The 2025 Inductees to the Rock Hall were just announced, so let's take a look at how well the Hall did at inducting those of the type they have hitherto snubbed.
Last year, I listed those nominated-but-not-inducted separately. This time, I will add them where there SHOULD have gone, but in [brackets]:
1950s: Chubby Checker (I think of him as a one-hit wonder, but OK)
1980s: Cyndi Lauper, Salt-N-Pepa [Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order]
Rap: Outkast, Salt-N-Pepa
Arena Rock: hmm... Bad Company are more classic rock than arena rock
Blues: None
Country: None (but it should not be a priority anyway)
Hard Rock/Heavy Metal: Bad Company, The White Stripes, Soundgarden [Black Crowes, Billy Idol, Oasis]
Folk: None. Warren Zevon was a singer-songwriter, but not a folk one. [Same with Ian Curtis.]
Disco: None. Well, maybe some of Thom Bell's R&B work counts. Is it pre-disco?
Guitar Gods: None. The above-mentioned Hard Rock acts all have vocals.
Lighter Soul: OK, here Thom Bell definitely counts, even as a non-performer.
Novelty: None. I mean... if you stretch the definition, maybe The Twist and Push It are novelty songs.
Non-English Language: None. Still. [Mana, from Mexico, was nominated at least!]
"Influences": If I still had hair to spare, I'd tear some out. HOW is Warren Zevon just an "influence?" He was a Performer. Did he play stadiums? No, but neither did Randy Newman or Tom Waits, and they are in as Performers.
And Salt-N-Pepa DID play stadiums! This is a really inappropriate way to treat pioneering women of color. This is beyond insulting-- it's shameful. I hope there is a backlash. Outkast released their first album in 1994. Salt-N-Pepa dropped their first album in 1986.
Jam Bands: None. [Phish]
New Wave: Cyndi Lauper [JD/NO; Billy Idol, maybe?]
Longshots/Fringe Acts: Warren Zevon [JD/NO]
Singer/Not-Songwriter: Joe Cocker; he did write and co-write some of his songs, but his signature songs were covers. [Mariah Carey]
"Smart": Zevon. Maybe White Stripes and OutKast count. [JD/NO]
Piano: Warren Zevon. He was not known for his playing the same way, say, Billy Joel or Steve Winwood are, but it was his primary instrument.
Synth: None.
Backing Bands: None have the "and the" that I mean.
Behind the Scenes: One Ertegun winner, Lenny Waronker, and well-deserved.
Singles: Still no new ones inducted
Women: Three! Cyndi Lauper as a performer, Meg White as part of The White Stripes, and iconic session bassist/Wrecking Crew member Carol Kaye for Musical Excellence. So glad Kaye got in while she is still kickin'-- she's 90!
OK, the also-rans... here's the deal:
Black Crowes: I never thought they really had a chance. Their big hit is an Otis Redding cover.
Mariah Carey: Oh, she'll get in. She was snubbed two years running, but she'll get in.
Billy Idol: I thought he had a shot.
Joy Division/New Order: They will get in when the Xers take over.
Phish: You know the book "He's Just Not Into You?" That's the Rock Hall's book about jam bands.
Oasis: They will get in. At some point, all the 1990s rock acts-- rock's last gasp-- will get in. I mean, both Soundgarden and White Stripes made it this year.
Mana: Hey, at least the Hall is thinking outside the English-language box...
When I first started this mad endeavor, I made a list of all the acts who-- taking into account all of these snubbed genres and sub-genres-- should get in. I am pleased to report that it grows ever shorter.
