15 Musical Artists Who Should Be Inducted Into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The White Stripes haven't been waiting as long as other acts on this list, but they may be the most important rock act of the 2000s.
Rock & Roll Hall of Controversy
Every time the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announces new inductees and has a new ceremony, it always opens up new debates. One of the biggest causes of debate is the names that have gotten snubbed. The reality is, even if the Hall goes through radical reforms concerning their process, these questions are going to remain.
To begin with, the list of deserving artists who have NOT been inducted is so considerable that there is no way you are going to include everyone. Plus, the process is just so subjective. What makes one musical artist more worthy of inclusion than another? But it is those debates that make the process so much fun.
So, I decided to throw my hat into the debate. When I was going through the list of eligible names yet to be inducted, I ended up with a list of 75 artists who deserved serious consideration. After much scrutiny, I narrowed it down to 15. I tried to be as objective as possible, so I included artists that I am generally not into, while I excluded some personal favorites.
My #1 Criteria: Influence
What are my main criteria? Some feel that it should be commercial success. I personally disagree with that contention. Even though that can be taken into consideration, overall musical influence should be the primary determining factor.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame should be a museum that outlines the evolution and historical developments of rock music. All genres that have affected the landscape of modern rock music—yes, that includes rap/hip hop—need to be represented to tell the whole story. If commercial success were the only determining factor, there would be some huge gaps in the evolutionary chain.
List Has Evolved Over Time
This article was originally written in 2012. I've periodically added new names to replace artists who were eventually inducted. Looking back, there are a few artists that I would now consider snubs, and if I were to completely revamp the list it would definitely be different.
But, I'm only adding an artist to replace someone newly inducted. Because of this, I wouldn't put too much weight into the specific numerical ranking. All that said, here are 15 artists who deserve to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
15. Big Star
Year Eligible: 1998
Years Nominated: 0
Big Star never sold well commercially, but they are widely considered to be the most influential cult band other than The Velvet Underground (inducted in 1996). Their influence on power pop and indie rock is immeasurable.
Artists like Teenage Fanclub, The Lemonheads, Wilco, Elliott Smith, and Afghan Whigs have cited the band as an influence. The Replacements were such huge fans they recorded the song "Alex Chilton" in tribute (which contains the lyric, "I never travel far/Without a little Big Star").
Peter Buck from R.E.M. (inducted in 2007) made the following statement concerning Big Star's influence: "We've sort of flirted with greatness, but we've yet to make a record as good as Revolver or Highway 61 Revisited or Exile on Main Street or Big Star's Third."
14. Pixies
Year Eligible: 2013
Years Nominated: 0
Even though they haven't been eligible as long as other bands on this list, the Pixies' influence is undeniable. Their albums Surfer Rosa (1988), Doolittle (1989), and Bossanova (1990) were critical in paving the way for the alt-rock explosion of the early '90s.
Songs like "Where Is My Mind" and "Hey" popularized the loud-soft dynamic which became the trademark of Nirvana specifically, but the grunge sound in general. In fact, when Kurt Cobain wrote "Smells Like Teen Spirit," he acknowledged that he was trying to write a Pixies song.
For that legacy alone the band deserves heavy consideration and it would have been cool if they were inducted in the 2014 class with Nirvana. At this point, though, it would be nice just to see them get nominated.
The Pixies influenced the development of grunge and alternative rock in the 1990s.
As much as Nirvana deserved to be inducted in their first year of eligibility, there are some evolutionary gaps in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Inducting bands like the Pixies will provide context on the historical development of both Nirvana and alternative rock.
The Pixies sold modestly in North America during their initial run (1987–93), but they sold well in the U.K. and Europe. Their profile increased over time and when they reunited in 2004 they embarked on a sold out tour and became a popular festival draw.
In recent years the Hall has been using side categories to induct non-mainstream but influntinal acts, such as the 2024 induction of MC5. This hopefully means the Hall of Fame is closer to recognizing some of the underground bands that helped influence the development of alternative rock.
