Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees 2025

Black Crowds=Black Crowes

Stupid phone.

I are an actual HOF voter, and I voted for Bad Company, Mariah Carey, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Maná, and Soundgarden. They used to send really nice pamphlets in the mail with your ballot, but now you just do it on their website.

I really want Phish to make it because they kinda deserve it, but more important to watch the heads explode.

But I'd vote for Mariah, Joy Division/New Order, OutKast and Soundgarden for sure.

Wow, Maná! That's cool.

Controversies

In 2002, Checker protested outside of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, over the lack of radio airplay of his hit "The Twist" and his perception that the Hall of Fame had snubbed him. Seymour Stein, president of the Rock Hall's New York chapter and member of the nomination committee, claimed "I think that Chubby is someone who will be considered. He has in certain years."

In 2013, Checker sued HP over a WebOS application using his name. The application, before being pulled in September 2012, was used to unscientifically estimate penis size from shoe size. The district court said that Checker's trademark claim survived HP's motion to dismiss, but his other claims were dismissed per Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Maná is almost certainly the first act to be nominated where I'd never even heard of them. Surprised Joe Cocker didn't make it in decades ago.

Just like Foreigner's induction, Bad Company is a way to sneak King Crimson (plus Mott the Hoople and Free) in the back door.

Voting OutKast.

I are an actual HOF voter

You're not getting extra ballots for this

I apologize, btw; "They used to send really nice pamphlets in the mail with your ballot, but now you just do it on their website." is probably the most Bob Lefsetz thing I've ever posted.

this is the weakest crop in a long time

hmm it's not all bad but black crowes and bad company put a bad taste in my mouth

Repeating my post on FB just now:

--

Okay so R&RHOF voters submit ballots electronically now, which means I already got mine, which means I've already voted. As I muttered in the separate thread, a lot of this was ridiculously easy because I quickly figured who I was *not* voting for, and with seven votes that meant I only had to worry about deciding between eight acts. I had six gimmes:

Joy Division/New Order
Soundgarden
OutKast
Mariah Carey
Cyndi Lauper
Maná

That left me to decide between the fake siblings and William Michael Albert Broad. If I had eight votes, no problem no contest, both in. But I had to decide and honestly this was harder than I thought: essentially I had to choose between one of two kinds of 50s/early 60s retrofetishists who are both pretty thrilling at their best and will be played in sports arenas in various ways for a long while to come. Nostalgia played a part for me in the end: ol' Billy I grew up with on the radio/TV where the White Stripes I more admired latterly, and that's always a key distinction. Certainly I would have appreciated submitting a ballot that at least had women in a majority of my votes instead of falling just short, and since I always tend to consider Them Pale Stripes to be more of an art project/Wire type band than neo-Zep or whatever, that absolutely tracks for me too as a plus. (Also, they absolutely get a prize for some of the best long song titles ever, knowing how to structure them and focus them. "Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground" is almost a short story in and of itself.) But getting back to the retrofetishist point: if one act, however much driven by context at the time in turn, comes off as validating a "If it wasn't recorded in a cardboard closet on a deck that Sam Phillips spat on once is it even REALLL" mindset, I will be more inclined to the other act in his pomp, in the decade he had his biggest hits, going "Fuck yeah I'm not only Elvis, I love dancefloors, synths and drum machines, let's do fucking everything!" At the time Glenn Danzig would have complained and probably did but these days Glenn's off filming shitty self-financed 'erotic' horror westerns -- ask me how I know! -- while Billy just happily keeps on and knows what he's great at. (Plus, if Pat Benatar got in with Neil Giraldo, this absolutely should have been a 'Billy Idol & Steve Stevens' entry; most of their careers have been spent together and Stevens's approach of 'what if Mick Ronson but also lasers' remains fucking awesome; as much as Eddie Van Halen was seen as the pop metal guitarist genius in excelsis for the same run, I'd argue Steve is right there with and maybe in some contexts even more crazy/amazing -- great hooks everywhere and that "Rebel Yell" solo alone blew my mind then and now. In any event, Billy it was. So we'll see what shakes out!)

