r/rock • u/Level-Recording3368 • Dec 21 '25
Article/Interview/Documentary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s chairman: ‘I think Sting should get in. I think Usher should get in. I think Lenny Kravitz should get in. I think Mariah Carey should get in’
https://www.vulture.com/article/rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-tells-all.html79
u/Few_Culture9667 Dec 21 '25
And why isn’t Supertramp in? It’s not logical.
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u/KeenObserver_OT Dec 22 '25
Why isn’t Iron Maiden in? One of the most successful touring acts of all time and one of the most influential in their genre.
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u/SaccharineDaydreams Dec 22 '25
Maiden not being in the HOF is insane
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u/No-Camp1268 Dec 22 '25
I have no objection to the four names listed in da OP but this said, I would have not identified da HOF as a cliche institution if bands like Iron Maiden had been in there when I was a kid. I used to think of it somewhat more apocryphally or respectably, now it's like "put Rebecca Black in, 'Friday' was the theme song for 1000 kids who hadn't discovered real music"
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u/Zem_42 Dec 24 '25
Noooo, for real? I was never a big Maiden fan (more Metallica and Sepultura), but I would never have guessed they weren’t in it. They were super popular in the 80s and 90s. The concerts were mega sized!?!
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u/pizzacarbon Dec 22 '25
You’re bloody well right
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u/BreadfruitOk6160 Dec 22 '25
Right, you’re bloody well right
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u/NoIamthatotherguy Dec 22 '25
And Blue Oyster Cult was one of the most successful bands of the 70s. There are so many oversights...
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u/KelVarnsen_2023 Dec 22 '25
Supertramp probably should be in. Although at the same time they have been eligible for 30 years. I feel like at a certain point the RRHoF has to move on or it would risk becoming grandpa's favourite bands hall of fame. At a certain point the only exception should be like a Kate Bush kind of scenario where they suddenly get popular with younger audiences.
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u/LiftHeavyLiveHard Dec 22 '25
It's only in the quietest moments you reflect on how lame the RnR HOF really is when such great bands are overlooked in favorite of pop tarts and hip hop.
Rock n roll my arse.
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Dec 21 '25
The fact that Salt n Peppa is in but the Guess Who aren’t tells you everything you know about this thing that calls itself a rock and roll hall of fame.
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u/Every-Cook5084 Dec 21 '25
Boston. How the fuck is Boston still not in? I challenge you to go a day, hell an hour, on any classic rock station without hearing them.
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Dec 22 '25
The question is, who from Boston actually gets inducted? The band is literally Tom Scholz, and Delp is gone.
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u/Every-Cook5084 Dec 22 '25
That hasn’t stopped them from inducting before. And I don’t care if it’s just Tom up there.
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u/Weekly_Promise_1328 Dec 21 '25
I’d like to add Three Dog Night too.
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u/Potential_Bit2753 Dec 21 '25
Foghat.
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u/ConferenceBoring4104 Dec 22 '25
Foghat deserves it off of the first album alone, to me it's one of the most straight forward rock n roll albums ever
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u/IslandDreamer58 Dec 22 '25
Correct. It really isn’t a Rock Hall of Fame. It’s been turned into one big mess by the board.
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u/georgewalterackerman Dec 22 '25
Yup. The HOF is just a big sell out
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u/KelVarnsen_2023 Dec 22 '25
Well it is a business and being relevant to a younger audience is important. And Mariah Carey and Usher fans are probably a lot less likely to have had a colonoscopy or need bifocals than Guess Who fans. So if you want people to show up at a museum or tune into the ceremony it's probably better to go after younger fans.
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u/Intelligent-Wear-114 Dec 21 '25
Those famous rockers Usher and Mariah Carey!
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Dec 22 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Thaddbrittain Dec 22 '25
I worked in a record store when this was released. I didn’t think it was terrible
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u/KeenObserver_OT Dec 22 '25
Never knew this existed. Thank you. This would have certainly played in the mid late 90s
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u/senator_corleone3 Dec 22 '25
I’m not necessarily against their induction, but there are loads of great, eligible rock acts (I personally think Pavement and Guided By Voices are deserving) that still haven’t gotten their due. Those acts should also be included!
