# Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Who's Left? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308 "2003-09-12T23:50:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/1 "2003-09-12T23:50:43Z")
My first thread here, inspired by my recent visit to the Rock & Roll HOF in Cleveland while driving across the country. A lot of people are in, and it looks as if the Hall will admit 5-7 acts per year. Some of those will be newly elibigle (acts that made their debut recording in 1979 will be eligible in 2004), but every year also includes singers or groups previously overlooked. I’m wondering which passed-over musicians are likely to get the nod in the future. Here are some excerpts from the HOF slection process: \*\*Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria include the influence and significance of the artist’s contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll. The Foundation’s nominating committee, composed of rock and roll historians, selects nominees each year in the Performer category. Ballots are then sent to an international voting body of about 1,000 rock experts. Those performers who receive the highest number of votes, and more than 50 percent of the vote, are inducted. The Foundation generally inducts five to seven performers each year. \*\* And the HOF inductee list can be found http://www.rockhall.com/hof/allinductees.asp]here. The problem is, a lot of the big-name acts from the 50s and 60s are already in and fragmentation of the music scend in the 70s makes it harder to achieve the consensus needed to get votes on 50% of the ballots (much less get out of the nominating committee). ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/2 "2003-09-13T00:05:23Z")
Hows about fixing the link? Please? ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/3 "2003-09-13T00:13:21Z")
Looking at previous classes of inductees, plus the fact that the votes are cast by “rock experts”, it seems that roots acts, critically acclaimed acts, and acts more influential on musicians than the general public have a better shot of getting in than progressive rockers, power-balladeers, and stadium-filling hitmakers (unless they are so big or consistently successful over time to be ignored.) With that in mind, my list of possible future inductees will follow shortly in my next post. I was born in 1970, but I grew up listening to oldies and have a decent knowledge of earlier eras, but since the big names are already in, I had to reach somewhat to think of 50s/60s acts, especially ones that have a legacy beyond one or two hits. Feel free to add suggestions. Note: A performer followed by a group name in parentheses means that the performer is already in for their work with the group and are now beng considered for solo induction. ---
**Author:** ![Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muldoon_s_Squishiness)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/4 "2003-09-13T00:44:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bmoak \* > \*\*The Foundation’s nominating committee, composed of rock and roll historians, selects nominees each year in the Performer category. Ballots are then sent to an international voting body of about 1,000 rock experts. \*\* What a crock. The _rock and roll historians_ are nothing but journalists, as are the majority of the _international voting body of about 1,000 rock experts._ :rolleyes: At least come clean about the scam you’re pulling guys. ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/5 "2003-09-13T00:44:47Z")
ABBA Big Star Black Sabbath Blondie Gary U.S. Bonds Jackson Browne The Cars Chubby Checker Patsy Cline (I’m shocked that she’s not in, especially since Brenda Lee is.) Joe Cocker The Commodores The Crystals Devo Dick Dale Neil Diamond Dire Straits The Dixie Hummingbirds Dr. John Lee Dorsey ELO Emerson, Lake & Palmer Fairport Convention/Richard Thompson Connie Francis Genesis/Peter Gabriel George Harrsion (Beatles) Tommy James & the Shondells Jan & Dean Jethro Tull Junior Walker Ben E. King (Drifters) Little Feat Lynyrd Skynyrd The MC5 The Meters/Neville Brothers Steve Miller The Monkees The Moody Blues The O’Jays Gram Parsons (Birds) The Pretenders Lou Reed (Velvet Underground) Linda Rondstadt Roxy Music/Brian Eno (probably as producer) Todd Rundgren Rush Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band The Sex Pistols Huey “Piano” Smith Patti Smith The Stooges/Iggy Pop Joe Tex T-Rex/Marc Bolan Traffic/Steve Winwood The Ventures The Wailers/Peter Tosh (Bob’s in, but the Wailers were more than just a one-man group.) Dionne Warwick Mary Wells (Supremes) Barry White Yes Warren Zevon ZZ Top ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/6 "2003-09-13T00:47:40Z")
Yep. Anyone who thinks the HoF is complete without Rush doesn’t realize the influence they had on an entire generation of young male musicians. ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/7 "2003-09-13T00:56:33Z")
