RRHOF class rankings!

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class rankings! 

Never done this before so I'm doing it finally, today I'll be ranking every Rock & Roll Hall of Fame classes. For this, will be looking back at induction years being loaded with influencers, innovators, game changers & groundbreakers. It would be very shocking although not surprising. So let's start examining. 

40. 2018 

Performers: Bon Jovi, The Cars, Dire Straits, The Moody Blues, Nina Simone

Influence: Sister Rosetta Tharpe 

This has got to be the worst class in the Hall's history. One, there's only two highly regarded women of R&R who've passed away long before finally recognized by the foundation. Two, you have classic rock taking over with four bands which most are borderline & marginal. And three is how the ceremony played out. Yeah we hardly remember anything noteworthy about it. 

39. 2011 

Performers: Alice Cooper, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Darlene Love, Tom Waits 

Excellence: Leon Russell 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Jac Holzman, Art Rupe 

Very unremarkable year outside of Tom Waits. Alice Cooper & Neil Diamond are decent picks while Dr. John on his impact was pretty lackluster. Darlene Love? Don't know why she got in as performer. 

38. 2016 

Performers: Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple, Steve Miller, N.W.A

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Bert Berns 

Another example of classic rock taken over, even worse there's no women included this year. How the event took place is 50/50. Although the honors of N.W.A & Deep Purple had finally happened. 

37. 2024 

Performers: Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, A Tribe Called Quest 

Influence: Alexis Korner, John Mayall, Big Mama Thornton 

Excellence: Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick, Norman Whitfield 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Suzanne De Passe 

A very weak class besides Tribe & Blige getting their call to victory. Most are misses than hits even though Ozzy & Kool have somewhat remarkable credentials. Plus way too many members which cheapens the award. 

36. 2010 

Performers: ABBA, Jimmy Cliff, Genesis, The Hollies, The Stooges

Ahmet Ertugun Award: David Geffen, Jesse Stone, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich, Mort Shuman, Otis Blackwell 

Only The Stooges stood out in this class. ABBA & Genesis almost went close. Jimmy Cliff is mid at best while The Hollies' honor is just another attempt on multiple inductions.

35. 2022 

Performers: Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon 

Influence: Harry Belafonte, Elizabeth Cotten 

Excellence: Judas Priest, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Allen Grubman, Jimmy Iovine, Sylvia Robinson 

Remember when inductions are supposed to be about quality & less about popularity, this is a complete opposite. The honors of Eminem & Dolly Parton are unquestionable whie Eurythmics & Duran Duran are pretty solid. The other 3 might not stand out very well. 

34. 2020 

Performers: Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails,

The Notorious B.I.G, T. Rex

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Irving Azoff, Jon Landau 

A very unique class which ended up being boring due to covid. Pretty much almost everyone were considered as stone picks for the honor. 

33. 2025 

Performers: Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast, Soundgarden, The White Stripes 

Influence: Salt-N-Pepa, Warren Zevon 

Excellence, Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins, Carol Kaye 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Lenny Waronker 

A solid yet not spectacular class. OutKast, The White Stripes & Soundgarden carried this one alone so far with their work & tremendous credentials. The others, it's a swing or miss. 

32. 2015 

Performers: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Green Day, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Lou Reed, SRV & Double Trouble, Bill Withers 

Influence: The "5" Royales 

Excellence: Ringo Starr 

Lou Reed & Green Day are performers whose contributions to the punk genre remains intact. SRV earns the honor due to his iconic skills on the art of guitar. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band only got in because of nostalgia. Joan Jett should've been in with The Runaways & Bill Withers was worthy, yet not all the way there on top. 

31. 2009 

Performers: Jeff Beck, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Metallica, Run - DMC, Bobby Womack 

Influence: Wanda Jackson 

Excellence: Bill Black & DJ Fontana, Sponner Oldham 

Run DMC & Metallica, two respective groups in their sounds being honored around the same time. Others are ok yet not enough substance in their music. 

30. 2005 

Performers: Buddy Guy, The O'Jays, The Pretenders, Percy Sledge, U2 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Frank Barsalona, Seymour Stein 

Having U2 headlined the class alone is a big deal with them being considered among the most acclaimed bands since The Beatles. Following them are The Pretenders, Buddy Guy & The O'Jays whom are artists with solid discographies. Don't know how Percy Sledge got in due to the fact he only had one hit with lack of influence & sesmic impact. 

29. 2008 

Performers: The DC5, Leonard Cohen, Madonna, John Mellencamp, The Ventures 

Excellence: Little Walter 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff 

Madonna deserved this by bringing MTV into the forefront along with other stars in the 80's. Leonard Cohen lacked popularity yet gained prominence when his song Hallelujah became a landmark in pop culture. 

28. 2012 

Performers: Beastie Boys, Donovan, GNR, Laura Nyro, RHCP,  Small Faces/Faces 

Influence: Freddie King 

Excellence: Tom Dowd, Glyn Johns & Cosimo Mantassa 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Don Kirshner 

Beastie Boys, GNR & RHCP are groups that most artists nowadays look up too. The other three performers not so much especially Laura Nyro. 

