Decker

This is a spin off of the other R&R HOF thread. Looking at what's out there, I'm wondering which groups and performers not yet eligible (25 years after their first album) will be absolute first ballot inductees. It seems to me for the first time, that there are very few that are near-automatic selections. So instead on focusing on the dozens and dozens of worthy bands and artists unfairly snubbed so far (and I feel most inductees in the upcoming years will be older bands previously passed over), I wanted to try and look ahead. Here are a few of my thoughts:

Absolutely In:

Green Day -- Went from "unlikely" to "slam-dunk" with American Idiot, the best R&R album this decade.

Beastie Boys -- Fusing Rock with Rap and huge critical acclaim. Probably could get in on the strength of Sabotage alone.

Red Hot Chili Peppers -- Hard rocking for a long time. Many hit singles and a few huge albums. Bunch of Grammys to back their legitimacy

The E Street Band -- Sort of a cheat, they're not eligible yet only because their name didn't appear on a Springsteen album until his 1986 live box set. Will be admitted to correct their exclusion with the Boss' induction.

Pearl Jam -- In my opinion, the one lock from Grunge. The argument of PJ vs Nirvana will likely go on forever, but their longevity gives them the inside track here.

Likely In:

Nirvana -- Only two major studio albums, but the genre-defining one counts for a lot.

Foo Fighters -- Grohl's other band. Fifteen years and a huge following. No truly iconic album, but a string of hits and solid albums. Hope they make it.

Radiohead -- Not an enormous commercial success, but absolute critical darlings and a pretty big discography so far.

Lenny Kravitz -- Rock & Soul icon. One of the last solo rock legends.

Sheryl Crow -- Maybe not such a critical favorite, but an impressive string of hits and you know that the HOF wants to honor women rockers to keep things looking more even (see Blondie, Ronnie Specter, Dusty Springfield).

Maybe they'll get in:

Coldplay -- Solid Band. Critical praise and commercial hits. Not a big enough catalog yet.

Beck -- Creative genius. Big catalog. He's got a chance despite not having a huge string of hits and not considered a rock icon.


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So there are a few of my thoughts. What are yours?

wendersfan

Radiohead are a slam dunk. So are Nirvana, given the iconic status of Nevermind. Hard to imagine The White Stripes not getting in.

B5Erik

Green Day? A slam dunk?

I don't think so...

(Look at all the 70's icons who aren't in. Many of those icons had success in the 80's as well, and are still around playing to packed houses today - and yet they still aren't in. If they aren't, Green Day is no slam dunk.)

pinata242

Compare Green Day peers with Green Day, though. Those iconic 70s artists you're referring to had stiff competition.

Green Day will get in on their own merits, should American Idiot be remembered in 10 years. They will need another major impact, though. Dookie & AI might not be enough by then.

cdollaz

I wouldn't call Lenny Kravitz "likely".

macnorton

Green Day...no. I like them, but I don't feel they merit it.

Beck, yes. Beasties, yes. Radiohead, yes. Nirvana, yes, but only because of their impact, not for their actual music. Iffy is Pearl Jam, because they are relevant and are amazing artists, but I am not sure if they have the "it" the Hall should have.

No to all others.

cdollaz

I think that Pearl Jam and RHCP are the closest to sure things on the OP's list.

GuessWho

You honestly think Foo Fighters & Lenny Kravitz will be in before Bon Jovi?

And how can you not count Guns N Roses as a future definite?

pinata242

Maybe because he didn't think of those bands. I don't think his list was written after he had carefully weighed each and every band that hasn't been around for 25 years yet.

But you already knew that, so I guess point proven..?

Decker

Yeah, I hadn't thought about GNR off the top of my head. I think they're likely, but not definite because of their limited output, same as Nirvana. A truly great Chinese Democracy would of course help put them back on the map, but even a total disaster wouldn't hurt their chances since no one really considers this version the real GNR.

