8 bands who continue to be snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

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Earlier this year, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame unveiled its 2025 nominees, with the selected inductees to be revealed in late April. Currently, there’s a fan vote underway, but unfortunately, if your favorite band is on this list, your chances aren’t looking too promising.

It appears that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame may implicitly follow certain rules that aren’t explicitly stated. One such rule seems to be that exceptional metal bands might struggle to gain entry. While some metal bands do make it in, many other worthy ones often find themselves left out.

If you hail from outside the United States, particularly before the 1970s, the admission process might be more challenging for you. Unfortunately, that’s how it goes. These eight bands empathize with your struggles.

These bands continue to be snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Iron Maiden

It seems plausible that the Rock Hall might be aware that Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson holds a strong dislike for their values and would prefer not to induct the band. There’s a possibility they could create chaos at the ceremony if they were ever inducted. However, if this is indeed the case, the Rock Hall appears to have chosen silence over inclusion.

It’s hard to argue against Iron Maiden being inducted into a genuine Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their impressive sales of over 130 million records might persuade any voter, but if not, consider their significant impact on numerous emerging bands. Regardless of personal opinions about the band, excluding Maiden seems to question the credibility of the Hall itself.

Alice in Chains

It seems like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame believes they’ve adequately represented grunge by inducting Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Other bands, particularly Alice in Chains and Soundgarden, might want to consider focusing on new projects. Alice in Chains, for instance, may have been overshadowed due to the limited amount of music they released before Layne Staley’s untimely demise, which could impact public perception.

REO Speedwagon

It’s debatable whether Speedwagon deserves enshrinement or not, but they certainly deserve a nomination – something they haven’t received yet. However, last year, Foreigner managed to get into the Hall of Fame, and it’s hard to believe that Foreigner is superior to Speedwagon. REO Speedwagon boasts 13 top-40 hits, and they’ve been going strong… until recently.

Styx

As a devoted music enthusiast, I find myself echoing the sentiment that Styx deserves to join REO Speedwagon in the hallowed halls of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While both bands share a similar journey, Styx seems to have a stronger case for induction.

To start, let me point out that Styx has outperformed REO Speedwagon in terms of record sales, with a staggering 54 million albums sold versus the latter’s 40 million. This alone speaks volumes about their enduring popularity and influence on rock music.

Moreover, when it comes to chart-topping hits, Styx has proven to be just as formidable as Foreigner, with eight top-10 singles under their belt. While I admire the success of Foreigner, I believe that if they’ve earned their place in the Hall of Fame, so too should Styx.

In conclusion, while both bands have made significant contributions to rock music, it seems only fair that Styx receives the same recognition as their contemporaries. Here’s hoping that justice prevails and we see Styx inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in due time!

Motörhead

It’s quite possible that Lemmy Kilmister and his bandmates deserve recognition for their impact on other metal bands’ music and performances. Regrettably, the Rock Hall generally leans towards safer, more pop-oriented sounds rather than metal. Motorhead, with their raw edge, might not align with the Hall’s preferences, but that’s a pity.

Mötley Crüe

You don’t need to be an avid fan of the Crüe to acknowledge their impact on music during the late 1980s. Unlike other hair metal bands such as Poison, Mötley Crüe consistently produced genuine rock records and were more than just a parody of the metal genre. Are they the greatest band ever? No, but they were undoubtedly the best hair metal band of their time.

Boston

It’s quite clear that bands like the Smashing Pumpkins wouldn’t have emerged without Boston’s unique approach to making albums, particularly the “wall of sound” effect. Despite not being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yet, this might be due to their extended breaks between album releases during their peak period. Their first two albums, including their self-titled debut which has sold 20 million copies worldwide, were released before 1978. However, their third album didn’t come out until 1986. By the time of their fourth album, public interest had started to wane.

The Smiths

It’s unlikely that Morrissey, Johnny Marr, and their bandmates will ever get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame due to their strong English identity. The Hall seems to favor American acts more (for example, if Oasis were from New York instead of the UK, they might already be in). However, there’s little debate that the Smiths have significantly impacted numerous alternative bands, making them worthy contenders based on influence alone.

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2025-02-23 14:00