I saw Black Crowds open for Frightwig, they were ok

anyway i'm voting for outkast. i wanna see the reunion

Cyndi, then OutKast, then (with some distance between them) JD/NO. Maná aside, as I don't know them at all, I either don't like or just don't care about the rest.

OutKast will get in, but they'll send Key & Peele in to accept.

I haven't checked, but while there are some first-time nominees, is this the first time there's been no newly-eligible noms?

This is impossible!!! So many amazing nominees!!!!!!

In 2001, Checker took out a full-page ad in Billboard magazine arguing that he is one of rock and roll's most underappreciated figures.

I'm surprised it took this long for OutKast to get nominated. They're one of three nominees that I would've inducted immediately, along with Joy Division/New Order and the White Stripes. Most of the rest I could make a case for and would have no problem inducting. I'd vote for Cyndi Lauper but it really comes down to one and only one great album for a lot of people, and I remember quite a few commentators saying they were reluctant to vote for her for that reason, as in she had a "moment" and it passed. ("Kinky Boots" alone was a big deal, but I don't think her contributions to musical theater get much consideration.) She was one of the two biggest fan votes by a wide margin last time, and that obviously had a very limited impact.

Also Hank Ballard is in the Hall of Fame, so it's not like "The Twist" has been completely overlooked. (I prefer his version tbh.)

I'm hoping they induct the New York Dolls too. It's possible they're doing a committee selection instead of putting it to a ballot, but ffs, do it while Johansen is still here.

Wow, Maná! That's cool.

Anyone care to quickly summarize their critical standing for the baffled Canadians in this thread? Their RYM scores are not at all impressive.

Anyone care to quickly summarize their critical standing for the baffled Canadians in this thread? Their RYM scores are not at all impressive.

I have provoked great anger in Mexicans and other Latin rock fans in the past by describing them as "the Nickelback of Mexico," but that's kind of who they are, both stylistically (big yarly riff-rock) and commercially (they're huge). They fill stadiums. Their 1992 album ¿Dónde Jugarán Los Niños? is (or was) the best-selling Spanish-language rock album of all time.

I'm hoping they induct the New York Dolls too. It's possible they're doing a committee selection instead of putting it to a ballot, but ffs, do it while Johansen is still here.

― birdistheword, Wednesday, 12 February 2025 17:47 (four minutes ago) link

Given their recent track record (the MC5 for inst), I wouldn't get my hopes up

Thanks for the summary, but Nickelback isn't getting nominated any time soon, so is this just pandering to the Spanish-speaking audience?

In terms of Mexican representation in rock and Latin music, Los Lobos and Rubén Blades would've been far better nominees. Also Willie Colón though I'm not sure how that would go down after his legal fights with Blades.

And yes, I had what happend to the MC5 in mind as well...ugh.

Re: Blades and Colon, I recommend Siembra. Per Wiki:

The album was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2024, it was ranked in first position on the “Los 600 de Latinoamérica” list compiled by a collective of music journalists, highlighting the top 600 Latin American albums from 1920-2022. The album was ranked number one of the 50 greatest salsa albums of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine in October 2024.

The very vague vibe I got from unperson's post + some googling is we're looking at something like the Mexican U2, who I'm guessing are already in?

Most countries have some huge mainstream rock band that's been around forever and is hated by its country's hipsters, gonna be some work if they all get into the Hall.

I'm not looking forward to seeing every country's version of U2.

In terms of Mexican representation in rock and Latin music, Los Lobos and Rubén Blades would've been far better nominees. Also Willie Colón though I'm not sure how that would go down after his legal fights with Blades.

Rubén Blades is from Panama; Willie Colón is from Puerto Rico; neither of them are rock artists, although someone smart could put together a really cool exhibit for the actual Hall about 1960s Latin bugalu music (part doo-wop, part Cuban son, part rock 'n' roll, part R&B, the precursor to salsa).

I get why Maná is nominated, but I wish it was Café Tacvba getting the nod. (I'd love to see a bunch of '80s, '90s and '00s Latin artists get in: Julieta Venegas, Natalia Lafourcade, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Caifanes, Sepultura, Nação Zumbi...)

It's Die Toten Hosen for Germany and Xutos & Pontapés for Portugal if you wanna get a taste of what that would be like btw (both bands have some salvageable stuff in their early years tbc).