27. 2013 

Performers: Heart, Albert King, Randy Newman, Public Enemy, Rush, Donna Summer 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Lou Adler & Quincy Jones 

Public Enemy takes over the year while Albert King & Donna Summer each got their long overdue posthumous accolades. Rush went in after almost 15 years of eligibility. 

26. 2000 

Performers: Eric Clapton, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Lovin Spoonful, The Moonglows, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor 

Influence: Nat "King" Cole, Billie Holiday 

Excellence: Hal Blaine, King Curtis, James Jamerson, Scotty Moore, Earl Palmer 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Clive Davis 

Eric Clapton became the only one to be a 3x RRHOF inductee while EWF & James Taylor have songs that became touchstones to the general public. As for others, it's a swing or miss. 

25. 2023 

Performers: Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, RATM, The Spinners 

Influence: DJ Kool Herc, Link Wray

Excellence: Chaka Khan, Al Kooper, Bernie Taupin 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Don Cornelius 

What a fixture class with Kate Bush, Missy Elliott & Willie Nelson. The rest are just sure yet doesn't exactly hit big.

24. 2021 

Performers: Foo Fighters, The Go - Go's, Jay - Z, Carole King, Todd Rundgren, Tina Turner 

Influence: Kraftwerk, Charley Patton, Gil Scott Heron 

Excellence: LL Cool J, Billy Preston, Randy Rhoads 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Clarence Avant 

Well this marks a return of live music at ceremonies, also fortunately all these selections are safe with Jay-Z having the most impact. 

23. 2017 

Performers: Joan Baez, ELO, Journey, Pearl Jam, Tupac Shakur, Yes 

Excellence: Nile Rodgers 

Nothing to say other than big congrats on Tupac & Pearl Jam for their sesmic shift on modern music. The rest is just crapshoot. 

22. 1991 

Performers: Lavern Baker, The Byrds, John Lee Hooker, The Impressions, Wilson Pickett, Jimmy Reed, Ike & Tina Turner 

Influence: Howlin Wolf 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Dave Bartholomew, Ralph Bass, Neshi Ertugun 

I couldn't find anything worth noting other than The Byrds being one of the top acts in the 60's. Most of the honorees are pretty solid except Lavern Baker. 

21. 2014 

Performers: Peter Gabriel, Hall & Oates, Kiss, Nirvana, Linda Ronstadt, Cat Stevens 

Excellence: E Street Band 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Brian Epstein, Andrew Loog Oldham 

No exact thoughts about 2014 other than Nirvana earned their place in music history. Others aren't too bad although Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam had a career that's half memorable & underrated. 

20. 2007

Performers: Grandmaster Flash & Furious Five, R.E.M, The Ronettes, Patti Smith, Van Halen 

Probably the smallest class with only 5 artists yet most of them have tremendous resumes. 

19. 2004 

Performers: Jackson Browne, The Dells, George Harrison, Prince, Bob Seger, Traffic, ZZ Top 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Jann Wenner 

Outside of Prince, the class itself was 50/50 at the least yet it ended up produced one of the best all star jams in the Hall's history. 

18. 2019

Performers: The Cure, Def Leppard, Janet Jackson, Stevie Nicks, Radiohead, Roxy Music, The Zombies 

Radiohead, Janet Jackson, The Cure & Roxy Music makes this class more remarkable with their extensive output of albums being marked as classics. Def Leppard & The Zombies couldn't be on that method while Stevie Nicks should've been inducted once. 

17. 2006 

Performers: Black Sabbath, Blondie, Miles Davis, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sex Pistols 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss 

One of the cases in the Hall playing catch up, yet it ended up being a memorable induction with Miles Davis, Black Sabbath, Sex Pistols, Blondie & Lynyrd Skynyrd being defenders in their own genres. 

16. 1998 

Performers: Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, The Mamas & The Papas, Lloyd Price, Santana, Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps 

Influence: Jelly Roll Morton 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Allen Toussaint 

In what way putting Eagles, Fleetwood Mac & Santana would be a interesting concept. All three put out music that would transcend generations. The Mamas & Papas might have some remarkable tunes yet not enough to solidify their case & Lloyd Price was the same problem except it's only two. 

15. 2001 

Performers: Aerosmith, Solomon Burke, The Flamingos, Michael Jackson, Queen, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Ritchie Valens 

Excellence: James Burton, Johnnie Johnson 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Chris Blackwell 

A class which features Michael Jackson & Queen is a cherry on top while Aerosmith, Steely Dan & Paul Simon solidify their cases. Solomon Burke is a decent pick for inclusion while other two are 50/50. 

14. 1997 

Performers: The Bee Gees, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Jackson 5, Joni Mitchell, Parliament - Funkadelic, The (Young) Rascals 

Influence: Bill Monroe 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Syd Nathan 

A first class in Cleveland, it has a lot of memorable moments. Joni Mitchell, P - Funk, The Bee Gees & Jackson 5 have discographies that'll continue to discover by generations to come. 

