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02/12/2025
INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THE 2025 HALL NOMINATIONS
They never have lacked the ability to surprise us, and the Nomination Committee for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame didn't fail to do it again in 2025. The list is an intriguing mixture of artists and bands that will present voters with some easy choices - the tough part may be who gets that last "Performer" slot.
There are a few surprises on the list, at least one of whom will earn induction. That would be Bad Company who, while I disagree with their potential induction, would not be unwelcome. Bad Company is one that RAWK fans have been clamoring for decades. Now, we'll see if they can earn induction.
Two surprises aren't as slam dunk guaranteed. Chubby Checker, he who famously told the Hall to either induct him or forget about him, and Joe Cocker both were named in 2025. They are going to have a hard time swaying many voters, but stranger things have happened.
There were also some "out of left field" nominations. With little fanfare or call, both Mana, an extremely influential Mexican pop band; Phish, a longtime jam band (think the Grateful Dead), was put on the nomination list; and Outkast, the groundbreaking Atlanta rap group, were all nominated (Outkast for the first time). Phish is going to get a HUGE call from the Fan Vote, but I don't see them being elected. I also see Mana being passed over, much like the much more Hall-worthy choice in Fela Kuti. The one who might get the call? Outkast, the seminal rap group that has been at the forefront of many a "snubbed" list over the years.
There are some more first-time nominees - Billy Idol, Oasis, and The Black Crowes - and some returning entries - Mariah Carey, Cyndi Lauper, Joy Division/New Order, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes - who might be running out of chances for induction. Only Carey seems to be a sure-thing induction...the rest? Well...
If I were to have to file a ballot today, my choices for induction would be:
Soundgarden
Outkast
Joy Division/New Order
Bad Company
The Black Crowes
If I were envisioning who the Voting Committee of the Rock Hall goes for, it would be this:
Mariah Carey
Chubby Checker
Outkast
Cyndi Lauper
Oasis
Bad Company
For Musical Excellence, I think we will see:
Fela Kuti
John Coltrane
For Musical Influence:
New York Dolls
And for the Ahmet Ertegun Award:
Rick Rubin
The MTV VJs
All in all, not too upset with the nominations. I got five out of the fourteen choices, that's a .357 batting average...you go to the Baseball Hall of Fame if you average that every year!