We are about a month away from when the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame typically releases it’s list of potential nominees. As a prelude to that I thought I would present the First Annual list of Misplaced Straws Rock Hall Snubs. There is no clear criteria for induction which has led to confusion as to why some artists are in while others wait. When it comes to sports, numbers rule the game. A certain amount of yards, wins, home runs or goals can almost guarantee you a spot. When it comes to the Rock Hall, however, record sales mean very little, Journey sold over 75 million records word wide and did not get inducted until their 18th year of eligibility. Even the idea of influence as a main criteria is questionable, Black Sabbath created a genre and had to wait 11 years for induction after becoming eligible, Deep Purple wrote the riff that every guitar player learns when they pick up the instrument and still had to wait 23 years for induction.
All that being said, after attending the last 7 Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies and visiting the Hall many times, I have come to appreciate the Hall for what it is rather than what it’s missing. Each Induction night is a one-of-a kind experience (Paul & Ringo played Beatles songs together in 2015) and the Hall itself is an amazing museum of the history of the best form of art in the world, Rock & Roll. So, do the artists listed below belong in the Hall of Fame? In my opinion, yes they do. Is the concept of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame bigger than the exclusion of any one artist? Yes, I believe it is.
You will certainly notice a theme in the list below, rock bands that made their mark in the 1980’s are widely snubbed by the Hall. In recent years we have seen inductions for Bon Jovi, Guns N’ Roses and Journey but overall one of the dominant genres of the decade is relatively ignored. As a comparison, 90’s rock bands like Green Day, Nirvana and Pearl Jam all made it in on their first ballot.
So, with no further introduction, I present the First Annual Misplaced Straws Rock Hall Snubs:
1 – Judas Preist
Eligible Since – 1999
One of the most underrepresented genres in the Hall is Heavy Metal. There are more Rap acts (5) than Metal bands (2) even though Metal started more than a decade earlier. Judas Priest should be inducted under any criteria, they have sold over 50 million records world wide, their twin lead guitar style was a blueprint for every metal band that followed, and the soaring vocals of Rob Halford pretty much define the genre. Judas Priest have only received one nomination, falling just short in 2018.
2 – Iron Maiden
Eligible Since – 2005
Yes, another Metal band. Iron Maiden brought the visual into Heavy Metal. This wasn’t a group of guys with long hair on a dark stage, this was a larger-than-life sonic and visual assault. Maiden wrote epics torn out of history, mythology and literature and presented them in a stage setting that was never seen before. They have sold over 100 million albums worldwide and to this day still sell out arenas and stadiums all over the world. Iron Maiden has never been nominated.
3 – Pat Benatar
Eligible Since – 2004
Female rockers are another thin category among Rock Hall Inductees. Heart had to wait 12 years before receiving their induction and the hope was it would open the door for Pat Benatar, but five years later she’s still waiting. In a time of male-dominated rock Benatar was the rare solo female to reach the top. She has two RIAA-certified multi-platinum albums, three gold albums, 15 top 40 singles, groundbreaking videos plus she has influenced an entire generation of male and female performers. Pat Benatar has never been nominated.
4 – Motley Crue
Eligible Since – 2006
The epicenter of Rock in the 80’s was the Sunset Strip, the kings of the Strip were Motley Crue. Forming in 1981 Crue defined what it meant to be an L.A. band for a decade. Every band after them tried to be them, copying their look, sound and excesses. Crue has sold over 100 million records world wide and were staples on MTV throughout the 80’s. Just as Nirvana put the Seattle music scene on the map, Motley Crue made everyone notice what was happening at the Whisky, the Rainbow, the Troubadour and the Roxy. Motley Crue has never been nominated.
5 – Jethro Tull
Eligible Since – 1993
Ok, this is the Rock & Roll Hall of FAME, not the Hall of Ultra-Cool Indie Bands You’ve Never Heard Of. How do you get more famous than Jethro Tull? Aqualung has been a staple of rock radio since 1971. They famously beat out Metallica for the first Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Grammy and have sold over 60 million records with 11 gold and 5 platinum records. Plus, they make the flute cool. Jethro Tull has never been nominated.
6 – New York Dolls
Eligible Since – 1998
You may be thinking “but I’ve never actually heard the New York Dolls”, however to borrow a phrase, everyone who did started a band. When they first put on their lipstick and heels in 1971 no one looked like they did and no one sounded like they did. Their influence spread across the Atlantic to people like David Bowie, Mark Bolin and Malcom McLaren. Their androgynous look and a style that combined the blues with glam-pop sensibility evolved into the early Sunset Strip bands like Motley Crue and W.A.S.P. as well as Finland’s Hanoi Rocks. Rock & Roll has a very different look if not for the Dolls. They deserve to be in along side the Velvet Underground and the Sex Pistols. The New York Dolls have been nominated once, in 2001.
7 – Ozzy Osbourne
Eligible Since – 2005
Randy Rhodes, Jake E. Lee, Zakk Wylde. Three of the most influential guitarists in rock, all owe their careers to Ozzy’s solo records. Ozzy was inducted with Black Sabbath in 2006 but also deserves an induction for his solo work. He has released 11 solo records, 7 of which were certified multi-platinum. Crazy Train is still played at nearly every sporting event and he revolutionized touring with the formation of Ozzfest. Nearly every rock band since has been directly influenced by Ozzy’s music or owes their career to the exposure Ozzfest provided to young bands. Ozzy Osbourne has never been nominated.
8 – Stevie Nicks
Eligible Since – 2006
Like Ozzy, Stevie was already inducted with her band (Fleetwood Mac in 1998) and like Pat Benatar she was a solo female in the male dominated rock world but in no way does that diminish what she accomplished. She has sold over 15 million solo records and recorded such classics as Edge of Seventeen, Stand Back and If Anyone Falls. Her style and sound have influenced generations of performers. Stevie Nicks has never been nominated.
9 – Duran Duran
Eligible Since – 2006
One theme in this list is bands that started a movement, Duran Duran came about at the right time and started what became the “Second British Invasion”. They were a band tailor made for the video age and combined music and fashion in a way no one did before. They began as a post-punk band that combined Andy Taylor’s guitar with Nick Rhode’s keyboards to create a new sound and look that generated a decade’s worth of copycat British bands. They have sold over 100 million records worldwide and scored 21 Billboard top 100 singles. Duran Duran have never been nominated.
10 – Def Leppard
Eligible Since – 2005
As mentioned earlier, this is the Hall of FAME. You would be hard pressed to find anyone that does not know who Def Leppard is. They have songs that have become part of our culture (Pour Some Sugar on Me) and the basis for Broadway musicals (Rock of Ages). They have one of the most recognizable sounds in rock history and recorded a record (Hysteria) that sold over 25 million copies with 7 hit singles. Currently on tour, they are still selling out arenas. I think they have the fame part down. Def Leppard has never been nominated.
There you have it, 10 bands eligible for a combined 154 years with 2 total nominations. There are many other bands that could be on this list (we’ll discuss Dio and The Black Crowes another time) but, in my opinion, this is a start.
