As has been unofficially announced on the web, the official inductees for the 2019 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are supposed to be announced on Thursday, December 13, which is about 3 days away. The fan vote ended yesterday, so the votes are in and are now being counted. The moment of truth for Rock Hall watchers and hobbyists is almost upon us!
And as usual, I’m late to the party, and I think, the last Rock Hall blogger to come up with their predictions. Truthfully, I’ve kind of had my predictions set for about a month, but just haven’t gotten around to making a blog about it. Blogging for me is like cleaning. I only do it when I’m motivated and in the mood for it, but when I do so, I’m all-in lol. Hence, why it can never be an official job for me. Then again, that might actually motivate me to stay on top of actually blogging on a regular basis if I was getting paid for it and had actual deadlines and stuff. Anyways, enough about me and my general lazy nature. Let’s get to the predictions!
I’m gonna list the nominated acts in order of least likely to be inducted to most likely. 15-1 with 15 having no chance in Hell of induction and No. 1 being “I’ll cut my arm off if I’m wrong” level of likely to be inducted. So let’s get to it!
“The No Chance in Hell Club”
15. Kraftwerk
As I’ve stated on many occasions, Kraftwerk is the most important band in modern music history not yet inducted into the HOF (eligible or not eligible for the HOF). The Nominating Committee obviously shares this viewpoint as they’ve been nominated now 5 times for the HOF. However, they continually get passed over by the voters, and I don’t expect that to change this year. I’ve seen a number of people online ask why they can’t get in, and it’s quite simple. Kraftwerk’s impact on music is either not yet realized by those on the Voting Committee and/or they just don’t care. Kraftwerk was a band that was way ahead of their time and their impact on music and the way it sounds and is even made is felt far more on today’s music scene, where every notable genre is made with computers and electronics, from rap, to pop, to EDM, to indie rock, even country has elements of electronic. But the Voting Committee is made up largely of voters that don’t care about music past 1980, let alone past 2000, at least with the current living artists that are actually inducted into the HOF. The Bon Jovi’s, Black Sabbath’s, Jerry Lee Lewis’s and Eric Clapton’s of the world likely could care less about Kraftwerk and how big their imprint is on current music. The makeup of the Voting Committee that has continuously passed them over has not changed as far as we know, so I doubt their chances will be any better at getting more votes. So I’ll be stunned if they make it. It would be a wonderful Christmas present for me. But unfortunately, I’m more likely to see Santa Claus coming down my chimney than seeing Kraftwerk get inducted into the HOF. Hopefully I’m wrong (on both counts, seeing Santa come down my chimney would fulfill a childhood dream, but that’s another story for another time).
14. The MC5
The MC5’s chances are slightly better than Kraftwerk’s, but are also extremely slim. While I think the majority of the Voting Committee are aware of the MC5’s impact on music and thus, are more respected than Kraftwerk, but proto-punk, and heck punk in general, has also had a difficult time getting inducted into the HOF. The Stooges took 8 nominations to get in, and they were far more famous, particularly with Iggy Pop being a pretty well known star. The MC5 never had anyone in their band that reached at least a minor level of mainstream success like Iggy Pop, nor are they as well known in general. The MC5 have respect among the Voters, but not enough to push them ahead of the bigger names on the ballot in my view. I won’t be surprised if “Kick Out the Jams” makes the second group of singles inductees, thus closing the door on their chances for induction as an actual act (although Tom Morello might have something to say about that).
13. Devo
Devo being an American band gives them an edge over Kraftwerk, and they’re more known by mainstream music audiences than the MC5, and I can see some HOFers voting for them like Chrissie Hynde and Neil Young, however too many voters will probably think of them as a one-hit wonder with “Whip It,” or as a novelty, goofy type of band with their sound and image (the flower pot hats), or at least enough voters that will prevent them from making headway against the bigger name, more widely known and respected acts on the ballot. That being said, their chances are better than Kraftwerk’s and the MC5’s in my view.