13. The White Stripes
Year Eligible: 2023
Years Nominated:2023
Even though they haven't been waiting as long as other artists on the list, there is no denying they were one of the most essential rock acts of the 2000s. Releasing their first single in 1998, they helped kickstart the garage rock revival of the early 2000s, which may have been the most important development in rock music since the grunge explosion of the early 90s.
For a band that achieved mainstream success, they stood out as different. There was the fake brother and sister gimmick of Jack and Meg White (in reality, they were previously married, and Jack adopted Meg's last name), and the fact there were only two members that made them unconventional. Despite there only being two, they were as powerful as any band, as indicated by tunes such as "Seven Nation Army," "Blue Orchid," and "Icky Thumb."
Even though much of the focus is on Jack's superb guitar work, Meg's contribution on drums should not be overlooked. She provided the perfect canvas for Jack to work his magic. Even though he has had success solo and with other bands, there is no denying he was at his most successful and inspired working with Meg. Proving less is more, skillfully working with limitations helped The White Stripes revitalize rock and roll at a time when it appeared to be on its death knell.
12. Sinéad O’Connor
Year Eligible: 2013
Years Nominated: 2024
Sadly, the influential and uncompromising Irish singer-songwriter died before receiving her well-deserved flowers. She had international success with her 1987 debut, The Lion and the Cobra, selling over 2.5 million copies worldwide. Her 1990 follow-up, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, was an even bigger success, selling over 7 million worldwide, and ranking #457 on the 2020 edition of the Rolling Stone Greatest Albums of all-time list.
The album included her massive hit rendition of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U". Both the song and video are considered iconic. Hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and being her only top #40 hit, it unfortunately overshadowed the rest of her catalog. But her greatest impact goes beyond album sales and chart success.
Sinéad's greatest legacy was that she courageously spoke up for what she believed in despite the consequences. For instance, she created considerable controversy during her October 3, 1992, appearance on Saturday Night Live.
Performing an a cappella reworking of Bob Marley’s “War” featuring altered lyrics referencing child abuse, she concluded by ripping up a photo of Pope John Paul II. This act of protest was before news of the Roman Catholic Church child abuse coverup became widespread.
Despite the backlash she had no regrets, as highlighted in her 2021 memoir Rememberings, where she said of the incident: “I am a protest singer. I just had stuff to get off my chest. I had no desire for fame.”
Her integrity was an influence on other uncompromising artists such as Janelle Monáe and Phoebe Bridgers. Bridgers also wrote O’Connor's obituary for Rolling Stone, and has covered O’Connor's powerful protest tune, "Black Boys On Mopeds".
The reason why Sinéad O’Connor deserves this overdue recognition is summed up by Bridgers:
"Whether it’s about the famine or the Catholic Church or Margaret Thatcher, history is on her side in a way it wasn’t at the time. People and the media were not nice to her. She was ostracized from so many things, and so many people thought she was a grumpy person. It’s abuse to be told to shut up and sing. It’s abuse to be worshipped and then hated. It’s such a sad and heartbreaking story. Behind every famous woman are tons and tons of rape and death threats. She made a huge sacrifice for women and for musicians and for people who believe in things. She was so not rewarded for it."
11. Gram Parsons
Year Eligible: 1993
Years Nominated: 2002, 2004, 2005
Gram Parsons got his start in 1966 with the International Submarine Band, a group that mixed rock & roll and country. In early 1968, he joined The Byrds (inducted in in 1991), where he was the driving force behind their deep dive into country, Sweetheart of The Rodeo. The album was commercially disappointing but was highly influential in the development of country rock.
"Hickory Wind" (which Parsons co-wrote) is in the Hall as one of the songs "That Shaped Rock & Roll", as is "Sin City", a song which he co-wrote with Chris Hillman, who left the Byrds with Gram to start The Flying Burrito Brothers. Their 1969 album, The Gilded Palace of Sin, met a similar fate to Sweetheart—short on sales, long on influence.
Gram released two solo albums, GP (1973) and Grievous Angel (1974), which again disappointed commercially, and his overdose death in September 1973 ended any chance of him becoming a household name.