If Hip-Hop, R&B and mainstream Pop are "Rock & Roll" I see zero reason why salsa shouldn't be rock & roll too really.

Yes: Joy Division/New Order, Outkast, Mariah Carey.

Tough: Cyndi Lauper's great album was and is huge in every way--album, singles, videos. Peak value off the charts...but a little hesitation because that's pretty much it. But mostly yes.

Sentimental yes: Chubby Checker was huge for a year or two, and I think he's someone who's been lobbying to get in for years (and would be hugely appreciative).

Not my thing, but I guess there's a strong argument for Soundgarden.

I have never heard of Mana.

Just scrolled back and saw Chubby's full-page ad...

Anyone care to quickly summarize their critical standing for the baffled Canadians in this thread? Their RYM scores are not at all impressive.

I don't really know much about Maná from a critical perspective, I just know that they are huge in Latin America and have been around forever. My wife likes their cover of Led Zeppelin's "Fool in the Rain."

Rubén Blades is from Panama; Willie Colón is from Puerto Rico

Yes, that's why I also specified "Latin music" - probably should clarify, I imagine Maná wasn't just selected for their Mexican nationality but also for their popularity in all of Latin America and also to highlight music that has bridged Latin American culture (including that beyond Mexican culture) with rock music. I mentioned Blades, including his work with Colón, because of their stature in salsa music and how those albums made headway in bridging salsa and American popular music, including rock. (Per his Trouser Press entry, Blades is "the first important salsa performer to integrate rock aesthetics into his music.")

I'm guessing none of the tropicalista gang are in? Influential on anglo rock artists AND huge in their own country AND they also bridged Rock music and other styles, should be a no brainer.

XP!

There should be a separate committee like the "Early Influences" one for non-English speaking territories, so you can get Fela, Serge Gainsbourg, Can, YMO, Neu!, Jacques Brel, Jobim, Os Mutantes, Juan Gabriel etc. in.

That would probably make the most sense. They already created that precedent with Kraftwerk being inducted as an "early influence." And I don't Fela getting voted in by ballot even though he's been nominated before, and he SHOULD be in.

I should rephrase that - the "early influences" could be that since they already created that precedent with Kraftwerk being inducted that way.

(Apologies, reading and typing while talking to someone else about something unrelated is not the best idea.)

this is the weakest crop in a long time

― gestures broadly at...everything (voodoo chili), Wednesday, February 12, 2025 11:40 AM (three hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

bob lefsetz: "My mind is absolutely, positively blown. How did they get it so RIGHT?"

"I, too, now feel like making love."

one of my absolute least favorite songs

Mick Ralphs should be in the HOF...but for a different band.

no vote

I'd also like to see the White Stripes reunion also.

Also also also.

Last time Joy Division/New Order was nominated, Peter Hook said a reunion was possible and he'd be very open to it as a goodwill gesture. So that's three great reunions that could come out of this: The White Stripes, OutKast and New Order.

Also a voter interviewed by NY Mag made a horrible miscalculation, saying he didn't vote for Joy Division/New Order because he thought everyone else would, so as a strategy he pursued less likely winners. None of those people got in either. So much for "strategic" voting.

anyone know what role if any the fan vote plays in who gets picked? (i realize this is a total lmgtfy question but i can't seem to find the answer)

I think, in total, it counts for one "actual" vote.

aha, so basically not at all

POO: Soundgarden

easy yea:
jd no
outkast
white stripes

i would be fine with:
mariah carey: despite being the opposite of rock at times, she has had a long and varied career with enough highlights to merit inclusion.
cyndi, who shone bright for around 2 years, with her unique persona more than her music, despite her music being decent too
billy idol, another representative for the early video stars, who also had a few good songs too
soundgarden, who i respect more than i enjoy listening to, and are the most rock of all in this list

Can’t wait to hear Chubby Checker to do “Stoned in the Bathroom” at the induction ceremony.

I've mentioned this before but I've heard more jazz groups play "Black Hole Sun" than just about any other song from the '90s. Of course Miles Davis did Cyndi's "Time After Time" before that.

