Predicting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2022 Nominees
To paraphrase 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Famer LL Cool J – “don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years.” The truth is I haven’t written a lot of blogs this year. There are a few reasons for that. First, I’ve been co-running the ongoing Rock Hall Reconsidered Project with Darren Hines and it’s been very successful so far. We’ll be continuing the Project early next month so keep an eye out for that. Second, I started a new podcast ‘Rock in Retrospect’ which has taken up a huge chunk of my time over the last 6 months. It’s amazing to think 15 episodes have already been published and there’s quite a few already recorded (and several more in the works). Please check it out if you haven’t already!
Among other things going on, both professionally and privately, writing blogs has been put on the backburner. But now that I have some free time from the Project and podcast, I wanted to sit down and think about which artists I believe will be nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
But before I continue, I should note that I attended the 2021 Rock Hall induction ceremony. It was arguably the best-produced ceremony the Hall has ever produced. Sure, there were one or two segments I wasn’t crazy about, but it was a flawless execution that didn’t feel like 4.5 hours (somehow the HBO telecast cut over an hour and kept the magic of that ceremony). The John Sykes era, at least the in-person ceremonies, started with a bang and it’s gonna be hard to top that one.
Speaking of Sykes, I’ll praise him for keeping his promise when it comes to producing more diverse ballots. Given the subjectiveness of the entire process, it’s nearly impossible to know what the nomination committee’s priorities unless they mention something publicly. While I applaud Sykes’ plea for diversity and inclusion and keeping his promise for the 2021 ballot, this coming year will be the true test whether last year was just a fluke or change is here to stay. I still don’t think they’re quite done honoring classic rock acts in the pre-MTV era. Those artists tend to dominate the Rock Hall’s kiosk votes each year and those are people who visit the museum and pay admission. That’s not to say the committee will consider every artist near the top of that poll but it’s something worth noting that could lead to a nomination. I could easily be wrong but you never know when corporate bigwigs are involved.
And one final note: predictions are, indeed, predictions. There’s no perfect science that made me decide one artist over another. I made calculated decisions based on patterns and trends of the ballots over the last 5 years. Sometimes it works out and other times it flops. But a lot of my predictions are simply hunches. Something I’ve learned throughout my life is you sometimes must go with your gut instinct and you can feel it’s an artist’s time to finally receive a Rock Hall nomination. But it’s also impossible to predict the motives and strategies of the committee members. Sometimes the sheer thought of thinking like one of the committee members just feels wrong. But at the end of the day, there’s no wrong answers when the process is this subjective.
Nevertheless, I will be bold enough to make predictions on the 16 artists I feel will receive a Rock Hall nomination this spring. I wrote a brief writeup on each artist and why I believe they’ll be nominated next year. Some are shorter, mainly because they’ve been nominated before so they’re already on the minds of the committee members.
Here’s my 16 predictions for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022 Nominees:
The B-52s (Eligible since 2004; Never Nominated): This is my “ride or die” pick, an artist I’m predicting every year until they receive a nomination. The B-52s occupies the “artsy/quirky new wave artist” spot that has went to the likes of Devo, Kate Bush and the Eurythmics. It feels like they’re overdue for a nomination and it’s frankly astonishing they haven’t gotten one yet. On a musical level, they are one of the most adventurous and experimental bands of the last four decades. They were at the forefront of new wave’s earliest years that artistically defined that style of music as much as any band of that era. On a societal level, they—perhaps more than any band or group—brought queer visibility and representation to a mainstream audience in the most unapologetic way imaginable. I still contend they would be inducted the moment they appear on an official Rock Hall ballot. The B-52s are a little too well-liked by critics and general music listeners to miss out. They easily have 4-5 songs everyone knows and loves which also works in their favor. Even The Go-Go’s name-dropped these Georgia legends when they were interviewed by the Rock Hall’s museum employees a few months ago. It’s nice to see other new wave artists support one another and hopefully that is remembered at the next nomination committee meeting. Speaking of which….it seems like Dave Grohl, who serves on the committee and is now a two-time inductee, has been praising The B-52s a lot lately. He recently named the band’s self-titled debut album as one of his ten favorite records of all time and said they changed his life. I wouldn’t be shocked if he went to bat for them next month.