That said, Parsons was extremely influential in the development of alt-country in the 1990s. The genre was defined by bands exploring country music outside of the Nashville mainstream, like The Cowboy Junkies, Jayhawks, Uncle Tupelo, Whiskeytown, and Wilco, all of whom cited Parsons as a primary influence.
Gram mentored Emmylou Harris, who became a country rock pioneer in her own right, and who continues to champion his music. Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones (inducted in 1989) said this about Parsons' influence: "He was one of the few people who helped me sing country music. Before that, Keith and I would just copy off records."
10. Son House
Year Eligible:: 1986
Years Nominated: 0
Because Son House's first recordings predate the formation of rock & roll he would most likely be considered an early influence, which goes through a different voting process. House's influence on the blues—an important part of rock's DNA—is immense
Son House was a major influence on both Robert Johnson (inducted in 1986) and Muddy Waters (inducted in 1987), a pair of blues titans. Those factors alone should've made him worthy of consideration during the infancy of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which opened in 1986.
Son House continued to exert an indelible imprint on modern rock. The White Stripes dedicated their 1999 debut album to his memory, incorporating elements from Son's version of "John The Revelator" into their song "Cannon". They then covered House's song "Death Letter" on their follow-up album De Stijl (2000). In fact, during the 2008 documentary, It Might Get Loud, Jack White said Son House's "Grinnin' in Your Face" was his favorite song.
House is just one example of an influential blues/roots musician who has been neglected entry into the Hall. I could easily compile a list of 15 early influences that deserve induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The hardest part would be narrowing the list down to 15.
Recently the hall renamed the early influence category to musical influence to include genre and subgenre influencers (such as DJ Kool Herc in 2023 for Hip-Hop and Kraftwerk in 2021 for electronic music), but It would be nice if every year 2-3 true early influences were inducted into the main Hall as a way to address the many gaps in rock & roll's evolutionary chain.
9. Motörhead
Year Eligible: 2003
Years Nominated: 2020
Motörhead's hybrid of punk and metal was an important precursor to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and they were extremely influential in the development of "speed metal" and "thrash metal".
Led by singer, bassist, and primary songwriter, Lemmy Kilmister, the band churned through many musicians, but the classic lineup featured drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor and guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke.
Even though I don't argue with Metallica's inclusion (inducted in 2009), it's a shame that a pioneering band that influenced them and their genre was neglected. Also, former Guns N' Roses (inducted in 2012) guitarist Slash got his start in a Motörhead cover band while still in his teens.
If Lemmy's death in 2015 didn't propel Motörhead into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, will their induction ever happen?
The band has sold over 30 million records worldwide, and 15 million albums in the U.S. That's pretty good for a non-commercial band who never received a whole lot of radio play. If nothing else, how could the Rock Hall not include "Ace of Spades" as one of the "Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll?"
When asked about the many fan-driven petition campaigns to get Motörhead into the Hall of Fame and whether or not he cares about being inducted, Lemmy said, "Not at all. Have you been there? What a monumental waste of space. The biggest room there is the freaking gift shop. Do you know what I mean? It's all politics that place, a load of f---king politics."
Unfortunately, with the deaths of Philthy Animal and Lemmy in 2015, and Fast Eddie in 2018, the question of Motörhead attending a surprise induction became a moot point. It would've been interesting to see if they ignored the ceremony like the Sex Pistols.
8. Odetta
Year Eligible: 1986
Years Nominated:0
Eligible since the Hall's inception in 1986, the influential singer is often referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement." The role her music played in social movements is enough to deserve recognition. For example, her rendition of "Take This Hammer" was included in a 2011 Time magazine list of the 100 Greatest Popular Songs, stating that "Rosa Parks was her No. 1 fan, and Martin Luther King Jr. called her the queen of American folk music." Another pivotal moment was when she performed "O Freedom" during the August 28, 1963, March on Washington, the site of Martin Luther King's historic ""I Have a Dream" speech."