All-Time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgGBB0hTqo0

Joy Division/New Order, though I’m really just voting for New Order

Somebody *really* needs to do a bossa nova take on Black Hole Sun, if it hasn't happened already. I'd do it myself if I had the ability.

If I have to pick one here, I'm torn between JD/NO and Outkast, leaning toward the latter. The influence of the former being probably wider, but there is nothing half as "rock and roll" in their whole catalogue as "Gasoline Dreams"

Most countries have some huge mainstream rock band that's been around forever and is hated by its country's hipsters, gonna be some work if they all get into the Hall.

Is there a thread somewhere on this topic? Surely Poland and Indonesia and Peru et al all have their own versions of U2/Nickelback/Bon Jovi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF-wCbBgUGM

hell yes

they kind of messed up the harmonic weirdness and made it too major key though

Yeah, I don't know if that's the best version out there, but I appreciate the attempt

I assumed the Steve and Eydie cover was AI, but no

it was not actually on that album though, that's a shop

Their version is so damn good, and it came out not long after grunge had started to fade

The fact that they have gotten around to Bad Company, who suck, shows they just might as well let everyone in, since everyone is getting in eventually anyway.

For the curious:

Lounge-A-Palooza is a compilation album issued in 1997 by Hollywood Records. Released to capitalize on the 1990s lounge music revival, it features cover versions of songs, including classic lounge hits performed by contemporary artists and 1990s hits covered by lounge singers

Combustible Edison And Esquivel!–Miniskirt
Fastball–This Guy's In Love With You
Ben Folds Five–She Don't Use Jelly
Poe–A Rose Is A Rose
Steve & Eydie–Black Hole Sun
Pizzicato Five–The Girl From Ipanema
Polly Jean Harvey & Eric Drew Feldman–Zaz Turned Blue
Fun Lovin' Criminals–I'm Not In Love
Glen Campbell & Michelle Shocked With Texas Tornados–Wichita Lineman
Edwyn Collins–Witchcraft
Jimmy Scott & Flea–Love Will Keep Us Together
The James Taylor Quartet–Music To Watch Girls By
Cassandra Wilson–The Good Life
Chris Ballew–Robert Goulet (On The River Nile)

The fact that they have gotten around to Bad Company, who suck, shows they just might as well let everyone in, since everyone is getting in eventually anyway.

it would be great if they could get around to Thin Lizzy or Blue Oyster Cult one of these days but I assume at this point they'll never get in. are they going to put Argent in next ahead of them?

bad company wishes they had a banger on the level of "hold your head up"

It's all part of your rock and roll fantasy.

i will yield to no one in how much I love that song but then again i think Bad Company had one song from their self-titled album I kind of like too, if only i could remember the name of that one.

Ben Folds Five–She Don't Use Jelly

Seems like kind of a lateral move, honestly.

OutKast
The White Stripes
Sonic Youth (oh wait)

I feel like they all created fearless unashamed variety while still maintaining authentic, as apposed to sincere, integrity of an esthetic.

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/rock-hall-of-fame-fan-vote-results-first-week/

Phish is off to a very strong start after one week of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame fan voting.

The jam band kings have gotten 101,157 fan votes since they were announced as one of 14 nominees for the class of 2025. This is the first time the group has been nominated for the honor.

Billy Idol is in second place with 58,673 votes. Soundgarden is right behind him with 57,084, followed by Cyndi Lauper (50,308), Bad Company (47,582), Joe Cocker (47,004) and Chubby Checker (42,803.)

The Black Crowes lead the back half of the list with (39,184), followed by Mariah Carey (36,876), Outkast (35,563), Oasis (32,445), Joy Division / New Order (31,927), The White Stripes (31,055) and Mexican pop-rockers Mana (12,177.)

Man, who knew there were so many Billy Idol fans? (I actually like Generation X's debut album quite a bit, particularly in its U.S. incarnation, but I never hear anyone mention him IRL.)

I really like two or three Generation X songs, but for me, all those horrible mega-hits negate them.

(And then one line in The Wedding Singer almost redeems them again.)

How are Bad Company in this list instead of almost any 70s hard rock act you care to name? Bet Grand Funk aren't in the Hall of Fame.

I just checked, and

In 2005 Grand Funk Railroad was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.[24]