Rock Hall 2022 is now over, topped by a fun ceremony that many of the others in the Rock Hall Junto were able to attend. If the last two years are any indication, we can expect next years’ nominations in the bleak midwinter— perhaps late January or early February.
What follows isn’t my final prediction, any more than an early July poll can claim to auger what will happen on Election Day. Instead, it’s a snapshot of who has the buzz and the credentials given what we know now. I may- in fact, I probably will- revise this as we get closer.
Cher: She spreads La Mer on her toast in the morning. She’s Cher, bitch!
George Michael: The new documentary on his life shows a man more complex and philanthropic than any of us knew. Turn on Top 40 radio and you’ll find we are still playing in his sandbox.
Outkast: One of the true, seminal acts of the early 2000s. Apparently, their name was brought up last year, but it was pointed out that they were sharing the ballot with Eminem. With no obvious FYE rap act this year, it may be OutKast’s turn.
Kate Bush: For a few years running, the conventional wisdom was that lots of people liked her, but she was too weird, too reclusive, and too much of a British phenomenon to earn enough votes. Stranger Things just decimated that calculus this summer.
Queen Latifah: I know Missy Elliott is eligible this year, but I have to believe that somebody on the Nom Com will say, “what about the women who paved the way for her?” Her actual oeuvre doesn’t matter— you haven’t put on a Queen Latifah record for years and you know it. As the ceremony becomes a bigger spectacle focused on big personalities, this gives her an advantage.
Dionne Warwick: She was on the ballot the last two years, and it seems like she was a real contender each time. With Elon Musk in charge of Twitter, there are, as Lady Gaga would have it, a million reasons to walk away. But Auntie Dionne is a good one to stay.
The Spinners: We never got a good answer as to why they stopped appearing on the ballot, and it’s possible that Questlove or Cliff Burnstein are still lobbying for them behind the scenes. In the same way that Joe Tex just randomly reappeared on the ballot a few years ago, I think something similar will transpire here. It would be pretty fun if they got in with their duet partner, Dionne Warwick.
Joy Division/New Order: Who will be the 80s alternative pick? There’s an objective case to think it’s this outfit, whichever iteration they pick. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sonic Youth or Pixies or even Nick Cave in their stead.
New York Dolls: It was discouraging to see both the Dolls and MC5 again, two important acts whom voters have nonetheless made clear that they don’t want. Yet, the Dolls’ importance to pink and glam stands out, and if one of the two return, I think it’s them.
Motörhead: Now that Judas Priest is in, who is the next metal act? The kiosks show clamoring for Iron Maiden but I’m guessing they ranked when nominated two years ago. Motörhead was up against two metal acts for the Class of 2020, and this band formed better, stronger, more personal connections to the sorts of people who sit on the nominating committee.
Rage Against the Machine: After years of “will they, won’t they”, Rage was touring again before Zach de la Rocha’s injury cut off the proceedings. The Nom Com really likes this band, which have been nominated every year that they have been eligible, save one. And Tom Morello doesn’t seem inclined to discourage this.
The B-52s: Rock and roll began as music you could dance to, and as the world’s greatest party band, The B-52s have kept that legacy alive. They have been in the news recently with their farewell tour, and this would be a prime opportunity to give this classic Athens, Georgia band their roses as they prepare to retire. It’s possible that they will fill Devo’s niche on this ballot.
Sade: I’m going to take a risk and suggest that Fela Kuti may be given a break (or a side category induction), and that the developing world will be represented with Sade. Rumors are swirling around that the band and its iconic singer are working on new material, at a studio owned by…Brad Pitt? 80s soul and R&B has really been shafted, and the band’s long-term influence, its high esteem in the rap world, and its eclectic world music vibe make them a compelling possibility.
Peter Frampton: Frampton’s diagnosis of inclusion body myositis means that his days of playing guitar are unfortunately drawing to a close. He just finished a sensational performance at Royal Albert Hall at what can only be an informal farewell. It’s important to remember that Frampton has wide respect in the music industry and is anything but the pretty boy who did the “Frampton Comes Alive” album. Oh, and two years ago, he wrote a memoir with Alan Light, who has a knack for getting his favorites on the ballot.
Cyndi Lauper: It just makes too much sense; Lauper is the next 80s woman to get nominated now that Lennox, Benatar, Parton, and others are in, right? It helps that there’s a committed online movement supporting her candidacy. It helps that an MTV guy is in charge of things. And it helps that Lauper is consistently in the public eye, usually for her LGBTQ activism and her Broadway bridgehead via Kinky Boots.
