Top ten bands never nominated for Rock Hall of Fame

ELO produced some of the coolest songs of the 70's with its Beatlesque song crafting and Sgt. Pepper album influence.  The result was a symphonic bliss of Rock-n-roll meets Beethoven.Yes makes in my Top Three choices for nomination.  Frontman Jon Anderson (shown wearing glasses), no longer sings for the band but his voice and songwriting were key components of this progressive rock supergroup.The Moody Blues are still touring after 40 years together.  Justin Hayward, Graeme Edge and John Lodge are three of the remaining original members of the band which hits include "Nights in White Satin", "Ride My See-Saw", and "Gemini Dream".  They were part of the British Invasion wave of the 60's.View the list »
Successful 70's pop/R&B duo would be my first choice for nomination into the Rock Hall of Fame of artists that have never been nominated.

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It's always fun to debate the merits of which bands/artists belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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Below I've compiled my Top Ten list of bands which have never been nominated but have been eligible for at least ten years. (Otherwise, I would have included The Cars--eligible for nine years).

KISS and Deep Purple fans, keep in mind that your band has been nominated before.

And remember, an artist isn't eligible for the Hall until 25 years after their first album is released. This list strictly adheres to those who've never even been listed among the eligible nominees.

1. Hall and Oates -- (Years eligible: 15) In my opinon, THE biggest snub, bar none. I put Hall & Oates in the category of The Everly Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel, The Righteous Brothers and Sam & Dave. These are all duos that are in the Hall of Fame. Great songwriters, R&B influencers from "Sara Smile" to "Rich Girl" to "You Make My Dreams Come True". Check out Daryl Hall's tv show "Live From Daryl's House" and see for yourself how many of today's artists are influenced by his songs.

2. The Moody Blues -- (Years eligible: 23) Influence? Innovative? Longevity? Check all three categories for the Moody Blues. One of the most essential British bands from the 60's and they are still recording and touring today.

3. Yes -- (Years eligible: 18) See above description of The Moody Blues. In fact, from a pure musicianship standpoint some might argue that this is the greatest band ever. Spawned future supergroup band "Asia".

4. ELO -- (Years eligible: 16) Has any other band in history blended rock with the sounds of a symphony orchestra any better than Electric Light Orchestra? The skill that frontman/producer Jeff Lynne used in crafting out radio friendly hits like "Evil Woman", "Mr. Blue Sky", "Hold On Tight" and "Don't Bring Me Down" (pre-digital era) is still unmatched by anything out there today.

5. Cheap Trick -- (Years eligible: 10) Shouldnt a band that has played in virtually every club and arena in the world get a nomination? 60's pop meets heavy metal and punk. These road warriors haven't stopped moving since the mid-70's and they continue to churn out new records. Classic Rock radio stations still never tire from playing "I Want You To Want Me", "Surrender", "Dream Police" and more. Inventive for the 12 string bass, zany double-neck guitars. Drummers want to sound like Bun E. Carlos and singers can only hope to come close to the dynamic range of Robin Zander.

6. Chicago -- (Years eligible: 18) Great horn section. Wonderful vocals. Early years had blistering guitar parts. Tons of radio hits. This one is hard to figure out.

7. Doobie Brothers (Years eligible: 16). A lot of band members through the years but Tom Johnston's distinctive vocals have persevered through the years. "Long Train Running", "China Grove", "Black Water", " "Listen to the Music", etc. Add in the Michael McDonald years and well, you'd be a "fool to believe" they aren't deserving of a nomination. Still touring today.

8. Journey -- (Years eligible: 12) No offense to the Bon Jovi fans out there but I cannot understand how they got nominated before Journey. This band is probably lumped into the "corporate rock" term so often used in the 70s' with the likes of Styx, REO Speedwagon, Boston, Foreigner and others but I think there is a distinct separation with Journey-- not to mention the band's longevity and continued success even with a new lead singer. Still touring today.

9. Boston -- (Years eligible: 11) Only a handful of albums, but they are all fantastic. The debut album alone is worthy of Rock Hall induction. Tom Scholz's creation of the Rockman developed an electric guitar sound never heard before. Brad Delp's soaring vocals were stellar on every track. These guys wrote rock anthems.

10. Judas Priest (Years eligible: 13) This is a close one between JP and Iron Maiden. Both are deserving but I would go with Judas Priest first. Where is the love for these British Metal heads? Certainly they weren't the first metal band but Rob Halford's vocals took this music beyond what Ozzy Osbourne could do in Black Sabbath. Almost always cited as a huge influence from current metal bands. Not to mention, Priest had a way of making Metal, FM friendly with its catchy hooks in "Breaking The Law", "Living After Midnight" and "You've Got Another Thing Coming."

That's my Top Ten. What's yours?

View the list
  • Successful 70's pop/R&B duo would be my first choice for nomination into the Rock Hall of Fame of artists that have never been nominated.
  • The Moody Blues are still touring after 40 years together.  Justin Hayward, Graeme Edge and John Lodge are three of the remaining original members of the band which hits include "Nights in White Satin", "Ride My See-Saw", and "Gemini Dream".  They were part of the British Invasion wave of the 60's.
  • Yes makes in my Top Three choices for nomination.  Frontman Jon Anderson (shown wearing glasses), no longer sings for the band but his voice and songwriting were key components of this progressive rock supergroup.
  • ELO produced some of the coolest songs of the 70's with its Beatlesque song crafting and Sgt. Pepper album influence.  The result was a symphonic bliss of Rock-n-roll meets Beethoven.
  • Yes, bands really do hail from Rockford, Illinois.  The band:  Tom Petersson, Robin Zander, Bun E. Carlos and Rick Nielsen has been nearly intact for at least 35 years.  They've toured with everyone from Aerosmith to ZZ Top.  Their unique blend of 60's pop fused with metal and punk is a combination unlike any other band.
  • You know all the hits..."25 or 6 to 4", "Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is?", "Saturday in the Park", "If You Leave Me Now" and more.  The horn section is what separates them from most traditional rock bands but its the killer harmonies and musicianship that should garner them a nomination at some point.
  • A revolving cast of characters but consistent record making.  Personally I prefer the Tom Johnston led tunes like "China Grove", "Listen to the Music" and "Long Train Running" but the addition of Michael McDonald gave the band a new dynamic that helped them stay on the charts.  Folksy, Country at times, but mostly pure Rock and Roll.
  • This is the most famous lineup of the band- Ross Valory, Jonathan Caine, Neal Schon, Steve Perry and Steve Smith.  The bombastic FM radio hits are still found on Classic Rock stations everywhere.  How many Journey tribute bands are playing in your city?  Love them or hate them, their influence is undeniable.
  • Most of the credit here belongs to founding member Tom Scholz who, as an M.I.T. student developed a unique amplifier/processor to produce electric guitar sounds not heard before.  His songs were perfectly crafted to suit Brad Delps soaring vocals.  While the band is really known for its first two albums, the impact is undeniable. Anthems like "More Than A Feeling", "Long Time" and "Peace Of Mind" are radio mainstays.
  • This legendary British Metal band is still going strong having released new material and touring in the past year.  They hit peaks and valleys along the way after lead singer Rob Halford departed the band in the early 90's, but Priest dominated the Heavy Metal charts in the 70's and early 80's, influencing countless bands.  They found a more melodic approach to Metal than their precursors.
View the list

, Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Examiner

Mike Raymond has a strong passion for rock music both as a journalist and as a musician. A former tv news anchor, Mike parlayed his music reporting skills while working for ONN (Ohio News Network) as the beat reporter for "Meet The Music" where he profiled Ohio bands including The Black Keys. ...

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