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The Fans Have Spoken: Top Ten Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs

Moody Blues 1965 Getty

 

One of CultureSonar’s most popular posts earlier this year was a list of suggested inductees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which generated literally thousands of comments. As you might already know, eligibility requires performers to have released a record at least 25 years prior to induction. As you definitely know, the qualification of “unquestionable musical excellence” is where the raised eyebrows come into play. While you agreed with most of our proposed nominees, you had quite a number of your own to share as well — about 200 actually. Here is a list of the top ten. These are the musicians and bands that, if you were a R&R HoF voting member, would be at the top of the list for consideration.

1. The Moody Blues*
The Moody Blues scored their first hit with a cover of the soulful “Go Now,” but they’re better known for the proto-prog classic Days of Future Passed. They also released a slew of great tracks in the ’70s and ’80s (“Question,” “Ride My See Saw,” “Your Wildest Dreams”). So why have they been overlooked? Have their symphonic pretensions worked against them? Didn’t seem to hurt ELO. Hall voters? We know you’re out there somewhere. This was the most popular suggestion by a landslide. *Note: The Moody Blues will now be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

2. Warren Zevon
Most know Warren Zevon for his 1977 hit “Werewolves of London.” But Excitable Boy, the album that gave us “Werewolves,” has many other gems, including the title track, “Johnny Strikes Up the Band” and “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner.” Zevon once wrote a song for The Turtles, another that appeared in the movie Midnight Cowboy, and was musical director for The Everly Brothers. Some may see him merely as the guy who sang that werewolf song, but our readers know better and demand recompense.

3. Jethro Tull
Critically revered and commercially successful, surely Jethro Tull has earned its spot in the Hall. Nope. Maybe The R&R Hall just doesn’t know what to do with a band that has a flute rocking harder than guitars. (Conversely, the Grammys nominated them in the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal category a few years back. WTF?!) Or is Tull hampered by the same supposed prog/art rock curse hindering The Moodies and ELP (see below)? Maybe the recent induction of Yes is a good sign for the likes of Tull.

4. Grand Funk Railroad
They sold out Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles. So why aren’t Grand Funk Railroad in the Hall? Because it’s not about “popularity and record sales,” remember? Many argue it’s the fact few critics have love for the GFR. CultureSonar’s fans of this band aren’t nearly as snobbish.

5. Little Feat
In the late ’60s, guitarist Lowell George left Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention and assembled his own versatile group of musicians to form Little Feat. Despite a slew of great tunes, including “Willin'” and “Dixie Chicken,” and respect from fellow musicians — Jimmy Page told Rolling Stone in 1975 Little Feat was his favorite band — they have yet to get their due from the Hall. Could it be a kind of reverse GFR effect: critical acclaim and respect from fellow musicians, but a lack of commercial radio hits?
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6. The Guess Who
“Undun,” “These Eyes,” “No Sugar Tonight”… No shortage of chart-toppers from these Canadians. But what was the only number one on the Billboard Hot 100 from these particular neighbors to the north? You guessed it: “American Woman.” Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and Rush are all inducted, which invalidates the “Well, they’re Canadian” argument. Which some have posited, believe it or not. So what gives? We’re stumped.

7. Emerson Lake & Palmer
What do nine gold records and three virtuosic players equal? Zero Hall of Fame inductions. Did we mention Greg Lake was also a founding member of King Crimson (who also aren’t in the Hall!)? When you consider that many Hall voters are likely the same journalists that called them “overbearing,” “self-important” and “pretentious” — while praising “hipper” bands — you start to understand why ELP gets passed by each year.

8. The Doobie Brothers
Pete Townshend once lauded The Doobie Brothers, saying their records “just pop out of the radio speakers and grab at you.” But maybe it’s that very polished, AOR reputation that leaves the impression that the Doobies lack the substance, impact, and influence the Hall claims are essential for induction. CultureSonar fans agree with Pete Townshend, though. So do we.

9. The Cars*
While both Blondie and The Cars went from gritty punk scenes to commercial success, Debbie Harry’s impact on a generation of female musicians may be one of the things that helped distinguish her band in the minds of Hall voters. Meanwhile, the Cars are stuck in the back of the lot. The time has come to give Ric Ocasek and company some serious respect. *Note: The Cars will now be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

10. Three Dog Night
21 consecutive Top 40 hits are sure to impress, but a relatively short period of popularity and the fact they didn’t write their hit songs may be reasons Three Dog Night gets the Hall snub. We hear you. We hear you. That didn’t stop many other performers from getting enshrined. We’re just saying that this might be the argument the Hall uses in their defense. Hell, they just squeaked into this top ten list.

– Colm Clark

PS. Read our original post: “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: And the Nominees Should Be…” Then check out our companion post: “6 Women Currently Snubbed by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.”

Photo credit: Singer and guitarist Denny Laine (left) and bassist Clint Warwick (right) of British pop group The Moody Blues, February 1965. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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298 comments on “The Fans Have Spoken: Top Ten Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs

  1. Mr. Bad Example

    Blue. Oyster. Cult.

  2. I agree with this 100%

    • I agree that every single one of these acts deserves to be in the R&RHOF 100%!!! Three Dog Night is definitely LONG overdue!!! Even though they did not write their own songs, given the fact they helped gain notariety for other up and coming artists/songwriters during that time, TDN deserves to be in there, also given the fact they had achieved 100-plus million sales in units sold!!!

