really expressed interest in the Rock Hall, but a lot of other inductees have said the same before their enshrinement. I'll say this again: her video for the Rascals' cover song "You Better Run" was the second-ever video to be played on MTV. 

Eurythmics - Let's keep the MTV thing going now! After listening to RHW Nick's podcast, I was fully reminded how much of an impact on music this duo was since the early 80s. Also, I didn't realize that Dave Stewart had so many connections in the biz! (pardon my naivety) Sometimes podcasts and confident commentary do change my thoughts a bit as far as what voters may have on their minds. Stewart and Annie Lennox have seemingly flown under the radar, though this is their second nomination (they were first nominated four years ago). 

Judas Priest - as some may have predicted, maybe we will see a hard-rock act get in! This will be the first time in three years (I consider NIN and the Foos leaning more towards alternative rock). They seem to have plenty of support this time around, despite a competitive ballot. I believe for this year, there are no excuses. As said from Neil of FRL, never underestimate the British vote. Long live the Priest!

Carly Simon - like most of the nominees on the ballot, Simon is long overdue. She finally got on the board 25 years (!) after her 1st year of eligibility. Simon has numerous accolades and lifetime achievement awards, and she will definitely get support from the voters, perhaps Dave Grohl (the Foos have covered "You're So Vain") and many others who have sampled/covered her songs, as well as citing her as an influence in their work.

should there be a 7th performer inductee...

Lionel Richie - I'm going to be honest here: for this spot, I was torn between him, ATCQ and Dionne Warwick. We've all said the same thing about all of them. Richie - what about the Commodores? Does his solo work alone really get him in? Does he have more connections in the music industry than we think? For the last one, yes. 

Tribe? They seem to have a lot of support from a small portion of voters who have been open about posting their completed ballots online, so maybe this is a sign of hope as far as getting "older" rap/hip-hop acts in the right way. 

Dionne? Not many have been inducted in their eighth decade, and it would be great to see her induction while she can still perform and make public appearances (besides her Twitter!). Well, I'm assuming she can still perform. Her presence would definitely light up a ceremony, should her time come soon. Unfortunately, even though this is only her second nomination, she's been stacked with great competitors - but let's not lose hope for her. 

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As much as I don't want to get into the Dolly thing, and I have been quiet about it all this time: When I first saw her name on the ballot, I knew that the Rock Hall would very likely put her in a non-performer category like Musical Excellence. Or get backdoored. This is just how the Hall has always done things, whether we like it or not. I for one, think it's a load of crap. I'm with FRL: "why waste a space on a ballot!". Maybe it's just the Hall's way of foreshadowing things, I don't know. But I'm still sticking to my gut that Dolly will be backdoored into another category. I'm positive that will make her and everyone happy. 

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Lastly, a huge thanks - on behalf of the RHW community - to FRL for keeping close tabs and compiling a chart for those who have shared their ballot. While this is a very small fraction of what will come in the coming announcement, it's great that some people (famous or not) are willing to share who they voted for. You don't know me to say that transparency is an issue in the Rock Hall. I recently questioned why a lot of inducted artists don't ever share theirs. I'm guessing its for fear of putting down those in their profession. Or maybe they are allies, who knows. But hey, it would be cool to know who one of Elvis Costello's Impressions, Tom Waits, Jerry Lee Lewis, or any of the surviving members of inducted doo-wop groups are currently voting for. 

2022 Nominee Predictions

Just keeping it short and sweet this year, as we go into Covid Year 2. Like everyone else, I'm expecting a lot of big changes yet some things staying the same. Decided to go with 16, unlike others who have posted 15. (I can break the rules every now and then, can I? 😅) Here we go:

First-time eligible:

Eminem - Just because, you know, he’s one of the biggest rappers of all-time. No need to get into why, as most of us have watched his career grow and grow, and grow in controversial terms. Will he show up? Who knows. First-time eligible nom and inductee, for sure. 

Never before nominated:

Diana Ross - Last year, as we all know - two more ladies have been put into the Clyde McPhatter club, putting that number to 3. Would it be logical to continue this, because we have another long-deserving lady in waiting: Miss Ross? But there’s really not many women left once they put Ross’ solo career in…still, why wait? I really don’t need to get into her legacy or all the other major awards she has won in past years. Plus she put out a new album last year; her first in 15 years. Let’s keep putting the divas in, and Diana and the next person look to be the next….