“The Decent Chances but Not Likely Club”
12. LL Cool J.
This is where we start getting to the “anything can happen” territory. LL will definitely get voters. Anyone that is a fan of hip-hop or respects hip-hop is gonna vote for him. Even voters that are fans of more modern R&B and pop will probably throw a vote LL’s way. If my Mom was a voter, she would vote for him as he’s about the only rap artist she really likes, lol. The fact that he continuously comes back on the ballot shows that he must be making progress with voters. However what holds him back is the heavily “classic rock” demographic that dominates the “Voting Committee” when it comes to the current inductees of the HOF. Between all of the classic rock acts and even older R&B acts that don’t respect hip-hop, those voters will most likely not vote for him. And the “Voting Committee” has presumably gotten even older and whiter, which doesn’t bode well for his chances. Unless another “Grandmaster Flash incident” happens and those at the Hall refuse to go another year without a hip-hop inductee, I don’t think LL will quite make it to the finish line. Plus, he’s not at the level of a Run-DMC, Public Enemy, 2Pac, Jay-Z, or Eminem that even older out of touch voters that hate hip-hop can’t deny. He’ll get votes, but not enough for induction in my view.
11. Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine has a decent shot of induction, and are probably a borderline “dark horse” candidate, however like LL, I think they’ll fall short of the votes needed. The Voting Committee has never been kind to metal and hard rock unless they were big on the pop charts (ala Aerosmith, Queen, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, etc) and Rage Against the Machine helped pioneer a style of metal that was far more modern and critically derided (nu metal). Their political lyrics will hold sway with some of the more politically minded voters that can look past the noise and appreciate the content and overall message and presentation of their music, but in the end there’s just too many other acts on this ballot that voters will likely go more towards than the harsh, loud music of Rage Against the Machine. But Rage will most likely get votes among more modern critics, hard rock inductees, politically minded musicians currently inducted, and the majority of the current hard rock and metal inductees and voters. But in the end it won’t be enough in my estimation.
“The Dark Horse Candidates”
10. Rufus feat. Chaka Khan
It’s no secret that 70’s and 80’s R&B music is heavily neglected by the HOF and it’s voters. Many highly worthy acts have been nominated over the years from War and the Spinners to Rufus and Chaka Khan (and Chaka solo) and Chic to global superstar Janet Jackson. Donna Summer had to die (literally) to finally get enough votes to be inducted. The narrative seems to be that R&B was great in the 50’s and during the heyday of Motown, Atlantic, and Stax Records in the 60’s, but after that R&B became less and less relevant which is an extremely false narrative. Again, like with Kraftwerk, much of modern music over the last 30 years has been heavily influenced from funk, disco, and general R&B of the 70’s and 80’s. Many of the most iconic songs of the 2000’s and 2010’s are literally samples of funk and R&B songs from the 70’s and 80’s. The most important genres on modern music are electronic/synth-pop and funk/disco/R&B of the 70’s and 80’s. Which of course brings us to Rufus and Chaka Khan who are on their third nomination as a group, while Chaka has two separate nominations as a solo artist. 70’s R&B can’t quite get over the hump just like 80’s alternative, electronic/synth-pop and non-commercial hard rock/metal acts, but Chaka Khan is different. She’s collaborated with many current HOFers and not just the R&B and rap inductees, but many of the white rockers. Chaka is highly respected by musicians of all walks of life. When it comes to the living inductees, I’ll bet the majority are at least considering voting for her and Rufus. Which puts the group in “dark horse inductees” candidacy. Their chances aren’t huge, but they could easily surprise everyone and make it past the finish line. I’m predicting they won’t, but I won’t be shocked if they do.
9. The Cure
Much like 70’s/80’s R&B, 80’s alt rock has failed time and time again to make it past the finish line. Besides the late 70’s/early 80’s American new wave acts from the first wave of punk who were able to get induction (Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, Blondie, Pretenders, the Police, U2, etc), no one that really defined 80’s alt-rock have made it in, except R.E.M. who were also one of the biggest bands of the early 90’s alt-rock explosion (which has had much better luck of getting representation). Depeche Mode, the Replacements, Eurythmics, the Smiths, Bad Brains, and the Cure have all failed to make it past the finish line. It’s obvious that the living inductees of the “classic rock” era have voted for their peers and not for the future, and it’s done enough to prevent some major acts of the 80’s alt rock scene (both American and European) from breaking through. This situation is the perfect example of why I feel the living inductees portion of the Voting Committee has more influence than the journalists/critics/modern musicians portion of the Voting Committee. I imagine most modern music journalists would pick the Cure, Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, the Smiths, LL Cool J, and Janet Jackson over Bon Jovi, the Moody Blues, Electric Light Orchestra, Chicago, and Dire Straits for example. That’s why my predictions are based more on what I think the living inductees will vote for over the journalists/critics, younger voters. However, at some point, 80’s alt rock is gonna have to break through and of all the bands that could be the one to do it, the Cure is as solid a choice as any. They were one of the bands that had mainstream success on the American pop charts and MTV during the late 80’s and early 90’s before Nirvana and grunge made alt-rock explode in the 90’s. The fact that they’ve finished in the top of the Fan Vote also shows that music fans want them in as well. I would categorize them as a “Dark Horse” candidate. They’re not a sure thing and I’m predicting they’ll not quite make it, but I won’t be shocked if they do.