      • I agree. Elvis didn’t write his songs either, but he got in.

        • As I read the bit about 3 Dog Night not writing their own songs, I immediately thought of Elvis.

      • Three Dog Night has been kept out because of a vendetta by someone on the HOF board. This issue goes back decades. It would not be surprising if many others have been treated the same way. It’s all political and will remain so until the fans get to have a real say in the selection.

        • It is a comment on how stupid, shallow and hypocritical the Rock Hall of Fame Board is! Three Dog Night should have been inducted a long time ago. Not Writing songs is not the reason…Elvis didn’t write his songs! Too commercialized? Total BS.

          • BARRY BADDAMS

            It can be argued that Elvis had a more profound impact on popular music than Three Dog Night, regardless of whether he wrote his songs or not.

        • William Kopase

          100 % agreed

    • Doowackadoo

      I didn’t expect to be moved by this list before I read it. Most of these groups were part of my humble cassette tape collection in youth. Damn, R&R Hall, snubbing bands like they’re Pete Rose —put ’em in!

  3. Procol Harum. There has been so much more to this band than A Whiter Shade of Pale. A string of wonderful albums featuring great songwriting, musicianship and vocals, and one of the best live acts ever,

  4. RRHoF is an hour away. Until Zevon get in I’m not going

    • kevinespencer

      Absolutely! Heard Zevon in ’77 in a nightclub in Raleigh, NC. It still ranks as one of the greatest performances I have ever heard.

  5. Flutes. They have a ‘thing’ against flutes.

  6. Badfinger.

  7. jim naccarato

    Harry Nillson

  8. Bob Cummins

    Add Electric Light Orchestra. It started off as an extension of The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour music, and improved with time.

  9. That this list doesn’t immediately include the infinitely more influential and important Kraftwerk in favor of Little Feat and Grand Funk Railroad speaks to how inherently flawed and dumb this poll is.

    • I don’t even like Kraftwerk, but their influence on music far outdistances Grand Funk Railroad.

      To not include Little Feat, though…. them’s fightin’ words! Hall of Famer Bonnie Raitt said “I miss Little Feat more than I miss being eight years old.”

      • Don Clune

        Little Feat did not end with the death of Lowell George. They are currently celebrating their 50th anniversary on tour. They took a small hiatus in the early 80’s, and I think that’s when Bonnie made that quote.

  10. I would also vote for Pete Townshend (solo) – here are his Top 100 Solo songs http://supergroup.netfirms.com/index7.htm

  11. uhm…. Steppenwolf???

  12. Foghat. J Geils band and Marshall Tucker

  13. Another Jim

    Tower of Power.

  14. Lawrence Schoeman

    The Searchers, and the Turtles

  15. Phil Smth

    Kansas

  16. C. little

    What about Peter Frampton?

  17. Guys, how about some women? Tina Turner, Kate Bush, Go Go’s, Runaways, Stevie Nicks, Grace Jones, CHER! to name a few…

  18. Michael Wilson

    Few current members of the RRHOF have had the success of The Moody Blues and fewer still have had a constant presence touring as have The Moodies. In fact, their 50th Anniversary Tour this year featuring “Days of Future Passed” may have been one of their most successful tours ever. However, forget the pre-Justin Hayward/John Lodge Moody Blues. It wasn’t until they joined the band that the fire was lit.

    • There are SO many mentioned from Little Feat to Zevon, however with out a doubt THE MOODY BLUES, you have to be kidding, 50 years of some of the most important music of our time, NOTHING ELSE needs to be said, oh I know let’s put KIZZ in and we will get to the MOODY BLUES, was that political or again you have to be kidding me KIZZ AND SO MANY OTHERS COULDN’T COMPARE, AND The Mother’s along with Frank how about them?

  19. saul d rubin

    The Mothers of Invention

    • YES! A thousand times yes on XTC. They were the OTHER band that kept getting better as they went.

  20. Little Feat, Jethro Tull, Doobie Bros., Bad Company

    • dene branda

      little feet was the best live show I ever saw, Lowel George wrote some amazing stuff covered by a lot of people such as Linda Ronstatt, Willie Nelson and more.Jethro Tull no doubt should of been in there years ago, ELP ? just don’t understand who is in charge of the induction department but maybe they need to steep down !

    • Bad Company one of my favorite concerts ever and I have seen a lot.

  21. Little Feat, Bad Company, Doobie Bros.Jethro Tull

  22. looks like a list of the best concerts i saw in the 70s

  23. Too bad the hall didn’t get to half of these before they passed away. They could’ve had live performances from Warren Zevon, ELP, and Three Dog Night. Also, they could’ve had Tull before Ian’s voice left him.

    • Keith Cormack

      Instead we get Joan Nett and Green Day.

      • dene branda

        yea what’s up with that ? that’s like putting Kiss up against Cream

        • One of my cousins was in Kiss when they were know as Wicked Lester. The keyboard player, Brooke.

    • Padilva Dinham

      Exactly.. some of these musicians have passed away. I think TDN’s internal fight between Chuck Negron and Wells/Hutton dampened their induction as well. Shouldn’t have, but maybe. Each year I wait for so many deserving bands, and wonder if they have been permanently black-balled… possibly from embarrassment that they were overlooked for so many years.

  24. Next article should be about questionable inductees. I won’t name them (but you know who you are…). Now that JW and his cabal have moved on, perhaps these deserving artists will be properly recognized!