Cher - I thought I’d be fair in putting another female icon that has yet to be nominated here too. As Alex Voltaire put it, she has been a visual icon since the Studio 54 era like Tina, and has always redefined herself. As for Sonny, just throw him into the Musical Excellence category.

Duran Duran - Sometimes a lot of us RHWs have a way with being on the same page as far as getting our predictions right if we all think the same. A lot of us correctly predict nominees and eventual inductees. Last year it was the Go-Go’s. This year, I think we can all agree that Duran Duran will finally get their due. Like all the others have said, they have had many high-profile gigs throughout 2021, and like Ms. Ross, they released a new album. With the NomCom going into the “MTV era” (which I’ll reference throughout this post), the timing seems perfect. 

Phil Collins - I’ve included him on my list twice in previous years, as we were getting closer to inducting those from the MTV era years. Phil, of course, would be another two-time inductee, with a great impressive resume, though he hasn’t done a lot this century. He hasn’t gotten much attention lately either, although I have heard about his health problems (which have only kept him from drumming, not singing) and the Genesis reunion tour. The tour should be over by late March, so…

Lenny Kravitz - Never thought there would be a year I’d go with him as my left field pick. It’s just one of those ‘gut feelings’ that maybe the NomCom will slip him in in some way. He’s never been on any RHW’s radar that I know of, but either way he’s very worthy of making a ballot sometime soon. (By the way, I wrote Lenny’s name down way before his name came up again when the Lisa Bonet news broke out)

Cyndi Lauper - As Neil from FRL said, Alan Light had almost included her in recent years but she was picked over by other female artists such as Stevie Nicks and possibly Pat Benatar. Even though I included Benatar here, I’ll definitely pick Cyndi as well because of the obvious: her being influential to today’s artists as well as her iconic status, especially as the Rock Hall is now in the MTV music era. 

A Tribe Called Quest - They have been called the most “intelligent, most artistic rap group of the 90s”. I could have included OutKast, Salt ‘n Pepa, De la Soul or any deserving hip-hop/rap act but I felt like I had to pick one. So there ya go. Give one of their classics a listen. 

Previously nominated:

Pat Benatar 

Eurythmics

The J. Geils Band

New York Dolls

Soundgarden - sadly, the only act in the hard rock genre I’m including this year, only because - as we all know, they are long overdue for an induction. I’m aware people will strongly disagree, but I definitely think they should get in before Rage. I hope Tom Morello pushes them.

The Spinners - after 2016, they seemingly disappeared to make way for other acts; some that have rightfully deserved to get nominated and eventually inducted, and then you have those that keep appearing on the ballot like Chaka Khan and the MC5. We all know the Spinners deserve an induction, as pointed out by Tom L. on Nick B.’s podcast Rock in Retrospective (I’m not much of a podcast guy but this episode is worth your time!). 

War - this was one that I saw coming again sometime in the near future. That was back in the summer, and I recall telling Nick B. in person this would be one of my picks for ‘22. It’s been about seven years now since the group was last seen on a ballot. Like I said about Lenny, War hasn’t been on anyone’s radar (that I know of) in recent years, but since the Rock Hall is now putting diversity as a priority (or so it seems), they should definitely include the group that broke racial and cultural barriers in music.

Dionne Warwick

In alphabetical order: (for Richie, who I know will repost this haha)

Pat Benatar, Cher, Phil Collins, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, J. Geils Band, Lenny Kravitz, Cyndi Lauper, New York Dolls, Diana Ross, Soundgarden, the Spinners, a Tribe Called Quest, War, Dionne Warwick

Thoughts on the 2021 Rock Hall class

 Yep, it's me again...

It's May 12, and today was the announcement of this year's Rock Hall class. As I said in my last post on here, many of us Rock Hall watchers agreed Jay-Z, Carole King and Tina Turner would get in. Most predicted the Foos would as well. And all of that happened. The Rock Hall inducted six acts in the Performers category, and that was met with no disappointment (that I know of). (Sorry metal heads, Iron Maiden didn't get in!) 