She also deserves induction due to the sheer number of Hall of Famers who cited her as an influence including Harry Belafonte (2022), Joan Baez (2017), Janis Joplin (1995), Carly Simon (2022), and Bob Dylan (1988). Concerning Dylan he stated "The first thing that turned me on to folk singing was Odetta. I heard a record of hers Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues in a record store, back when you could listen to records right there in the store. Right then and there, I went out and traded my electric guitar and amplifier for an acoustical guitar, a flat-top Gibson."
Influencing Dylan, possibly the most important singer-songwriter of all time should be enough, but that is just a small sampling of her considerable impact both musically and within social justice movements. Just like Harry Belafonte, if she is inducted it will most likely be in the Musical Influence category. But the important thing is that she receives her long overdue acknowledgment.
7. Lonnie Donegan
Year Eligible: 1986
Years Nominated: 0
If Lonnie Donegan is ever inducted into the R&R HoF, it will likely be in the musical influence category. Known as the "King of Skiffle", Donegan had a huge impact on a slew of '60s British pop and rock musicians. For example, Paul McCartney (inducted 1999) and John Lennon (inducted 1994) were inspired to form The Quarrymen, a skiffle precursor to The Beatles (inducted 1988) directly inspired by Donegan.
McCartney made the following statement: "(Lonnie) was the first person we had heard of from Britain to get the coveted No. 1 in the charts, and we studied his records avidly. We all bought guitars to be in a skiffle group. He was the man." George Harrison famously said, "If there was no Lead Belly, there would have been no Lonnie Donegan. No Lonnie Donegan, no Beatles. Therefore, no Lead Belly, no Beatles.”
Roger Daltrey of The Who (inducted in 1990), also commented on the Lonnie influence: "I wanted to be Elvis Presley when I grew up, I knew that. But the man who really made me feel like I could actually go out and do it was a chap by the name of Lonnie Donegan."
Maybe Jack White summed it up best during an acceptance speech at the Brit Awards, "Remember, Lonnie Donegan started it for you."
6. Dick Dale
Year Eligible: 1986
Years Nominated: 0
Dick Dale is commonly referred to as the "King of the Surf Guitar" and he helped invent the genre in southern California in the early 1960s. His 1961 single, "Let's Go Trippin'" is one of the "Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll" and the second surf rock instrumental ever recorded—The Belairs' "Mr. Moto" preceded it by a few weeks.
Shortly thereafter, bands influenced by Dale—like Jan and Dean and The Beach Boys (inducted in 1988)—added vocals to the mix, and the "surf sound" turned into a global phenomenon. For Dick, though, real surf music was instrumental.
His rapid-fire, single-note staccato picking technique was revolutionary and profoundly influenced heavy metal and hard rock guitarists like Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen was inducted in 2007). Jimi Hendrix (inducted in 1992) considered Dale's flashy showmanship a major influence, even calling out surf music in "Third Stone From the Sun."
Beyond his songwriting, Dick Dale's biggest impact on music was that he helped Leo Fender develop amplifiers that could handle increased volumes. Between his speaker-shredding loudness and the breakneck speed of his playing, there's a reason Guitar Player declared Dale "The Father of Heavy Metal".
5. "Weird Al" Yankovic
Year Eligible: 2005
Years Nominated: 0
It is tough to gauge "Weird Al" Yankovic's influence in musical terms because it's not like there have been numerous rock parodists inspired by "Weird Al" to go on and transform the music industry. But "Weird Al" deserves consideration because he occupies a unique position in the rock & roll landscape. He's a bona fide pop culture icon.
When Yankovic started his musical career five decades ago no one anticipated that he would be more than a novelty artist with a short lifespan. He defied all odds by carving out a profitable musical niche for himself. His longevity and commercial success even exceed several artists that he has parodied! Part of the reason he continues to be relevant is because he's adapted to changing genres and changing times.
Also, "Weird Al" is generally well respected within the music community and many music artists view it as a badge of honor to be parodied by "Weird Al". For example, Dave Grohl said that Nirvana felt like they had "made it" when "Weird Al" parodied "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Kurt Cobain even described Yankovic as "a musical genius".