  25. Marshall Tucker Band

  26. How about Gram Parsons, practically started a whole genre of music, country rock, was in three highly influential bands… the Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and a defacto member of the Rolling Stones, not to mention his solo career & his duets with Emmylou Harris! Whoa!

    • Tony Reiss

      Unfortunately not enough people know Gram as to appreciate his founding influence. Those have missed a genre creating or enhancing artist. I listen to Gram (and John Prine or Van Morrison) songs every week. Feels good. My music Rx.

  27. Roy the Hoghead

    John Mayall deserves to be in the RRHOF.
    Many of his students are there; why not The Professor?
    Do it while he’s still alive.
    After that, you can let The Archies in for all I care.

    • Totally agree. Mayall is the biggest snub of all and not only because of the careers his band spawned. Mayall’s albums, singing and harp playing still stand out.

    • I know you’re being sarcastic, but let’s not completely discount Ron Dante. He’s done a lot.

  28. Tommy James and the Shondells.

  29. Mark Wolfe

    Grand Funk was one of the great power trips of the late 60s into the 70sand surely should be in the hall. I believe the voting members have there heads up their asses. It’s time to rid the RRHOF of the morons. This ain’t a popularity thang.

  30. Dead On

  31. Tim Nowka

    KANSAS… Saw them twice this year and they are better than ever.

  32. Anthony Epperson

    Steppenwolf.

  33. Brian Brady

    Rory Gallagher

    • randy mccumber

      absolutely, rory needs to be in the hall, as does john mayall

    • Thank you sir for that! Rory had and will have no equal. Mind blowingly great and talented.

  34. Black Oak Arkansas… Jim Dandy set the trend for flamboyant lead singers, not to mention the guitarists. (And I am repeating what my husband says). BTW- these guys are still on the road, playing pure, straight- forward rock & roll

  35. Victor Milke

    The RRHF sucks! No ELP… JETHRO… GRAND FUNK… WTF!

  36. Prog rock… it was interesting but it was a dead end musically…

  37. Yep, The Moody Blues deserve the #1 slot on this one. It’s a disgrace that they aren’t in the RRHOF.

  38. Laura Daly

    How about Chubby Checker-he may not have been as creative as others, but he did have everybody dancing (the Twist, the Limbo Rock), for instance.

    • Joe Cogan

      A novelty act at best.

    • Right-o.. a novelty act at best, AND he was soo full of himself. I saw an interview once where he compared himself (or his popularity) to Elvis and the Beatles. What a joke.

  39. DIck Dale, Link Wray Lonnie Donegan ( who inspired all of the English kids to pick up guitars ) Brenda Lee , Connie Francis , Bobby Vee , Chubby Checker,

  40. Brenda Kilgour

    Any “hall of fame” that found room for a novelty act such as Joan Jett (three hits, two of which were covers) and not Emerson, Lake & Palmer really isn’t worth talking about.

  41. Joe Cogan

    *Cough* Zevon’s best-known song is “Werewolves *of* London”, not “in”.

    • Holy cow. Good catch. Don’t know how that one got by us, but it’s fixed now. Thanks!

    • Been a huge warren fan for years. Keep me in your heart, desperadoes under the eves, hasten, mutineer.

      You’re missing out…..he’d be in if more listened to other than werewolves.

  42. Joe Cogan

    Kate Bush (she’s a cult act in the US, a superstar in her native England), XTC, Uriah Heep, Rainbow (Dio-era), Dio.

  43. Mister E. Mann

    I will never take the rock hall seriously until they stop snubbing Spinal Tap, and get out of Cleveland.

  44. Michael A Shey

    What about Al Kooper? 50+ year career doing just about everything with everyone that matters.

    • Greg Caringi

      The consummate singer, songwriter, and producer. Al has influenced modern music more than anyone realizes. If nothing else, he is perfect for the Ahmet Ertegun Lifetime Acheivement Award.

  45. cuz it’s politics man, politics in the RRHOF.

  46. Black Oak Arkansas

  47. The Pogues

  48. The Guess Who, so that Cummings, Bachman and Kale would have to all kiss and make up.

  49. Todd Moore

    I don’t think Rush is in the Hall either. Crazy. I would give a vote for REO Speedwagon too. They sold out in the late 80’s but their stuff from 1971-82 was awesome! Great concerts too.

  50. Red Nefertiti

    Garland Jeffries hands down

  51. Brett Allen

    Mr.Johnny Rivers

  52. MIchael Procko

    Boston and Iron Maiden, I know you probably thought they were already in. Remember though Stevie Ray was an after thought until just a few years ago too.

  53. Three Dog Night run was from 1969-1975. Seems like a pretty lengthy period of time to be on the charts.

    • Not only were they hit makers, but, they were slammed for not writing their own music. They just scored with people who wrote the hits for them. “Who?” you may ask. Just some no-names like Randy Newman (“Mama Told Me (Not To Come)”), Leo Sayer (“The Show Must Go On”), Hoyt Axton (“Joy To The World”) (and, just as an aside, his mother, Mae, co-wrote “Heartbreak Hotel”), Harry Nilsson (“One”), Laura Nero, Elton John, Bernie Taupin…quite an impressive listing, looking back at it from today’s eyes…

  54. Anthony Smith

    Johnny “Rockin’ Roll” Rivers

  55. Sparks. Their 24th album coming out next month

  56. Kathleen Marchesano

    The Association, they deserve it based on their song Cherish.

