For some reason, I was reading a lot about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this week. I think it was just in the air, because today the Hall of Fame announced their 2018 inductees, and maybe there were a lot of thinkpieces going around about the Hall of Fame’s toxic bro culture, and the notable and crazy snubs that still haven’t been recognized. There are so many true female rockers who have never been inducted into the Hall of Fame: women like Janet Jackson, Carole King, Whitney Houston, Cher, Pat Benatar, Carly Simon, Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Nicks and so many more. Ladies aren’t the only ones being snubbed: The Cure, Jane’s Addiction, Nine Inch Nails and Sonic Youth and so many more have never been inducted either. So, who is getting inducted next year?
The 2018 inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced Wednesday morning, and this year’s class includes a trio of ’80s legends: Bon Jovi, Dire Straits and The Cars. Also included this year are progressive rock icons the Moody Blues and the late jazz/soul songstress Nina Simone.
Additionally, rock pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe will earn a special honor, the Award for Early Influence, to recognize her contributions to the nascent genre.
Perhaps the biggest question surrounding the upcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is whether or not estranged Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, who abruptly left the group in 2013 while in the midst of their Because We Can tour. However, during the nomination process earlier this fall, the 58-year-old guitarist told Billboard that he would “of course” play with former songwriting partner Jon Bon Jovi and the rest of the band at the induction ceremony in April.
“There’s not a lot of malice there, you know,” Sambora told the outlet. “I mean, there’s just — it was just time for me to leave at that point. So yeah, of course.”
The 33rd Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Klipsch Audio, will take place on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Public Auditorium in Cleveland, OH. HBO will broadcast the ceremony in spring 2018.
How is the biggest question about Richie Sambora?? No disrespect to Bon Jovi – I like Bon Jovi – but there are bigger questions. Like, how has it taken this f–king long to recognize Nina Simone? Why does Sister Rosetta Tharpe only get a special honor and not an induction?? AND WHY NOT THE CURE? OR JANE’S ADDICTION? OR NIN?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I totally still would with JBJ.
OMG so would I! I was obsessed with Bon Jovi when I was in middle school (Slippery When Wet was HUGE). And JBJ turned out to be a not-too-bad of an actor, too.
Side note: how is Stevie Nicks not in the Hall of Fame?!?
I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that Fleetwood Mac has already been inducted into the RRHOF? Obviously Stevie is tremendously successful on her own and deserves to be honored, but is there something that prevents a solo artist from being honored if her band is already in there? I know nothing about how this works ha ha.
Alternative Fact, Stevie Nicks could still get in for her solo work even after being inducted with Fleetwood Mac. There are a number of multiple inductees, including all 4 of the Beatles, everyone in Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and Eric Clapton (he’s the only one who’s been inducted 3 times).
Thanks for the info. They better put her in there!
Me too!!
Nina Simone has been such an inspiration for me in 2017. I watched a lot of her performances on video. She’s everything. Super late, but I am happy for her inclusion.
I like that musicians are honored but the snubs are far too many over too many years. I’ve quit getting excited about the inductions.
Sister Rosetta was Little Richard’s mentor and she invented Rock & Roll. She’s rarely acknowledged. This makes me so happy, it overwhelms me, it brings me to tears.
I voted online for Sister Rosetta Tharpe after seeing some of the you tube videos and reading up on her being rock and rolls originator. I was disappointed to see she did not get in this class, but glad to see she is being honored.
Black Female Musicians are rarely given their due or comeuppance despite the overwhelming influence they have had in shaping popular music in America and beyond. This happens over and over and over and over again. It’s an elision of their contributions. It’s a cultural smudging and the “industry” (run primarily by white men) is all too willing to let it happen if not fully participate in it. It’s interesting to me that so many of these singers and musicians try to imitate the spiritually-rooted voices of Mahalia Jackson, Sarah Vaughan, and Aretha Franklin yet couldn’t cite one damn black gospel song. They don’t even know where their melisma and runs come from!
Finally, Bon Jovi got recognized!!!
I like them. But they were always media’s love kids. Hardly underrated.
It’s ridiculous Bon Jovi be inducted in the hall of fame, there was nothing groundbreaking or unique in their music. Their biggest hit is cut through the heart.which could be confused with Poison or any other hair band from the 80’s. They were the mellow bastard child of Aerosmith. Unless the hall of fame recognized hair influences because I can remember the screams of horror and outrage when Jon Bon Jovi got a hair cut.
I agree, I never got what the big deal was with them. They are par to the course with all the other 80’s pop rock bands.
Now The Cars…that one I’m happy with!!
Still no George Michael… urgh…
I’m glad they found a way to honor Sister Rosetta Tharpe, albeit I would have preferred her being inducted.
Bon Jovi lives in my town, and he is unbelievably nice to everyone. Once I was hired help for a party he was a guest at, and even then he was courteous and pleasant. I also volunteer for a program to help homeless families, and he does a HUGE amount to help, under the radar. WHAT a nice person. (And very handsome too!)
The RRHF is a joke like a HW star. I honestly don’t know a single person that respects inductees just for being inducted.
Radiohead didn’t get in? Damn
Judas Priest didn’t make the cut ughhh
Thank you! I saw The Cure on tour last summer and they were bloody brilliant!
and ‘key word’ INNOVATIVE. Bon Jovi was/is popular and successful, but was their music innovative or forward-thinking enough to have had a unique and considerable impact? I just don’t see it. But you know the Bro-magnon tribe does love ’em!
The Zombies didn’t get in. 🙁
Love The Zombies. Did Kate Bush make it?