Nominees for induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame include:
- Pat Benatar,
- Dave Matthews Band
- Depeche Mode
- The Doobie Brothers
- Whitney Houston
- Judas Priest
- Kraftwerk
- MC5
- Motörhead
- Nine Inch Nails
- The Notorious B.I.G.
- Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
- Todd Rundgren
- Soundgarden
- T. Rex
- Thin Lizzy
So who will make it? My guess is Biggie Smalls, because he seems hip and the RRHOF wants to keep that going. Next would be Dave Matthews because new president John Sykes already mentioned them when he was named to succeed Jann Wenner. The Doobie Brothers are long overdue, and it’s embarrassing that they’re not included already. And then it’s a toss up, although I could see Whitney Houston as number 5.
In the public voting there may be a groundswell for Depeche Mode. Motorhead, with an umlaut? I don’t think so. And Judas Priest? Please. One way to go might be Nine Inch Nails, since Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have composed so many hit soundtracks besides their own record releases. Pat Benatar may turn out to be a surprise inductee because she’s a rocker and a woman, and she can be championed. She’d be a wise decision.
Does it matter? Not so much. There are still a slew of people not inducted, as well as those who are in for different reasons other than a solo career including Carole King and Sting. Still ignored: Billy Preston, Mary Wells, Carly Simon, Rufus and Carla Thomas, J Geils Band, Chubby Checker, and so on.
The next induction ceremony will be a month later than usual, in May, on the 2nd, in Cleveland, where no one wants to go. The heyday of the Waldorf Astoria, and jams with actual rock legends is over.
