Photo: Håkan Henriksson (Narking), CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Every year when the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame announces their nominations to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, rock fans go crazy over the major rock and roll acts that the Hall has ignored. We get tons of emails at the site with rock fans yelling at us like it’s our fault. We have nothing to do with it. All those bands and artists ignored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have been covered and celebrated on our site multiple times. We are just as upset that these bands have been ignored by the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame as every other long-time classic rock fan.
We have argued for years that the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame needs to change its policy of only allowing in five to seven artists a year. At that rate, so many deserving bands and artists will never get in while they are still alive. It’s unfair when we think of the contributions that many of these great artists have given to rock and roll culture in many ways. Below is our list of artists we believe should have been put in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame many years ago. The list is in no particular order because we don’t want to rank their importance against each other. They are all essential and should be in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame already for the love of our rock and roll shoes.
We started the list with the first bands that came to us just off the top of our heads and based on the recent outcry from fans. We then went through the rest of the bands alphabetically to make it easier for fans to look through them. If we forget an artist, let us know, and we will add them. Let’s make this our list…
Some of the individual artists below have gotten it as part of bands they were a part of but not for their solo careers, which we think they should also be inducted for.
- Grand Funk Railroad
- Jethro Tull
- Foghat
- Motorhead
- Boston
- Emerson Lake & Palmer
- The Scorpions
- Three Dog Night
- Steppenwolf
- Kansas
- Warren Zevon
- Meat Loaf
- Ian Hunter
- Mott The Hoople
- Motley Crue
- The Marshall Tucker Band
- Outlaws
- Little Feat
- Soundgarden
- Bad Company
- Paul Rodgers
- Sammy Hagar
- King Crimson
- Styx
- Ozzy Osbourne
In Alphabetical Order - Bryan Adams
- America
- Asia
- The Association
- Bachman Turner Overdrive
- Badfinger
- Captain Beefheart
- Elvin Bishop
- The Black Crowes
- Black Oak Arkansas
- Blood Sweat & Tears
- Blue Oyster Cult
- Solomon Burke
- Kate Bush
- Butterfield Blues Band
- John Cale
- Can
- Canned Heat
- Charlie Daniels Band
- Chubby Checker
- Joe Cocker
- Commander Cody
- Chris Cornell
- Ry Cooder
- Jim Croce
- The Cult
- Burton Cummings
- Dick Dale
- Rick Derringer
- Dixie Dregs
- Dokken
- Steve Earle
- Dave Edmunds
- Brian Eno
- Melissa Etheridge
- The Eurythmics
- Fairport Convention
- John Farnham
- Status Quo
- Flo & Eddie
- Dan Fogelberg
- Harry Chapin
- Free
- Robert Fripp
- Rory Gallagher
- Gerry And The Pacemakers
- Gentle Giant
- Bobbie Gentry
- The Guess Who
- Steve Hackett
- Allan Holdsworth
- Nicky Hopkins
- Steve Howe
- Humble Pie
- Iron Butterfly
- Iron Maiden
- Jane’s Addiction
- J Geils Band
- The James Gang
- Tommy James and The Shondells
- Jay And The Americans
- Garland Jeffreys
- Rickie Lee Jones
- The Jordanaires
- Joy Division
- Judas Priest
- Ben E. King
- Al Kooper
- Arthur Lee
- Gary Lewis & The Playboys
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Nils Lofgren
- Loggins & Messina
- Nick Lowe
- Yngwie Malmsteen
- Dave Matthews Band
- Dave Mason
- MC5
- John Mayall And The Bluesbreakers
- Mighty Mighty Bosstones
- The Misfits
- Eddie Money
- Gary Moore
- Mountain
- New York Dolls
- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
- Ted Nugent
- Oasis
- Pantera
- Alan Parsons
- Paul Revere & The Raiders
- Iggy Pop
- Billy Preston
- John Prine
- Queensryche
- Rage Against The Machine
- Rainbow
- The Replacements
- Johnny Rivers
- Savoy Brown
- The Scorpions
- Siouxsie and the Banshees
- Smashing Pumpkins
- The Smithereens
- Spencer Davis Group
- Squeeze
- Stephen Stills
- Sting
- The Stranglers
- Stone Temple Pilots
- Television
- Thin Lizzy
- George Thorogood
- Tool
- Toto
- Tower Of Power
- Pat Travers
- Robin Trower
- The Tubes
- UFO
- Uriah Heep
- Steve Vai
- Rick Wakeman
- Edgar Winter
- Johnny Winter
Readers additions…….
