CHARLIE PARKER

INFLUENCE

THOUGHTS:
This is another reminder that jazz, while not rock & roll, helped to inspire it. Bird is an essential figure, and his influence is all over fusion rock.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“SUMMERTIME”

GRAM PARSONS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
Gram Parsons has worn a few hats, despite his concise career. His influence on country rock is indelible, and no doubt he belongs here.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“A SONG FOR YOU”

PATTI SMITH GROUP

MUSICAL EXCELLENCE

THOUGHTS:
I am not advocating for a second Patti Smith induction, but I do think the rest of the band more than deserves Hall of Fame status.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“DANCING BAREFOOT”

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PAVEMENT

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
Legitimate indie rockers Pavement are probably going to end up with a nomination sooner or later. They really trailblazed a definitive sound of the ’90s, even if they don’t always get the credit.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“RANGE LIFE”

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JOHN PEEL

NON-PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
There are no words to describe how much music British radio DJ John Peel helped put on the map. He broke bands, he broke genres, and he broke molds. His Radio 1 Peel Sessions are legendary! The only barrier is the he’s-not-American factor.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“HANDSOME DEVIL” [JOHN PEEL SESSION] (PERFORMED BY THE SMITHS)

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LEE “SCRATCH” PERRY

MUSICAL EXCELLENCE

THOUGHTS:
This is one of the most inevitable Musical Excellence inductions out there. We virtually owe dub music and, I don’t know, the remix to him? Few have cast a shadow as large.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“DISCO DEVIL”

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PET SHOP BOYS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
I think the most rock & roll thing about PSB is how far from rock & roll they try to get. These synth pop masters have one of the most stacked catalogs ever, and their influence has been palpable in countless future-inductees.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES”

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PETER PAUL & MARY

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
I thought a lot about this one. I think this should absolutely wait until Peter Yarrow is dead, but a) this trio was too important, historically, and b) justice for Mary Travers, one of the greatest, purest voices ever.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND”

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ESTHER PHILLIPS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
Esther Phillips covered a hell of a lot of ground in her career, from R&B, to country, to jazz, to disco – all with that incredible voice.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“RELEASE ME”

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PIXIES

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
I mean, they’re kind of just one of the best bands of a whole era. They influenced a ridiculous amount of music that is already in the RRHOF, and their relevancy seems to never wane.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“DEBASER”

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JOHN PRINE

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
Wow, this is a sin. John Prine is one of the greatest songwriters ever, loved by countless musicians, and has long deserved this honor.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“ANGEL FROM MONTGOMERY”

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SUZI QUATRO

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
When we constantly have to remind the HOF to induct more women, and Suzi Quatro still hasn’t gotten in… I’m sorry, that’s a problem. She put the men in their place.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“CAN THE CAN”

QUEEN LATIFAH

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
It’s honestly meant as a compliment to say that Queen Latifah is a bigger celebrity than her rap career, but it should not be forgotten how impactful it was. In fact, her name recognition should majorly tip the scales.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“U.N.I.T.Y.”

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
Another inevitable one. QOTSA are still massively relevant in the rock world, and an induction ceremony performance would be a massive highlight – you know the RRHOF isn’t gonna pass that up.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“SONG FOR THE DEAD”

THE REPLACEMENTS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
You’d be hard-pressed to come up with more important bands to alternative rock than the Replacements. They have so many great songs, and their sound has been reflected throughout the years.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“BASTARDS OF YOUNG”

THE REVOLUTION

MUSICAL EXCELLENCE

THOUGHTS:
Prince famously surrounded himself with incredible musicians for the duration of his career, but the Revolution was the group that helped shift the culture. In addition to the Purple Rain-era lineup, artists like Eric Leeds and Dez Dickerson would qualify.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“BABY I’M A STAR” [LIVE]

MICK RONSON

MUSICAL EXCELLENCE

THOUGHTS:
Here’s another obvious Musical Excellence inductee. As a guitarist and producer, glam rock was built off his sound.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“VICIOUS” (PERFORMED BY LOU REED)
(producer/guitarist)

DIANA ROSS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
This is devastating. No one is out here claiming Diana Ross’ solo career isn’t ridiculously important – but then again, we just started talking about 2-time female inductees a few years ago. The Supremes alone don’t cut it for Miss Ross.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“THE BOSS”

RICK RUBIN

MUSICAL EXCELLENCE

THOUGHTS:
I am disturbed…deeply…by the fact that one of the most important, impactful, and beloved producers and label pioneers in the history of rock & roll is not yet in the Hall of Fame. SHAME.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT MY RADIO” (PERFORMED BY LL COOL J)
(producer)

RUFUS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
Uh uh. We are not going to let Rufus fade from the conversation. Chaka Khan’s induction feels just as egregious as inducting Nile without Chic! First off, she deserves to be inducted TWICE! Second of all, the band fully belongs alongside her for one of them.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“YOU GOT THE LOVE”

THE RUNAWAYS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
Does Joan Jett’s induction encompass the Runaways? No, because the Blackhearts were inducted. And even if they weren’t, we’d still be having the same conversation.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“YOU DRIVE ME WILD”

SADE

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
Sade’s brand of soulful, jazzy rock is universally considered perfection. And of course, their namesake singer’s bewildering voice is seriously one of the best ever. For a 40-year career, their relatively-limited output has always felt intentional and momentous.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“NO ORDINARY LOVE”