  57. Tommy James and the Shondells

  58. Firannion

    Richard Thompson. Fairport Convention.

    • and the Pentangle

    • Andrew Winters

      Quite so…Bert Jansch too, and the rest of the English folk revival bunch. The guitar playing that came out of those artistes was extraordinary.

  59. Marc Bieler

    Paul Revere and the Raiders. They were true garage rockers with an impressive string of hits. I believe they are hurt by the decision to wear those colonial outfits!

  60. Definitely the Moody Blues at #1 but I would put Badfinger and THE ZOMBIES in right along with them.

  61. The centerpiece of the HOF should be Rory Gallagher’s ’61 Strat. A good list, but none deserve to be in before Donna Summer……..she is in there, right? How odd is that?

  62. Brian Loffredo

    Like the list but I’d leave out Zevon, Grand Funk. I’ve argued for many of the others for years. Especially Guess Who. I love TDN but I’m not sure if they’re worthy. However no one is talking …Styx. Still making records and selling out shows after 40 years. How can you have Journey, Rush and many others in and even think about Grand Funk or Doobies and not consider Styx?

  63. Many worthy snubs. Todd Rundgren needs to be there too. His library is full of great songs, he is innovative and he produced a bunch of great songs. The RNRHOF has very little relevance to real rock fans.

    • Absolutely. Todd Rundgren. He even produced. GFR’s We’re An American Band album, Patti Smith’s Wave, Bat Out Of Hell by Meatloaf, as well as album’s by XTC, Cheap Trick, The Tubes, Hall And Oates, Sparks, Tom Robinson, Felix Cavaliere, Paul Shaeffer, Psychedelic Furs, Badfinger, New York Dolls, even Shaun Cassidy. And many others. Oh yeah, and all of the Utopia, New Cars and solo albums he also played on.

  64. Mike Sweet

    Paul Revere & The Raiders, Grass Roots

  65. When you start with The Nazz, a 70’s solo career, then Utopia and throw in ALL of the great LP’s he has produced (not to mention his hand in video production as well) Todd Rundgren is easily the most egregious omission from the R n’ R HOF.

    • Jamie James

      Something anything is a Rolling Stone top 100 all-time album, Bat out of Hell, XTC, Grand Funk, Hall and Oates productions, etc. Bang the Drum Lambeau theme song. One of the greater guitarists in rock. Apparently the guy’s gotta perform an open heart surgery to get in!

  66. Steve Baratta

    Mott The Hoople and Ian Hunter as a solo artist. Agree with the Moodys, Guess Who, and Paul Revere and the Raiders. Add The Monkees too.

  67. Humble Pie. It’s a crime that Small Faces in in the hall but HP isn’t.

  68. The Clovers , Roy Brown, Jerry Butler (solo)

  69. The Zombies! Short-lived but massively influential British Invasion band, with several big hits (She’s Not There, I Love You, Tell Her No, Time of the Season), a catalog of lesser known but brilliant tracks, and a masterpiece swan song LP, Odessey And Oracle, that is frequently on all-time top-twenty album lists. They’ve reformed from time to time and should get their due while they’re here to appreciate it.

  70. Alvin Lee Ten Years After , nothing more to be said at Wood Stock

  71. Wow. Everyone has a favorite group/band/artist who had an album. LOVE’s original lineup produced 3 albums in 2 yrs. Arthur Lee was the leader & frontman & principal songwriter, with Johnny Echols, his best friend growing up on lead guitar; Michael Stuart-Ware on albums 2 & 3 on drums; Alban “Snoopy” Pfisterer on drums album 1 and harpsichord album 2; Bryan Maclean vocals, rhythm guitar & songwriter, and Ken Forssi on bass. Their 3rd album, Forever Changes has been voted the best album of all time in the UK, and is listed #40 on Rolling Stones Best 500 albums of all time; every group above them is in the Rock Hall of Fame; all by 4 are in the Rock Hall of Fame down to #100.

    LOVE deserves to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Period. I will agree on Johnny Rivers, the Moody Blues for sure, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer without a freaking doubt, but LOVE definitely deserves the honor. Anyone who has not listened to Forever Changes from 1967 has been deprived of some of the best music & lyrics ever written. Heck, what Arthur Lee did with the Burt Bacharach song, Little Red Book boggles the mind. It was their first single and is a “drive the car down the road going 90mph” the song. Listen to their self-titled first album which is about life in their times, then Da Capo 1966 2nd album they take another avenue, and then with their masterpiece, Forever Changes, you get the real meal deal.

    Visit FaceBook page: Induct LOVE & Arthur Lee into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and feel free to read up on them. I have written what I call the Compelling Argument to Induct them into the Hall. I would be more than happy to share that with the CS Team should you send me an email: sleepingdawg@yahoo.com Peace.

    • Joe mancuso

      Johnnny Maestro I will say it again, JOHNNNY MAESTRO!!!!!!!

    • Arthur Lee definitely belongs in the HOF

    • Andrew Winters

      Absolutely agree. Forever Changes was the best album of the sixties along with the more well known records. They are doomed to obscurity. I also support Moby Grape, the best of the San Francisco groups, at least in their first album.

  72. Steve Spiegel

    Everyone mentioned here, as well as Joe Cocker, Ted Nugent and Canned Heat.

