18 Acts That Still Need to be Inducted Into the Rock Hall

Sonic Youth

Not only did Sonic Youth's DIY, artsy ethos and punk attitude influence recent Rock Hall inductees Nirvana, the New York band proved underground artists could be successful on their own terms — and join the mainstream without compromising their ideals or sound. The band's distortion-filled music and paeans to (and skewering of) pop culture kitsch were spot-on, while their detached-cool observations about power, feminism and relationships made them countercultural heroes. Even if Sonic Youth ended with the end of Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore's marriage, their noisy, chaotic rock and roll left an indelible legacy.

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Kraftwerk

They've been nominated before, but now more than ever Kraftwerk deserves a spot in the Rock Hall. Between their DIY instrument-building and electronic music experiments, the German act has been an inspiration to countless artists or scenes: '70s experimenters such as Bowie, Gary Numan and Human League; '80s new wave; '90s rock bands such as Nine Inch Nails and the modern EDM movement. Electronica is pretty much the new rock 'n' roll, and this wouldn't be the case without Kraftwerk.

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Ben E. King

Technically, King is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — as one of the members selected from the complicated scorecard of musicians that made up the Drifters over the years. During King's short time with the group, he lent his soulfully smooth vocals to a number of future classics, including "Save the Last Dance for Me" and "There Goes My Baby." Due to management disputes, King's run with the band ended after less than two years and he went solo, recording a string of additional hits including the iconic "Stand by Me," penned with legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller — a track which went Top 10 twice, in 1961 and again in 1986. Since he was nominated three times in a row beginning in 1986, it's likely the window to induct King as a solo artist officially closed in 1988 with the Drifters induction. He hasn't been nominated since then.

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De La Soul

Someone oughta represent the influential Native Tongues movement that took hold in New York in the late '80s and early '90s and found rap groups opting for a more positive portrayal of black culture. Rappers such as Mos Def were clearly influenced by the movement. So it might as well be De La Soul. The forward-thinking hip-hop act had only one outstanding album — 1989's Three Feet High and Rising, which just happened to be its debut — but the group's clever use of jazzy samples and skits made it into one of hip-hop's most distinctive acts. Producer Prince Paul deserves some of the credit; he went on to produce a slew of rap acts and issue a handful of solo efforts. If the group is inducted, it better invite him to the ceremony.

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Eurythmics

The British music duo featuring singer Annie Lennox and producer David A. Stewart pioneered the synth pop/New Wave sound that would become so popular in the '80s. While the band would split up in 1990, it left behind a legacy of hit tunes. Lennox went to have a semi-successful solo career, and Stewart became a sought-after producer. The group has been eligible for 12 years and was nominated for induction this year but didn't make the cut.

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Nine Inch Nails

Nominated for the first time three years ago, Nine Inch Nails fell short of the mark and wasn't inducted. It's rather disappointing, especially when you consider that the industrial rock group has such deep roots in Northeast Ohio. The group deserves the nod simply because albums such as Pretty Hate Machine, Broken and The Downward Spiral introduced industrial rock to a wide audience and did so without making any significant compromises. In the wake of those releases, frontman Trent Reznor has proven himself to be quite the composer on soundtracks for films such as The Social Network and Gone Girl.

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Radiohead

If this British art rock band had only released 1997's OK Computer, we'd still be clamoring for its induction. One of the defining albums of the '90s, OK Computer inspired independent-minded acts to embrace experimentation even if that meant writing concept albums about the disconnection that exists in a high tech world. A commercial and critical success, the album established the group to such an extent that it continues to fill arenas even though it hasn't had a radio hit in years. Nominated for induction this year, the band was unfortunately overlooked in favor of Baby Boomer acts/fan favorites such as Dire Straits and Bon Jovi.

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Hüsker Dü

Foo Fighters are a shoo-in for the Rock Hall the first year they're eligible. However, the band wouldn't exist without the '80s punk and hardcore underground, specifically kindred sonic spirits Hüsker Dü. The Minneapolis power trio (fronted by the mighty Bob Mould) merged furious tempos, aggressive guitar hooks and unstoppable pop melodies, and in the process proved that punk could be delicate and confrontational.

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Stevie Nicks

If Lou Reed, Springsteen and each Beatle can get into the Rock Hall as solo artists, why not Stevie Nicks? Fleetwood Mac's queen witch has had a successful solo career for decades, starting with her Tom Petty duet "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" through the unstoppable "Edge of Seventeen" and 2014's underrated 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault. Nicks' inimitable, gravelly voice and sartorial perfection — not to mention feminist perspectives — make her a musical icon; recognizing her bulletproof nature with a Rock Hall nod is the right thing to do.

Photo via Joe Kleon

Joe Cocker

It's a real shame that the gravelly voiced Cocker couldn't get his moment on the Hall of Fame stage prior to his passing a few years ago after a battle with cancer. Eligible since 1994, Cocker was a masterful interpreter of songs that had been written by others, and the fact that he didn't write them probably figures heavily into his continued exclusion. He put a huge amount of effort and passion into his performances, something that was famously parodied by John Belushi on Saturday Night Live, and if you saw him perform, it was evident that no matter who wrote the songs, he certainly wasn't coasting on the compositional work done by others.

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