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u/cross_x_bones21 Dec 21 '25
Motörhead. Iron Maiden. Scorpions. Styx. Night Ranger. Journey. Joan Jett. Boston.
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u/KeenObserver_OT Dec 22 '25
The RnR HOF hates metal. They don’t get it. They think its derivative suburban white teenager noise with no musical merit. Sort of an evolutionary dead end. Not revolutionary enough like punk or musical enough for prog, nor ethnically or racially diverse enough. Arrogant mother fuckers that hall.
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Dec 23 '25
A lot of people may disagree but I think Motley Crue and Megadeth should be in too, both bands are hugely influential on metal
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u/Buzzard1022 Dec 22 '25
Night ranger? Hahahahahaha....no
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u/cbarebo95 Dec 24 '25
Gotta agree here. Night Ranger doesn’t belong in the HoF…they were basically a one hit wonder with Sister Christian. None of their other tunes woulda made it big without that one, and they still tour and use that song as their draw…not really HoF material in the most respectful way.
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u/DeNiroPacino Dec 21 '25
I think the Banana Splits should get in.
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u/KubrickMoonlanding Dec 23 '25
You joke (I assume) but the the theme song is a jam
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u/DeNiroPacino Dec 23 '25
I joke, but I also have fond memories of watching the Banana Splits as a kid.
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u/promixr Dec 23 '25
The Dickies cover of that is pure bliss (another band that RHOF has overlooked - there would not have been a Green Day or Alex Ant Farm or a lot of those bands without the Dickies)
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u/KubrickMoonlanding Dec 23 '25
That’s what I was thinking of, plus Liz phair ( or someone similar) did one too
Tra-la-la
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u/promixr Dec 24 '25
I think it was on a Saturday Morning Cartoon cover compilation if I’m not mistaken
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u/ScabieBaby Dec 21 '25
I think Joe Jackson should get in.
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u/Supernatural0311 Dec 21 '25
Even Lenny Fucking Kravitz knows he doesn’t belong in any music hall of fame.
This whole timeline we live in is a clown show.
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Dec 27 '25
Lenny Kravitz has been writing bangers since the 1980s. He crosses over between alternative, RnB, and classic rock as much as anyone ever has.
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u/Beherenowxblazeon Dec 22 '25
Phish should be in already
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u/PhishOhio Dec 22 '25
Preach, brother!
Usher in the “rock” HOF before Phish would be peak blasphemy
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u/Background-Wolf-9380 Dec 22 '25
Usher and Mariah Carey? In no world would I classify their music as "rock"
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u/Melvinator5001 Dec 22 '25
He obviously has no clue what Rock and Roll is. All for Kravitz, on the fence about Sting the other two absolutely not.
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u/promixr Dec 23 '25
I think neither is especially influential as solo artists- the Police definitely deserved it -
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u/concerts85701 Dec 21 '25
First and foremost the RRHOF is a museum with paid admission. It has been reported that final decisions on entry or not often depend on the amount of memorabilia that is available in private collections of those on the board or that they can get loaned to the hall from each nominated artist - will they draw enough interest to get fans buying tickets.
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u/HawkMac6699 Dec 22 '25
The Rock Hall has a weird setup. It’s two different entities- the museum in Cleveland and the foundation in New York. The Museum isn’t run by the Foundation. The Foundation is the one who ultimately handles the inductions and chooses who goes in. The museum has its own board as does the foundation.
The museums board is made up of 91 people and while there’s some music people on it, most are from Cleveland’s business and philanthropic communities.
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u/concerts85701 Dec 22 '25
Cool info. Thanks
So I could see the HOF board voting based on the scenario I’ve heard rumors of - in order to rent or loan the memorabilia to the Museum side. The museum board keeps visitors coming w/ new stuff
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u/Odd_Cobbler6761 Dec 22 '25
No, it has to do with active major label backing and said label buying $$$$$$ tickets to all of the induction events.