Pat Benatar (Eligible since 2000; Nominated in 2020): When Pat Benatar didn’t immediately return to the ballot last year, despite a very strong showing in the previous year’s fan vote, a lot of fans were upset. I remember her name was trending on Twitter for almost the entire day of the 2021 nominations announcement last February. If the outcry is that massive for Benatar, it would feel incredibly wrong for her to appear on the 2022 ballot. When interviewed by CBS last month, Benatar mentioned that while an induction wouldn’t “validate” her career on a personal level, the honor would mean everything to her fans. Benatar’s absence from the Rock Hall seems more painfully obvious when her 80s contemporaries are entering the Hall on their first nominations. While critics were hardly impressed with Benatar’s output, they’re only a demographic in the larger voting body. I don’t believe the voters would fail twice to get her elected to the Hall. But these same voters also disappointed me countless times over the years, so I don’t know how much stock I’d put in them.
Cher (Eligible since 1991; Never Nominated): When I was a guest on the Who Cares About the Rock Hall podcast last month, I was the sole voice in the room arguing for the legendary Cher. At first there might’ve been a few heads scratching when her name was mentioned. But I think I convinced the room on Cher’s Rock Hall prospects. My main argument is that she’s such an obvious candidate that she doesn’t need to be explained. She’s F--- Cher. A multitalented entertainer who conquered almost every corner of popular culture over the last six decades. She transcends different generations and she’s a household name that virtually everyone knows. She’s a polarizing figure in the eyes of a few but that doesn’t matter. I would bet good money that she would not only top the fan vote any year she’s nominated (Cher fans can very fanatical) but she’d probably gather the most votes from the larger voting body. Honestly, how could you vote against Cher? An icon who should’ve been inducted decades ago. And oh yeah, Cher was interviewed for Tina Turner’s video package at the last ceremony, so it seems like the stars are aligning for the former to finally get recognized by the Rock Hall. I’m not sure why this the hill I’m dying on, but I think Cher is as close to a sure thing as anything happening next year.
De La Soul (Eligible since 2014; Never Nominated): Last year’s ballot was the first time in many years that the nomination committee put two hip-hop artists on the same ballot. The nomination committee was “clearing the lane” by only nominating only hip-hop artist each year. Sometimes it worked and other years, not so much. Jay-Z was such a sure bet that the committee probably figured to give LL Cool J another shot last year. I feel something similar will happen next year as Eminem will occupy Jay-Z’s spot and that allows the committee to put another worthy hip-hop artist on the same ballot. I’m thinking they’ll go with someone who is far less aggressive and controversial as Eminem. Probably a seminal late 80s or early 90s act who is more socially conscious and artsy too. Although the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah and Outkast crossed my mind, I’m thinking the committee will settle on De La Soul. Now before you write-off De La Soul’s chances, please consider that their landmark debut album ‘3 Feet High and Rising’ (1989) is preserved at the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry (back in 2010!). That album also soared on Rolling Stone’s 2020 version of their 500 Greatest Albums list (clocking in at #103). After LL’s induction, it feels the chronology of hip-hop candidates in the Rock Hall is the late 1980s and that’s sorta where the committee’s priorities should be right now. And oh, Questlove has expressed his admiration for De La Soul many times over the years and even going as far to say they are “the most under-appreciated artists of all time.” Let that quote stink in for a minute as we bask in the glory of this legendary hip-hop group.
Duran Duran (Eligible since 2007; Never Nominated): It seems like it’s Duran Duran’s time to finally receive a Rock Hall nomination. I still vividly remember the loud ovation Simon Le Bon and John Taylor both received when they inducted Roxy Music a few years ago. It was so loud that it made me think the fab five’s time must be coming sooner or later. Beyond their status as early innovators of the music video medium that made MTV a worldwide phenomenon, they’ve always been pushing the boundaries of their music over the last four decades. They’re still making wildly inventive music as heard in the release of their latest studio album Future Past (2021). And they even performed one of their newest songs at this year’s Billboard Music Awards show and on various talk shows in the last few months. I always say this, but Duran Duran is probably the most populist new wave act imaginable and they’re just a little too well-liked to get passed over when they finally make it onto a ballot. It’s hard to imagine the committee not seizing on all this momentum over the past year. If not now, then when?
**Check out Rock in Retrospect’s episode on Duran Duran**
Eminem (Eligible since 2022; Newly Eligible): He’s the only FYE-eligible artist I’m confident will be nominated next year (it would make me so very happy if Fiona Apple got a nomination too). I’m not gonna debate whether he feels “too recent” to receive a nomination, especially with the backlog of worthy hip-hop artists that haven’t even been nominated yet, but there’s no denying Eminem’s impact on popular culture over the last two decades. He was the best-selling artist of the 2000s and the best-selling male artist of the 2010s. Stats like this are very important when looking at one’s Rock Hall chances. But Eminem also has the necessary critical acclaim to get inducted in his first year of eligibility. He’s one of the very few performers from Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists list to not already be in the Hall (and that’s only because he wasn’t eligible until now). He’s won many awards throughout his career including 15 Grammys and even an Oscar. If The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z waltzed right into the Rock Hall in the last few years, Eminem can’t be too far behind. And Eminem even performed at LL Cool J’s set last October which only makes me think a nomination (and eventual induction) is a done deal. Not the biggest fan of his work but it’s happening whether I like it or not.