  73. Rory Gallagher is my #1 snub…I just don’t get why he hasn’t made it.

  74. Don Garrett

    Johnny Rivers

  75. Mike Cannon

    I agree with this list, but the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is a place I’ve never been and never want to go to. They will leave out bands like Tull, the Moody Blues and ELP among others. But they do induct Madonna, who doesn’t belong there and Grandmaster Flash, who doesn’t belong there. The place is a joke.

    • Robert Challen

      Agree. I was never into the HOF idea to begin with..its music not a sport. But when Kiss got in, it truly became absurd.

  76. King Crimson, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest…..the list goes on and on…..

  77. King Crimson.
    Say what you will about “Prog” Rock.
    No “Prog” band should have gotten in before King Crimson.

  78. A lot of MEH on that list. More deserving: XTC and the Cocteau Twins.

  79. Frank Travell

    Status Quo, Kate Bush, Harry Nilsson, The Cure, Joe Cocker, T-Rex, the original Fleetwood Mac, the Pogues, Head East, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, Thin Lizzie, Gary Moore, Grace Jones, Procul Harum, Hot Chocolate, Desmond Dekker…sod it, maybe we should have a British Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

    • Little River Band – As of September 2004 they have sold more than 30 million records[57] and scored 13 American Top 40 hits. Top 10 harmony bands (really top 5) of all time.

    • Luis Echeverria

      The original Fleetwood Mac is already in the hall of fame!! And Status Quo never had a hit in the US except “Pictures of Matchstick Men” which reached Top 20!!

  80. Why is Johnny Rivers not in the R & R H.O.F.?

  81. DEVO!

  82. The Zombies and The Doobie Brothers!!!!!!!!

  83. Lenny DiBrango

    The Zombies. Odyssey and Oracle is always listed as one of the top albums of the 60’s. Plus they did a lot before that album came out. How can they not be in the hall ?

  84. Allan Phillips

    Roxy Music

    • Absolutely. First band the treat rock as High Art. Enormously influential on the New Wave, they plumbed the history of 20th Century music melding standards, doo wop, and the avant-garde. The were the first to make Rock Music stylish and Ferry’s skill as a songwriter and lyricist was unparalleled at the time. In Britain they were Bowie’s peers. If they’re not in, the Hall is a joke.

  85. Richard Thompson, Warren Zevon, Rory Gallagher and Ghram Parsons

  86. Kate Bush – a musical genius and innovator, a highly influential music pioneer, especially for women in the industry. Brilliant singer, composer, pianist, dancer, choriographer, mime, record producer, and video maker.

  87. These aren’t HOF bands… they are the bands 65 year old white guys listened to instead of being dragged into the disco sound. God bless them, but sorry, Warren Zevon is not worthy of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

    Zevon isn’t worthy of being the opening act for bands that are in the HOF.

    Maybe the Doobies….

  88. Rich Cassista

    What no mention of Ted Nugent ?

  89. Richard Schrenzel

    The HOF is irrelevant without these groups.

  90. I say this whenever RRHoF snubs are discussed. Arthur Alexander! Genuinely one of the founders. Not a lot of commercial success, but his songs were covered by The Beatles, The Stones, The Hollies, etc etc,etc. AND, he drove a bus in Cleveland!

  91. Jamey Rodgers

    I simply do not understand the lack of support for John Hiatt. I didn’t even see a mention in the thread. 45 years in the business, approximately 25 albums, and one of the most influential songwriters ever. The list of people who have covered his songs is enough to get him in, but he is never even mentioned in any of these discussions. Check out his body of work.

  92. Kenton Adler

    The Zombies AND The Monkees

  93. The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is not about what is fair or historically relevant. It’s not even about Rock n Roll. It’s about what is going to get people in the door and what will keep them coming back.

    I was glad I went and I will probably go again but it is not a museum where things are scientifically gathered and shown accurately.

  94. Milo Miller

    I’ve been a Moody Blues fan since my early teens in the early 70’s. My older sister turned me on to them. Now in my fifties I still listen to them often in fact they are my go to in drive time traffic, quite the calming effect. I too agree they have been overlooked for too long…..same goes for BOC, Doobies, Guess Who (another fav), Foghat, Grand Funk and def Three Dog Night. I’m not saying those who have been inducted shouldn’t have, but these other greats have been missed and overlooked!

  95. Jim O'Brien

    They need a ‘Veteran’s Committee’ like baseball has to remedy the snubs of a clueless institution

  96. XTC! The Cure!

  97. […] PS. Our readers have also made some hard choices in our posts Your Top 5 Beatles Albums, Your 5 Favorite Albums by The Who , Your 10 Favorite Concept Albums and The Fans Have Spoken: Top Ten Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs. […]

  98. russell from cleveland

    kraftwerk, big star, gram parsons

  99. Moody blues for sure. Should of been in yrs ago

  100. NRBQ

  101. The Spinners and The J.Giles Band

  102. Journey getting in bodes well for the Doobie Brothers. But of all the bands listed here, only the Cars are deserving, IMO of course.

  103. Roxy Music, the Smiths, the Cure, Iron Maiden …

  104. The Monkees.
    “But they didn’t play their own instruments!” Starting with their second album, they did, and even the Byrds, the Beach Boys and CSNY weren’t trusted to play the instruments on their first albums either!
    “They didn’t write their own songs!” Wrong. even on the first album, there are Monkee-penned songs. So they did stuff by other songwriters as well. Who hasn’t? even the Beatles and the Stones did covers.
    “They weren’t really musicians!” When they were first hired, Micky had already released two singles in the L.A. area, Peter was jamming with Steven Stills, Davy had just signed a solo recording contract with Bell records, and Mike had already written “Different Drum” for Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Ponys.
    “They’re a manufactured group- put together by a producer!” Oh, you mean like the Supremes, the Velvet Underground, the Sex Pistols, etc?

