Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1997, Part Three - The Inductees

1997 was what I like to call a "clean-up" year for the Hall Of Fame. A weak class opens up the door for previously snubbed artists to take their rightful place in the Hall.

Seven artists were inducted into the real Hall in 1997. Three artists were inducted into my Hall in their first year of eligibility. There are no more "ASAP" inductees waiting until next year at this point.


The following "Class Of 1997" were inducted in their first year of eligibility:

Billy Joel - One of the greatest songwriters of the classic rock era, Billy Joel was a hit machine throughout the 70's and 80's, cranking out great music with tremendous popular appeal.

Lou Reed - The former lead singer of The Velvet Underground enjoyed a successful solo career, especially during his Berlin period. He's not in the actual hall yet for some reason, but he makes my list with no waiting.

Roxy Music - Roxy Music was a huge figure in the glam rock scene in the 1970's as well as being one of the earliest influences on the alternative rock genre. Their music was incredibly well-produced and made an iconic mark on the middle period of classic rock.


The following artists has been inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 1997:

Deep Purple - The last band from the "Class Of 1993"s "ASAP" list to make my Hall, Deep Purple were a tremendously influential band and one of the first heavy metal bands. Their "Smoke On The Water" is such a famous beat that it's traditionally the first riff that anyone practices on when they learn the guitar.

Alice Cooper - The master of shock-rock, Alice Cooper became a controversial figure in rock n roll because of his audacious lyrics and wild stage antics. The band's music was surprisingly well-written and represents some of the most interesting music of the classic rock era.

The Band - The Band was actually formed to back Bob Dylan in the early days of his career. After a few albums, they broke off on their own and had a short but significant career during the late 60's and early 70's, producing all-time classics like "The Weight" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down".

Parliament-Funkadelic - George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and the rest of the P-Funk crew created some of the wildest and greatest funk music ever made with their separate and then collective outfits in the 70's.

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1997, Part Two

The following "Class of 1997" artists are worthy of consideration, but are unlikely to make it in any time soon:

10cc
Bette Midler
Eric Carmen and the Raspberries
Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes
Kim Carnes
Loggins & Messina
Neu!
Pete Townshend
The Blossoms
Triumvirat


The following "Class Of 1997" artists are worthy of induction, but may have to wait awhile for their turn:

Atlanta Rhythm Section
Big Star
Foghat
Hall & Oates
Peter Frampton
Richard Thompson


The following "Class Of 1997" artists are worthy of induction and will likely make it in the near future, but didn't quite make the cut this time around (*="ASAP" inductee status):

Blue Öyster Cult
Bonnie Raitt
Joe Walsh
Scorpions
Styx

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1997, Part One

The "Class Of 1997" is the weakest Hall Of Fame class so far, as only two members of the class are in the actual Hall Of Fame.


The following artists from the "Class of 1997" have been inducted into the actual RNR Hall Of Fame:

Billy Joel
Bonnie Raitt


The following artists from the "Class of 1997" have been removed from consideration from my hall:

Dan Fogelberg
Joan Armatrading

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1996, Part Three - The Inductees

Seven artists were inducted into the real Hall Of Fame in 1996. In my Hall, only four rookies were inducted in 1996, meaning that three artists who had been previously snubbed made it in this time around. At this point Deep Purple is the only "ASAP" nominee that has yet to make the Hall, though next year seems like a lock.


The following "Class Of 1996" were inducted in their first year of eligibility:

Black Sabbath - The best metal band between Zeppelin and Metallica, Black Sabbath were a decade ahead of their time with their intense black metal propelled forward by great vocal performances by lead singer Ozzy Osbourne and some of the greatest guitar solos of all-time.

Eric Clapton - Clapton has been involved in many bands that have received consideration for the Hall (Derek and the Dominoes, The Yardbirds, Blind Faith) and one that has been inducted (Cream), but he didn't become a legend until he topped all of those accomplishments off with an incredible solo career that started in the 70's and continues to this day. Clapton is one of the great figures of classic rock and his solo career has been one of the most successful in all of rock n roll.