Amazingly, 13 acts were inducted. Hold up. Speaking for the RHW community, I believe we were all glad about the diversity of the whole thing - and by that I include the acts not on the non-Performers lists. This is where the excitement ended for me mostly, which I'll explain. 

Some observations, commentary (good/bad/neither):

-There's really not much to say as far as Jay-Z, Carole, Tina, the Go-Go's or even the Foo Fighters as just about everyone expected they would get in right away. It's always easy to forget that King was first nominated as a solo artist back in 1989. That was 32 years ago! Or a big chunk of her life. It's also easy to forget her minor solo hits in the pre-Tapestry days such as "It Might as Well Rain Until September." I haven't read all the reactions from the artists themselves, but I can already tell you King was more than thrilled, no matter how long it took. Dave Grohl, too. I can't leave out the ladies of the Go-Go's either!

-As for the one mystery spot, that went to Todd Rundgren. He, like all the others, was long overdue though he wasn't very much on a lot of people's radars. I can talk about his legacy and career, but no need to. We all have our doubts that he will show up to the ceremony, but...you just never know. Maybe he can use this opportunity to vent and rant - kind of like pulling a Steve Miller but taking it to a different level. But then that would make him the Debbie Downer of it all, and no one wants that. 

-By the way, the list that I published almost two years ago (The Top 100 Rock Hall snubs 1955-1989), four acts that were in my Top 10 are in the Rock Hall's Class of 2021. Well, one got backdoored, so....

-While I am glad all of the soon-to-be-enshrined acts are getting in, I really should be happy they are getting in one way or another. But, for a lot of different reasons, I'm not. And a lot of others may share my frustration and confusion (sure there's more words to sum it up...). I saw the inductees list a few hours after they were announced, and among the RHW community, it's safe to say it was met with mixed reception. Here we go....

-I'll start with Kraftwerk, which after six unsuccessful nominations is now being put into the "Early Influence" category. I know they were very innovative and one of the first experimental electronica groups in the world, blah blah blah, but it is sad they will not be in the company of the others in the "Performers" group. It's kind of like someone on the board said, "We tried, we failed, nobody in the hell knows who they are, so let's just do it ourselves...". And unfortunately, that's how I feel about...

-LL Cool J. Like Kraftwerk, Mr. Smith had six unsuccessful nominations in the last decade and this is what it all came down to. I get not everyone feels this way, but he deserves to be in the same company as Jay-Z, Run DMC, Beastie Boys and all the other rap/hip-hop acts. Instead, LL Cool J now gets the "Musical Excellence" award. I've been trying to understand more about the ME category for a while, and I can't really find a clear definition of it. I'm sure lots of people may just throw a line at me. You see, the "Musical Excellence" category originally started as the "Sidemen" category - at least that's what the Rock Hall's Wiki says. Many deserving "sidemen" got in (though some had front-man careers of their own, like Floyd Cramer) but by the 2010s that was all out the window, as acts like Ringo Starr, Nile Rodgers and the E Street Band were placed there. Not just performers, but people who mostly worked "behind the scenes" like Glyn Johns and Tom Dowd. 

As I am writing this, I am seeing a tweet from journalist Keith Murray saying the "ME" category is like a participation trophy. Or more like, disrespect for the artist. Or the place they put you in if you can't get in the "standard way". But LL himself, according to a Billboard article where he was just interviewed on, seems to be more than thrilled and blessed, so I'm glad he's cool with getting in the Hall no matter what. 

-Despite of my complaints about how they treated Kraftwerk and LL, I'm actually satisfied (not 100%, but I'll get into that...) about the others that were not placed in the "Performer" category. 

   - Billy Preston. He left behind a great legacy, and it was very criminal that he was never placed on a ballot, especially while he was alive. But I'm glad he's getting in. We all know that he had a successful career as a solo artist with hits like "Space Race" and "Nothing from Nothing", but today most people know him more as an all-around guy who contributed to others, especially the Beatles. The Musical Excellence Award (like I said, I'm still not sure what it all means but he was excellent in all musical ways) perfectly fits him.

