Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: What Ten Metal Bands Should Be In?

Hello everyone,

Last year when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF) announced the 2012 class of inductees, I was disappointed . . . . as always. Of course, Guns N' Roses, Donovan, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beastie Boys, and others were all worthy, but I was hoping for a true blue metal band. Some would say that GNR qualifies as metal . . . perhaps, and I can live with that classification. However, I am more comfortable labeling GNR as hard rock. This year's induction motivated me to research the RRHOF and its metal inductees.

Here they are: Black Sabbath (2006) and Metallica (2009).

There are only two real heavy metal bands in the Hall? No freaking way! To make matters worse, they very little hard rock acts.

Here they are: Alice Cooper (2011), AC/DC (2003), Aerosmith (2001), Led Zeppelin (1995), Guns N' Roses (2012), and Van Halen (2007).

Each of these bands deserve to be inducted, but there seems to be a huge gap in the history of metal. For starters, How is Metallica in the RRHOF while the other three bands from the "Big Four" of thrash metal (Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer) not in? When Van Halen was inducted in 2007, they enshrined both the David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar eras of the band which seems appropriate. However, when Black Sabbath was inducted, they only included the original lineup, but not Ronnie James Dio. What?! So many inconsistencies.

This begs the question: What is the criteria for a band/artist to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? This is from their own website:

To be eligible for induction as an artist (as a performer, composer, or musician) into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the artist must have released a record, in the generally accepted sense of that phrase, at least 25 years prior to the year of induction; and have demonstrated unquestionable musical excellence.
We shall consider factors such as an artist's musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique, but musical excellence shall be the essential qualification of induction.

I understand the part where a band must have released their debut album twenty-five years before they are eligible. That makes some sense. The other part regarding "musical excellence" and "innovation and "superiority" makes me wonder who decides what bands reflect these virtues.

According to the RRHOF:

The Foundation’s nominating committee, composed of rock and roll historians, selects nominees each year in the Performer category. Ballots are then sent to an international voting body of more than 500 rock experts. Those performers who receive the highest number of votes - and more than 50 percent of the vote - are inducted. The Foundation generally inducts five to seven performers each year.

Based on this information, it seems that the selection of bands/artists is based not necessarily on merit, but on  the personal tastes of those who decide. From the previous years choices, it seems that singer/songwriter types get the preferential treatment along with obscure blues and soul singers.

I wouldn't have an issue with the RRHOF not inducting metal bands if they hadn't enshrined the following non-rock artists over the last few years: Abba, Run DMC, Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, Madonna, Isaac Hayes, Michael Jackson, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams.

Heavy metal has been an important genre of rock and roll since Black Sabbath released their first album in 1970 . . . 42 years ago! It has been divided into many sub-genres such as progressive metal, thrash metal, power metal, industrial metal, glam metal, black metal, symphonic metal, etc. Metal isn't going away. At some point, some of the great metal bands should get in.

Anyway, here are ten bands (in no particular order) that should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame right now!

1. Judas Priest

Judas Priest released their first album Rocka Rolla in 1974 which means that they have been around for nearly forty years. Often cited as one of the most influential metal bands of all-time from acts like Metallica (HOFer) and Slayer, the "Metal Gods" were the first band to eliminate the blues aspects from their style, and truly embrace metal. That alone should make them sure hall of fame worthy. On a separate note, I would include Tim "Ripper" Owens . . . he was with then band, he should be in too.




2. Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden released their self-titled debut in 1980, and have been consistently releasing great albums and putting on epic tours ever since. Without question, Maiden was the best band from the New Wave of British Metal era, and that certainly makes them worthy of inductions. Their style has often been cited by bands as diverse as Iced Earth, Slayer, Metallica, Slipnot, and In Flames as major influences on their careers. Former vocalists Paul Di'Anno and Blaze Bayley should both be included with the rest of the band when they are inducted.







3. Ronnie James Dio

Ronnie James Dio was one of the most dynamic vocalist in the history of metal. His possible induction has a few problems. How will he be inducted. With Rainbow? Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell lineup? Elf? His solo career? All of the above? I would probably begin by inducting him as a solo artist. He began his solo career with the release of the incredibly important album Holy Diver in 1982. He has been an influential vocalist in both the power metal and progressive metal sub-genres. In fact, a statue in Bulgaria was erected in 2010 in his likeness. However, his most notable influence in the introduction of the "metal horns" while a member of Black Sabbath.






4. Deep Purple

Deep Purple released their debut album Shades of Deep Purple in 1968. While not technically metal, they were one of the most important early influences of the genre. Deep Purple's song "Smoke On The Water" was one of the greatest hard rock riffs of all-time. In addition, they were major influences on Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. The fact that they haven't been inducted is an ginormous omission that the RRHOF needs to resolve.



5. Slayer

Slayer released their first album Show No Mercy in 1983, and have been one of the leading bands in the thrash metal scene ever since. They are the only band of the "Big Four" that have remained fully committed to the thrash scene. In my humble opinion, Slayer should be inducted based solely on the awesomeness of Reign In Blood.




6. Scorpions

The Scorpions released their debut album Lonesome Crow in 1972; however, they did not gain international fame until Blackout, their 1981 breakout album. After 45 years of performing together, Scorpions has become Germany's greatest metal band. They are also one of the most important power metal outfits in music history. They should be the first German band inducted into the Hall.



7. Megadeth

Megadeth released their first album Killing Is My Business . . . and Business Is Good in 1985, and have been releasing quality music ever since. The albums Rust In Peace and Countdown To Extinction are classics in the genre. I'm not sure if Dave Mustaine was inducted as part of Metallica (if not, that was a huge mistake), but his band is just as good as Metallica, if not better.



8. Pantera

What most metal fans don't know about Pantera is that they began their career as a glam metal band in 1981. Their first album, Metal Magic, was released in 1983. However, they didn't gain notoriety until they embraced thrash/groove metal when they released their classic Cowboys From Hell in 1990. You always knew that you would get a kick-ass, heavy album with every Pantera release after Cowboys. Sadly, the band's great guitarist Dimebag Darrell was gunned down by a lunatic during a show in Columbus, OH. It would be a fitting tribute to enshrine one of the greatest guitarists of all-time into the hall.

9. Anthrax

Anthrax released their first album, Fistful of Metal, in 1984. With frontman Joey Belladonna, they released arguably their best work with great albums like Spreading the Disease, Among the Living, State of Euphoria, and Persistence of Time. Their latest effort, Worship Music, was one of the best metal albums of 2011 and a return to their thrash roots. In addition, Anthrax's collaboration with rap group Public Enemy with the song "Bring the Noise" in 1991.



10. Queensrÿche

Queensrÿche debuted in 1984 with their classic prog-metal album The Warning, and have been one of the innovators of the genre ever since. Their two classic albums, Operation Mindcrime (1988) and Empire (1990), should be enough to get them into the hall, but their entire body of work should make them a sure thing. Plus, Geoff Tate has possibly the best voice in the history of metal.