Apologies, gang, as this should have been done months ago.

We have updated our Notinhalloffame.com Rock list to include those for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  This list goes up to 600, and you can find the entire list here.

For reference, the current top ten are:

#1. The Smiths.  Eligible since 2009.
#2. Jethro Tull.  Eligible since 1994.
#3. Oasis.  Eligible since 2020.
#4. Pixies.  Eligible since 2015.
#5. New Order.  Eligible since 2007.
#6. The White Stripes.  Eligible since 2023.
#7. Iron Maiden.  Eligible since 2005.
#8. Gram Parsons.  Eligible since 1993.
#9. King Crimson.  Eligible since 1995.
#10. Coldplay.  Eligible since 2023.

We will continue our lists often.  Thank you for your support.

During a recent appearance on the Metallica Report, Metallica frontman James Hetfield expressed his dismay that the iconic Lemmy Kilmister has not yet been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In a heartfelt tribute, Hetfield revealed that he had recently gotten a new tattoo, which used Lemmy’s ashes, a permanent symbol of his respect and admiration for the leader of Motorhead.

Hetfield's words were poignant while describing the artwork:

“The Iron Cross and the ace of the spades.  Lemmy is able to still fly the bird to the world via me.  And just a reminder of what an inspiration he has been in my life – what to do, and what not to do.”

In regards to Motorhead’s exclusion from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Hetfield stated:

“The most rock and roll lifestyle living person on this planet is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is a travesty, a shame.  It’s kind of a disrespect to rock and roll, basically.”

In our most recent (though not yet updated to reflect the 2024 inductees and 2025 eligible acts) Motorhead was ranked #17 of those to consider for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has always been a chaotic animal.  They have no pattern in when they announce the nominees, and when they announce the date, it is often in the middle of the night.  The Cleveland-based institution was so oblivious towards the other major Halls, that they changed the date when they realized it was the same time as the Pro Football Hall of Fame had a scheduled announcement.  Had they been paying attention, they would have seen that the PFHOF does follow an announcement structure, as do the other major sports, but their pattern has always been no pattern.

Last night, the Rock Hall did buck their tradition as we actually when they were going to announce it, which occurred on American Idol.  Whether or not it is a good idea to do that on a show that is about manufacturing pop stars is a good or idea or not can be determined later, but at least it was not dropped out of nowhere in the middle-of-the-night press release.

Announced by Lionel Richie, who is one of the judges of American Idol, we learned who will comprise the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

The newest members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class are:

A Tribe Called Quest:  ATCQ meets the artistic and influence requirements, though we consider it a mild surprise that the voters placed them over Eric B & Rakim.

Cher:  We said (as did many) that when Cher received her first nomination after being eligible for decades that this induction was a lock.  Generating hits in multiple decades, Cher is a rock star, fashion icon and maverick, who said last year that she would never attend if chosen.  So, of course, here we are!

Dave Matthews Band:  The jam scene gains another entrant with the Dave Matthews Band, who join the Hall on their second ballot (they were first nominated in 2020).  No other nominated act in 2024 was close to them stylistically, and they were apparently very close when they were nominated the last time.  This was not a shock.

Foreigner: The arena rock band was allegedly told that as long as Jann Wenner was in charge, they would never be inducted. Wenner was ousted, and they were finally nominated.  As we have seen often (and also here with Cher), when the voting body has a chance for someone who has waited over 20 years, they respond.  We will see another example soon.

Kool & The Gang.  Another band that had to wait over 20 years for their first crack at the Hall.  Far more than “Celebration” they have the most eclectic body of work of all the inductees.  Too bad there is only one member left.

Mary J. Blige:  Mary J enters the Hall on her second nomination (she was nominated in 2021), and in regards to R&B/Hip-Hop authenticity, she has few peers.

Ozzy Osbourne:  Already inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall with Black Sabbath, Osbourne had a very successful career in the 1980s and remains an iconic figure in Metal.  Once he was nominated as a solo, this felt inevitable. 

Peter Frampton:  Like Foreigner, Frampton was part of the arena rock scene, had never been nominated, and was eligible for over 20 years.  Is Wenner rolling in his grave?  He’s alive?  So, stewing in his juices. 

This means that Eric B. & Rakim, Jame’s Addiction, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, Oasis, Sade and Sinead O’Connor id not receive the necessary votes to advance.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has a backdoor entry that they often use when acts they want acts inducted, which the voting body had passed on previously.  This avenue called the Musical Excellence Award, saw two previous nominees, a recently deceased legend and a songwriter/producer, enter the Hall.

MC5:  One of the most important bands in proto-punk history finally got their due, and this was likely their only path for induction.  They were nominated in 2003, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2022 and never seemed to come close in voting.

Dionne Warwick: Warwick and her smooth soul/adult contemporary voice enter Cleveland through the Musical Excellence Award.  She was nominated previously in 2021 and 2022.