Well, those are the acts that I think have a chance of getting into the HOF. Some have much greater chances than others, and I tried to cover all my bases genre-wise. Realisitically, less than half of them will even come close. Feel free to add in comments,additions, queries, and condemnations of my musical taste/knowledge because I left your favorite band off the list. Later ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/8 "2003-09-13T01:07:46Z")
Here’s the link again. [http://www.rockhall.com/hof/allinductees.asp](http://www.rockhall.com/hof/allinductees.asp) ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/9 "2003-09-13T02:00:19Z")
bmoak- Mary Wells was a solo artist- maybe you meant Mary Wilson. My vote is Johnny Maestro. He is one of the very few late 50’s doo wop singers (Crests) who had a late 60’s -early 70’s career-lead of Brooklyn Bridge. Also-he STILL sounds fantastic. Dixie Hummingbirds- not rock & roll, great ,but gospel. Checker- many hits & was responsible for a rock craze in 1960-the Twist-followed by others’ Mashed Potato,Watusi, Bristol Stomp ,etc etc. I agree, not much voice for Checker ,but does trend setting count? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/10 "2003-09-13T02:11:56Z")
ABBA is a Rock and Roll band? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/11 "2003-09-13T02:22:38Z")
ABBA is a Rock and Roll band? ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/12 "2003-09-13T02:29:14Z")
A palindromic band. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/13 "2003-09-13T02:57:56Z")
Let’s be clear on who deserves to go into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year: **Warren Zevon**. If they don’t induct him this year, it’ll be a travesty. I’d also have to vote for **Lynyrd Skynyrd**. They were a monster influence on southern rock - perhaps as much as the Allman Brothers. Someone else they could put in the RRHOF (although he might fit in the country hall of fame better) is **John Prine**. ---
**Author:** ![Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muldoon_s_Squishiness)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/14 "2003-09-13T03:45:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\*ABBA is a Rock and Roll band? \*\* The Bee Gees are in the R n’ R Hall of Fame, so why not Abba? Hell, there are Dopers who think that the Beatles weren’t a r n’ r band, but a pop band and thus shouldn’t be in the Hall.:rolleyes: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muldoon_s_Squishiness)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/15 "2003-09-13T03:49:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*Let’s be clear on who deserves to go into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year: **Warren Zevon**. If they don’t induct him this year, it’ll be a travesty. \*\* Please. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: I have little sympathy for Zevon as he admitted that he hadn’t seen a doctor in over 20 years, and he continued to smoke even after his diagnosis. Also, I find it more then a little hypocritical that there was only this burst of attention and acclaim and calls for him to be elected to the Hall **after** he was diagnosed. Just because you are suddenly diagnosed with a terminal illness doesn’t make you worthy of election to a Hall of Fame. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/16 "2003-09-13T03:52:03Z")
> [@](#): > > I have little sympathy for Zevon as … he continued to smoke even after his diagnosis. He was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Why the hell would he quit smoking? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/17 "2003-09-13T11:55:36Z")
Zevon died of mesothelioma, a lung cancer associated with asbestos, not cigarettes. He had been a non-smoker for several years before being diagnosed, and did indeed resume smoking after seeing the doc. And yeah, as he said, his aversion to doctors was one of “those phobias that really didn’t pay off.” He doesn’t need a “sympathy” vote into the Hall of Fame; his talent and dedication to his craft are enough. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/18 "2003-09-13T12:43:34Z")
A huge omission: XTC. First LP came out in 1977. Discography includes: Drums & Wires, Black Sea, English Settlement, The Big Express, Skylarking, the Dukes material, Oranges & Lemons, and Apple Venus Vol. 1, as well as a host of generally-regarded lesser albums that nevertheless have lots of good songs on them. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/19 "2003-09-13T13:19:20Z")
incomplete list off the top of my head: Donovan Lonnie Donegan Devo the Shaggs the Moody Blues George Harrison Ringo Starr ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308/20 "2003-09-13T13:25:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JThunder \* > \*\*A palindromic band. \*\* A palindromic band who recorded S.O.S. I always imaged a telegram appealing to the government for help with this song as DC SOS ABBA SOS CD. ABBA was the first non-English speaking group to make it huge in the English speaking market. That should count for something. And they have amazing staying power. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-whos-left/201308.md?page=2)