Once you get into the 1980s, there are just a shit-ton of artists out there that are sort of on the edge of maybe they should get in. In the late 1970s, rock and roll (and popular music in general) fractured into a bunch of different genres like disco, punk, heavy metal, alternative, hip-hop, R&B, and each also having their own subgenres. And this trend continued through the 1990s, too.

So does Midnight Oil get in? What about the Smithereens? The Lemonheads? Soul Asylum? But what bout Motley Crue? And Poison? And Cinderella? And don't forget about Whitesnake. And Iron Maiden. And Dio. And Motorhead. And what about the other Big Four thrash bands like Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer? And Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden are in. What about Alice in Chains? And on the punk side, there's Minor Threat and Dead Kennedys and Black Flag. And there are no nu metal groups like Korn or Slipknot in there despite being eligible. And they're still trying to get pop divas like Sade, Mariah Carey, and Lauryn Hill in.

From the alternative bands you list, I'd call them "almosts". As in, they nearly got big, had a popular song or two, but never sustained the success. I think that easily describes Midnight Oil, The Lemonheads, The Smithereens, and Soul Asylum. They had promise, but never quite made it.

That's pretty much the career trajectory of most post-1970s groups, though.

Through most of the 1970s, you had mostly had a lot of high-profile acts that were played on the radio and could at least fill small arenas. There really wasn't much of an underground scene -- no MTV giving smaller/niche acts national exposure, limited press available to the average person (Rolling Stone, Creem).

But as time dragged on, you'd have some really huge acts with dozens/hundreds of smaller acts orbiting around them. They're sort of what used to be called "one-hit wonders," but with longer careers and a small, but dedicated fanbase that could have careers that ran for years or decades.

If INXS gets in then Men at Work should be on the 2027 ballot.

Then whattabout Kylie Minogue?

Inxs' single "New Sensation" was used in "The Way Way Back" and at least a couple more films.

They started in the late 70s but were really only know in Australia. The 1985 album Listen Like Thieves made them big. Reached #11 in the U.S. Two hit singles, "What You Need"(No. 5) and 'Listen Like Thieves"
Multi-platinum album Kick released in 1985. Reached #3 on charts. Five hit singles. Four in top 10. New Sensation, Never Tear Us Apart, Devil Inside, Need You Tonight, Mystify.
The album X released in 1990. Two top 10 singles. Suicide Blonde and Disappear. Both songs appear in the movie Mystery Date.
Later albums weren't as successful.
From 1985-90 they were big.

If their follow-up to Business as Usual achieved the same popularity (it didn't), I'd say they would. They weren't a "one hit wonder", but they certainly were a "one album wonder"

Interesting seeing the popular vote against my votes:

INXS
Iron Maiden
Joy Division/New Order
Luther Vandross
Mariah Carey
Phil Collins
Wu-Tang Clan


I can only see New Edition if they included everyone's individual careers (Bobby Brown, Bell Biv Devoe, Ralph Tresvant, but I think you'd have to exclude Johnny Gil as it's difficult to say how much of a bump did he get when he joined them.)

The one I have a real hard time reconciling an opinion on is Mariah Carey. No question she's had a hugely successful career -- I think she's like second to The Beatles as far as total number of #1 singles on the Pop charts. I mostly consider her a pop artist, and sometimes the Hall avoids female pop artists like the plague, but she does have dance hits too. If you're going to induct Donna Summer and Cher, really how can you not consider Mariah Hall-worthy? That said, I don't think there's any need to rush her in the Hall right away.

I mean, if Whitney is in the HoF, why not? I place her and Mariah as equals.

Yeah that is a fair assessment (though Whitney is considered the GOAT for vocalists, over Mariah). I don't feel a pressing need to induct her, and hardly consider her 'Rock & Roll', but if that's our standard, I guess she's deserving.
I just wonder why say Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion were never considered despite also having lots of pop hits. I guess neither had many upbeat dance numbers (though Babs did have a Disco phase).

Mariah's above Whitney in my opinion because Mariah wrote almost all of her own shit. And those weren't "Elvis" songwriting credits.

Mariah deserves to be there before Whitney. Actually she deserves to be in there a lot more than many inductees in recent years.

MEN AT WORK had a monster selling album.

Mariah does have that Christmas song vs Whitney's THE BODYGUARD album. Both are historic. Both ladies belong.

1987

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/big-...an-rock-bands/

Music site listed the "big 4" of Australian rock bands. As they said, #1 is a no-brainer, but look who made #2. Some band that supposedly isn't very big at all, according to some here.

(although I would have given the last spot to Midnight Oil)

AC/DC, INXS, Men at Work, and Midnight Oil are the only Aussie rock groups I can think of off the top of my head.

Didn't know Nick Cave was from down under; always assumed he was a Brit. And I barely remember Silverchair -- all I can remember is that they were sort of like Nirvana getting their own Monkees.

Really? I can think of plenty.

The Easybeats, The Saints, Hunters & Collectors, Lime Spiders, The Hard-ons, and of course the Hoodoo Gurus.

But, keeping this on topic, as amazing as the Hoodoo Gurus have been throughout the years (really, one of the best bands in rock history), mainstream success always eluded them. Super popular in the alternative scene, total unknowns outside it. Unfortunately, they're not Rock Hall material, as much as they should be.

Crowded House

I may have heard the music, but none of those band names are familiar.

Kiwi?

ETA: and today I learned that Crowded House was part Kiwi,. part Aussie

Both. It formed out of the Split Enz (New Zealand) when they broke up the first time. It formed in Australia with at least one Aussie. I think there might be an American in their too.

The Angels aka Angel City is another Aussie band .