13. 2002

Performers: Isaac Hayes, Brenda Lee, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Gene Pitney, Ramones, Talking Heads 

Excellence: Chet Atkins 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Jim Stewart 

Ramones & Talking Heads in a same year? Definitely, they were among the bands who shaped their genres while countless modern indie & alternative artists cited them for their own music. Tom Petty was a songwriter whose music touched people's lives. The rest? No complaints. 

12. 2003 

Performers: AC/DC, The Clash, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, The Police, Righteous Brothers 

Excellence: Benny Benjamin, Floyd Cramer, Steve Douglas 

This one has a international feel with The Clash, The Police, Elvis Costello & AC/DC being selected for the honor & all four are very important in the industry. The Righteous Brothers certainly made tunes for the ages yet that's what they're only known for. 

11. 1999 

Performers: Billy Joel, Curtis Mayfield, Paul McCartney, Del Shannon, Dusty Springfield, Bruce Springsteen, The Staple Singers 

Influence: Charles Brown, Bob Willis & Texas Playboy 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: George Martin 

A year with Bruce Springsteen, Curtis Mayfield, Billy Joel & Dusty Springfield as selected picks is pretty dope while being joined by Paul McCartney as a second Beatle to earn a solo honor. 

10. 1993 

Performers: Ruth Brown, Cream, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, Etta James, Van Morrison, Sly & The Family Stone 

Influence: Dinah Washington 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Dick Clark, Milt Gabler

All except Frankie Lymon are truly artists who served as inspirations for everyone's career paths in the field. 

9. 1995 

Performers: The Allman Brothers Band, Al Green, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Martha & The Vandellas, Neil Young, Frank Zappa 

Influence: The Orioles 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Paul Ackerman 

A mix match year with Led Zeppelin & Neil Young being the top contenders while Janis Joplin, Al Green, Frank Zappa, The Allmans, Martha & The Vandellas rounding out the list. 

8. 1996 

Performers: David Bowie, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Jefferson Airplane, Little Willie John, Pink Floyd, The Shirelles, The Velvet Underground 

Influence: Pete Seeger 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Tom Donahue 

It's one of those inductions where there's no newly eligible act in the process. Well it certainly made up the snubs that needed to be corrected. Pink Floyd, David Bowie & The Velvet Underground should've been inducted in their 1st year of eligibility, yet glad it didn't took them too long. The rest aren't slouches. 

7. 1990 

Performers: Hank Ballard, Bobby Darin, The Four Seasons, The Four Tops, The Kinks, The Platters, Simon & Garfunkel, The Who 

Influence: Louis Armstrong, Charlie Christian, Ma Rainey 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Gerry Goffin & Carole King, Holland - Dozier - Holland 

Having The Kinks & The Who in a same class is top notch as both inspired so many individuals to start their own bands. The rest are most hits than some misses. 

6. 1994 

Performers: The Animals, The Band, Duane Eddy, Grateful Dead, Elton John, John Lennon, Bob Marley, Rod Stewart 

Influence: Willie Dixon 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Johnny Otis 

Now 1994 is filled with historic moments: John Lennon being the first Beatle to receive a solo induction & Bob Marley was the first reggae performer honored. Others as The Band, Elton John, Grateful Dead & Rod Stewart are very spectacular. 

5. 1992 

Performers: Bobby "Blue" Bland, Booker T. & The M.G's, Johnny Cash, The Isley Brothers, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Sam & Dave, The Yardbirds 

Influence: Elmore James, Professor Longhair

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Leo Fender, Bill Graham, Doc Pomus

You can't go wrong with this. Jimi Hendrix & Johnny Cash are stalwarts for their craft & their work being celebrated for it's true significance. Others are just as remembered for their incredible legacy. 

4. 1989 

Performers: Dion, Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder 

Influence: The Ink Spots, The Soul Stirrers, Bessie Smith

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Phil Spector 

Another remarkable class with The Stones & Stevie Wonder being the headliners. Otis Redding & The Temptations have songs that stood the test of time, couldn't say the same for Dion although he did have influence on others. 

3. 1987 

Performers: The Coasters, Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Bill Haley, B.B. King, Clyde McPhatter, Ricky Nelson, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Smokey Robinson, Big Joe Turner, Muddy Waters, Jackie Wilson 

Influence: T - Bone Walker, Louis Jordan, Hank Williams 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Leonard Chess, Ahmet Ertugun, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, Jerry Wexler

A very spectacular year although there's a few who although aren't bad yet didn't completely changed anything regarding the rock & roll landscape. 

2. 1988 

Performers: The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Drifters, The Supremes 

Influence: Lead Belly, Les Paul, Woody Guthrie 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Berry Gordy Jr 

This one doesn't need a discussion. The Beatles & Bob Dylan took the whole cake as both represented on what rock & roll can be as an legitimate artform, speaking to multiple generations of artists, songwriters, producers etc with their constant innovations. The rest are just as revolutionary & groundbreaking like the two.

1. 1986 

Performers: Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Elvis Presley 

Influence: Robert Johnson, Jimmie Rodgers, Jimmy Yancey 

Ahmet Ertugun Award: Alan Freed, John Hammond, Sam Phillips 

There's no arguments for the first class! All artists here were considered as true architects of rock & roll in very different ways! 

Well that was hard, yet all worth it.