Four bands that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame continues to hate

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a bit of an odd idea. While induction is an interesting thing, the Hall also leaves out groups that belong. There is a large aspect of induction being a popularity contest and that is not what music or a hall of fame should be about.

The point should be to award greatness, especially consistent greatness. Eurythmics, for instance, were a good duo, but not a long-lasting one and one that did not produce a large number of hits. Still, they were inducted in 2022.

Other musical artists have not been inducted but should have. Some are criminally overlooked by the Rock Hall for their influence alone. Four musical artists that should be in the Rock Hall but are not yet are as follows.

Four bands that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should have already inducted

The Smiths

Maybe voters are turned off by Morrissey's seeming arrogance or his attitude toward the music industry. But if this is so, then that is almost another reason for the Smiths to be inducted into the Hall. The frontman is so iconic that people are aware of his views and personality when not making songs. Plus, Morrissey and Johnny Marr are likely individually worthy of induction.

But if the music is what matters, there is simply no reason the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has a reason to say "no" to induction other than maybe the Hall is slow to embrace groups that are quintessentially English. With songs such as "There is a Light That Never Goes Out" and so many others, the Smiths produced some of the best music of the 1980s on either side of the pond. They are also heavily influenced the music that would come after them.

Pet Shop Boys

If Eurythmics is worthy of induction, so are the Pet Shop Boys. Sure, Annie Lennox has a great voice, but the depth and quality of Eurythmics' catalog pales to that of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. The duo has been nominated for six Grammys and various Brit Awards, but one should not simply be inducted into the Rock Hall based on winning trophies. The songs are mostly what matters.

The Pet Shop Boys have tons of great songs, but some of those are iconic. "West End Girls" sounds just as brilliant currently as it did when it was released in 1984, for instance. New Musical Express gave the Pet Shop Boys the Godlike Genius Award in 2017 and Rolling Stone magazine named the duo the top dance duo/group ever. The Boys should be in the Hall.

John Coltrane

Coltrane was clearly a jazz giant, but Miles Davis is in the Rock Hall and so should Coltrane be for the same reason: Each was monumentally influential on rock when it was still young. This is not a comparison between Davis and Coltrane either. Heck, one played the trumpet and one played the saxophone and both were part of the Miles Davis Quintet.

Notably, the Doors were rumored to base the middle section of "Light My Fire" on Coltrane's take on "My Favorite Things." The Byrds were inspired enough by Coltrane that he inspired their track, "Eight Miles High." Davis was inducted into the Hall in 2006 as a Performer. If nothing else, Coltrane deserves to be inducted as a member of the Early Influences. (Also, I understand Coltrane is not a "band" but jazz artists are always part of a large group and Coltrane was a band leader.)

Wu-Tang Clan

If there is an argument that Wu-Tang Clan isn't rock enough to be in the Rock Hall then the same would be said of Run-DMC and Public Enemy. The key is that both those artists belong in the Hall because of their music and their influence and both are in. Wu-Tang is arguably just as influential as both Run-DMC and PE. The group's first album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), was released in 1993 as well so they fit the criteria for how long a debut release has to be out before a group can be inducted.

Quite likely, the various members of Wu-Tang - a list that reads like a who's-who of hip-hop (RZA, GZA, Method Man, and many others) - don't care if they get inducted into any kind of hall of fame, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame if A Tribe Called Quest is. Tribe also belongs and will be inducted in 2024. Wu-Tang should be in 2025.

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