6 Artists We Hope Get into the Rock Hall Before They Die

• David Johansen

  Share

  Not to continue to be a bummer, but David Johansen is the last man standing from the New York Dolls lineup from their 1973 self-titled debut album. It's obscene how many artists were influenced by the New York Dolls. The band has been eligible for induction since 1999 and have been nominated three times: 2001, 2021 and 2022. For crying out loud, what is the hold up with the Dolls, Rock Hall?!

• The Surviving Members of Iron Maiden

  Share

  Many have lamented the lack of heavy metal in the Rock Hall and rightfully so. With Black Sabbath, Metallica and Judas Priest finally getting recognition, Iron Maiden is seemingly poised to be next from the heavy metal world. The band is still a massive draw on tour, and they're still great live. Why not bring that greatness to a Rock Hall induction ceremony before it's too late? (Side note: When Maiden finally does get into the Rock Hall, artist Derek Riggs should get in, too, for creating one of the greatest band mascots ever, Eddie.)

• The Surviving Members of The Runaways

  Share

  Like the New York Dolls, The Runaways have had a massive influence on many artists that followed, especially women. Despite being eligible for induction since 2002, the all-women rock band hasn't even been nominated. The fact their induction would also make Joan Jett a two-time inductee is an added bonus. While drummer Sandy West died in 2006, the other core members are still alive.
• The Surviving Members Soundgarden

  Share

  Chris Cornell's sudden, tragic death in 2017 is a loss that is still very much felt in the rock world. Soundgarden's catalog more than makes them worthy of induction, which they were eligible for since 2012. Undoubtedly, Soundgarden will (or should) get into the Rock Hall at some point, even though it'll be bittersweet. At the very least, the surviving members deserve that recognition.

• The Surviving Members of Alice in Chains

  Share

  Like Soundgarden, the induction of Alice in Chains will be a very bittersweet moment, considering the 2002 death of singer Layne Staley and the 2011 death of bassist Mike Starr. Unlike Soundgarden, though, AIC has yet to even be nominated for the Rock Hall, despite being eligible since 2016. It's one of the more baffling snubs from the Rock Hall in recent years. Hopefully, this wrong will eventually be righted.

• Motley Crue (Who are shockingly still with us!)

  Share

  Okay, yes...it is a minor miracle that the members of Motley Crue are all still alive. The fan support for their induction into the Rock Hall has been going on for years, but even they think they'll be dead by time the Rock Hall inducts them. In a May 2024 interview with 93.3 WMMR's Radio Sara, Vince Neil and Tommy Lee were asked how they would react if their were inducted. Neil actually said, "I think it'd be pretty cool to be inducted, but we'll probably be dead when they induct us." If that quote alone isn't a sign for the Rock Hall to think about giving people their flowers before it's too late, we don't know what is.