Electric Light Orchestra - They're not in the actual Hall, but ELO is one of the greatest bands in all of classic rock, as they've adapted to several genres throughout their long career and always managed to stay interesting and maintain a high level of quality.

ZZ Top - The best boogie blues rock band of the 1970's, ZZ Top achieved a large following with their early albums only to explode with the Eliminator album in the early 80's. Their iconic images combined with creative videos and some of the band's best songs made the band one of the most unlikely heroes of the early days of MTV.


The following artists has been inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 1996:

The Steve Miller Band - They were never one of the most artistic bands of their era, but when it comes to making classic rock hits on a consistent basis, few were better. Since the songs were mostly of a high level of quality, I'm not about to discount the band because there were a lot of them.

Traffic - A classic rock band that has frequently been overlooked, Traffic was only together for a few albums, but they were hugely influential and made some of the most creative classic rock of the 1960's.

Leonard Cohen - Not much of a rock singer, but definitely one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th Century, Leonard Cohen's somber style and deep voice made him one of the most influential performers of his generation.

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1996, Part Two

The following "Class of 1996" artists are worthy of consideration, but are unlikely to make it in any time soon:

America
April Wine
Black Oak Arkansas
Dr. Hook
Faust
J.J. Cale
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Mudcrutch
Nazareth
Olivia Newton-John
Rory Gallagher
The Stylistics


The following "Class Of 1996" artists are worthy of induction, but may have to wait awhile for their turn:

Bill Withers
Budgie
Carly Simon
Fela Kuti
Gerry Rafferty
Little Feat
Sparks
Thin Lizzy


The following "Class Of 1996" artists are worthy of induction and will likely make it in the near future, but didn't quite make the cut this time around (*="ASAP" inductee status):

Curtis Mayfield
Earth, Wind & Fire
Kraftwerk
Meat Loaf
Parliament-Funkadelic
REO Speedwagon
Steve Winwood
The Doobie Brothers
War

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1996, Part One

1971 wasn't a great year for rock n roll with the exception of the R&B, funk and metal genres. Seven artists will be inducted, meaning that there will be some catch-up from previous years.


The following artists from the "Class of 1996" have been inducted into the actual RNR Hall Of Fame:

Parliament-Funkadelic
Curtis Mayfield
Earth, Wind & Fire
Eric Clapton
ZZ Top
Black Sabbath


The following artists from the "Class of 1996" have been removed from consideration from my hall:

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
England Dan and John Ford Coley
Robert Wyatt
The Osmonds
Yoko Ono

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1995, Part Three - The Inductees

Seven artists were inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 1995 and five members of the "Class Of 1995" made it into my Hall on their first try, opening the door for the top two previously snubbed artists from past years. There are still four "ASAP" inductees in the waiting line at this point.


The following "Class Of 1995" were inducted in their first year of eligibility:

Led Zeppelin - My personal favorite band and widely regarded as the greatest hard rock band of all-time, Led Zeppelin released a string of brilliant blues rock before branching off into heavier sounds in the mid-70's. Led Zeppelin was practically an all-star team with one of the best players in history at each of the four positions in the band.

Neil Young - One of the great songwriters of the classic rock era, Neil Young's protest songs were some of the most pointed and intelligent of the genre. He was also a brilliant songwriter in general, as some of his best songs were ballads and love songs. Neil is also widely credited as the Godfather of the Grunge movement, as many of the great bands of the 90's list him as a major influence, especially future inductees Pearl Jam.

The Allman Brothers Band - The Allman Brothers Band are one of the greatest blues rock bands of all-time and certainly the best of the Southern Rock genre. Unlike The Charlie Daniels Band or Lynyrd Skynyrd, the band didn't beat their status as Southerners into your head, but what they did bring to the table were amazing guiter players and great lyrics.

Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young - Another fantastic folk rock band that plowed into the mainstream in the wake of Bob Dylan's mid-60's success, Crosby, Stills, Nash and sometimes Young created some of the best songs of the late 60's, including the protest classic "Ohio" and the Woodstock favorite "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes".

Santana - Carlos Santana is one of the greatest guitarists of all-time and is most certainly among the most creative and influential. Santana has been his band for nearly 40 years now and while there have been downtimes, the band's prime in the late 60's and 70's featured some of the most dynamic work of the classic rock period.


The following artists has been inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 1995:

Genesis - The band was one of the more well-known bands in the early days of British prog rock when they were under the leadership of original frontman Peter Gabriel. Their music was bold and innovative if not particularly easy to listen to. In the early 1980's, Gabriel left for a solo career and Phil Collins took over the band, taking them in a more radio-friendly direction and churning out a long string of hits before the band broke up for good in the mid-90's.

Joni Mitchell - One of the greatest singer-songwriters of the classic rock era, Joni Mitchell had the lyrics of a poet and a sweet voice to deliver them with, carving out a tremendous legacy in the hippie days of the folk movement.

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1995, Part Two

The following "Class of 1995" artists are worthy of consideration, but are unlikely to make it in any time soon:

Dennis Wilson
Don McLean
Donny Hathaway
Gentle Giant
Gil Scott-Heron
Hawkwind
Mountain
Mungo Jerry
The Last Poets
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Tower of Power
UFO
Uriah Heep


The following "Class Of 1995" artists are worthy of induction, but may have to wait awhile for their turn:

Badfinger
Derek and the Dominos
Emerson, Lake And Palmer
Jimmy Buffett
Kris Kristofferson
Ringo Starr
Roger Waters
Ry Cooder
Sweet
The Charlie Daniels Band
The J. Geils Band
Todd Rundgren


The following "Class Of 1995" artists are worthy of induction and will likely make it in the near future, but didn't quite make the cut this time around (*="ASAP" inductee status):

Supertramp
The Jackson Five

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1995, Part One

1970 was yet another banner year for rock n roll as some of the most important figures of the classic rock era got their start this year.


The following artists from the "Class of 1995" have been inducted into the actual RNR Hall Of Fame:

The Allman Brothers Band
Janis Joplin
Led Zeppelin
Neil Young
Crosby, Stills And Nash
The Jackson Five
Santana


The following artists from the "Class of 1995" have been removed from consideration from my hall:

Argent
Brownsville Station
Bruce Cockburn
Helen Reddy
Hot Tuna
Magma
Mick Jagger
Steeleye Span
Tangerine Dream
The Nite-Liters
The Partridge Family
Wild Cherry
Wishbone Ash

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1994, Part Three - The Inductees

Eight artists were inducted into the actual Hall Of Fame in 1994, not nearly enough to catch up with those snubbed due to the overflow in 1993. With five first time inductees making the hall this year and three from the "Class Of 1993", there are still six "ASAP" inductees that haven't made the Hall yet.


The following "Class Of 1994" were inducted in their first year of eligibility:

Elton John - One of the biggest stars of the classic rock era, Elton John hopped genres frequently and churned out a collection of hits that's virtually unmatched in rock or pop for that matter. His partnership with songwriter Bernie Taupin is the stuff of legend.

Fleetwood Mac - The band started out slowly and didn't really achieve true greatness until the addition of singer Stevie Nicks in the 1970's, when the band started a run at the top that lasted for a decade. Their album Rumours is one of the best-selling and most significant album of all-time.

Iggy Pop / The Stooges - The best band that's not in the actual Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame because of the idiot voters who can barely tie their own shoes let alone recognize the awesome fury of "Search And Destroy". But enough about those drooling mongoloids... The Stooges were the first and most important band in the punk genre. They were at least a decade ahead of their time and paved the way for the punk revolution of the 70's. Lead singer Iggy Pop personifies everything that rock n roll has ever been about. The live energy, the passion, the insanity, it's all there and no one's ever put it together so completely as Iggy and his compatriots.

John Lennon - All four former Beatles had successful solo careers, but none of the other three even ranked in the same tier as John Lennon's solo work, which includes several classic albums and some of the most significant songs ever written. "Imagine" is the greatest song in the history of rock n roll, in my opinion and "Working Class Hero" and "Instant Karma" aren't far behind.

Warren Zevon - Strangely, Zevon is yet another brilliant singer-songwriter who hasn't made the Hall Of Fame despite one of the most impressive track records of all classic rock artists. Zevon achieved most of his success in the late 70's and early 80's, though many casual fans sadly view him as a one-hit wonder for his Scorcese-endorsed "Werewolves Of London".


The following artists has been inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 1994:

Jethro Tull - The Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame does NOT like progressive rock. Not even in the least. Rush is out, Tull is out, Genesis is out. Pink Floyd is in, but they're kind of hard to ignore. Jethro Tull was one of the first prog bands to cross over to mainstream success, enjoying one of the most successful careers of the 70's and remains among the best representatives of their genre.

Paul McCartney - Paul enters my Hall in the same year as fellow Beatle John Lennon, but his career has been quite different. While John took a very serious tone to his post-Beatle work, Paul went straight to the pop charts with is band Wings and the work he did on his own. His music was often slight and forgettable, but song for song, few artists owned the 70's more than Sir Paul.

T. Rex - The actual Hall also doesn't appreciate bands that don't sell well in the United States. T. Rex was to England in the 70's what the Beatles were in the 60's. In America? "Bang A Gong (Get It On)" was a big hit and "20th Century Boy" has become a cult favorite in recent years, but otherwise, nada. Despite being the best purely glam rock band in all of rock n roll, T. Rex is frequently overlooked and ignored by their peers, though not by me.

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1994, Part Two

The following "Class of 1994" artists are worthy of consideration, but are unlikely to make it in any time soon:

Blind Faith
Bread
Five Man Electrical Band
Garland Jeffreys
Gong
John Denver
Johnny Winter
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Norman Greenbaum
NRBQ
Poco
Seals and Crofts
Sha Na Na
Slade
Strawbs
The Carpenters
The Chi-Lites
The Meters
Van der Graaf Generator


The following "Class Of 1994" artists are worthy of induction, but may have to wait awhile for their turn:

Grand Funk Railroad
Humble Pie
King Crimson
Kool & the Gang
Linda Ronstadt
Nick Drake
Roberta Flack
The James Gang


The following "Class Of 1994" artists are worthy of induction and will likely make it in the near future, but didn't quite make the cut this time around (*="ASAP" inductee status):

Alice Cooper
Chicago
George Harrison
Gram Parsons / The Flying Burrito Brothers
James Taylor
Joe Cocker
*-Joni Mitchell
Mott the Hoople
The Band
Three Dog Night
Yes

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1994, Part One

1969 was a much easier year to deal with than 1968 was, but it was still pretty stacked, as eight artists from the year have made the actual Hall so far. Also, it should be noted, that I know for a fact that Led Zeppelin's first two albums were released in 1969, but the site I used a source said they were first eligible in 1995, so we'll go with that for the sake of consistency.


The following artists from the "Class of 1994" have been inducted into the actual RNR Hall Of Fame:

The Band
Elton John
John Lennon
Joni Mitchell
Fleetwood Mac
James Taylor
George Harrison


The following artists from the "Class of 1994" have been removed from consideration from my hall:

Coven
Garland Green
Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge
Melanie
Mercy
Ray Stevens
Renaissance
Rick Springfield
Ten Wheel Drive
Wigwam

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1993, Part Three - The Inductees

All eight of the 1993 inductees are first-time nominees from the stellar "Class Of 1993", a class that will be factor majorly in future induction classes.


The following "Class Of 1993" were inducted in their first year of eligibility:


Pink Floyd - From their early days as a psychedelic rock band to their prime as one of the greatest artists in all of classic rock, Pink Floyd has stayed at the forefront of rock n roll with their unique style and brilliant lyrics. Few albums have ever been more significant and beloved than "Dark Side Of The Moon" and the fact that they followed that classic up with "Wish You Were Here" and "The Wall" only solidifies their spot as one of the most important artists in all of rock n roll.

