It’s an annual rite of passage (when the latest nominations or inductees are announced) that people debate about the artists who have been snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, and it’s easy to complain about that institution given what a poor overall job the voting body has done (though they’ve done better in recent years since the introduction of the popular vote). I mean, even when they get it right, when they induct a deserving artist, they often still get it wrong (or at least not completely right)! Here are 35 randomly listed examples:
Black Sabbath – Nobody denies that the Ozzy Osbourne version of the band is the main reason they were inducted, they did invent a major subgenre (heavy metal), after all! However, they also released two albums with Ronnie James Dio that are acknowledged heavy metal classics. Dio not being inducted was pure politics, plain and simple (Sharon Osbourne I’m looking at you), and is an injustice that should be corrected immediately.
Fleetwood Mac – Between the early critically acclaimed Peter Green-led version of the band and the massively popular Lindsey Buckingham-Stevie Nicks era, Fleetwood Mac was led by Danny Kirwan and Bob Welch during an underrated era. Welch, whose contributions to the band far surpassed those of inductee Jeremy Spencer (his big solo hit “Sentimental Lady” was originally a Fleetwood Mac song), was unfairly omitted from being inducted with the rest of the band. This should be corrected immediately.
The Wailers – How in the world was Bob Marley inducted without The Wailers?
Steve Miller Band – Steve Miller never made a solo album, it was always the Steve Miller Band. How about letting some of his bandmates in on the action too?
The Byrds – Gram Parsons should’ve been inducted with The Byrds, given his huge influence on their hugely influential Sweetheart Of The Rodeo album. And you can make a strong case for guitarist Clarence White and, to a lesser extent, Gene Parsons (no relation) and Skip Battin as well.
Deep Purple – I’m glad they included Rod Evans, David Coverdale, and Glenn Hughes, but how do you induct Evans and ignore bassist Nick Simper, who like Evans also performed on the first three albums? Later longtime contributors Steve Morse (guitar) and Don Airey (keyboards) – both with impressive non-Purple careers – are also worth a second look.
Patti Smith – The Patti Smith Group should’ve been inducted, not just Patti Smith as a solo artist.
The Velvet Underground – Doug Yule and Nico made major contributions to three of the four Velvet Underground studio albums (two for Yule, one for Nico) and should be recognized for this. I can understand why Nico wasn’t inducted since her contributions are limited to three (immensely important) songs, but Yule being inducted should’ve been a no-brainer.
Al Green – As one of the pre-eminent soul men of the ’70s, Al Green was a no-brainer inductee, but his producer Willie Mitchell and the great Hi Rhythm Section house band also deserve HOF recognition (in the non-performer and sidemen categories, respectively).
Allman Brothers Band – Chuck Leavell was a huge contributor to the immediate post-Duane years (“Jessica,” anyone?), and later on Warren Haynes and (with the benefit of hindsight; the Allmans were inducted in 1995) Derek Trucks were also essential contributors. They should definitely be added to the ABB inductee list.
AC/DC – Would these guys be in the Hall Of Fame without producer Robert “Mutt” Lange who helmed their biggest successes? Probably not. In general, the Hall has done a completely inadequate job of inducting non-performers (producers, sidemen, etc.), though their record with performers isn’t so hot either so there’s that too! At least they did manage to induct the completely undeserving Ringo Starr in the “Musical Excellence” category (formerly “Sidemen”) – no politics there! (Keeping in mind he was already in with The Beatles.) While we’re at it, early bassist Mark Evans should’ve also been inducted with the band.
Alice Cooper – Producer Bob Ezrin was the de facto 6th member of the Alice Cooper band, and arguably the most important member of all of them (if you disagree take a listen to their first two albums before Ezrin when they sounded like a completely different band). Throw in Ezrin’s other productions (KISS, Pink Floyd, Nine Inch Nails, etc.) and he belongs as a non-performer. Also, session guitarists Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner are deserving in the sidemen category, for their work with Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, Lou Reed, and others.
The Animals – Alan Price was a tremendous talent on organ, but he was ably replaced by Dave Rowberry who played a key role on classic hits like “We Gotta Get Out of This Place,” “It’s My Life,” and “Don’t Bring Me Down.” Rowberry should’ve been inducted along with Price and the others.
Beach Boys – Somehow they failed to elect Bruce Johnston along with the rest of the Beach Boys. You could make a case that Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin should’ve been included as well for their important contributions to the band from 1970-1973.
Billy Joel and Elton John – Behind almost any great solo artist is a great band. The backing bands of these two piano men deserve some kind of recognition (in the sidemen category). So do producers (i.e. non-performers) Phil Ramone and Gus Dudgeon. And how in the world is Elton’s primary lyricist Bernie Taupin not inducted?