SALT-N-PEPA

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
I’m just going to say it: Salt-N-Pepa should’ve been the first female rap/hip hop act inducted into the RRHOF. A long ass time ago.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX”

SELENA

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
This is such a necessary induction. Selena is one of those rare enduring pop icons that seem to only gain relevancy as new generations discover her. She put Tejano music on the map, and it’s hard not to see her influence all over pop – Latin and otherwise.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“SI UNA VEZ”

RAVI SHANKAR

INFLUENCE

THOUGHTS:
From the Beatles to the Stones and beyond, Ravi Shankar is directly responsible for expanding the limits of rock & roll. His influence, musicianship, and presence are too important to be left out of the RRHOF for this long.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“DHUN”

CLIFF RICHARD &
THE SHADOWS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
Okay, this is a cheat in a way. Cliff Richard deserves to get in, the Shadows deserve to get in – but neither will without the other in the practicality of an American institution.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“LIVING DOLL”

SHAKIRA

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
Globally, the recently-eligible Shakira is too huge to ignore. Her popularity and acclaim in the US should make her a definite induction one day soon.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“TÚ”

THE SHANGRI-LA’S

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
The girl group era of rock & roll was a huge stepping stone between OG R&R and the British Invasion, and the Hall of Fame has highlighted most of the important acts… the Shangri-La’s have been noticeably absent.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“GIVE HIM A GREAT BIG KISS”

THE SILVER BULLET BAND

MUSICAL EXCELLENCE

THOUGHTS:
Bob Seger being inducted without the Silver Bullet Band was just ridiculous. This should really be fixed ASAP, and I don’t really think there’s anything else to say.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“TURN THE PAGE” [LIVE]

FRANK SINATRA

INFLUENCE

THOUGHTS:
Don’t even try to start the conversation about Sinatra’s influence. The crossover is beyond there. His songs are beloved by, and have inspired, countless inductees – and his legend status is just through the roof in every way.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“THAT’S LIFE”

SMASHING PUMPKINS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
Lots of big 90’s alt rock names have been inducted or nominated by now, so one has to figure Smashing Pumpkins are next. Huge band, huge hits…all the things.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“DISARM”

ELLIOTT SMITH

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
A brilliant artist, an exceptional songwriter, a tortured soul – despite being so undersstated, he’s just everything you think the RRHOF would go for.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“ANGELES”

THE SMITHS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
Holy crap this is so past due. The Smiths contain four of the all-time greats on their respective instrumentals (if only Morrissey sang more and talked less) – and yet the band is still greater than the sum of its parts.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“SOME GIRLS ARE BIGGER THAN OTHERS”

SNOOP DOGG

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
There aren’t many living hip hop legends bigger than Snoop yet to be considered for Hall of Fame-dom.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“WHO AM I (WHAT’S MY NAME)?”

SONIC YOUTH

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
Sonic Youth made inventive-yet-approachable rock. Beautiful and heavy at the same time. They’re one of the most influential groups of the last four decades.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“KOOL THING”

SOUNDGARDEN

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
I’m surprised this is still taking its time to happen. Soundgarden seem like such a clear-cut choice, and I’m sure people would be lining up to pay tribute to Chris Cornell.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“FELL ON BLACK DAYS”

SPARKS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
The RRHOF really just skipped right over Sparks and dug right in on their direct influences. New wave, synth pop, electronic music, and beyond would not exist as we know it without them. They may not have the hits, but neither did some other very worthy inductees.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“ANGST IN MY PANTS”

THE SPECIALS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
There are only glimpses of ska in the Hall of Fame, so the Specials feel like a great puzzle piece to tie it together alongside the genre’s originators. Their influence on punk should seal the deal.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“A MESSAGE TO YOU RUDY”

SPICE GIRLS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
Hear me out! 1) They wrote their hits, 2) There are no bigger pop icons of the 1990s, 3) Cool Britannia was a global phenomenon, 4) They are the legacy of the girl group era, 5) Pop music is rock & roll. Any Questions?

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“TOO MUCH”

SQUEEZE

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
New wave icons Squeeze have hits on both sides of the pond to justify their induction. They truly had their own sound, despite feeling so definitive in hindsight

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“UP THE JUNCTION”

JIM STEINMAN

MUSICAL EXCELLENCE

THOUGHTS:
Beyond Meat Loaf, Jim Steinman’s work is such a unique fixture of rock. His theatrical story-telling knows little of a 3-minute song, but damnit if every new generation doesn’t appreciate his epics more than the last.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“IT’S ALL COMING BACK TO ME NOW” (PERFORMED BY CÉLINE DION)
(songwriter/producer)

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
A no-brainer ’90s rock induction that will happen sooner or later. They have plenty of hits to fall back on.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“CREEP”

BARRETT STRONG AND
NORMAN WHITFIELD

MUSICAL EXCELLENCE

THOUGHTS:
The amount of hits these two have written is astronomical. It’s taken me a very long time to pick just one to recommend. The Motown Sound and psychedelic soul without not exist without them – what is taking so long?

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“SMILING FACES SOMETIMES” (PERFORMED BY THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH)

THE STYLISTICS

PERFORMER

THOUGHTS:
These Philly Soul hit-makers would be one of the most logical groups of their era to put in the queue. They’ve got the catalog and the harmonies to back it up.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:
“BETCHA BY GOLLY, WOW”