"Weird Al" is not only the foremost rock & roll parodist, but he adds some much-needed humor to a music scene that often takes itself too seriously. During a 2009 Rolling Stone Reader Poll, Yankovic finished #1 on a list of artists who should be inducted to the Rock & Roll Roll Hall of Fame—followed by Rush (who was finally inducted in 2013), Moody Blues (inducted in 2018), and The Smiths (see below).
Homer Simpson summed it up best: "He who is tired of 'Weird Al' is tired of life."
4. Outkast
Year Eligible: 2019
Years Nominated:0
Hopefully, A Tribe Called Quest finally getting their deserved induction in 2024 will clear the path for the influential duo of Andre 3000 and Big Boi. The eclectic duo pushed the boundaries of music with their genre-defying sound that seamlessly blended hip-hop, funk, soul, and rock in a groundbreaking way. They are also pioneers of Southern Hip-Hop and helped establish Atlanta as a rap hotbed.
They also had three of their songs ("Hey Ya," "B.O.B," "MS. Jackson") made the Rolling Stone list of Top 500 songs of all-time. Along with those iconic tunes, three of their albums made the latest edition of The Rolling Stone 500 album list (Aquemina, Stankonia, Speakerboxx/The Love Below). Even though the Rock Hall doesn't publish any criteria, they check all of the boxes in terms of critical and mainstream success, along with their considerable musical innovation and influence. It should only be a matter of time for the Hall to recognize Outkast's contributions and legacy as musical trailblazers. Who knows, maybe Andre 3000 will take a break from his new career as a flutist and reunite with Big Boi for at least one more performance.
3. The Smiths
Year Eligible:: 2009
Years Nominated: 2015, 2016
The Smiths are quite simply one of the most important indie bands and alternative bands ever. They achieved success in Britain on an indie label (Rough Trade) and on their terms. The combination of Morrissey's dark narratives and Johnny Marr's jangly guitar didn't sound like anything else in the 1980s, and they spawned several U.K. soundalikes.
Just about every Britpop band since their 1987 demise cites them as an influence, including James, The Stone Roses, Suede, Blur, and The Libertines. Noel Gallagher of Oasis once said, "When The Jam split, The Smiths started (1982), and I totally went for them." Since the Gallagher brothers don't like anyone that is a powerful endorsement of both The Smiths and The Jam!
Though the band wasn't as popular in the U.S., artists like Beck, Modest Mouse, and Death Cab for Cutie demonstrated that The Smiths made an impact on the American indie and alternative scenes. And though their albums sold better as back catalog than they did when they were together, The Queen Is Dead (1986), Strangeways, Here We Come (1987) and the compilation Louder Than Bombs (1987) all went gold in the States after their breakup.
Their induction chances may have been hindered by Morrissey's reputation due to controversial statements. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame also has a long history of ignoring U.K. artists who didn't sell well (or as well) in the States. However, it is hard to deny their considerable legacy.
#2: Sonic Youth
Year Eligible: 2008
Years Nominated: 0
Sonic Youth is arguably the most important indie and underground rock band ever. With Nirvana being inducted in 2014 (their first year of eligibility), it's a shame that a band like Sonic Youth—who directly influenced them—was not inducted first. It also would've been cool if they were inducted together.
As an independent band, Sonic Youth released three albums widely considered to be blueprints for indie and alternative rock, including sub-genres such as grunge and noise: EVOL (1986), Sister (1987), and Daydream Nation (1988). These were also the group's first three albums with drummer Steve Shelley.
They also showcased the wildly experimental guitars of Lee Ranaldo and Thurston Moore, both of whom were included were co-ranked as #57 on Rolling Stone's list of 250 Greatest Guitarists for their innovative techniques, including extensive use of alternative tunings.
In 1989, Sonic Youth signed with major label DGC Records (a subsidiary of Geffen), but wrote the contract so they maintained complete creative control. Because the band was so highly respected by Kurt Cobain, Nirvana followed them to DGC. From there the floodgates opened, leading to the alternative rock explosion of the '90s.