151. Procol Harum
152. Joe Walsh
153. Phil Collins
154. Glen Campbell
155. Fugs
156. Spirit
157. Alice In Chains
158. The Monkees
159. The B-52s
160. Poco
161. Social Distortion
162. Suzi Quatro
163. REO Speedwagon
164. Sensational Alex Harvey Band
165. Bloodrock
166. 38 Special
167. Ronnie James Dio
168. Slade
169. The Grass Roots
170. Herman’s Hermits
171. Joe Satriani
172. Roy Buchanan
173. The Runaways
174. Poco
175. Porcupine Tree
176. Sweet
177. Family
178. Triumph
179. The Crests
189. Megadeth
190. The Incredible String Band
191. David Lee Roth
192. Atlanta Rhythm Section
193. Phish
194. Hot Tuna
195. Link Wray
196. Don Cornelius
197. Bar-Kays
198. Cameo
199. Marianne Faithfull
200. Wishbone Ash
201. Counting Crows
202.Ten Years After
204. Jack Scott
205. John Hiatt
206. Gram Parsons
207. Clarence White
208. Gene Clark
209. XTC
210. Tom Jones
150 Rock Artists That Should Be In The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024
Two that you missed were the “Fugs” and “Spirit”
I don’t understand how Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is decided, but I have never heard of a great many of the names on the list not to mention, What’s the “Fugs” and “Spirit”? A joke name?
Those are two different rock and roll bands that were really good. We did an artciel on the Spirit , just click on the name and it will take you to the article if you want to check them out. We will be doing an article on the Fugs soon. There are so many great bands that many people have never heard of and the goal of this site is turn people on to all of them
Ywhat about Blue Oyster cult? HUGE sound Donald ” Buck” Sharma and entire band R TOTALLY worthy of induction- BEST hard rockers out of NYC LONG Island I think??? Induct them NOW HOF. Toot sweet??????
Ç’mon no brainers, Johnny Rivers, 3 Dog Night, Boston, Styx, Foreigner, Kansas, many others should be in! For crying out loud it took Chicago forever to get in! But the HOF snobs don’t like these bands for some reason, whatever!
Aren’t Boston, Styx, Kansas, (and Journey) essentially the same mediocre band?
So basically, everyone’s favorite band should be in the Rock ‘n’ Roll hall of fame. This is why there never should have been such a thing. All these acts who hung their hats on being “outsiders” and “rebels” are now grousing about not being validated by the establishment.
The Monkeys being criminally overlooked once again doesn’t bode well for “Spinal Tap” or “Josie & The Pussycats”. “Anonymous” chimed in for Suzy Quatro…we get it Suzy, you think you belong in the hall. I mean…sure…admittedly “Stumbling In”, was a really, really, really good song!
I think your missing the point Val, but then again your point is just as valid as anyone of ours.You should check out our Suzq Quarto article, you will find that she was much more than the one hit wonder your assuming she was.
Lenny Kravitz! His unique sound rose to the top during the grunge era. And owns the best rock licks of the 90’s.
Procol Harum
Glen Campbell played on most of the 60s hits – including Monkees and Beach Boys. Not bad on his own either
Alice in Chains
Honorable Mentions: The Monkees Montgomery Gentry and ETC.
Poco needs to be on this list
Social Distortion
Reo Speedwagon
Suzi Quatro
Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Bloodrock belongs in there somewhere.
38 Special
Uriah Heep and 10 years after.
They are both already on the list
The BAR-KAYS and CAMEO
Like to ser the Crests and Petula Clark added
Yeh…Slade…. Grassroots….Herman’s Hermits….we need to forget about being polictcally correct and stick to basic rock and roll. Even disco is better than rap or country! Neither should be in there…get there own museum with hip hop too….The way things are going…why not the Osmonds? Don’t forget the Turtles….so many classic bands and yet….alot of greatness has passed on without any reconciliation!!!! The past 10 years alone have been questionable with some new entries. Just get true music bands their dues and stand up for what it’s supposed to mean! There’s no creative jesters in today’s….whatever it is….Thank you
Slade & Mott The Hoople are definitely not woke & that is probably keeping them from the nomination except for Joe Elliott & Queen pushing them. Slade sold more singles in England than any other band in the 70s & Mott The Hoople was the biggest live band in England in the early 70s. For MTH, not bad for a band which it’s first four albums barely charted.