8. Roxy Music
Roxy Music, much like the Velvet Underground, T. Rex, the Stooges, the MC5, Big Star, and Nick Drake are what I like to call “proto-alternative” in that they were a major influence on the 80’s new wave scene. At the same time, they were clearly around during the 70’s “Classic Rock” era, so you could also consider them a “classic rock” band, which helps increase their chances and why I think they have a better shot than the other alternative acts on the ballot like the Cure, Devo, Kraftwerk, and Rage Against the Machine. Classic Rock acts have dominated the ballots in the last 7-8 years, and if you were around in the late 60’s and 70’s eras of “classic rock” your chances for induction increase ten-fold, even if you were outside the norm for that time, which Roxy Music certainly were. They didn’t have the success in America that the official “classic rock” acts on the ballot had, but they still could benefit from being around in the 70’s. In addition, Brian Eno is one of the most important and successful music producers of the 80’s and 90’s, so there’s plenty of acts and voters that might vote for Roxy Music just for their association and appreciation of Brian Eno alone. I think a number of the British artists currently inducted and even some of the 70’s American inductees will throw votes to Roxy Music. Also fans of alt-rock will likely at least consider them if not flat out vote for them. However, they are “alternative” compared to acts like Def Leppard, Todd Rungren, Stevie Nicks, etc. I think Roxy Music is definitely the sleeper choice in that on the surface they don’t appear to quite have enough support to make it past the finish line, yet at the same time, they might have way more than enough support to make it. We’ll find out in a few days!
“The Too Close to Call Club”
Before we get started, these next three acts are the acts that will round out the list of inductees. If there’s 5 inductees, one of these three acts will be the final inductee. If there’s six inductees, two of the three will round out the list of inductees. These three acts have a 50/50 chance of induction in my view.
7. John Prine
If this nomination for John Prine had come say 5-10 years ago, I would say he’d be a shoe-in. The old guard of the HOF promptly inducted just about any 60’s and 70’s singer-songwriter that made the ballot. Gram Parsons and Sting really being about the only ones to not eventually make it in as of this time. Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Donovan, David Bowie, Neil Young, Billy Joel, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Randy Newman, Cat Stevens, Laura Nyro, Joan Baez, Lou Reed, Bill Withers, Neil Diamond, Tom Waits, John Mellencamp, are all examples of solo singer-songwriters with piano or guitar-based music that have shot right into the HOF in most cases. The HOF and most voters highly revere artists that write their own songs with confessional and introspective lyrics that tell stories and speak for people. And throughout the history of the Hall, whenever one of these artists appears on the ballot, 90% of the time they get inducted immediately. John Prine is another example of that type of artist who has immense respect from his fellow musicians (like Bob Dylan, Roger Waters, and Johnny Cash to name just a few) and music critics. He is the perfect example of a critical darling singer-songwriter type that easily gets in over more famous and popular but critically derided acts. However, just about everyone I mentioned had at least one hit song if not tons of hit songs either on the pop charts or on radio. That’s where John Prine falls short. Even among hardcore singer-songwriter aficionados, John Prine is less known than the average singer-songwriter RNRHOF nominee. Prine will probably get votes from quite a few living inductees, but most younger voters whether they’re critics, musicians, or journalists will probably not vote for him. He’s the type of artist, however, that has always had an easy time getting inducted, so I’ve put him as a finalist for the last spot or two on the list of inductees. He could easily make it in, or he may not quite make it. It all comes down to how obscure he really is. There’s two artists he’s fighting for for the last spot or two.