    Oh, and also The Sweet.

  105. john fenyar

    and if Cat Stevens can get in, include Gordon Lightfot and Harry Chapin!

  106. Elston Gunn

    STEPPENWOLF !
    STEPPENWOLF !!
    STEPPENWOLF !!!

  107. Nathan W.

    Nick Drake

  108. Giants Fan

    Every single act on that list should be in. What a joke.

  109. Al Kooper, Country Joe McDonald, Ry Cooder ….

  110. Wishbone Ash were one of the best and most creative bands of their time, just saying….. Argus was surreal.

  111. RRHOF is a joke. They’ll barely scratch the surface of all the great talent we’ll get to enjoy in our lifetime.

  112. The list is good.
    I would add:
    Boston
    Foreigner
    Styx
    The Monkees
    The Smiths
    The Cure
    Joy Division-New Order
    Kate Bush
    Cocteau Twins
    Oingo Boingo
    10,000 Maniacs
    Bauhaus-Peter Murphy-Love and Rockets

    All influential and had lasting effects.

    • 10k maniacs-
      They duck-
      Saw they open for the Dead in Buffalo by
      No paid attention to them and the lead singer started to piss and moan to the crowd for being rude-
      No babies in the HOF

  113. It is a crime that Joe Cocker has not been inducted. Iconic Woodstock performance that stands as one of the greatest R&R vocal performances of all time. Possibly the greatest R&R vocalist in the last 50 years. A performer who famously left it all on stage when he performed. Many lesser talents are in. It is inconceivable to me that he is not already in.

  114. Uriah Heep

  115. Mountain..

  116. Excuse me. Todd Rundgren.

  117. Charlie Keefhaver

    Jan and Dean.

  118. Based on many of the performers already mentioned, overlooking Todd Rundgren is insane, given that he produced a number of albums for aforementioned groups and has been a performer in his own right for half a century!

  119. Robert Scott Read

    I thought The Monkees were the #1 fan favorite pick.This reminds me when MTV kept their video off the air even thought people were continuously voting for it. You’d think they would at least throw Nesmith a look for basically inventing the modern music television format. It is what it is, but it stinks.
    Am I also the only one who thinks Def Leppard is grossly overlooked. They’re the radio darlings of heavy metal. I can’t turn on the radio and not hear Def Leppard. People love these two bands…..love them.

  120. Luis Echeverria

    The Zombies
    The Monkees
    Gram Parsons
    Love
    T. Rex
    Procol Harum
    Joe Cocker

    and yes…Warren Zevon

  121. Okay, I’m not afraid to say it: THE MONKEES!! They are FAR more than the “pre-fab four”; they are EXCELLENT musicians (especially Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork), even though they didn’t write any of their hit songs, they (at least Nesmith) wrote quite a few of their songs, at one point they outsold the Beatles and the Rolling Stones COMBINED, and filled arenas around the world! IMO, it is an asolute TRAVESTY that they, Three Dog Night, Steppenwolf, The Association, and The Doobie Brothers have yet to be enshrined in the RRHOF!! This is a situation that needs to be rectified ASAP!!!!

  122. freaK bennetT

    Delaney and Bonnie, the folks that have moved thru the band is astronomical !????!

  123. Scott Saul

    Todd Rundgren

  124. The Bangles should be in there. The early girly work was an extension of the jangly sound of the 60s. They were so much more than Walk Like an Egyptian.

  125. Until Link Wray is in there, none of this is relevant.

  126. Bucky Swider

    Squeeze!

  127. BTO . I think they deserve it more then the Guess Who.

  128. The Smiths, the Cure, and the Pixies

  129. FRANK BOWDON

    Read it all. Love Zevon, Little Feat but not RRHOF worthy. The rest are just bands with hits. I saw them all live and they did nothing spectacular or totally
    new. From the comments, I would agree with Gfram Parsons, Zappa, Roxy Music, Todd Rundgren (every bit the hit maker that Nile Rodger is) and I would add the MC5…the true fathers of punk rock. i would not bitch if they inducted the Doobies.

  130. Jerry Bricker

    Los Lobos and J. Geiles Band

  131. Martin Bryant

    I took your ten bands and awarded points in four categories, influential/stylemaking, successful, long careers of creative activity (not just tributing yourself), virtuosos/poets. The big winners were EL&P & the Doobies, with EL&P dominating the virtuoso & influence categories and the Doobies matching 3DN in success over a longer career (three style changes). After that my system honored Little Feat & Tull. Both had virtuosos and influence while Little Feat had fewer monster hits they had a longer run of active work. The other six were about the same and I don’t really care if they ever see the Hall. The Moody Blues are not standouts in anything. Zevon was influential but not very successful. The Guess Who were successful and catchy but not much else. The Cars offered a little more spark, but not as much success. 3DN a big success, but not much legs or artistic value. I’m a big Little Feat fan and would like to see them admitted, Bill Payne and Kenny Gradney are both amazing and under appreciated. The Feat were even great after Lowell George. But maybe, objectively they should wait for EL&P and the Doobies. I won’t be surprised of Warren Zevon makes the hall soon (deserving or not) because the Hall has a prejudice towards Californians, and Southern Californians in particular and he was just the sort of rock musician the Hall loves.