   - Randy Rhoads. Here's where all hard rock fans like Eddie Trunk will be happy. Last night, Trunk tweeted that he had a nice surprise in store for listeners about a legendary guitarist but had to keep most of it secret. (In all honesty, I'm actually surprised the Rock Hall let him in on something like that, knowing that he has criticized the organization a number of times) That's not to say that Rhoads wasn't talented, I mean, we all got rocked off our feet hearing all the riffs and solos in Ozzy's songs like "Crazy Train" and "Over the Mountain". The way I see it is, the chance of Ozzy Osbourne getting in solo is very low at this point, so this is the best way to include Rhoads in the Rock Hall family. 

    - Gil-Scott Heron. A man known for his contributions to the rap/hip-hop world, probably before those words were used to name that genre, fits right in in the "Early Influence" category. 

    - Charley Patton. So a lot of us are hung up on the naming of the "Early Influence" category (forgive me for overusing the c-word in this post!). I think it's safe to say that a lot of us RHWs saw the "EI" group as more as a pre-rock and roll era category, as several people from the early and development days (Jimmie Rodgers, Louis Jordan, Robert Johnson were fittingly placed here). Of course, that all changed when Wanda Jackson was put in that group in 2009. But in later years, the 5 Royales and Sister Rosetta Tharpe were put there. Patton is a perfect addition as his contributions to early 20th century music have been recognized. 

    - Lastly, Clarence Avant gets the Non-Performer honor, or the Ahmet Ertegun Award. Admittingly, I know very little about him but I just read his Wiki so he has a very impressive career thus far. (I promise to read up on him!) And he's 90 years old at the moment. Don't know how he is health-wise, but I hope he makes an appearance at the ceremony.

- As far as those who did not get in: like I always say, there's next year - and the year after that and so on. I do hope Dionne Warwick gets in while she's in her 80s. If we're lucky she'll get in at the same time as the Spinners. If we're very lucky, she'll get in with Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Devo still has plenty of time, as do the others. And yes, that means Chaka too.

So, that's that. I'm sure there's lots more to say but I'll just leave it. I guess a positive way of looking at it is I'll have plenty more acts to choose from when doing future nominee predictions lists 😀, now that most of them nobody can predict anymore. It's funny, the other day some of us (especially Neil the FRL guy) was talking about how the Rock Hall hasn't used the side categories in a number of years, or very rarely. Today, just about everyone was blown away how they were utilized (well, sort of). Well, I'm thinking now this will be a common thing now that there's a new person on top. 

Now, for the exciting part: predicting who will induct whom, and SVZ's Singles picks! (okay, not really for the last one)

2021 Inductee Predictions

Hello, once again! Seems like only yesterday - actually it was 16 months ago I did something like this, for obvious reasons of course. But, like the others I'm definitely not used to doing an inductees list in the Spring! I almost didn't even do a write-up, since I'm very much on the same page as most of the Rock Hall watchers. A lot have written them very well, stating their reasons (sometimes obvious) as well as mixing it with trivia and all. So, really...I can't compete. But here goes....

There are three that could be in line for the Clyde McPhatter award (2-time inductees). Gonna start with six predictions, and the usual "should there be a 7th..."

JAY-Z - For sure he will be a 1st ballot inductee. I've said it before, he's arguably the most influential/impacting rap/hip-hop star in the last 25 years - and maybe the biggest in the industry as a performer. Along with a straight catalog of hit albums, live shows, business interests (he's the first billionaire hip-hop musician), and connections, he can't go wrong. Oh and I don't want to leave out him being married to Beyoncé, making them the power couple in music at the moment. As Alex Voltaire pointed out, he doesn't seem to be enthused or excited about getting in the Rock Hall. Still, I can picture one heck of a performance coming from him if there was an induction ceremony (and of course if he showed up!). 

TINA TURNER - I'm not going to get into why she should be inducted, or rather, why she should've been in a long time ago as a solo artist. Trivia: did you know that she attended the same high school as Chuck Berry, Arthur Ashe, Dick Gregory and Robert Guiallme? 

CAROLE KING - It would be very perfect to get her in on the 50th anniversary year of her legendary album, Tapestry. And her great career as a performer. I'm sure her Kennedy Center performance from a few years ago is still fresh in the voters' heads.

