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