The Rock and Roll Futures (248)
As we intend to make this website a constant work in process, we though it would be useful to discuss the future bands/artists who will become eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Many of these artists are still recording and/or performing and thus adding to their impending legacy. They will be in our future lists so please feel free to vote so that we can rank them accordingly when they become eligible.
There are many who will look at Rihanna and state that this is not a rock star and a mega-pop star at best. Let’s say she is, and if that is all, the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame have inducted people as popular for as long as Rihanna.
A very respected Punk Rock band from the Second City, Rise Against was a little more structured than they got credit for, especially lyrically. The band would become known for political stances, human rights and well, “Rising Against” the inequalities they saw in the world. This may actually be one of the more accurately named bands in recent memory.
A critically acclaimed Hip Hop artist, RJD2 embraced Electronica more than many of his peers and indirectly had quite the Indie and Alt Hip Hop feel. It didn’t always translate into album sales though, and a Hall of Fame induction seems a far away at this point, though he has evolved into an excellent producer.
Rob Zombie may be better known as a director or for leading White Zombie, but he did have a decent solo career of note continuing with the Horror themed Science Fiction that he excels at. As such, as talented as Zombie is overall, his musical career may be far too one dimensional to get a serious look from the Hall.
A colossal star in England and the rest of Europe, Robbie Williams did have a small taste of success with his slickly produced Pop. Williams was initially a member of the British Boy Band, Take That, but after quitting (or being ousted) the group, Williams sought solo stardom which he did eventually get. He won’t make the Hall of Fame, but he can console himself with…
The leader of the influential Lo-Fi group, Guided by Voices, Robert Pollard struck out on his own and developed a much acclaimed musical catalogue on his own. There are many who praise Pollard as a musical genius, but foe every one that says this, there are likely ten people saying “Who the hell is Robert Pollard?”
In terms of lineage, Rufus Wainwright was born to be Singer/Songwriter and he has not disappointed. He churns out beautiful album after beautiful album and though the world hasn’t completely took notice, those in the musical know have. Any chance he has for the Hall of Fame though greatly depends on whether some of the legendary songwriters of the past get in first.
If you were in to slickly produced Pop, there was few better than Australia’s Savage Garden. Although they only had two albums, they sold well and churned out hits internationally. Pop in its purest form has entered the Hall (ABBA), but the body of work pales in comparison to the Swedish stars. Basically, we can’t see this happening.
They did not become as successful as some of the Emo bands they inspired, but Saves the Day had a decent career in their own right. A very energetic band, the New Jersey group may not have been darlings of the critics but their fans were not exactly the type who cared less.
In our first write up on a band from South Africa, Seether has been successful in penetrating the U.S. market with a relatively safe blend of Rock and Metal. This is not meant to be an insulting comment, as many American bands have done the same thing, but as much as we would like to see a band from the emerging continent of Africa enter the…
Dubbed inappropriately as Pearl Jam Lite by some, Seven Mary Three was a hard working rock band that straddled the line between traditional Rock and Alternative. The band managed to score a couple of hits in the last half of the 90’s, but the band petered off in popularity and in all reality had not nearly enough to be a serious Cleveland contender.
The closest thing Alternative Rock ever had to teen prodigies, Australia’s Silverchair took the alt world by storm by their uncanny sonic resemblance to Pearl Jam. Of course, mimics are rarely respected, and though Silverchair received an early pass due to their youth, they worked hard to develop their own identity. They may not have remained in the public eye in North America, but they did…
Possibly one of the most successful bands to come out of Quebec, Simple Plan followed in the mode of the Pop-Punk bands of the mid 2000’s. While their music was never considered deep, it was fun for what it was and sold quite a few albums. Whether or not the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame pays attention to them at all remains to be seen.
Justifiably inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Guns ‘N’ Roses, Slash led a Hard Rock project in 1995 aptly named Slash’s Snakepit. The band never took off the way that GNR did, but how could it? Many artists have entered the Hall a second time but there is little reason to think that Slash will be able to do so with this…
Although they sounded more like a Retro Novelty band than a Modern Rock outfit, Smash Mouth was able to secure several hits in the late 90’s. We do however question any band’s Hall of Fame chances when the lead singer appears in the Surreal Life. That is not something a Hall of Famer should (or would) do.
They may have formed in Scotland, but Snow Patrol is arguable the most important band to come out of Northern Ireland in the last twenty years. Achieving International success with their brand of Alternative Power Pop, they may have been at their best when they focused on introspective songs of a melancholy nature. Their Hall of Fame chances will likely be based on how much continued…
Something Corporate is a great name for an Emo Band, though we never really thought that was a label that suited them. This group was a very slick and polished band that arguably were more of amalgamation of Elton John and Alternative Rock. They did not make a huge splash commercially but might historically become more significant than those who outsold them.
Sparklehorse was basically the one man operation of Mark Linkous who may have delivered the most introspective and morose songs of recent memory. The music of Sparklehorse was laden with antidepressants and internal conflict, yet there was a hypnotic beauty to the music. To the shock of few, Linkous committed suicide like so many in Rock has. It is possible that one day the music of…
From Toronto, the very difficult to categorize band, “Stars” may have found a way to blend the retro Soul of Marvin Gaye, with the Post Punk of New Order. The result was a surprisingly beautiful sound that though did not sell a lot of records, pleased all of those who bought it. It is not exactly a Hall of Fame resume, but they did leave a…