DIONNE WARWICK - This is pretty much where it all stops as to where the RHWs agree on. Most of us, if not all, want Dionne in. But a lot of us are not sure (myself included) if she'll get in on her first ballot appearance. When I first saw the ballot, I knew for sure I was going to include her on my inductees list. Usually I don't keep my word on sayings like that ("I'm going to put them on my final inductee predictions list when that time comes!"). Voters may see her as a female legend who is long overdue like Carole and Tina, or they'll look at her as that "Psychic Friends" lady. Or they'll just vote for somebody who they feel is more worthy. And we all agree - this is a very competitive all-star ballot, which makes things fun yet challenging.

FELA KUTI - I'm taking a big gamble on this one. A big part of me says he's going in right away, and that's because of the huge support he's getting on the Fan Poll. Honestly, I haven't kept up real well on the polls as good as FRL and the other RHWs, and I'm well aware the DMB broke the streak last year (hopefully you know what I'm talking about 😏). I don't even know how many Rock Hall voters actually keep up with it either, but I'm thinking this kind of thing may draw more attention towards the late Fela. We'll have to see...

THE GO-GO'S - As you're probably already aware, I've definitely included a lot of women on this predictions list, and I'm very confident that these five ladies will get in now that they're on the board. As Nick pointed out, they are the most outspoken of the nominees. That could hurt them or help them. Either way, I think they have a lot of support. 

-Should there be a 7th inductee-

FOO FIGHTERS - Two first-ballot inductees going in at once are rare no matter when. Unlike some of the RHWs, I don't think Dave Grohl & Co. will get in right away. Part of me says they will, part of me says they won't. In other words, I'm not so sure - so that's why I'm playing it safe, leaving them in the imaginary 7th spot. I'm actually feeling the same about Rage Against the Machine, though they've been nominated before. There's a lot of reasons that mark Dave an easy two-time inductee. Which I won't get into. The Foo Fighters are arguably the most successful post-grunge era rock band, and as somebody (forget whom) said, they are like Boyz II Men - the last great act of their genre. 

There you go. Agree, disagree, don't care? Let's hear it in the comments

2021 Nominee Predictions

It's funny, it's weird and sad - that at this point the Rock Hall would be announcing the inductees for 2021. In mid-October, they probably would have announced the nominees and as always the case, us RHWs would have a fun time predicting who would go on the ballot. Well, not this year. We all are aware 2020, mainly the Covid pandemic has altered the course on things, hopefully temporarily. So things got pushed back. 

So....predicting this as always was more than a challenge. Except this year, even before the pandemic there have been a lot of changes in the Rock Hall landscape. I really don't need to explain since all the Rock Hall watchers (RHWs) know, such as the installment of a new Rock Hall Foundation Chairman, which was in January of this year. John Sykes, who I admittedly knew nothing about until this all happened, has an impressive resume as far as the music business. One would think that things will change for the good as far as replacing longtime chair Jann Wenner, who of course was the target of many criticisms for several years. I'm saying this all because the ballot may look very different this year, compared to recent years. Then again, with the same Nominating Committee, things may not be different. Does this mean more people of color and more women? 2021 will be the year to find that out.  

The induction ceremony, which typically takes place sometime in the spring, didn't happen for obvious reasons until last month (November). But because I'm too cheap for HBO and satellite radio, I missed out. There are some YouTube clips on the Rock Hall's channel that I still need to watch! People are already predicting if 2021 will be a sequel to 2020, with several entertainment events still being on hold. No one knows for sure, so I'm guessing that goes for the ceremony...whenever that will be. Maybe it will be back to being a main event where everyone is there, or it will be just another telecast.

I list these factors because these have kind of influenced my ballot. We all know there's a huge backlog of acts to get into the Rock Hall. Now we are into the mid-1990s, where acts that started in 1995 are now eligible. 1995 was one of my favorite years in music, and there were several great acts I heard for the first time. Alanis, DMB, Foo Fighters, the list goes on. Some of them are already eligible, but either way it's crazy that a lot of them will be waiting for years to get into the Rock Hall. On a side note, that was the year the actual Rock Hall museum opened its doors. Another reason it was a challenge to predict was it was very difficult for performers to stand out this year - again, for the obvious reasons. Some released albums, some did live webcasts or participated in such big thing, and some just interacted with fans through social media. A lot of big-name concerts were supposed to happen and it's safe to assume a lot more were going to be announced after March, but we all won't know now. I say this because I usually use this to help me predict as well. 