Jimmy Buffett:  The leader of the parrot-heads died last year, and was one of the most successful touring acts ever. 

Norman Whitfield:  Working for Berry Gordy at Motown, Whitfield co-wrote and/or produced many of their hits, and was credited with the creation of “psychedelic soul”

The Hall also inducted Alexis Korner, John Mayall and Big Mama Thornton via the Musical Influence Award and Suzanne De Passe with the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

In the upcoming months, we will endeavour to revise our Notinhalloffame Rock List. Please be patient, as we also have to complete our Football, Basketball, and WWE revisions.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the newest members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced their 2024 Nominees, which if we had a million tries, we never would have guessed this group.  It is completely different than what we have seen in the past, and (taking this from a personal point of view as the Chairman of the Site) I don’t know whether this makes me happy or not.  There is a plethora of first-time nominees, many of whom have never been nominated, and it is nice to see different acts get a shot, but with this group, we have no artist whose peak began before the 70s that are here.  Is that window closed?  There are also no punk acts, and I can’t remember the last time that happened.

Also, is this a reaction to Jann Wenner’s New York Times comments that got him excommunicated from his own creation.

As Arsenio used to say, “Things that make you go…Hmmmm”

Let’s look at the 15 nominees.

A Tribe Called Quest:  Eligible since 2015, this might be the most predictable nominee as they were nominated the previous two years. 

Cher:  A few months ago, Cher was on the Kelly Clarkson Show ripping on the Rock Hall and stating that she would never accept induction.  So, what do they do?  They nominate her for the first time after being eligible since 1991.  Bluntly, what is more Rock and Roll than telling them off?

Dave Matthews Band:  The beloved jam band received their second nomination, with their first coming in 2020.

Eric B. & Rakim:  Somehow, this nomination was already leaked, which is the first to my recollection.  The hip hop duo has been eligible since 2012, the same year they received their first nomination.

Foreigner:  Arena Rock bands have a hard time gaining a nomination, but often when they get one, they get inducted.  This is their first nomination after being eligible since 2003.

Janes Addiction:  Receiving their second nomination (their first was in 2017), the body of work is not huge, but the legacy is. 

Kool and the Gang:  Finally!  It took 29 years for the group to get its first nomination, but sadly there are few of them left. 

Lenny Kravitz:  Kravitz is also another first-time nominee, and has been eligible since 2015.  He has a tough road ahead in this group.

Mariah Carey:  Does Whitney’s induction pave the way for Mariah?  It should, and if we look at commercial success, there is no better candidate than this.  Eligible since 2016, this is her first nomination.

Mary J. Blige:  Blige is now a two-time nominee (her first was 2021), but like the last time, she faces a very tough ballot for her.

Oasis:  The kings of Brit-Pop are finally here, and arguably they should have been on their first year of eligibility in 2020.  The Gallaghers giving a speech together?  As unlikely as that is, it would be money.

Ozzy Osbourne:  Already in with Black Sabbath, Ozzy receives his first solo nomination.  He has been eligible since 2006.

Peter Frampton:  Best known for his album, “Frampton Comes Alive”, Frampton receives his first nomination after 24 years of eligibility.

Sade:  Another first-time nominee, Sade has been eligible since 2010, but this is a very hard ballot for her with the high amount of women on the ballot, who all arguably have higher profiles.

Sinead O’Connor:  O’Connor passed away last year and was never nominated when she was alive.  Her first year of eligibility was 2013.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the artists who have made it as Finalists for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

This is not the first time that we have heard this from a musical icon.

Cher, 77, was a guest on the Kelly Clarkson Show yesterday, and when the topic of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame came up, she did not hold back.

“You know what, I wouldn’t be in now if they gave me a million dollars.  I’m never going to change my mind.  They can just go you-know-what themselves.”

No ambiguity there.

With the recent ousting of Jann Wenner amidst his controversial comments about women in rock, Cher’s candidacy for a Rock Hall of Fame nomination is strong, and the Hall have nominated people in the past who said they would not go in.

As always, this remains one of the most toxic Halls of Fames in the world.

Is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame still relevant? Was the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ever relevant? Does anyone still care about the Rock Hall except as a punching bag because his or her favorite artist has yet to be inducted? And just what kind of honorific is it to be labeled as a "Hall of Fame artist," anyway? Does it make their music more legitimate? Less legitimate?

Make no mistake: The notion of memorializing the music of the "Rock and Roll Era," popular music dating primarily from the mid-1950s and made almost exclusively in Western, English-speaking countries, is a worthwhile and even noble one. There is no disputing the enormous impact popular music has made in the last several decades, not just on popular culture but on the society that bred it, and establishing an institution, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (located in Cleveland, Ohio), to showcase its legacy would seem both logical and inevitable.