We are big fans of Mott The Hoople and Ian Hunter and there were one of the first bands we thought of when we put together this list. Thanks for coming to the site Alan and contributing to the article
The Runaways
At this point they should just change the name to Music Hall Of Fame since Rap and country is being included. I don’t think all of those on the list should be inducted, but there are some good ones on there.
DEFINATELY Procol Harum. They created masterpieces like Repent Walpurgis, In Held Twas in I ,and A whiter Shade of Pale.
The carpenters were the best selling duo in the 70s much can be Saud about the 1st guitar ballad which was goodbye to love w Tony Pelosi and Richard carpenter.
Karen carpenter should be in for her perfect pitch voice. Selling over 200 million and still yearly sell about as many records as all time artist like beatles
Steven stills has made the HOF. Pixies should be #1 on the
list and good to see Jethro Tull and Gordon Lightfoot.
In the intro we explain how the list was numbered
But Stephen Stills hasn’t made it in as a solo artist or as the leader of Manassas. That’s a tougher call – the only place on the radio where you hear solo Stills and Manassas is on Sirius XM’s Deep Tracks channel.
Gerry Rafferty should be in the Music Hall of Fame along with Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. Is Steve Winwood as a solo artist in the Music Hall of Fame? If not he definitely should be. A lot of great music groups should be in the first year they were eligible. It’s not The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame anymore. Should be renamed Music Hall of Fame.
Out of the box a little…Weird Al Yankovic. In Rock and Pop music, if he parodies your song then you made it.
Would never happen, but a personal fave of mine (besides Tull) would be Donald Fagen’s solo career. Hard to separate him from Steely Dan, but he’s put out 4 pretty fine albums and a few great soundtrack singles to boot.
Triumph. Has one of the best guitarist to ever play. Face facts they don’t like Canadians. The Guess not in you have to be kidding. I have to agree with Gary although I do like some of the 80’s rap, it was at least an original sound. Anybody that started in the 90’s should not be allowed in. Too many older bands are more deserving.
Porcupine Tree – for doing what Prog was meant to do, being innovative, progressive & moving things forward.
Not familiar with Porcupine Tree, but I was surprised to see Gentle Giant listed as a potential. I still remember “I betcha thought we couldn’t do it” which was a classic rock song-type for a progressive rock band.
Motörhead and the scorpions
Tom Jones ,bette middler, the 5th dimention,,
Alice copper,
PHISH!!! Way over due. They have accomplished so much and give back to community/fans endlessly. Not to mention they pretty much have run of one of the most iconic venues in the world(msg). Phish created a blueprint for how safe, fun, well organized festivals are done. Not to mention what Trey Anastasio has done solo. The list of why phish should be in there goes on forever.
P.s. Why is their hot dog ,fries, and drink in there but the band is not?
Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush
Motorhead.
Quicksilver Messenger Service, Mad River, Moby Grape, Hawkwind, Gong, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Arthur Brown and Kingdom Come.
Why has TEARS for FEARS BEEN OVERLOOKED??? IF YOU HAVEN’T LISTENED TO ANY OF THEIR ALBUMS YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON GOOD OLD ROCK AND ROLL. THEY ARE STILL PERFORMING and are FANTASTIC!!!!!!
If Slade is on the list then Sweet should be on as well and I totally agree with Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Chris Cornell. My point is Nirvana got in the first time so where’s the love for Alice who is a way better band.
You are SO right about the Sweet! They should have been in long ago. They had tons of hits worldwide!
Roy Clark
Pet Shop Boys. Yazoo. Erasure. Lenny Kravitz.
Family (British band of the late ’60s and early ’70s featuring lead singer Roger Chapman)
Streetwalkers (British band of the mid-’70s featuring lead singer Roger Chapman)
Roger Chapman (as a solo artist)
Lindisfarne (British folk rock band)
Steeleye Span (same kind of band as Lindisfarne)
Graham Bond Ogranisation (British blues-rock band featuring pre-Cream Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker)
Suzanne Vega (American folk rock singer)
Tracy Chapman (American folk rock singer)
I can’t believe the Paul Butterfield Blues Band isn’t in the HOF.
How about a list of acts in the Rock Hall that shouldn’t be. Jay Z and Notorious B.I.G are two that come to mind.