That doesn't mean that 2020 was a drag for all of us. Back in the Spring, a lot of us RHWs got together on Zoom, as we all interacted with each other for the first time, live. We did our own kind of ballot, each submitting two acts and eventually voting on them. This was known as the Mock Nom Com project. Altogether it was cool that a lot of us who we've communicated with over the years (for some of us, over a decade!) got to be in one place at once. And a lot of us didn't know what our faces looked like or what our voices sounded like. I do hope there's sometime in the future where I can meet a lot of you in person at the Rock Hall induction ceremony or any related event. (It was very awesome to be invited, and despite of my weird predictions for our predictions ballot, I hope I get asked again next time!)

Here it is: my 2021 predictions, better late than never! Of the 16 of them, 9 (including newly-eligible) of them have never been nominated. Part of me thinks there will be more previously-nominated but I'm just taking chances here.

-Newly eligible-

Foo Fighters - Surprisingly, not a lot of my friends who I have talked music with for years have never heard of the genre "post-grunge". It actually just sounds so generic, but you gotta start somewhere I guess! This is where the Foos fall in. They are one of the leaders of this phase in music, which is ironic because the group's founder Dave Grohl was one of the leaders of grunge. Grohl is rock's greatest fanboy, living the dream, like most of us wish to. Unfortunately, what may hurt for Grohl is he's not an outsider unlike his late friend Kurt Cobain, but the fans, the music world and the Rock Hall love him that it would not shock me or any RHW the Foo Fighters will make the ballot. Not so sure about getting inducted right away, however. 

Jay-Z - I don't even know where to begin, how to explain Mr. Carter's legacy, if I should. Let's just say, not putting the most successful hip-hop artist in the last 25 years would be a travesty. You have his label, sampling, critically acclaimed and best-selling albums, concerts and all, and how he shaped the music industry, and though he may have 99 problems, the Rock Hall induction won't be one.

-Nominated before-

Pat Benatar - Most of us RHWs were more than shocked she didn't get in on her first try, BUT she had a strong showing in the fan poll, so that may be a reason for the NomCom to give her another shot. Also, with John Sykes taking over the Rock Hall, that may do well for her: Benatar's cover of the Rascals' "You Better Run" was the second video to ever play on MTV. Just saying!

Kate Bush - Meg Myers covered her hit "Running Up That Hill" last year (it was arguably Bush's most successful single in the States) and it was big on Alternative radio. Her influence isn't fading anytime soon, as it goes to show. 

J. Geils Band - Just a gut feeling...

Kraftwerk - Let's do this again...

Motorhead - I should be putting the Priest or MC5 here in this spot, but since Lemmy & crew finally were put on the ballot last year, I'm just gonna leave this here.

John Prine - No need to explain on this one.

Todd Rundgren - see the next one.

The Smiths - If there will be no live ceremony in 2021, it would be great and perfect to get these guys in. It's not like they will all show up anyway, right?

-Never been nominated-

The B-52's - I'm just gonna go with the others on this one. Of course, the Athens party-alternative band is overdue for the Rock Hall anyway, and it's boring without them in! 

Carly Simon - Whitney was inducted recently, so a lot of us RHWs are wondering: does this open the door for Cher, Gloria and Mariah? The answer remains unknown, but as far as my predictions, I think the NomCom will venture into other female artists who have not been considered yet. Since they seem to be past the whole 60's phase, it would be perfect to start things off with Simon, who had her first hit on the charts 50 years ago. 

The Go-Go's - Another act I'm definitely sticking with the others on - and for the same reasons. We all know about their legacy, and a lot of us watched the documentary that came out this year on Showtime. Unfortunately, I have yet to watch it, only because I'm too cheap for Showtime...

The Guess Who - One of those classic-rock groups and Canadian acts that should have been in several years ago; in fact, I've included them in past lists (I just don't remember at the top of my head the last time...). This is probably the only act on this list that was around during the 1960s, but they made their mark mostly in the early 1970s. I almost put Jethro Tull in this spot as "the one Classic Rock act to fill the void". And who knows, they could still be nominated. But that's what makes the whole predictions thing fun to begin with.