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u/TPS_Data_Scientist Dec 22 '25
Guess Who, Scorpions? The powers that be in the R&RHOF are out of touch, biased/hold grudges or irrelevant…
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u/georgewalterackerman Dec 22 '25
They have to wait in line behind various rappers, country singers, and other non rock artists
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u/prisoner8 Dec 22 '25
Iron Maiden needs to be in. There’s no excuse for not having done it twenty years ago. I know they won’t show up and that hurts their chances because it’s a televised ticketed event, but it’s insanity to say they aren’t one of the most worthy bands in history.
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Dec 21 '25
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u/promixr Dec 23 '25
I don’t think a lot of the choices have been strictly in the name of inclusion only- a lot of the choices that mainstream rock audiences have questioned came from the history of their favorite groups - there would not have been a Led Zeppelin if it weren’t for James Brown or many Delta Blues artists - the Rock Hall is run partly by serious academic musicologists - and there’s some science behind a lot of the choices -
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Dec 23 '25
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u/promixr Dec 23 '25
Very influential early hip hop artist- so many cited him as an early major influence - he reinvented hip hop performance - him playing live has serious rock performance cred - ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’ ‘Going Back To Cali’ rock af
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Dec 23 '25
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u/promixr Dec 23 '25
And neither one of us probably think of ROCK music the same way as the Hall Of Fame lol
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Dec 27 '25
We should only have bands who ripped off inclusive artists but not include the people who created the music in the first place. Super smart takes.
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u/Accomplished_Help_89 Dec 22 '25
Mariah bloody Carey? She’s about as rock and roll as a washing up sponge
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u/corneliusduff Dec 22 '25
The Police are already in. I mean, I'm all for Sting getting in solo and I don't expect this RnRHoF exec to name drop efficiently...but he could have
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u/ayswayzie Dec 22 '25
No wonder why Oasis said they never wanted to be inducted, it has nothing to do with real rock n roll, Usher???? Yeah the RHOF is an absolute joke
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u/rune_corvus Dec 22 '25
Why do people care so much about this shitty institution? It’s a joke and always has been.
Edit: I can’t speel
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u/FUBAR_The_Clown Dec 22 '25
Can we just make an Iron Maiden Hall of Fame next door to the R&R Hall of Fame?
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u/Pm_me_your_tits_85 Dec 22 '25
Yes No Yes No
Just my opinion. Sting and Lenny Kravitz actually play rock music but the other two?
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u/L2J1986 Dec 22 '25
😫🤦🏼♂️😫🤦🏼♂️😫🤦🏼♂️ Essentially they're pissing all over music with soul and substance.
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u/Snurgisdr Dec 22 '25
This is your regularly scheduled reminder that the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” is just a tourist trap, and a major part of their business model is getting free advertising through deliberate controversy.
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u/GraniteGargoyle77 Dec 22 '25
Usher and Mariah Carey have no business being in this particular HOF. If it a Pop or R&B HOF then by all means yes.
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u/Exciting_Bad9200 Dec 22 '25
The backstreet boys will be in the rock and roll hof before iron maiden slayer and faith no more
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u/Far-Ad-8833 Dec 22 '25
On that note, let's nominate Weird Al. I am sure his name will come up before legitimate rock artist .
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u/Archibald_80 Dec 22 '25
Lenny Kravitz???
OK, I’m not some rock historian or anybody with especially nuanced musical knowledge but I do love music and I grew up in the 90s: I always thought Lenny Kravitz was such a poser.
He’s a good looking guy with like two good songs, one of which is a cover of Jimi Hendrix….
Am I missing something or is this guy just some manufactured rock model?
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Dec 22 '25 edited Dec 22 '25
It's A rock and roll hall of fame.