6. Radiohead
Surely the voters won’t pass on them a second time? The greatest rock band of the post-Nirvana era? Surely they won’t? Please tell me they won’t? Please don’t be stupid for a second year in a row Rock Hall voters! Okay, my personal pleas for logic and reasoning aside, many of the greatest acts in rock history did not get inducted on their first nomination. Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, (yes they were nominated for the first class) Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, the Velvet Underground, the Grateful Dead, Cream, the Stooges, Black Sabbath, Queen, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Deep Purple, KISS (yes I feel they were a first ballot HOFer), the Beastie Boys, N.W.A., Janet Jackson, Nine Inch Nails, etc. all did not get inducted on their first nomination. Radiohead falling in that category isn’t exactly shameful per se. Why Radiohead didn’t make it on their first go-around is one of the biggest mysteries of the recent years of the HOF. Could it be they got the votes, but the Hall cast them aside because they wouldn’t come to the induction ceremony (aka: politics)? Could it be that voters were too stupid and not familiar enough with them to know their impact and greatness? Could it be the older, living inductees have listened to them and didn’t see what the big deal was (it’s hard for people to be open minded to new sounds and styles, I’m guilty of it too)? Could it be too many voters assumed they would go right in and gave their vote to other artists they felt needed it more? If the latter is true, it stands to reason that the voters will realize that and not make the same mistake again. I could see the older voters passing over Radiohead for John Prine. I could see the younger voters passing over John Prine to vote for Radiohead instead. Radiohead and John Prine is the biggest example of the generational divide among voters for this year’s ballot in my view. Will the old guard prevail (an induction for John Prine), or will the new guard prevail (an induction for Radiohead)? We’ll find out on the 13th! (presumably).
5. Janet Jackson
Then there’s “Ms. Jackson, if you’re nasty” (sorry, that never gets old for me), who just might steal the final spot from both Radiohead and/or Prine. I think Janet’s chances are slightly better than both because there’s not as much competition among artists of her style compared to John Prine and Radiohead. Radiohead has to compete with the Cure, Rage Against the Machine, and to a lesser extent Roxy Music, Devo, and Kraftwerk. John Prine has to compete with Todd Rundgren and Stevie Nicks, two singer-songwriters who are far more well known and just as respected. Janet Jackson has Rufus and Chaka Khan and to a lesser extent, LL Cool J in her way which is not near as heavy-duty competition. Anyone that appreciates R&B, pop, modern music, female artists, and even rap are gonna throw Janet a vote, whereas people that love singer-songwriters and classic rock might skip over John Prine in favor of Stevie Nicks, Todd Rundgren, or even the Zombies. And in Radiohead’s case, alt-rock fans might skip them to honor the pioneers that paved the way for them in the case of Roxy Music, Kraftwerk, the Cure, and Devo, or might rather vote for an American 90’s alt-rock act in Rage Against the Machine, or might want to vote for a heavier alt-rock act and feel Radiohead isn’t heavy enough (the Eddie Trunk’s of the world). Janet has a clearer path. This should be her year. I hope anyway.
“The Sure-Bets Club”
4. The Zombies
Of all the acts on the ballot, no one has less competition standing in their way of induction than the Zombies. Other than the MC5, no prominent act of the 60’s is on the ballot besides the Zombies. And really they’re not in competition with each other. The Zombies have nothing to do with punk or proto-punk, and the MC5 has nothing do with the British Invasion and mid 60’s pop or baroque pop or early prog, however you want to categorize the Zombies. Last year the Moody Blues (a far more successful and influential act) stood in their way. That’s the not the case this year. Now for overall classic rock, there’s of course Todd Rundgren, Stevie Nicks, and Def Leppard, but like the MC5, it’s doubtful that people excited about Def Leppard or gonna care about the Zombies and vice-versa (well besides me lol, although I’m not an official voter). This should be the Zombies’ year (pun intended). Every living inductee that took part in the 60’s British Invasion is gonna vote for them. Most fans of classic rock in general are gonna vote for them. Even some of the younger, hipper voters will throw a vote their way thanks to the Zombies’ rejuvenated career during the 2010’s. I’ve got the Zombies at fourth because I wouldn’t quite bet my life or my right arm staying intact on my body that they’ll be inducted, but I definitely consider them a sure bet with minimal chance of not being inducted.