  132. The Doobie Brothers for sure and Ten Years After.

  133. Todd Rundgren, as both a musician and a producer.

  134. Keith Michener

    J. Geils Band … were hard to beat live. Peter Wolf among the best front men! He worked hard for the money.

  135. Neville Johnson

    Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels!

  136. Gary Knight

    Dan Fogelberg

  137. Seriously, so true. Moody Blues, Tull and Grand Funk. Give me a break, the R&R HOF is a JOKE, just like the Grammies. To hell with them.

  138. […] Moody Blues: #1 on Culture Sonar’s Top Ten Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs. Commercial and critical cred, evolving in musical […]

  139. Mark Dwyer

    Robin Trower/ and is Joe Satch in??

  140. Mott The Hoople – FFS!

  141. Truman Winbush

    Great list. Todd Rundgren is my choice. Not only as a performer, but as a producer.

  142. Kansas — The Monkees — Warren Zevon — The Runaways — MC5 — Blue Oyster Cult …

  143. The Smiths-no contest

  144. Jamey Rodgers

    John Hiatt!!! I would argue that no one on this list has contributed to and influenced more artists and more genres.

    This is a partial list of artists that have covered his songs.

    Paula Abdul—Alright Tonight

    Johnny Adams—Lovers Will;
    She Said the Same Thing to Me

    Gregg Allman—Memphis in the Meantime

    Asleep at the Wheel—The Way We Make a Broken Heart

    Joan Baez—Through Your Hands

    Lou Ann Barton—Pink Bedroom;
    Blues in Trouble;
    I Got Your Number

    Suzy Bogguss—Drive South

    Joe Bonamassa—I Know a Place; Tennessee Plates

    Ann Richmond Boston—Learning How to Love You

    Herman Brood—No More Dancin’ in the Street

    Karen Brooks—The Way We Make a Broken Heart

    Jann Brown—Where Nobody Knows My Name

    Jimmy Buffett—Window on the World

    Roseanne Cash—I Look for Love;
    It Hasn’t Happened Yet;
    Pink Bedroom;
    The Way We Make a Broken Heart

    Eric Clapton and B.B. King—Riding With the King

    Joe Cocker—Have a Little Faith in Me

    Ry Cooder—The Way We Make a Broken Heart;
    Across the Borderline

    Marshall Crenshaw—Someplace Where Love Can’t Find Me

    David Crosby—Through Your Hands

    Rodney Crowell—She Loves the Jerk

    Gail Davies and Wild Choir—Girl on a String;
    Heart to Heart

    Ilse DeLange—Angel Eyes; It’ll Come to You; Child of the Wild Blue Yonder

    Desert Rose Band—She Don’t Love Nobody

    Don Dixon—Love Gets Strange

    John Doe—The Real One

    Bob Dylan—The Usual

    Steve Earle—The Crush

    Dave Edmunds—I Got Your Number;
    Real Emotion;
    Something Happens

    Everly Brothers—Any Single Solitary Heart

    Dr. Feelgood—I’m a Real Man;
    Where Is the Next One Coming From?

    Freddie Fender—Across the Borderline (film The Border)

    Robben Ford—Real Man

    Forrester Sisters duet with Bellamy Brothers—Drive South

    Amos Garrett—Everybody’s Girl

    Jimmie Dale Gilmore—Your Love is My Rest

    Amy Grant / Gary Chapman—Love Like Blood

    Patty Griffin—Take it Down

    Buddy Guy—Feels Like Rain;
    Where Is The Next One Coming From?

    Emmylou Harris—Icy Blue Heart

    Jeff Healey—Angel Eyes;
    Confidence Man;
    Let It All Go

    Stevie Wayne Horton—Tennessee Plates

    Jewell—Have a Little Faith in Me

    Marti Jones—If I Can Love Somebody;
    The Real One

    Chaka Khan—Have a Little Faith in Me

    Albert Lee—Pink Bedroom;
    Radio Girl; Rock of Your Love

    Nick Lowe—Love Gets Strange;
    She Don’t Love Nobody

    Kris McKay—Any Single Solitary Heart

    Delbert McClinton—Have a Little Faith in Me

    Buddy and Julie Miller—Paper Thin

    Frankie Miller—If I Can Love Somebody

    Ronnie Milsap—Old Habits Are Hard to Break; True Believer

    Katy Moffatt—When We Ran

    Maria Muldaur—No More Dancin’ in the Street

    Ricky Nelson—It Hasn’t Happened Yet; Radio Girl

    Tracy Nelson—Thinkin’ of You;
    An Arm And A Leg

    Willie Nelson—Across The Borderline; The Most Unoriginal Sin

    Neville Brothers—Washable Ink

    Aaron Neville—Icy Blue Heart;
    Feels Like Rain

    New Grass Revival—Angel Eyes

    Nitty Gritty Dirt Band—One Step Over the Line;
    The Rest of the Dream;
    Just Enough; Ashland City

    Nonfiction—I Got a Gun

    Maura O’Connell—When We Ran

    Odetta—Listening to Old Voices

    Iggy Pop—Something Wild

    Eddie Raven—I Got Your Number

    Bonnie Raitt—Thing Called Love;
    No Business; Lovers Will

    Linda Ronstadt—When We Ran; Icy Blue Heart

    Mitch Ryder—Where Is the Next One Coming From?