Kool & the Gang - Another one that should have been inducted as early as 25 years ago, but it's hard enough for R&B acts these days to even get considered. Like most RHWs, it wasn't until 9/9/2020 that I seriously was going to add them to my list. (Luckily, others have as well.) Despite of that, I still think it's a long-shot, for a lot of reasons. A lot of people know that I have compared them to Earth, Wind & Fire. What's odd is EW&F was enshrined two decades ago. But K&TG has been remembered as funk pioneers, as well as their 80s department store songs and their "Celebration" hit. On a personal note, I got to see K&TG open for Van Halen 8 years ago (yes you read that right!) Apparently, David Lee Roth was/is a huge fan, and I'm not entirely sure how he feels about the Rock Hall, but this would be a great opportunity for somebody like Diamond Dave to push for their nomination and induction.

The Pointer Sisters - I'm going to go a little overboard for these ladies, for many different reasons. I'm not going to list them all, of course, but let's just say the NomCom has been tough on people of color and women for so long. Then you also have Bonnie's passing in June of this year. While they are mostly remembered for their 80's pop hits, it should be noted that they have crossed over successfully to several genres. Actually, Nick Bambach does a better job explaining this. 

George Thorogood/Destroyers - As early as February I think, I decided to let loose to my Twitter followers who my farthest "left-field pick" would be. And it was George Thorogood. I even nominated him in the RHW's "Mock Nom Com" thing. Looking back, maybe I was a little "too far-out" on that one, and I probably should have changed it. But, I'm a man of my word, and since the real NomCom has put some odd candidates on their past ballots, how can the Delaware Destroyer be any different?

-Why I didn't pick-

There were a lot that I was wanting to put on my list, including Devo and Thin Lizzy (both were nominated for the first time last year), and RATM and Jane's Addiction, but like I said the backlog is so huge it's not even funny. I couldn't include everyone!

Dionne Warwick - For those of us on Twitter, we've seen a lot of her great, sometimes witty tweets in the last month. And she turned 80, so she has more than proven to us she's still got it and she's an all-around amazing person. She should have been in a long time ago. Her niece was recently inducted. I almost put Dionne on this list for those reasons, but I'm just not seeing it yet. If a nomination were to happen, then that's totally awesome with me. She'd get in right away, and she wouldn't be the first to be inducted in their 80s. 

Dave Matthews Band - Alright so why didn't I pick Dave and the crew...well, despite of their success on the fan poll last year, I think the NomCom will skip them this year just so they can focus more on snubbed acts from all time periods. That's just what I'm thinking for now. As we all know, music fans were sort of divided on DMB getting nominated and almost inducted last year. I really don't care, as for me it would've been a "get them out of the way" kind of thing, but at the same time I felt like the others: there are more deserving 90s acts that should be nominated/inducted.

Rufus/Chaka Khan - While they are all deserving, most voters didn't pick them during the four years they were nominated. Hopefully that sent a message to the NomCom, so when the time is right (whenever that will be!), it will happen but for now I think they'll put someone else from that genre in their slot.

LL Cool J - I almost put two rap acts on this list, and LL would've been that guy. But I decided to keep this list very diversified. 

-Thoughts on other newly-eligible acts that debuted in 1995-

Backstreet Boys - no way, at least not until NKOTB gets in (laughs)

Ben Folds Five - one of the most intellectual-looking and sounding acts of the last 25 years has came in and out. He has a great fanbase, as well as working with big-names like Weird Al. May be a long time for him and his band.

Deftones/Incubus - Two major bands that arguably peaked in the early-to-mid 2000s during what is now called the "post-grunge" era probably will not get in for a long time. 

Faithless - If there is a Dance Music Hall of Fame, or Euro-dance one, definitely.

Garbage - Butch Vig may get in as a Non-Performer in the future.

Robyn - The Swedish pop sensation was somewhat big near the late 90s, and disappeared. However, she made a great comeback in the international music world later on, especially among the American press. Last year, her 2010 European dance hit "Dancing On My Own" was #1 on Rolling Stone's Top Songs of the 2010s list. Probably will be a long while for her. 

D'Angelo - another one that has gotten a lot of respect from the music press. But it's a long-shot for him.