Iron Maiden (Eligible since 2005; Nominated in 2021): I’m torn between two metal legends for this slot. I was thinking maybe the nomination committee would give Judas Priest another shot because they seem to nominate them every other year. But on the other hand, it seems like Iron Maiden has a more fervent fanbase rallying around them to get into the Rock Hall. They keep doing well on the Rock Hall’s kiosk votes each year. Maiden just released a new studio album last September, so I’m going with the latter. And on top of that, Iron Maiden is going on a world tour next year that concludes in late October here in the States which, I believe, is around the same time the 2022 Rock Hall induction ceremony would take place (or maybe sometime in November as Rick Krim mentioned on a recent episode of Who Cares About the Rock Hall). Either way, it’s perfect timing if Maiden were selected next year—even if the band doesn’t seem to care too much about the honor.
Jane’s Addiction (Eligible since 2013; Nominated in 2017): Now that the ceremony is officially coming back to L.A. next year, the nomination committee might be California dreaming about seminal acts from the golden state that aren’t in the Rock Hall. It’s about time Jane’s Addiction comes back for another nomination. They have quite a lot of support on the committee, and it seems like their stock has risen much higher in the last few years. Tom Morello has been the most outspoken for Jane’s Addiction in the Rock Hall and he has called them one of his favorite bands that greatly influenced him. During his acceptance speech last October, Taylor Hawkins name-dropped Jane’s Addiction as one of 3 artists he’d like to see inducted into the Rock Hall someday (the other two being Soundgarden and George Michael). Maybe that will work out in their favor, especially when Dave Grohl is also a huge advocate for them. After a 5-year absence, they would probably be seen with fresher eyes as the larger voting has rapidly changed over the last several years.
**Check out Rock in Retrospect’s episode on Jane’s Addiction**
Chaka Khan (Eligible since 2004; Nominated in 2016, 2017, 2021): With Rufus or solo, it doesn’t matter because Chaka Khan will most likely be nominated again. The nomination committee clearly wants her inducted and she should’ve been a long time ago. Believe me, I feel for Chaka Khan and love her dearly. The only other scenario I can see is they decide to take her “off” the ballot, a la Kraftwerk, and say “we’ll induct her in the one of the side categories in May.” It’d be a shame, but sometimes executive decisions are necessary when they are clogging up precious ballot spaces from other worthy artists. I do believe we’ll see Khan honored in some fashion next year.
New York Dolls (Eligible since 1999; Nominated in 2001, 2021): While listening to the Who Cares About the Rock Hall episode when they called actual Rock Hall voters last spring, I was struck by the huge amount of support for the New York Dolls. These proto-punk legends felt like a wildcard choice on last year’s ballot, and I bet they came close to induction. Their androgynous fashion choices and unapologetic attitude made pioneers of glam rock that easily fit in with their contemporaries T. Rex and David Bowie. But the New York Dolls’ flare for the theatrics were captured in their legendary live shows. In short, they were one of many bands that brought rock and roll back to its primal roots in the early 1970s. And despite a very small discography, they were hugely influential on countless artists across different genres and generations. The upcoming Martin Scorsese documentary on lead singer David Johansen should be enough to not only keep them in the conversation but keep them on the ballot until they get enough votes for induction.
Rage Against the Machine (Eligible since 2018; Nominated in 2018, 2019, 2021): Now that the ceremony is L.A. bound next year, it makes sense to give this quartet another a nomination on the ballot. They received 3 nominations in their 4 years of eligibility so they must be a priority on the minds of the nomination committee (as RATM should be). The band’s far-left politics will always make them relevant, especially in times of social and political turmoil as we are experiencing now. I’m not sure if they will fare much better next year, but it seems like their time is coming sooner than later.
Diana Ross (Eligible since 1996; Never Nominated): After the long overdue second inductions of Carole King and Tina Turner, I believe the nomination committee will continue to nominate more iconic women that are no-brainer candidates. Diana Ross should probably be the next woman to receive a second induction and rightfully so. Beyond her hugely successful solo career with over two-dozen top-40 hits (including 6 #1’s), she’s also lauded for her ability to reinvent herself and stay relevant. Working with Chic’s Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, they made the game changing album Diana (1980) which included the hits “Upside Down” and “I’m Coming Out,” which sealed her status as an LGBTQ+ icon. That album also ranked #349 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums list in 2020. Ross has virtually every lifetime award on her mantle: Kennedy Center Honoree (2007) Grammy lifetime achievement award (2012), a Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016) and American Music Awards’ lifetime achievement award (2017). She just released a new studio album, her first in 15 years, and her name seems to be more in the news as of late. Maybe I’m overestimating the fact she has new music out there, but Diana Ross doesn’t have to prove a damn thing to any of us. She’s a legend and should be honored for her trailblazing post-Supremes career.
