My Predictions for the RRHoF Class of 2023 Nominees

To be honest, I really didn’t give a crap about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame until around the turn of the century, mainly because that when many of the artists with whom I grow up were becoming eligible and even inducted. Then, in the summer of 2001, we finally took a family vacation of sorts to Cedar Point so the boys could do the thrill rides, then visit the RRHoF. On that visit, the family had a great time, plus we stumbled across a concert being held on the main floor of the museum to be broadcast by MTV. The group was a little-known Australian garage band that my older son was playing that summer called The Vines.

Of course, we bought tickets to take the boys for the recording of this concert. A little behind the scene notes about the recording of a televised concert. The crowd shots that are interspersed during a concert are recorded at the beginning of the show as the crowd listened to pre-recorded music. So, if they wanted the crowd reaction to the latest hit songs, the television recorded those reactions ahead of time while the crowd listened to the studio version of said song.

During the course of the videoing of the crowd, my boys made their way to the front of the crowd. But, instead, those Midwestern boys did not play for the cameras. In their cases, they stood cooly and bobbed their heads lightly to the music. When the broadcast happened some time later, during the crowd shots, there would be young people seemingly grabbing for the artist on stage, while my guys stood behind them with their arms crossed, seemingly unimpressed. At one time, we had the program DVR-ed and laugh every time we replayed it.

Needless to say, our experience at the RRHoF was awesome. Since that they, either the boys and I or my wife and I have gone back there a couple more times. As a matter of fact, I plan to take everyone, including the grandkids, there in a couple of years, when the youngest will remember it.

As frustrating as the RRHoF nomination and induction process is, and that topic could last a week. But, instead of bitching and complaining right now, I am going to focus on which 16 artists from my list of 100 deserving rock artists. I know how annoying this list may be to the rockers in my life (Curt Martin, Josh Brown), but I also know that others will appreciate it due to previous discussions (Kim Gill, Mark Kline). My predictions do not necessarily coincide with my personal tastes and wants. No, I try to predict those artists who may actually end up on the list of nominees for the Class of 2023. The official list of nominees for the Class of 2023 will be announced shortly after the new year.

As much as I want The Jam and Weezer to be nominated and inducted, under the current system, they will not be on that list next month. Since former-MTV executive John Sykes has taken over the leadership of the Hall, the classes have been the some of the largest and most diverse of any classes since the first five years of the induction ceremonies. That much we know. We also can surmise from previous nominee lists and induction classes, that diversity has been assembled in order to maximize the TV broadcast of the induction ceremony, whether its being held in NYC, LA or Cleveland, or another place the Hall may decide to take it in the future.

With that said, here are my nominee predictions for the Class of 2023.

Destiny’s Child – Are they really deserving of a first year of eligibility nomination and induction? I don’t think so. But, NEVER, and I mean NEVER, underestimate the power of Beyoncé and her hubby, Hall of Famer Jaÿ-Z. I can see a Destiny’s Child reunion becoming a huge ratings grabber as one of the first groups from the lives of Millennials, doing for the Hall Induction Ceremony what a previous reunion did for the Super Bowl a few years ago.

DEVO – Last year when they were nominated, Cleveland was hosting the induction ceremony. Since DEVO hails from nearby Akron, many thought this would be the band’s year. Even the city of Akron jumped on the DEVO-for-the-Hall promotion, the leaders had the city “beautified” with flower pot energizer hats popping up all over.

Dionne Warwick – The smoothest of smooth 60s soul singers, Dionne Warwick is the missing voice in the Hall for the full overview of powerful female vocalists. Everyone’s favorite Twitter user will be nominated once again.

George Michael – The man who at one time rivaled both Michael Jackson and Madonna as the world’s most famous pop star has been never been nominated. Can you believe that? There has been a swelling of support for Michael, after the late great Taylor Hawkins threw George some love during the Foo Fighters induction. Look for one of the voices of my generation to finally get nominated.