Sonic Youth bassist Kim Gordon is one of the founding mothers of indie rock and a primary influence on riot grrrl bands like Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney.
The band maintained a large cult following throughout the decade, with bassist Kim Gordon serving as a primary influence on mainstream female-led bands like L7 and Hole, as well as underground riot grrrl bands like Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney. It says a lot about Sonic Youth that in 1994, at the height of their fame, they asked Bikini Kill lead singer, Kathleen Hanna, to star in their "Bull in the Heather" video (see above).
Sonic Youth also had an impact on more established acts. In a 1991 interview with Melody Maker, Neil Young explained his choice of Sonic Youth as the opening act for his 1991 Ragged Glory tour:
"I didn't want acts that people were going to say, 'Oh, I can take them or leave them'. I wanted to get somebody that people were going to love or hate. And I think we did a good job there. Sonic Youth are way out there on the cutting edge with what they're doing. And it's also extremely similar to what we've been doing for a long time."
Sonic Youth later headlined Lollapalooza 1995, which led to them appearing in the 1996 Simpsons episode, "Homerpalooza," where they performed a noise rock version of the show's theme during the ending credits. Such mainstream cultural recognition is pretty good for what was still basically an avant-garde, noise-rock band.
In 2006, Daydream Nation was listed in the Library of Congress' National Registry which acknowledges musical recordings of cultural importance. The album's anthemic leadoff track, "Teen Age Riot," was also named by the Hall as one of the songs that "Shaped Rock & Roll".
1. The Monkees
Year Eligible:: 1992:
Years Nominated: 0
The Monkees were both a pop band and a pop culture phenomenon. They starred in their own show, The Monkees, which aired on NBC from September 12, 1966, to March 25, 1968. Partly because of their music and partly because of TV reruns—and later VHS and DVD—the band experienced periodic revivals where the Monkees were introduced to several generations of fans.
But when they started, critics dismissed them as a second-rate Beatles. Their authenticity was questioned because they didn't play on their first couple of albums (vocals only), they didn't write most of their tunes, and initially, they had very little control over their image or music. Of course, you could've said the same thing about the early Beatles and Byrds. Like many other bands of their era, The Monkees were dismissed as mass-produced schlock.
The band finally gained respect within the music industry for their willingness to battle music supervisor Don Kirshner for creative control—and they won. They were finally allowed to play their instruments and had creative control over the music they recorded. The foursome also played live, building a reputation for an entertaining show.
Photo of The Monkees from a 1967 advertisement.
Entertainment International, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons/Photoscape
It's worth noting that the Monkees had the respect of The Beatles. According to a 2012 NME post:
Mike Nesmith was in attendance for some of the "Day In The Life" sessions where he asked Lennon: “Do you think we’re a cheap imitation of the Beatles, your movies and your records?” Lennon’s reply? “I think you’re the greatest comic talents since the Marx Brothers. I’ve never missed one of your programs.” Meanwhile George Harrison said of their self-produced songs: “It’s obvious what’s happening, there’s talent there ... when they get it all sorted out, they might turn out to be the best.”
The Monkees were also an unexpected influence on punk and alternative rock. The Sex Pistols (inducted in 2006) and Minor Threat were among the many garage and punk bands who covered "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone". Paul Westerberg of The Replacements considered The Monkees a big influence, and even covered "Daydream Believer."
And if all that isn't enough, The Monkees made an impact in hip hop. In 1989, Run-D.M.C. (inducted in 2009) repurposed "Mary Mary" for their song of the same name. Then, two years later, Del tha Funky Homosapien cleverly used a sample of Peter Tork saying "Mr. Bob Dobalina" in "Zilch" as the basis for his debut single, "Mistadobalina".
"I'm a Believer" and "Last Train To Clarksville" are included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as "Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll." It's about time The Monkees joined the Hall as well.
© 2012 CJ Baker
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LaustCawz on January 08, 2020: