Source: Nikki Sixx and Vince Neil of Motley Crue perform on stage at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois, May 11, 1984. (Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rarely seems to get things right when it comes to nominations and inductions, as there are dozens of genuine rock legends sitting outside its halls without even a single nomination. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, nominations go to “artists who have created music whose originality, impact, and influence has changed the course of rock ‘n’ roll.” The artist must also have released their debut music at least 25 years ago.
However, the selection committee typically forgets it’s a “rock and roll” hall of fame, not a general music one. The 2025 nominees include Bad Company, The Black Crowes, Mariah Carey, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Joy Division and New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Maná, Oasis, Outkast, Phish, Soundgarden and The White Stripes.
Related: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Announces 2025 Nominees
Related: Ranking Every Song by Mötley Crüe
Related: Kansas Cancels Shows as Lead Singer Battles Cancer
While Mariah Carey and Outkast are fantastic artists in their own right, however they, like so many other inducted musicians, have nothing to do with the genre of “rock and roll” itself, keeping out rock legends that have been waiting for DECADES to see their names enshrined forever.
In honor of the artists dishonored by the hall, here’s 50 rock legends not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that should be:
It’s worth noting several solo artists featured on this list are in the hall of fame as members of a group, however their respective solo careers were significant enough to warrant inclusion on the list.
50 Rock Legends Not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame That Should Be
1. Bryan Adams
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2005
Major hits: Summer of 69, Heaven, Run to You
Biggest project: Reckless (1984)
2. America
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1997
Major hits: A Horse with No Name, Sister Golden Hair, Ventura Highway
Biggest project: America (1972)
3. Asia
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2007
Major hits: Heat of the Moment, Don’t Cry, Only Time Will Tell
Biggest project: Asia (1982)
4. Badfinger
Source:Getty
Eligible Since: 1996
Major hits: No Matter What, Day After Day, Come and Get It
Biggest project: Straight Up (1971)
5. Blackfoot
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2000
Major hits: Highway Song, Train, Train, Fly Away
Biggest project: Strikes (1979)
6. Blue Öyster Cult
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1997
Major hits: (Don’t Fear) The Reaper, Burnin’ for You, Godzilla
Biggest project: Agents of Fortune (1976)
7. Boston
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2001
Major hits: Amanda, Don’t Look Back, More Than a Feeling,
Biggest project: Boston (1976)
8. Phil Collins
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2006
Major hits: In the Air Tonight, You’ll Be in My Heart, You Can’t Hurry Love
Biggest project: No Jacket Required (1985)
9. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1994
Major hits: Just a Song Before I Go, Wasted on the Way, Woodstock
Biggest project: Déjà Vu (1970)
10. Rick Derringer
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1998
Major hits: Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo, Real American, Demolition
Biggest project: All American Boy (1973)
11. Dio
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2008
Major hits: The Last in Line, Rainbow in the Dark, Holy Diver
Biggest project: Holy Diver (1983)
12. Foghat
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1998
Major hits: Slow Ride, Fool for the City, I Just Want to Make Love to You
Biggest project: Fool for the City (1975)
13. Golden Earring
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1991
Major hits: Radar Love, Twighlight Zone, When the Lady Smiles
Biggest project: Moontan (1973)
14. Grand Funk Railroad
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1994
Major hits: The Loco-Motion, We’re An American Band, Some Kind of Wonderful
Biggest project: Closer to Home (1970)
15. The Guess Who
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1991
Major hits: American Woman, These Eyes, No Sugar Tonight
Biggest project: American Woman (1970)
16. Sammy Hagar
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2002
Major hits: Your Love is Driving Me Crazy, I Can’t Drive 55, Heavy Metal
Biggest project: Standing Hampton (1982)
17. Don Henley
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2008
Major hits: Dirty Laundry, Boys of Summer, The End of Innocence
Biggest project: The End of Innocence (1989)
18. Humble Pie
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1995
Major hits: 3o Days in the Hole, Hot ‘n’ Nasty, I Don’t Need No Doctor
Biggest project: Smokin’ (1972)
19. Iron Maiden
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2005
Major hits: Run to the Hills, The Trooper, The Number of the Beast
Biggest project: The Number of the Beast (1982)
20. James Gang
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1995
Major hits: Funk #49, Walk Away, Must Be Love
Biggest project: James Gang Rides Again (1970)
21. Kansas
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2000
Major hits: Dust in the Wind, Carry On Wayward Son, Point of Know Return
Biggest project: Point of Know Return (1977)
22. Lenny Kravitz
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2015
Major hits: It Ain’t Over ’til It’s Over, Are You Gonna Go My Way, Fly Away
Biggest project: Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993)
23. Huey Lewis and the News
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2006
Major hits: The Power of Love, I Want a New Drug, Stuck with You
Biggest project: Sports (1983)
24. Living Colour
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2014
Major hits: Cult of Personality, Glamour Boys, Open Letter (To a Landlord)
Biggest project: Vivid (1988)
25. Meat Loaf
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1997
Major hits: Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad, Paradise by the Dashboard Light, I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)
Biggest project: Bat Out of Hell (1977)
26. Molly Hatchet
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2004
Major hits: Flirtin’ with Disaster, Satisfied Man, Let the Good Times Roll
Biggest project: Flirtin’ with Disaster (1979)
27. The Monkees
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1992
Major hits: Daydream Believer, I’m a Believer, Last Train to Clarksville
Biggest project: More of the Monkees (1967)
28. Montrose
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1999
Major hits: Rock Candy, Bad Motor Scooter, Space Station #5
Biggest project: Montrose (1973)
29. Mötley Crüe
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2007
Major hits: Dr. Feelgood, Without You, Girls, Girls, Girls
Biggest project: Dr. Feelgood (1989)
30. Motörhead
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2003
Major hits: Ace of Spades, Motörhead, Bomber
Biggest project: Ace of Spades (1980)
31. Nazareth
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1997
Major hits: Love Hurts, Hair of the Dog, Holiday
Biggest project: Hair of the Dog (1975)
32. Robert Plant
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2008
Major hits: Sea of Love, Tall Cool One, Little by Little
Biggest project: Now and Zen (1988)
33. Poison
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2012
Major hits: Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Unskinny Bop, Something to Believe In
Biggest project: Open Up and Say… Ahh! (1988)
34. Rainbow
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2001
Major hits: Stone Cold, Street of Dreams, Since You Been Gone
Biggest project: Straight Between the Eyes (1982)
35. Ratt
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2009
Major hits: Round and Round, Lay It Down, Dance
Biggest project: Out of the Cellar (1984)
36. REO Speedwagon
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1997
Major hits: Can’t Fight This Feeling, Take It On the Run, Keep On Loving You
Biggest project: Hi Infidelity (1980)
37. David Lee Roth
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2011
Major hits: California Girls, Just Like Paradise, Yankee Rose
Biggest project: Skyscraper (1988)
38. Joe Satriani
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2012
Biggest project: Surfing with the Alien (1987)
39. Scorpions
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1998
Major hits: Wind of Change, Rock You Like a Hurricane, Still Loving You
Biggest project: Love at First Sting (1984)
40. Slade
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1995
Major hits: Merry Xmas Everybody, Far Far Away, Cum On Feel the Noize
Biggest project: Slayed? (1972)
41. Billy Squier
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2005
Major hits: Rock Me Tonite, The Stroke, Everybody Wants You
Biggest project: Don’t Say No (1981)
42. Steppenwolf
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1994
Major hits: Born to Be Wild, Magic Carpet Ride, Rock Me
Biggest project: The Second (1968)
43. Styx
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1998
Major hits: Babe, Mr. Roboto, The Best of Times
Biggest project: Paradise Theatre (1981)
44. Supertramp
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1995
Major hits: The Logical Song, Goodbye Stranger, Breakfast in America
Biggest project: Breakfast in America (1979)
45. Survivor
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2005
Major hits: Eye of the Tiger, Burning Heart, I Can’t Hold Back
Biggest project: Eye of the Tiger (1982)
46. Thin Lizzy
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1996
Major hits: The Boys Are Back in Town, Cowboy Song, Whiskey in the Jar
Biggest project: Jailbreak (1976)
47. 38 Special
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2003
Major hits: If I’d Be the One, Caught Up in You, Hold On Loosely
Biggest project: Special Forces (1982)
48. Toto
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2004
Major hits: Africa, Rosanna, Hold the Line
Biggest project: Toto IV (1982)
49. Twisted Sister
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 2008
Major hits: We’re Not Gonna Take It, I Wanna Rock, Leader of the Pack
Biggest project: Stay Hungry (1984)
50. Joe Walsh
Source:Getty
Eligible since: 1998
Major hits: Life’s Been Good, Rocky Mountain Way, All Night Long
Biggest project: But Seriously, Folks… (1978)