Soundgarden (Eligible since 2012; Nominated in 2020): I was already convinced Soundgarden would return to the ballot, but there was something that confirmed my intuitions. On Instagram, nomination committee member Karen Glauber has posted quite a bit about Chris Cornell over the last several months. She was very adamant to get Todd Rundgren into the Rock Hall and I think Soundgarden will be her next pet project. They’re the next grunge band that will be enshrined at the Rock Hall and likely one of the next 2-3 90s-era artists to get in. They’re just a little too well-regarded and admired to stay on the outside much longer. Plus, it helps their case that the ceremony will be back on the west coast next year. It’s hard to know where the members of Soundgarden and Chris Cornell’s widow Vicki stand in any given week, but it doesn’t look like it is getting any better anytime soon. It will likely be a messy induction for all parties involved and the Rock Hall might as well get it over and done with.
Thin Lizzy (Eligible since 1996; Nominated in 2020): One of the few classic rock acts I think has a legit chance to receive induction relatively soon, Thin Lizzy could easily pop up on the next ballot. Hailing from Ireland, this pioneering hard rock band combined Irish folklore, psychedelia, soul music and rock and roll to create a distinctively unique sound. Phil Lynott, the first Irish black rock star, wrote poetic lyrics that captured the universality of working-class struggles, heartache, and optimism for a better future. The band’s twin guitar attack became supremely influential to many latter-day bands including Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. But Thin Lizzy’s influence is much wider than one might think. The Cure’s Robert Smith believes Lynott was a “genius” and Thin Lizzy was one of the first bands he saw live (in fact, Smith owns every Thin Lizzy record). And did you know there’s a member of the band also named John Sykes? Wild, right?
Dionne Warwick (Eligible since 1988; Nominated in 2021): I’ll be honest with readers: I wasn’t sure whether to include Dionne Warwick on this year’s predictions. I was sorta surprised she didn’t get inducted in 2021 based on name recognition alone, but something changed my mind. When Roy Trakin appeared on the Who Cares About the Rock Hall, he seemed very hesitant to check off Warwick’s name on his ballot despite Joe and Kristen’s pleas to vote for Warwick. I concluded that critics weren’t all that enthused by Warwick’s name on the ballot and her prospects weren’t looking good (which proved to be correct). I don’t think it helped that she was nominated on a very-stacked ballot with other legends such as Tina Turner, Carole King and Chaka Khan. Despite that, there’s something in Warwick’s favor that makes me think she’ll get another nomination: there’s a new documentary about her life and career that just came out Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over (2021), which had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival last September. If there’s one thing the Rock Hall seems to love as of late, it’s documentaries and biopics about musicians. It seemed to do wonders for N.W.A, Nina Simone and The Go-Go’s. In addition to Warwick’s ever-present Twitter account, there’s a strong likelihood she’ll come up again.
Warren Zevon (Eligible since 1995; Never Nominated): After the induction of Todd Rundgren this past year, the Rock Hall might look to nominate another quirky 70s-era singer-songwriter widely beloved by many of his peers. Although I predicted Harry Nilsson last year, I think Warren Zevon is more likely to happen first. Zevon is mainly known for the hit “Werewolves of London,” but he’s so much more than that one novelty song. He was a widely respected artist who collaborated with many Rock Hall inductees including Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne and Don Henley. To put it another way, when Bob Dylan is covering one of your songs, you probably should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And an added bonus for those who closely follow the Rock Hall, Zevon’s manager was none other than Irving Azoff (class of 2020 inductee) who also manages and/or represents Journey, Bon Jovi, Stevie Nicks and The Doobie Brothers (all recent inductees in the last 5 years). Zevon’s overdue for a nomination and if Azoff wants it to happen, it will happen.
To recap, these are the 16 artists I predict will be nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022:
The B-52s
Pat Benatar
Cher
De La Soul
Duran Duran
Eminem
Iron Maiden
Jane’s Addiction
Chaka Khan
New York Dolls
Rage Against the Machine
Diana Ross
Soundgarden
Thin Lizzy
Dionne Warwick
Warren Zevon
Tell me what you think of my predictions in the comments section below. Feel free to list who you think would get inducted if this was indeed the official ballot.
