The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame names its 2025 Class

On this evening’s American Idol, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the 13-person class of 2025.

As always, it is a mixed bag of genres and generations, and entries we did not see coming.

That’s the Rock Hall for you.

Here are the incoming members of the Rock Hall:

Entering via the traditional vote:

Bad Company:  The Classic Rock group had multiple hits in the 1970s and early 80s and were inducted on their first ballot, though they have been eligible since 1997.

Chubby Checker:  Best known for the “Twist”, Checker has been eligible for the Hall since its inception in 1986, but was never nominated until this year.

Joe Cocker:  Like Bad Company and Checker, Cocker is inducted on his first attempt but never received a nomination until decades after first being eligible.

Cyndi Lauper:  Lauper shot to fame in the mid-80s and enters Cleveland on her second nomination.  She was first eligible in 2009.

Outkast:  The influential duo from Atlanta also entered on their first try, though they have only been eligible since 2019.

Soundgarden:  The third time is the charm for the Seattle band that was previously nominated in 2020 and 2022.

The White Stripes.  Jack and Meg White become Rock and Roll Hall of Famers on their second attempt, the first coming in 2023.

Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Mana, Mariah Carey, Oasis, and Phish did not make the cut.

Also entering the Hall are Warren Zevon and Salt-N-Pepa, who enter via the Musical Excellence category, which, bluntly is a way for the Hall to bypass the committee.  Zevon was previously nominated in 2023, and Salt-N-Pepa has never been on a ballot.  They also selected producer Thom Bell, pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carole Kaye.  The final inductee is Warner Bros. Executive Lenny Waronker.

Next month, we will begin revisions on our Notinhalloffame Rock list.

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