    Searchers—Ambulance Chaser;
    Back to the War

    Bob Seger—Detroit Made

    Charlie Sexton—Tennessee Plates (Thelma and Louise soundtrack)

    Chris Smither—Memphis in the Meantime; Real Fine Love

    Jo-el Sonnier—Have a Little Faith in Me;
    I’ll Never Get Over You

    Sugarbeat (with Tony Furtado)—Drive South

    George Thorogood & The Destroyers—The Usual

    Three Dog Night—Sure As I’m Sitting Here

    Conway Twitty—Heavy Tears

    The Wailin’ Jennys—Take It Down

    Sara Watkins/Sarah Jarocz/Aoife O’Donovan—Crossing Muddy Waters

    Rusty Weir—Sing Me

    Kevin Welch—Train to Birmingham

    Freddie White—What Do We Do Now; The Most Unoriginal Sin

    J.J. White—The Crush

    Kelly Willis—Drive South

    I am sure there are many more, but if you look at the genres represented by the artists on this list, it is pretty amazing.

  145. […] 1. The Fans Have Spoken: Top Ten Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs While you respected our grievances regarding major Rock Hall omissions, you had your own suggestions including The Moody Blues, Warren Zevon, and Jethro Tull. […]

  146. The Doobie Brothers !!!

    • I would also add the group War, one of the best-selling bands of the ’70s. They successfully melded funk, Latin, jazz, rock and soul styles to create the unique “Low Rider” sound of east L.A.

  147. Coming from the same city that spawned Grand Funk (Railroad), most would think I would agree with the statement, “It took months for The Beatles to sell-out Shea Stadium; it took Grand Funk Railroad only 2 weeks.”
    Let’s look at some hard facts:

    When it was decided that there should be a venue large enough to hold the mass-hysteria that had grown by 1965, Shea Stadium was the choice. However, this move would take a lot of trial and error to get off the ground. This type/size of venue hadn’t been attempted before, so many things were overlooked (e.g. Adequate PA for the audience, instead of the “horns” that were typically used for announcing upcoming batters) – these horns were all that amplified The Beatles’ vocals for the concert.
    By the time GFR was booked for Shea in 1971, by their manager, Terry Knight (who was the lead singer for Terry Knight & the Pack – the band that later ‘morphed’ into GFR), most of the mistakes had been made – previously overlooked issues were tended to. So, it’s easy to say that GFR quickly outsold The Beatles, time-wise, in selling out Shea Stadium, but the true credit should go to those who had the “know-how”, and not towards GFR for being “more popular”. I think it’s safe to say also that more kids were allowed to go to concerts (as well as being given the money) by their parents in ’71, than they were in 1965. There’s more to it than meets the eye.

  148. The HoF should be shaped as Rory Gallagher’s ’61 Strat. The Greatest of the Greats.

  149. The James Gang!

  150. Lance Rosenbaum

    Thin Lizzy, MC5

  151. Jamie James

    The list is good… I would include Todd Rundgren for influence, production, and his phenomenonal pop catalog solo and with Utopia. And for alternate tuning and leading the alternative 90’s how about Sonic Youth!

  152. Jamey Rodgers

    John Hiatt! The most underrated man in Rock n Roll!

  153. Michael Coone

    Why is it that heavy metal in general is ignored? Judas Priest? Iron maiden? Slayer? Motorhead? Megadeth? Anthrax?

  154. Gary Field

    Paul Revere & The Raiders

    • Agreed! Hit after hit after hit. Just listen to the music and forget the promotional gag that the outfits were. Solid rock packaged commercially – try “Him or Me”, or “Great Airplane Strike” to hear an example of what that band could do. Great band. Great producer as well – his name escapes me at the moment.

      • Terry Melcher.. The Raiders had a lot of great hits “Steppin’ out” “Just Like Me” “Hungry” Good Thing” “Kicks” plus the ones you mentioned.

  155. You can understand the arguments for and against each of these but two: it is criminal that neither Jethro Tull nor Warren Zevon are in the Hall. They both made great music over an extended period. If you consider it a valid measure, both sold tons of records over many years. They both created a variety of amazing songs. Neither was afraid to take a risk and branch out into new and different areas of music. They both influenced multiple generations of musicians who followed. Warren Zevon was making great music almost until the day he died (listen to “Keep Me in Your Heart” if you doubt it.). Meanwhile, Ian Anderson is in his 70s and still takes Tull out on tour constantly. I’ve heard stories of Zevon being a bit of an ass… even by annoying rock star standards… while drinking and drugging too much in his younger days, but, come on, this is rock and roll. You kind of aren’t doing it right if you don’t overindulge for a while before cleaning up your act.

  156. I believe Richard Thompson should be inducted into the Hall. A tragic snub, or oversight.

  157. Screw Bon Jovi, it should be The Smithereens representing New Jersey!

  158. Ozark mountain dare devils !!

  159. Joe Johnson

    The reason, generally, is, because the Hall is a private organization with their own criteria. In other words, enshrinement is just the opinion of the voters/stakeholders of the Hall. That’s it. Sure, that’s essentially how every hall of fame works, but this hall has accusations every so often of personal vendettas against artists (thinking The Monkees in particular). Just enjoy music without worrying about, or debating, who is in the Hall and who isn’t.

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