100% AGREE!!! ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME NOT RAP N ROLL!!!
They belong in the Hall.
What about Gram Parsons or Clarence White???!!!
Sweet is better then some in the hall they should be in the hall
Sweet should be in the hall
They are on our list. Thanks for the comment
King Crimson set the standard for Prog Rock back in 1969 with “In The Court Of The Crimson King.” Fans know that K.C. deserve to be in the hall of fame, but the board/ people who ultimately decide will never induct them because they are just plain a**holes. The board members are the same type of people that thought bands like The Ramones were scary & radical when they were younger, and were afraid to listen to great stations like WPIX in NY in the late 1970s, so they stuck to listening to American arena rock, or Disco. These judges are morons.
I couldn’t agree more with you. King Crimson, as much as they have been snubbed by every music writer to ever write about music is EASILY THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED BUNCH OF MUSICIANS & DESERVES TO BE IN THERE WAY MORE THAN _________ (fill in the blank yourself a few like Duran Duran, Jay Z, Eminem, etc…) Any of the lineups of King Crimson blows away most other acts in every way, be it time signatures, key changes, song craft, inventiveness, amazing drummers who syncopate with more fidelity & complexity than almost any other artist in the hall. All of the Amazing musicians from Robert Fripp to Greg Lake, John Wetton, Tony Levin, Adrian Belew, and most recently Jakko Jaksyk, among many extremely talented musicians are more than deserving of the useless honor of being inducted into the hall. King Crimson is an institution of Rock & Roll. Prog rock and great music does not have to be given the mental middle finger forever.
Wings
Uncle Tupelo deserves a mention
Atlanta Rhythm Section should be in there.
How about Latin Rock bands like Soda stereo
I was today years old when I found out Willie Nelson isn’t in. He’s 88 and still rocking!
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Motley Crue. They def weren’t my thing, but if Bob Jovi and Def Leppard are both in, Crue led that whole era.
I also would love to see Mother Love Bone. In just 2 years, they laid the ground work for what came in the early 90s that completely changed rock and roll.
Mötley Crüe 100%. They pretty much created everything you saw on MTV for a decade. Even if you hate the sunset strip music scene, you can’t deny the influence. Oh, and 100 million albums sold.
Dream Theater
What about people like Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka, Barbra Streisand. Is Frankie Valli in as a solo artist? Do you include people like Dick Clark and if so is he in? He may not have been a performer but he did a lot for rock and roll and to showcase rock and roll artist as well as other artist that you are putting in the hall.
Dick Clark is already inducted. Class of 1993.
DON CORNELIUS needs to be inducted. SOUL TRAIN had an even LONGER run than American Bandstand, and he did MORE to bring Black Music to the masses than anyone in history…with the sole possible exception of Motown’s Berry Gordy .
Husker Du deserves to be in, as well as Bob Mould for his solo work…
Glad there was a shoutout to Nicky Hopkins- BEST EVER! Little Feat, for sure
My #1 most overlooked artist for the Hall since 2005 is INXS. How the hell are they not on these extensive lists????
INXS, Albert Collins and Connie Francis should be there
Stryper
Counting Crows
Wishbone Ash. They were one of the pioneers of twin lead guitars of Andy Powell & Ted Turner and we’re a major influence to many rock bands.
SOLOMON BURKE has already been inducted. Class of 2001 .
Marianne Faithfull – style and innovation.
Link Wray
How about Hot Tuna, Steve Winwood and April Wine?
A better list would be – who shouldn’t be in the R & R Hall of Fame? Let’s start with 50% of your “should be” list. A Hall of Fame is supposed to be the best of the best not just some random band that you & 6 other dudes liked!
The Smiths, The Jam, Graham Parker, Joe Jackson
Gary Puckett and Union Gap
Mötley Crüe. I can’t believe they haven’t been mentioned. Multiple bands on this list wouldn’t even exist without them
What they need to do is change the name to the music hall of fame. And then have a selection committee for each genre, Metal, Rock, Blues, Pop, R &B, Rap and so on. And then two from each group or music genre/type get in. I mean when you hear groups like Devo and so forth getting nominated it’s like what? Over Peter Frampton?
Totally agree!
Tom Jones
The Shangri-las. The ultimate white girly group of tben60’s. Would be nice to induct while Mary is still alive
If Cat Stevens can be elected – so should Harry Chapin!