Bon Jovi has very little chance. They may be the best 80's hair band out there, but it's not a period of rock that's well regarded by critics and I can't see them getting in -- certainly not first ballot.

One band I would vote for is The Cure. They're already eligible and there's no big movement to put them in, but I think that the 80's New Wave music should be at least recognized and they're probably the best choice. Won't happen though.

Maybe in retrospect, Kravitz and Foo Fighters should be moved down to the Maybe category. I think both have a good chance. There are very few solo acts on the horizon to be inducted and I think they want to continue to honor great Rock & Roll singer/songwriters.

Dubya

The Beastie Boys will get in but they were not even on the nominating ballot this year (after being on it last year in their first year of eligibility).

The RHCP were eligible this year but were not on the ballot. They will definitely get in within a few years.

Decker

Oh, didn't know that about the Beasties. Like most, I thought their career started with License To Ill in 1984. In any case, there's no reason not to induct them. I have nothing against Grand Master Flash or Run DMC, but if they are worthy of induction, there can really be no argument made against the Beasties -- they've had larger hits, a longer career, have more social causes and were arguably more influential (at least in the realm of rap/rock crossover).

PopcornTreeCt

There are so many artists in rock n roll hall of fame that I've never heard of... I don't think I'd be a good judge. However, I will say that there are probably at least 30 other more likely candidates over Lenny Kravitz including Rage Against the Machine, Alice in Chains, and Oasis.

DaveWadding

Whose knobs have RS slobbed over and over again over the past 25 years?

There's your answer.

Decker

Barack Obama, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, 2032.

nothingfails

I agree, Bon Jovi were and still are very commercially successful but critically they're on the same boat as Journey, Kiss, Foreigner, Styx and co. I can't see them getting in any time soon, although they do have the "huge superstar" thing that could help get them inducted before some of their peers since they are the type of "A-List superstar" act to sell dinner tickets ala U2, Prince, The Police and Madonna

DaveWadding

not to go terribly off topic...but 3 covers in 6 months? I thought I subscribed to a music magazine!

Quake1028

Journey is not in the Hall of Fame? Dead. To. Me.

GuessWho

Well he has won two Grammys

foofighters7

Nirvana- sure as the sun rises.

Radiohead- oh yeah, no question.

Beastie Boys- yes because they were on the front line.

Foo Fighters- oh yeah, Dave has did so much for rock. not to mention all solid albums with multiple Grammy wins, and tons of hits.

Pearl Jam- yeah because they were on the front line of "Grunge".. I hate that word. Great band nonetheless

Green Day- not as sure as the others, but pretty sure.

RHCP- yes but I just dont know about them...

Beck- Yes because he is original and loved by critics for the most part. Good stuff usually.

those are just the ones I care to comment on.

cungar

The E Street Band will never be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Decker

We'll see, I guess. All the articles at the time of Springsteen's induction mentioned the reason that the E Street Band wasn't inducted was that album title rule and all the articles made it pretty clear they were expecting them to go in in 2011. I suppose the writers could feel that Springsteen's induction was already a de facto induction of the E Street Band as well, but you can't tell me that the band doesn't warrant Hall of Fame honors because they're likely the best live Rock and Roll band ever.

Hokeyboy

I fucking hate this phrase, but EPIC FAIL.

Kravitz has never been liked by critics, generally written off as a derivative hack more known for looks/posturing than actual talent. Legend? Not even close. And he's freakin' TERRIBLE live.

clckworang

I'm not a big Nirvana fan, tend to think they are overrated, but I don't see how anyone could think they weren't a lock for Hall of Fame induction. Some of you talk about them not having enough output, but the Hall of Fame just recently inducted The Sex Pistols. I would say that makes it clear that a band doesn't need a long discography for induction.

And I think there are quite a few on the OP's list that are far, far from a lock.

Hokeyboy

Nirvana is as easy a lock as one could imagine.

As much as I fucking loathe them/him and think they/he are/is completely devoid of talent... Nine Inch Nails too.