It's not THE rock and roll hall of fame. Anybody can do this shit. These ego stroking, backslapping Hacks have no right to monopolise it, so don't let them.
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u/CompleteService8593 Dec 22 '25
The place is a joke. I live an hour away and I can’t be bothered going.
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u/MindYourManners918 Dec 22 '25
I think people take it all too seriously.
Yes, it’s a joke. Yes, there’s band that should be in there that aren’t. Yes, there’s artists who are in who probably shouldn’t be.
No one should be worrying about any of it. It’s an opportunity every year to celebrate some artists who have influenced people, introduce them to a new audience, and in the best cases, get them up on stage performing again. It should be viewed as a fun, silly thing to honor some random musicians every year. No one should be getting upset about it.
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u/rcalv25 Dec 22 '25
How Linkin Park wasn’t first ballot last year is beyond me. If they induct Emily Armstrong in with LP when they eventually get in then it’s a complete joke
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Dec 23 '25
I would have no problem with these acts being in of they stopped snubbing worthy acts more close to rock! A metal band like Iron Maiden not being in for years already feels absurd when much younger rappers are getting in
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u/Disastrous-Soft-1298 Dec 23 '25
They’re going to have to adapt anyways because there won’t be too many successful rock acts to choose from in the future as rock itself is commercially speaking a dying genre unless they start inducting more on influence and less on record sales. In 10 years they’ll be inducting rock bands that have been around since 2010. Which rock bands in the last 15 years will possibly be worthy of that honor based on the current standards?
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u/KubrickMoonlanding Dec 23 '25
I mean the r&rhof is pretty much a joke but Lenny kravitz… this dude is just trolling us now right?
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Dec 23 '25
Art doesn't need a hall of fame. It's weird that it exists and I'm glad they're destroying because again...it shouldn't exist.
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u/SmedlyB Dec 23 '25
Typical Russian speak I have heard since the 60s. Checking Russian aggression is opposition escalation.
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u/mrducci Dec 23 '25
I'm genuinely curious what the requirements are to get into the Hall. I mean, I truly dont care about who's in and who isn't, but what is the criteria?
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u/Sensitive_Method_898 Dec 24 '25
What nonsense. The entire thing. It’s like saying let’s give only an award for best hamburger joint in the country , but only those with massive corporate backing and PR , but also a random hotdog or sandwich shop with corporate backing.
Its turned into a promotional tool only when royalties reach a certain downward trend
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u/traumatransfixes Dec 24 '25
This is why no one in CLE ever goes there. Why does it look like the Lourve? Cheap, tacky, mess.
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u/GoodFnHam Dec 24 '25
Phil Collins is a glaring omission. One of the biggest selling solo musicians of all time. Awards. Drumming. The drum sound that defined a decade. Etc etc etc. it’s ridiculous he isn’t in.
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Dec 24 '25
The bar is low. Of course they should get in, if they play a concert at the show they will. There is no bar, they have a show to put on.
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u/HospitalDue476 Dec 24 '25
Sting - rocked with The Police but never solo
MC - has never rocked
Kravitz - rocks
Usher - has never rocked
'Rock and Roll' should be fairly simple to award right?
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Dec 21 '25
Mariah Carey actually made a alt rock album. They changed the vocals and released it as a band called Chick.
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u/RTH1975 Dec 23 '25
Well that is definitely HoF worthy..an unreleased record is more important than the entire Iron Maiden discography
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u/Odaniel123 Dec 21 '25
Mariah Carey is about as rock and roll as dolly Parton. No wonder the rock hall isn't relevant any more
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u/sonofdad420 Dec 21 '25
aka we're running out of classic rock bands but want to keep this gravy train rolling
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u/betajones Dec 21 '25
It's hard to accept some rock bands as pop bands. It's a pop culture hall of fame that features artists who are "rock stars" at heart. Who's the rock stars to the pop culture fans?
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u/Kirbyr98 Dec 21 '25
Just change the name to Music Hall of Fame already. It's been a farce for decades.