My List of Bands Who Now Should Be in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame

[Scandal 2000]

Now that KISS and a few other deserving bands (I personally like the fact Cat Stevens got in) finally have been admitted to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, I have compiled a list of other bands that should be in. Feel free to add or disagree with my list. I tried to include a few that would be easy to overlook, but are pioneers.

Deep Purple-Smoke on the Water is the most played riff in the history of rock music. They have been around forever and tons of great songs and they had a lot of hits in the 70's.

Steve Ray Vaughn

Roxy Music (pretty much started art rock)

Chicago

Ted Nugent

Dick Dale (one of the kings of surf music)

Jethro Tull

Pixies

Judas Priest

Iron Maiden

Bon Jovi-I am not a huge Bon Jovi fan but Bon Jovi are still huge. They started out a hair band in the 80's and then when the music climate changed they still remained relevant when many others disappeared and they still can sell out arenas.

T.Red

MC5

Yes-a real travesty here. They were on the ballot but didn't get voted in. One of the pioneers of progressive rock

King Crimson-another progressive band.The progressive bands get the shaft even more than hard rock

The Cure

Steve Miller Band

John Coltrane

Todd Rundgren

Willie Nelson-not really rock though some of the old renegade country has a bit of a rock feel. If you are going to allow some bands that aren't really rock, how can you not have the Redheaded Stranger?

The Moody Blues-This one annoys me to no end. These guys are great.

Procol Harum

The Cars

Def Leppard-tons and tons of hits

Cheap Trick

Herbie Hancock

Steppenwolf-Criminal that they are not already in.

Bad Company

[Jon]

E'Nuff Z'Nuff immediately comes to mind as influenced by Cheap Trick.

Hey, let's steal from Wikipedia!

"Cheap Trick is highly respected by its peers and an influence on its descendants. The band was one of Joey Ramone’s all-time favorites and has received acknowledgment from such peers as Gene Simmons (Rick Nielsen appeared on Simmons' 1978 solo album), Joe Perry, and Angus Young. In 1979, Robin Zander was informally approached to join British glam rockers Sweet after the departure of singer Brian Connolly. In the 1980s, Cheap Trick garnered support from the hard rock community when bands like Mötley Crüe, Ratt and Guns N' Roses cited their influence. An interesting shift happened during the early to mid-90s that helped fortify the band’s credibility - the band was now being seen as influential within the blossoming alternative rock scene. Kurt Cobain mentioned the band as an influence, while Smashing Pumpkins showed their admiration by having Cheap Trick open shows for them. Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan has made a number of onstage guest appearances with Cheap Trick over the years. The thrash metal band Anthrax has covered two Cheap Trick songs, "Big Eyes" and "Auf Wiedersehen". Other bands that have mentioned Cheap Trick as an inspiration and influence include Gin Blossoms, Urge Overkill, Pearl Jam, Weezer, Stone Temple Pilots, Everclear, Extreme, Enuff Z'nuff, Green Day, American Hi-Fi, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, Fountains of Wayne, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Rival Mob, OK Go, Terrorvision, Kings of Leon, Hüsker Dü, Slipknot, Jet, and The Wildhearts."

[Gordon Williams]

Wow...I guess CT has had a major influence, then.

I've said this before, but I'll say it one more time (and everyone goes "NOT AGAIN")!! I'm sure I just have a negative mental image of CT. For two reasons. One, they were always opening for someone else (saw them so many times, it's mind boggling)...and the Wikipedia info above mentions CT opening FOR a band they influenced. And secondly...the "mixed image" they presented. Singer and bass player looking and dressing like rockers, and guitar player and drummer having their nerd/geek look and image. Very strange to me to have two seperate images like that within one band.

I do think RJSpacehog's most recent post is an excellent observation. "Music Hall of Fame" seems a better name...at least at this point. But, IF it were just a music hall of fame, you'd have country, pop, rap artists, etc. And the place would have to be amazingly huge, and induction ceremonies might last for days!

But I do think the RNR HOF has become more "rock" as time progresses, and that's a good thing to me. Now, when the heck is "Big Jim Slade" going to get inducted?? (for having the best CD...at least vocally...of all time??? )

[Scandal 2000]

That is a point. If a band was seldom the headliner, does that discredit them to a degree? Should a true Hall band have had at one point the ability to sell out shows on their own. Now that you mention, I have always known Cheap Trick is the opener (great opener but usually an opener). This is probably a poor comparsion, but I have always been a fan of Pat Travers. Travers is a veteran and has a lot of good songs, but he almost always it the opener.

[Gordon Williams]

I have seen Pat Travers as a headliner quite a few times...but admittedly, it was later in his career (say the mid 80's to mid 90's time frame). But, he was touring club venues by this time period, and not on major arena/stadium type tours. Every time I did see PT in a larger venue, he was not the headliner. I saw him at least twice in "festival" type shows.

Once, it was a festival that Nugent headlined. PT was 2nd or 3rd, as I recall, out of 5 acts. I do remember .38 Special and Molly Hatchet being on this bill, as well. Then, once in '77 or '78, I saw Kiss headline Atlanta Staduim. PT again was an early act on that bill. BOC was the other band I remember from this show, and I think the Johnny Van Zant band was part of that one.

PT is definitely a hard one for me to decide If he belongs. I'd say yes, simply because of his great song writing ability. Back before he became more of a blues man, he wrote some of the meanest, nastiest, coolest riffs and hooks I've ever heard. But, dont honestly think he'll ever get in, at this point. He has had longevity, and been influential on plenty of bands/guitar players. But I also think you should have to have some kind of world wide success to be inducted, and I dont know if he has honestly sold enough records world wide.

On the "just an opener" thought...that is really more of a personal reflection on Cheap Trick. I dont think being more of an opening act should neccesarily be a "deal killer", as far as getting in. Their longevity is very impressive. But it's more a personal thing for me not thinking that highly of Cheap Trick.