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{CBS News 25 February} https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-list-2026-nominees/
In alphabetical order:
The Black Crowes: NO. Induct the Small Faces instead — far more interesting and genuine than these bloody poseurs, and the warring brothers routine was done much better by an another band further down on this list.
Jeff Buckley: YES-ish. A fantastic and influential artist whose work I very much enjoy; alas, he was not around for very long and never became a household name. Longevity hath to count for something, so while I would vote to induct him, I do not believe he actually makes it this time around.
Mariah Carey: YES. It is the Hall of Fame, and when one has sold as many records as this lady, it is rather difficult to argue against her induction. The Christmas song alone may warrant it, but there were scores of massive hits in the 1990s that now seem almost forgotten.
Phil Collins: YES. One member of the vintage Genesis line-up is already in for his solo work (Gabriel), and it is an absolute no-brainer to induct Phil. Only he and the aforementioned Mariah Carey achieved near earth-shattering commercial success out of this list. One could not go anywhere in the ’80s without hearing or seeing Phil Collins, nor in the ’90s without encountering Mariah. Of course, Mr Collins is also one of the greatest drummers of all time, and much more besides. An obvious and long-overdue choice.
Melissa Etheridge: NO. A respectable-enough artist who had some moderate hits in the ’90s, but not an A-lister by any stretch. Just not.
Lauryn Hill: NO-ish. If this woman had, in earnest, made more than one record outside the Fugees (who themselves had only one major hit album, and just two overall) and had not been so unreliable for so long, it might be a different story.
Billy Idol: NO.
INXS: NO-ish. An incredibly important band in Australia, with commercial impact elsewhere, including the US. Yes, they had hits and did not exactly ‘suck’, but they were never that interesting either, and their long-departed lead singer often came across as a dime-store Jim Morrison. A borderline case, certainly, but perhaps in a few years when other candidates have been exhausted.
Iron Maiden: YES. Another no-brainer — a band that is an entire ecosystem unto themselves. One of the most effectively marketed acts in rock history — alongside the likes of KISS, only far more intelligent and enjoyable — and with a sound entirely their own. Long overdue. On the whole, I am no longer much about heavy metal, and just about never do I listen to it; but I welcome Iron Maiden receiving the respect they are due and shall always hold a soft spot for them (and for Eddie).
Joy Division / New Order: YES-ish. Why not? Everybody at least vaguely knows “Blue Monday”, right? It may not be everyday listening, and they are awfully bleak and dreary. But, it is important and highly influential music that is well put together. Neither incarnation of the band had substantial commercial success in America, particularly the first one, nor are they household names to this day. The Hall tends to punish British acts with modest US success rather severely (they honoured the goddess, Kate Bush, because the only song of hers #Murica ever knew — a modest US hit in 1985 that was only but one of scores of incredible works in the lady’s catalogue — was featured in some dorky television show). My instinct says JD/NO shall remain one of those perpetually nominated acts that never quite make the cut, just too English for #Murica.
New Edition: NO. Get bloody real.
Oasis: YES-ish. One of the most massively successful homegrown bands the UK hath produced, ever. In terms of domestic popularity, their rivals are the Beatles, Queen, the Stones, Zeppelin… they are bloody huge. The first two albums are genuinely very good, even if Liam’s voice is eternally grating. Their American success was far shorter-lived and modest, of course. Arena-level for a spell in the mid-1990s, and recently there has been some resurgence of interest in the States accompanying the Gallgaher brothers’ reunion. Three or four of their songs hath remained in reasonably consistent rotation on what is left of rock radio in the States. In Britain, of course, their return filled stadiums — Wembley included — across multiple nights. Somehow, they always projected an air of originality despite clearly borrowing from earlier English bands (most obviously The Beatles) in sound, fashion, and demeanour. America, however, grew bored of them quickly when the massively overhyped third album underdelivered. Perhaps wait a year to allow a Sade, Luther Vandross, or Jeff Buckley to secure one of the final slots, but Oasis shall have their place in Cleveland sooner or later.
Pink: NO.
Sade: YES-ish. If it were up to me, she and the band would be in. I do not think it will happen. They are not “rock” — this is jazz, full stop — nor are they American, which gives the rockists and nationalists pause. They were commercially successful in the States from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s and remain artistically masterful. The older I get, the more I appreciate this music. I suspect they will miss out again, though the nomination itself suggests they retain support within the committee.
Shakira: NO-ish. Those hips do not lie, and she is the biggest musical star ever to emerge from Colombia. As with INXS in Australia, national-icon status is important and not at all a detriment. The Hall was loathe to induct Rush, but I do believe their status as Canadian heroes help nudged the committe toward finally and begrudgingly letting them in. Perhaps in a few years for Shakira; Mariah has the pop-diva lane sewn up in 2026.
Luther Vandross: YES-ish. This man hath been gone for over twenty years now. A golden voice and considerable commercial success in the 1980s and 90s. He never reinvented the wheel; he simply sang soul songs superbly. The ladies adored him. I say why not — but there are only so many slots, and I think he hath been nominated a few times only to always be left out. I do not believe this year will be any different, and I am not certain he is much of a household name anymore. A very deserving individual, though.
Wu-Tang Clan: NO-ish, though the committee will render it a ‘yes’. That logo was ubiquitous; so many blokes I was acquainted with in days of yore were devoted to them. But can anyone outside their core fanbase name a single song? Without looking it up, I cannot think of one, and I lived through that era. They never appealed to me; hip-hop is simply not my terrain, though I no longer feel the need to disparage it as I once did when younger, more foolish, and, frankly, spineless and all too eager to appease my lily-white peers who hated the music and black people. Anyway, Wu-Tang ahd Hall-of-Fame-level branding, for certain — an Iron Maiden or KISS equivalent for their sphere. Still, there are only so many spaces; I would wait for another year, but I strongly suspect they will get in now.
Still waiting on Alice in Chains, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Pixies, and the most obvious and overlooked choice in all of music: Mr Robert Plant. A few others may come to mind if I wrack my brain, but another day. Truthfully, most of everybody who was ever deserving hath been inducted by now, and the Hall hath been making some suspect choices for well over a decade (think Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Foreigner, the Dave Matthews Band, Ringo Starr as a solo artist, the boring-ass Foo Fighters). As usual, I could go on but have said more than I intended.
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