Iron Maiden – This year’s token metal nod will go to Iron Maiden. The are the preeminent metal band not yet in the Hall. Although Judas Priest technically got in the Hall via the Musical Excellence route, Maiden’s fans will come out in full force to make sure their boys get in as performers.

Kate Bush – There has NEVER been a time in rock history in which Kate Bush has been more popular in the States than right now, thanks to the inclusion of “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” in the most recent season of Stranger Things. The use of that song in the show pushed the song to #3, way higher than it claimed way back in 1985. I think the momentum is there for Ms. Bush.

Mariah Carey – The voice of Generation X should be a shoo-in at some point. Slowly, we will begin to see more and more divas finding their way into the Hall. Plus, we need the Queen of Christmas in the Hall.

New York Dolls – Will someone please elect these guys, along with MC5, who will get a rest from the nomination process this year, for induction into the RRHoF? Their Todd Rundgren-produced debut is a punk rock classic.

Oasis – Basketball realized it was an international commodity long before American fans did. The same goes with Rock and Roll. Oh sure, any artist who makes it over in the States will be rock stars forever. Maybe, the Hall needs to begin to recognize that there are many fantastic and influential artists who never hit big in the States, such as The Jam, Fela Kuti, The Stone Roses, blur, etc. Oasis were gods in the UK, but they did have some success here too.

OutKast – No artist has been mentioned as much as OutKast as the Hall’s biggest snub, though you could include Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, Eric B. & Rakim, Nas and De La Soul. Rap is very under-represented in the Hall compared to its influence and commercial power. And, OutKast, the first rap artist to win the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2004 (Speakerboxxx/The Love Below), would take the biggest rap name left on the board.

Rage Against the Machine – It seems like Rage is nominated every year, but shouldn’t they be? They were one of the first acts to straddle the metal, rap and alternative worlds while maintaining a leftist agenda. And they were popular? Hell, yeah!

Rufus ft. Chaka Khan – Something has got to give. Either induct the whole original band that had Chaka Khan, the missing diva between Aretha and Whitney, or just Chaka herself. I’m truly getting tired that one version or the other has yet to be inducted. Make it happen!

Soundgarden – The third artist of the Big Four of Grunge, Soundgarden has found themselves to be nominated and the skipped. I can’t remember if this is a skip year or not. Just induct them so we can to move on to others.

Tears for Fears – Here’s another early MTV band finally getting recognized for their 80s portion of their career, much like Duran Duran and Eurythmics this year. This is overdue, but the band could not have planned a better comeback than to release an excellent album in 2022, The Tipping Point. We all know how well-received the two 80s MTV acts with their induction ceremony performances. Tears for Fears could only enhance the video years of rock in the Hall.

The B-52’s – I knew something was changing in popular music while in high school just by watching the gradual change from art-oriented Boomer artists to a new weird thing called new wave and punk. First, it was Patti Smith, then came Talking Heads, DEVO and Blondie. And, by the time The B-52’s arrived, the change was happening, and I knew my college years were going to be awesome. The B-52’s put Athens, Georgia on the rock map and opened the door for some many others to walk through, such as Wall of Voodoo, The Go-Go’s and most notably R.E.M.

Willie Nelson – After all the goodwill spread by Dolly Parton’s induction just six weeks ago may have allowed some of the greatest classic country acts to be recognized. And the man with the biggest resumé, most far-reaching influence and most rock & roll of the bunch, Willie Nelson should be nominated. Like Dolly before him, Willie is such a beloved musical figure that he would be a shoo-in to win the fan vote.

And, of those on my nominee list, I believe the RRHoF would inducted the following artists: Destiny’s Child, DEVO, George Michael, Iron Maiden, Kate Bush, Mariah Carey, OutKast and Willie Nelson. That class would make for one helluva TV show, and we all know how ratings drive these things. Then, MC5 and New York Dolls would be inducted for Musical Excellence. Personally, I feel like this whole list should be inducted and let’s move on to the next bunch. I am just tired of all the deserving artists out there who have yet to have been inducted. It’s beyond silly now.