David Bowie - David Bowie is one of the most creative artists in all of rock n roll, shifting his style and appearance more frequently than any performer other than Madonna. His music was groundbreaking, representing the pinnacle of glam rock and high water marks for punk, rock n roll and classic rock. He's also one of the most important figures in the development of alternative rock and indie rock genres.

Creedence Clearwater Revival - They weren't actually from the South technically, but no band from the 1960's was more important in the proliferation of Southern Rock as a genre than the Fogerty brothers and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Their music defined the 60's, whether it be the Vietnam-era protest songs or the old school rockabilly type music from their early albums.

The Doors - Although they are a bit overrated due to lead singer Jim Morrison's untimely death, The Doors were one of the best and most influential bands of the 1960's. Their bombastic, over-the-top style set the first steps in motion to craft the classic rock style that dominated late 60's and 70's rock, while their lyrics carved new paths for artistry and style.

The Velvet Underground - No band is more influential to alternative rock and indie rock than The Velvet Underground. A band that was perhaps decades ahead of it's time, the Velvets and lead singer Lou Reed created dark and druggy songs that experimented with the boundaries of rock n roll and opened the eyes of a generation of future stars to what was possible with rock n roll.

Van Morrison / Them - Van Morrison possessed one of the most amazing voices in the history of rock n roll and has used it to create one of the greatest legacies in all of rock n roll. From his early days with the classic garage band Them through his genre-hopping career as a solo artist, Van has remained one of the most influential classic rock artists ever.

Sly And The Family Stone - The greatest funk / R&B band of the 60's and 70's, Sly And The Family Stone rocked Woodstock and the pop charts with their upbeat style and funky beats. Few bands have ever been able to replicate their live energy.

The Grateful Dead - Speaking of live performances, no band has done more for the live performance than the Grateful Dead. They would have made my Hall on the strength of their albums alone, but it's the live jam sessions and concert performances put them over the top and made them the most legendary touring band in rock history.

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1993, Part Two

The following "Class of 1993" artists are worthy of consideration, but are unlikely to make it in any time soon:

Blood Sweat & Tears
Blue Cheer
Electric Flag
Free
Harvey Mandel
Iron Butterfly
Jennifer Warnes
Leon Russell
Ramblin' Jack Elliot
Robert Fripp
Spirit



The following "Class Of 1993" artists are worthy of induction, but may have to wait awhile for their turn:

Bobby Womack
Can
Emmylou Harris
Jeff Beck
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Rare Earth


The following "Class Of 1993" artists are worthy of induction and will likely make it in the near future, but didn't quite make the cut this time around (*="ASAP" inductee status):

Al Green
Buddy Guy
Buffalo Springfield
*-Deep Purple
Dr. John
*-Genesis
Isaac Hayes
*-Jethro Tull
*-Leonard Cohen
*-Paul McCartney
Steppenwolf
*-T. Rex
*-The Steve Miller Band
*-Traffic

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1993, Part One

And here's where it gets complicated. 1968 was a tremendous year for new rock artists, as illustrated by the 17 debuting artists from that year making the actual Hall already, not to mention several deserving artists that have been snubbed repeatedly and still aren't inducted. Unfortunately, only 8 artists were inducted in 1993, meaning that eight of the 16 artists from the "Class Of 1993" that I've identified as "ASAP" inductees will have to wait until at least 1994 to gain induction into my version of the Hall. Before now, no "ASAP" nominee has ever had to wait to get induction.

The following artists from the "Class of 1993" have been inducted into the actual RNR Hall Of Fame:

Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Doors
Sly And The Family Stone
Van Morrison
The Grateful Dead
Al Green
David Bowie
Pink Floyd
The Velvet Underground
Buffalo Springfield
Paul McCartney
Isaac Hayes
Traffic
Buddy Guy
Leonard Cohen
Bobby Womack
Jeff Beck


The following artists from the "Class of 1993" have been removed from consideration from my hall:

Al Kooper
Anne Murray
Brian Auger
Larry Norman
Nazz
Silver Apples
Spooky Tooth
The Jaggerz
The Sir Douglas Quintet