I agree. We will put him on the list. Thanks
Night ranger. So much more great music then just sister christian
Can`t believe the Allman Bros aren’t listed and only Phish as a Jam Band.
They are not listed in this article because they are already in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame
How could you forget the great Jack Scott? “The Way I Walk”, “Save My Soul”, “Goodbye Baby”, “Oh, L:ittle One”, Leroy”, “My True Love”, “Burning Bridges”, etc.
Gene Clark is in the Hall as a member of the Byrd’s but he also had a solo career. He should be added for his brilliant work as an amazing singer/songwriter.
Gary Puckett and the Union Gap
The group XTC very original and influential
How can. You put in John Prine and leave out John Hiatt, arguably one of the best singer/songwriters in history
Incredible String Band. They inspired so many of the greats i.e. Bob Dylan, Beatles, Led Zeppelin. I recently discovered them and they are genius.
Molly Hatchet
They are already on the list
How about Johnny Maestro not only was he in the crests, the Brooklyn Bridge but had a solo career! He had a great voice! But yet in my opinion some on the least are there for no reason!
Michael Bloomfield
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers/Blues Breakers, Johnny & Edgar Winter, Paul REVERE & THE Raiders, Melanie, Spanky & Our Gang, and James Gang.
Tommy bolin.
Is there anyone in the business more deserving to be inducted in the Hall of Fame than Huey Lewis or had bigger hits? Or anyone that had a hit record that Glen Cambell did not play on!
How about more real rock and roller and a little less rapers also don’t forget Badfinger, it’s sad most people have!
Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth. As three of the big 4 of heavy metal and hard rock that shaped the 80s it is an atrocity that this genre is so under represented in the so called Rock HOF
The Stray Cats
The Bangles,
Harry Nilsson should be on the list
Neil Sedaka and Chubby Checker ahead of all of these great artists.
David Cassidy
You missed Lenny Kravitz…how? He owned the 90s and blended multiple styles for a unique sound.
Lenny Kravitz.
I just can’t believe no one has mentioned Los Lobos yet they’ll be celebrating their 50th Anniversary soon. They’ve won several Grammys including one just very recently.
Oh also what about Big Star? Or even Alex Chilton? The Box Tops? The Sonics? The Wailers (Seattle pre-punk)? Burning Spear? Black Uhuru? Bruce Cockburn? Jimmy Vaughan?
Supertramp
Going off some of the artists that are in it already I don’t understand why Rob Zombie/ White Zombie isn’t on there.
It amazes me that Suzi Quatro has not been recognised and nominated as she is know as the pioneer of female rock . Suzi Quatro continues to tour all over the world and has a loyal fan bass . The RRHOF is like the royal family without its queen. .. the RRHOF will always be incomplete without her.
Neil Sedaka, Paul Rogers, Peter Frampton, Three Dog Night, Eddie money, Little River band, Ted Nugent, these few should have been inducted years ago. We should start our own Rock Hall of Fame….
Paul Rodgers in in any capacity. Has to be one of the best blues rock singers ever. And he’s still going and sounds just about as good as when he was 18. The list goes on and on — Free, Bad Company, The Firm, The Law, solo, collaboration w/ Queen for about 5 years, back to solo… I don’t see how he’s been kept out. Even Freddie Mercury said he was one of his favorite singers ever.
I suppose that since we are ignoring Emerson, Lake & Palmer and King Crimson, … we might as well ignore The Nice too? Skip a whole genre.
Classics IV
There are a lot of bands/artists on this list that I don’t particularly care for, but that still deservedly were more influential/better than some who are already in. Buffalo Springfield, inducted in 1997, had only one iconic hit, although a few other good songs never heard on commercial radio, and a couple of standout members who did significant work later. Still, bands like Steppenwolf produced more notable product that still today gets more airplay.
How about adding Tom Waits?
Tom Waits was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2011.
Good…Must have done my word search wrong.
Eddie Money should be there for sure.
Cliff Richard
The Shadows (Cliff and The Shadows have only been around since 1958!!!)
Bob Welch belongs in there with the rest of Fleetwood Mac
The Monkees or at least Michael nesmith. Peter Tork regrettably does not have enough of a solo body of work.
The Fugs
Fanny
Lita Ford
Suzy Quattro
Jake Geils Band
Without the induction of Steppenwolf, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a JOKE.