Bob Dylan – See prior entry. The Band is already in the Hall Of Fame on their own, but (at the very least) how about some form of recognition for producer (i.e. non-performer) Tom Wilson and stellar sidemen Al Kooper and Michael Bloomfield? (though the latter is already in as part of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band).
David Bowie – See the prior two entries. Certainly his most famous band, the Spiders from Mars, deserve some kind of sidemen recognition (especially guitarist Mick Ronson). His late 70s band (Carlos Alomar, Dennis Davis, George Murray) was also great, as was pianist Mike Garson. Producers Tony Scott, Tony Visconti, and Brian Eno (who was finally inducted with Roxy Music and who is also deserving as a solo artist) have excellent credentials as well as non-performers.
Cream – Cream was a classic power trio, each member essential, but lyricist Pete Brown and producer Felix Papallardi (later of Mountain and essentially the de-facto fourth member of Cream) also made essential contributions that are worthy of some form of recognition.
U2 – Some of the producers who have worked with U2, most notably Steve Lillywhite, Daniel Lanois, and (the previously mentioned) Brian Eno, are deserving of the HOF in the non-performer category (especially since each have impressive credentials even without considering their work with U2).
The Four Seasons – Producer Bob Crewe was an essential collaborator with the “Jersey Boys” in the Four Seasons. He helped write songs and shape their sound with inventive backing tracks. This should be recognized with a non-performer induction.
Frank Zappa – Zappa had so many great talents in his bands over the years, many of whom could be recognized. At the very least the original Mothers Of Invention should be inducted in the sidemen category.
Howlin’ Wolf – His guitarist Hubert Sumlin should be in the Hall Of Fame in the sidemen category.
Isaac Hayes – Even if that was all they did (it wasn’t by any means), The Bar Kays should be in the Hall Of Fame as sidemen for their seminal contributions to Isaac Hayes’ best work.
Prince – Let’s recognize his most famous and most popular band who greatly enriched his prime period. I’m talking about inducting The Revolution in the sidemen category, of course.
Jefferson Starship – The whole 25 year waiting period causes unfortunate situations such as this, where the Jefferson Airplane gets inducted but its subsequent, also deserving band, the Jefferson Starship, gets completely ignored. The Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship should’ve been a joint 2-for-1 inductee, IMO. (P.S. We’ll kindly ignore their later unfortunate incarnation as Starship of “We Built This City” infamy…)
The Ramones – The Ramones had only 7 members, so why not just include all of them? C.J. and Richie Ramone are waiting…
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Given all the people who were inducted as part of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, it seems petty to exclude guitarist Dave Navarro, regardless of what you think of his five year stretch with the band (my opinion: underwhelming but certainly not without its moments). Of course, he may get in as a member of Jane’s Addiction eventually.
Ray Charles – Ray Charles without the Raelettes just doesn’t seem right.
KISS – I can understand why some of the KISS guys were pissed that only the original four guys were inducted. Sure Ace and Peter are the classic lineup along with Paul and Gene, but without the other guys KISS would’ve had less than a 10 year career, and a less impactful career on the whole. Let some of the other guys (Eric Carr, Eric Singer, Bruce Kulick, etc.) in.
Neil Young – Like when they inducted Bruce without the E Street Band (a travesty only rectified many years later), it seems wrong that Neil should be inducted without the band with whom he recorded so many of his best albums, Crazy Horse (at the very least they should be inducted as sidemen). Similarly, producer David Briggs was involved with most of his best albums too (a non-performer induction seems warranted to me).
Silver Bullet Band – How does Bob Seger get inducted without the Silver Bullet Band? And the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section who also played on many of Bob’s albums (at least some of them did) should also be recognized for their great session work on so many classic records (see the excellent “Muscle Shoals” documentary for more information).
The Rolling Stones: There were so many unsung heroes on Rolling Stones records. Jimmy Miller (producer), Nicky Hopkins (piano), Bobby Keys (sax), Jim Price (trumpet), Billy Preston (organ), and Merry Clayton (greatest guest vocal ever on “Gimme Shelter”) are all deserving of some kind of acknowledgement (in the non-performer and sidemen categories).
Paul McCartney – I recall many of his biggest records were leading a band called Wings. Or am I just imagining that?
The Pretenders – Guitarist Robbie McIntosh should’ve been included.
Pearl Jam – Drummers Dave Abbruzzese and Jack Irons should’ve been included along with their other drummers Dave Krusen and Matt Cameron.
P.S. There are many other deserving people awaiting induction. This article only focused on snubbed musicians/producers who I associate with a particular artist. Perhaps a future article will focus on other deserving singers/musicians/producers, such as vocal groups The Jordanaires, The Sweet Inspirations, and The Andantes, bassist Carole Kaye, The Memphis Horns, Jim Keltner, Randy Rhoads…the list goes on and on, and hopefully the Hall will do a better job of opening their doors to these highly deserving contributors in the future.
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