3. Stevie Nicks
Now we’re starting to get to “I’ll chop off my right arm if I’m wrong” territory for my predictions. I’ve been saying right from the get go that Stevie is a sure thing for induction if she makes the ballot. Why is that? Because she’s probably the most respected and beloved female musician in rock history, even in today’s day and age where she’s still revered among female artists. Yes, much of that legacy is built on her work with Fleetwood Mac and not nearly as much on her solo career, which I don’t frankly feel is Hall worthy. That being said, every female voter from the living inductees to all of the journalists, critics, younger musicians, are all gonna vote for her. 90% of the living inductees from the classic rock era (male or female) are gonna vote for her (you know the Eagles, members of Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, etc are all gonna vote for her). Even among metal and hard rock aficionados, they respect Stevie too. Even hip-hop artists respect her. Everyone respects her. The few people that won’t vote for her will probably realize her induction with Fleetwood Mac is enough to represent her in the HOF. However, I think most people that vote for her aren’t gonna think of it from that perspective. They’re gonna look at her star-power, and overall legacy as a rock star and female artist. People aren’t gonna vote for Stevie Nicks body of work during her solo career. They’re gonna vote for Stevie Nicks, the star, the legend, the rock icon. She might get more votes than anyone on the ballot, and finish in first place, honestly.
2. Todd Rundgren
Why is Todd Rundgren at No. 2 on my list of most likely artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year? Simple. He checks all of the boxes for what a typical Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee is in this day and age. Writes his own songs? Check. Has had hit songs that still endure to this day? Check. Was part of the “classic rock” era and gets played on classic rock radio? Check. Was an innovative and eclectic artist? Check. Has respect among fellow musicians and music critics? Check. Collaborated with many artists including current HOFer’s? Check. Is still an active artist pushing musical boundaries? Check. Is a white, male that plays the guitar? Check. (I know that last one was harsh, but it’s true, if you’re a white male that plays guitar, your chances for induction increase ten fold based on the last 10 years of Rock Hall classes). Todd Rundgren, more than anyone else on the ballot, is the perfect modern Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. He pleases the populist classic rock lovers that the Hall has embraced in the last 10 years. He also pleases the anti-populists that want edgier, innovative artists inducted instead. Many in the Rock Hall watchers community are saying he’s gonna get the Musical Excellence award rather than an actual induction as a Performer. And with all due respect to those people, they’re forgetting what typically causes “backdoor” inductions. Artists on the main ballot that just can’t get enough votes for induction so the Hall looks at other ways to bypass that and get them induction. Wanda Jackson, Freddie King, and the 5 Royales as Early Influences inductees. Leon Russell and Ringo Starr for the Musical Excellence award (although to be fair they never got an actual nomination on the main Performers ballot to find out if they could get the votes). That’s simply not gonna be necessary for Todd Rundgren. I think a lot of the “Todd Rundgren will get the Musical Excellence Award” chatter is merely because many think he fits better in that category than as an actual Performer. My personal opinion is that he’s deserving of both, because his production and collaboration work merits a Musical Excellence award. But as a Performer he’s very deserving of induction. Where we all think he should be honored at is irrelevant though. What matters is will he get the votes for induction, now that he’s on the ballot? I have no doubt he will. He is a perfect example of someone the voters will vote for in a heartbeat once he gets on the ballot. He’s been eligible for 23 years and has finally made his first appearance. Much like the Moody Blues, Dire Straits, Electric Light Orchestra, Chicago, Cheap Trick, Steve Miller, Journey, Peter Gabriel, Hall & Oates, Linda Ronstadt, Rush, Genesis, Neil Diamond, and Alice Cooper, look for Todd Rundgren to shoot right into the HOF on his first try.
