CLEVELAND, OH (LOOTPRESS) – An announcement came Wednesday revealing the nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
Artists eligible for induction are required to have been actively working in music for at least 25 years prior to being nominated, with grey areas existing with regard to what specifically that entails.
The Rock Hall has attracted controversy from both fans and musicians alike in years past, particularly for the entity’s ever-expanding definition for what exactly constitutes “rock & roll” music. KISS bassist, singer, and songwriter Gene Simmons has been a particularly outspoken critic of the hall’s insistence on designating hip-hop acts as eligible for induction.
Unfortunately for the God of Thunder, the trend of incorporating rap and hip-hop into the mix does not appear to be subsiding any time soon, as groundbreaking hip-hop acts such as A Tribe Called Quest and Missy Elliot are among the nominations for this year’s induction class.
Also included are first-time nominees George Michael, The White Stripes, Sheryl Crow, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Willie Nelson, Missy Elliott, and Warren Zevon.
Returning nominees include Iron Maiden, Kate Bush, Rage Against the Machine, Soundgarden, The Spinners, and A Tribe Called Quest.
The eclectic lineup sees plenty of crossover representation through pop stars such as George Michael, Cyndi Lauper, and Kate Bush – who had a notable resurgence in popularity last year through the incorporation of her song “Running Up That Hill” in the hit show Stranger Things exposing her work to a whole new generation.
Country legend Willie Nelson is a first-time nominee along with Sheryl Crow whose music has also been known to heavily incorporate country elements. The aforementioned hip-hop acts round things out along with more traditional rock acts such as Rage Against the Machine, Joy Division/New Order, The White Stripes, and singer/songwriter Warren Zevon. Classic vocal group The Spinners also bring a range of elements to the fold, with their rhythm & blues stylings having served as a clear precursor to the rock genre, but with significant soul elements present as well.
The long-suffering metal community will take solace in the nomination of genre-mainstays Iron Maiden, though like Judas Priest before them, many would argue that the band are long past due for induction. The inclusion of other guitar-driven, boundary-pushing acts like Rage Against the Machine, Joy Division/New Order, and The White Stripes should also appease the more rock-oriented audiences who take issue with the hall’s proclivity for branching outside the scope of the rock palette.
The inclusion of unsung songwriter Warren Zevon is also notable in this year’s list of nominees. Though perhaps best known for his 1978 hit “Werewolves of London,” whose distinctive piano riff would capture the ears of a new generation when sampled heavily 30 years later for Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long,” which burrowed its way into FM radio rotation upon release and has refused to give up any ground whatsoever in the ensuring decade-and-a-half since.
However, Zevon’s sharp wit, dark lyricism, and unparalleled ability for storytelling in song is undoubtedly worthy of recognition at a time when such themes and elements appear to be all but lost in the realm of popular music.
A full list of nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2023 can be seen below, and those who wish to vote can do so at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Nominees:
A Tribe Called Quest
Kate Bush
Sheryl Crow
Missy Elliott
Joy Division/New Order
Cyndi Lauper
Iron Maiden
George Michael
Willie Nelson
Rage Against the Machine
Soundgarden
The Spinners
The White Stripes
Warren Zevon