There are fans of Phish who will tell you that record sales are not a substitute for quality. That might be true, but we are talking about induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame here, and record sales do matter. They are one of the few measures of how a band rates globally. Phish has a substantial American following and not much elsewhere. Both ticket sales and record sales tell that story.
To be inducted into the Rock Hall, a band should have a presence outside the US. The Tragically Hip is just as good a band as Phish, but will never be in the Rock Hall because they have a huge Canadian presence, but not much else. Why favor the US over Canada in terms of a museum that should represent global greatness?
Besides, the Tragically Hip have sold as many records (eight million) as Phish, and their gigs in Canada just as important. The Hip should have been a 1970s band, though, as their sound recalled that era. Had they originated then, they might be grouped along with the following of bands from the decade that deserve induction, but probably will never get there.
Five bands from the 1970s that deserve to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (but likely never will be)
Styx
The band has sold over 30 million records and has had eight top-10 singles. For a six-year run, from 1977 to 1983, Styx was one of the biggest bands in the world. Sometimes the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honors the length of sustained high-end chart success, and if that is the case, Styx excels. Their first top-10 hit was "Lady" in 1973, and their final one was "Show Me the Way" in 1990.
REO Speedwagon
REO sold more records than Styx, but their peak was shorter. Still, 13 top-40 singles say just how popular they were. Plus, their tours still mostly sold out until the band basically called it quits in the last year. Styx and REO Speedwagon rival Foreigner, which was inducted in 2024.
Foreigner sold more records, but their relevance during the late 1970s and early 1980s was no more critical than REO.
Boston
Boston had a massively selling debut record, as it has sold nearly 20 million copies. Their next albums did not do as well, though the second and third still sold well in comparison to most other records of the era. The reason that Boston deserves a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, though, is their influence on other bands.
Their wall of sound production certainly influenced Billy Corgan in making the Smashing Pumpkins' early records. Heavier alternative music would be nowhere without Boston.
Motörhead
A sign that the Rock Hall does not like heavier rock is the fact that Motörhead has not yet been inducted. Lemmy and his mates influenced a large number of metal bands, both in the 1970s and in recent years. Plus, their songs remain relevant. How much better is Apple TV's Severance because it added "Ace of Spades" to a transformative scene?
James Hetfield said of Motörhead's Rock Hall snub, "(Lemmy Kilmister has been an) inspiration...in my life — what to do, what not to do. And for me paying respects to him in maybe lieu of him being in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, which still continues to piss me off."
Blue Oyster Cult
BOC has an interesting argument for induction. The band has sold 24 million records, but 17 million of those are outside the US. In other words, their global reach is impressive. Plus, their influence is strong. Where would bands such as Ghost be without the aggressive sounds of BOC?