1. Def Leppard
Now Def Leppard at No. 1 does not mean I think they’ll finish first among the voters. I don’t think that’s the case at all. I see the Zombies, Stevie Nicks, and Todd Rundgren definitely getting more votes. Even John Prine and/or Janet Jackson might get more votes as well. But one thing we’ve seen over the last 7 years is that whomever wins the Fan Vote gets inducted. Why that is is a mystery to Rock Hall watchers. We don’t know if the Fan Vote winner is legitimately getting enough votes to get induction on their own and thus the voters and who they’re voting for tends to match with who the fans vote for on the Fan Poll. Or if the Hall has made an unofficial rule that whomever wins the Fan Vote gets in whether they get enough votes from the rest of the voters or not. If there’s any act that’s gonna test that last theory, it’s probably Def Leppard. Def Leppard was one of the biggest bands of the 1980’s and in my view the band that really kickstarted and defined the era of 80’s hair metal (they had massive hits on the pop charts and MTV before anyone else of that genre did). However, they were never critically acclaimed by music writers and critics. They also fall in a bad line among musicians whom either didn’t take hard rock, metal or especially hair metal seriously, yet at the same time also weren’t taken seriously by hardcore rock and metal aficionados because they were too pop-flavored. You could make those same arguments for Bon Jovi who got in last year, however Bon Jovi had more of an American-centric background (being from New Jersey and all) and thus were able to relate more to American-based rock musicians and fans that weren’t of the hard rock ilk. Bruce Springsteen is exactly whom I have in mind. I have no doubt that Bruce Springsteen (who is probably one of the more knowledgeable voters of the living inductees, even on modern music) voted for Bon Jovi. Not so much for being a hard rock fan, but because they had similar roots and came from similar backgrounds. I don’t see Bruce voting for Def Leppard. Def Leppard doesn’t have that American “common man” image that Bon Jovi had. I think they definitely did have a similar image in Britain, but an artists’ image and legacy in Britain and Europe is irrelevant to the HOF. It’s all about the American viewpoint.
It seems like I’m casting a lot of doubt on Def Leppard being inducted, especially for having them at No. 1 on my list. In the end, I have a strong belief that the Fan Vote matters and the fact that they finished No. 1 makes them the biggest shoe-in for induction. If I’m wrong and Def Leppard becomes the first winner of the Fan Vote to not be inducted, than many of us in the Rock Hall watcher community will not only be absolutely stunned, but we’ll have to reevaluate how we look at the Fan Vote and it’s importance on the Rock Hall Voting process. I don’t think that’s the case though. Def Leppard is popular enough and enough of a big deal to lead them to induction, especially with the Fan Vote win.
Final Overall Thoughts on the Group of Nominees and the 2019 Class
In the end, I think this year’s group will mirror the classes of the last decade in that it will be classic rock heavy, even though the classic rock acts on the ballot are not near as populist and major staples of classic rock radio as in past years. The only act on the ballot that is “heavily” played on classic rock radio is Def Leppard. Roxy Music, Todd Rundgren, the Zombies, and even Stevie Nicks’ solo career have just a few songs played on classic rock radio and have their own work to stand out on outside of how much they’re played on your local classic rock station. That being said, classic rock acts of the 70’s and 80’s have dominated the classes over the last decade, and this year will be no different in my view. The four true full-fledged classic rock acts will all be inducted with Def Leppard, Todd Rundgren, Stevie Nicks, and the Zombies making the cut. The Hall has never had a class of less than 5 inductees (God, I hope that doesn’t change this year), so the final inductee, or if we’re lucky, final 2 or even 3 inductees will be non-classic rock which is great for diversity. I think it’ll come down to Janet Jackson who along with Def Leppard and Stevie Nicks will make for some major headline-level starpower on the show, or it will come down to Radiohead bringing a modern edge to the the class, or it will be the other artist that was around during the classic rock era even though they get no play on classic rock radio, that being John Prine, which will serve as a major feel-good moment considering all of the health troubles he’s had over the last 20 years. An induction and performance at the ceremony would make for a truly feel-good, triumphant moment for him and his fans, even though I’m not a fan of his at all. On the same token, it’s highly possible that we could have a 50/50 classic rock and alt-rock class as some combination of Roxy Music, Radiohead and the Cure (or Rage Against the Machine) could go along with Def, Rundgren, Zombies, and Nicks.
Whatever happens, unless the class turns out to be 5 inductees and Nicks and Prine occupy 2 of the 5 spots, it’s hard to have a disappointing class with this group of nominees. By the way if that happens, if the other 3 are Janet Jackson, Radiohead, and Kraftwerk (the three biggest snubs of the HOF; yes that’s a spoilers on my 150 Biggest Snubs of the Rock Hall list, which I’ll hopefully someday continue the blog series on), then it would still make for one of the best 5 inductee classes in the Hall’s history.
Either way, the list of nominees this year was as solid as any in recent memory. I like the quality over quantity approach. I think the Hall should stick with 15 artist ballots as it gives each act a better chance of induction (plus in what world from a numbers perspective does 19 make any sense? Why not 20?)
Anyways, we should know within days who the next group of inductees will be.
In the meantime, let me know your thoughts in the comments below! See everyone on Thursday (unless the announcement date is changed, let’s hope not!)
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