Willie Nelson: Dolly Parton’s candidacy proved the viability of inducting a country legend. It would certainly be tempting to do so for the Red-Headed Stranger. But they’d better quit wasting time; Nelson will be 90 when the next induction ceremony rolls around. Greg Harris even name-checked him as a possible guy who might get nominated a few years ago, so it’s a little odd that he hasn’t already made the cut.
So that’s it. No First Year Eligibles. No Shockers. Just a hunch that the Hall will build on the successes of the last couple years. If I had to guess who would get in if this were the ballot, I’d pick: Willie Nelson, Cher, Kate Bush, Outkast, George Michael, and The B-52s, with Peter Frampton on deck for a seventh pick. On a theoretical fan vote, I’d pick: The Spinners, B-52s, Kate Bush, Outkast, and Sade.
Alex,
Out of your current predictions for the #RockHall2023 nominees (The B-52’s, Kate Bush, Cher, Peter Frampton, Joy Division/New Order, Queen Latifah, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, Motorhead, Willie Nelson, New York Dolls, OutKast, Rage Against The Machine, Sade, The Spinners and Dionne Warwick). I think the following acts would get inducted:
The B-52’s
Cher
Cyndi Lauper
George Michael
Willie Nelson
OutKast
Dionne Warwick
Kate Bush inducted via Musical Excellence.
What do you think?.
That’s not unreasonable, but I think the votes are there for Kate Bush. The feeling I get from the Who Cares podcast is lots of people like her, but feel like they’d be wasting a vote for her. Her renaissance via “Stranger Things” should change that.
Alex,
but I still just don’t see it for Kate Bush, I just think that she’s too British, too obscure, too reclusive and too weird to get in as a Performer, despite a lot of people liking her and her renaissance via Stranger Things. I see her getting the LL Cool J/Judas Priest treatment (In other words, She’ll get in as Musical Excellence instead of as a Performer).
What do you think?.
Spinners, Cher, Willie Nelson, Dionne Warwick good choices.I ask it all the time but why do The Monkees nver merit consideration? I’d like to see War, Chubby Checker. Nick Drake get nominated.
I don’t agree with the logic, but there was a longtime stigma of The Monkees as a “fake band” and a prefabrication of television execs. That’s not, I think, a fair criticism- by “Headquarters,” they were playing all their own instruments and if that standard held, we wouldn’t have any doo-wop or Motown groups in the Hall.
War’s been nominated a couple times, alas without success. Nick Drake would be a great pick.
Alex,
As much as I love Peter Frampton, I just don’t think that he’s HOF worthy, I think that there are other Classic Rock acts that are far more deserving of a nomination and an induction than him like Bad Company, Foreigner, Jethro Tull, The Monkees, Boston, Motley Crue, Thin Lizzy, King Crimson, Steppenwolf, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Procol Harum and even The J. Geils Band. So for that reason, I just don’t see him ever getting nominated (let alone being inducted) IMO.
What do you think?.
Alex, I noticed that you aren’t on Twitter anymore. What’s the deal with that? Does this mean you’ll be here more often?
Alex,
My predictions for the 2023 nominees are:
The B-52’s
Bad Company
Beck
Mary J. Blige
Kate Bush
Missy Elliott
Iron Maiden
Chaka Khan
Fela Kuti
Willie Nelson
New York Dolls
The Replacements
The Roots
Soundgarden
Dionne Warwick
Warren Zevon
Now, Which 7 acts do you think would get in from my list?.
Willie Nelson, B-52s, Bad Company, Beck, Dionne Warwick, Kate Bush, and…maybe Chaka finally? Hard to tell with this batch; there’s lots of ways it could go.
Alex,
I think the #RockHall2023 inductees will be:
The B-52’s
Cher
Cyndi Lauper
George Michael
Willie Nelson
OutKast
Dionne Warwick
Musical Excellence:
Kate Bush (I think she’s getting the LL Cool J/Judas Priest treatment, I just think that she’s too British, too obscure, too reclusive and too weird to get in as a Performer under the current voting committee, despite a lot of people liking her and her renaissance/resurgence this year via Stranger Things, I see her getting the LL Cool J/Judas Priest treatment, In other words, She’ll get inducted in the Musical Excellence category instead of in the Performer category).
As much as I love Peter Frampton, I just don’t think that he’s HOF worthy, I think that there are other Classic Rock acts that are far more deserving of a nomination and an induction than him like Bad Company, Foreigner, Jethro Tull, The Monkees, Boston, Motley Crue, Thin Lizzy, The Guess Who, King Crimson, Steppenwolf, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Blue Oyster Cult, Procol Harum and even The J. Geils Band, So for that reason, I just don’t see him ever getting nominated (let alone being inducted) IMO.
What do you think?.