10 Groups That Need to Be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Each year when the nominations are announced for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, people often pay more attention to who's not on the list than to who actually might be inducted. This year's no different, though there are some nominees for the class of 2012 who definitely deserve the honor. To be considered, bands have to wait 25 years after the release of their first record, but some big-name groups known around the world are still waiting for their time in the Hall of Fame spotlight. Even if you're not a personal fan of every group, there's no denying that the musical contributions of these 10 bands make them worthy of the recognition.

  1. KISS

    If you look past the make-up, tongues, and platform shoes, KISS has been a major musical force in the rock 'n' roll world. Not only did their elaborate stage performances (often including fire, blood, and levitating drums) raise the bar for other bands' live sets, but the music itself showed tremendous talent. The public seems to agree. KISS has 24 gold albums, more than any other rock band, and they've sold 40 million albums in the U.S. alone. But since qualifying for the Hall of Fame in 2000, the band has yet to receive the honor. It was nominated in 2010, but was nudged out of the final spots by ABBA, Genesis, and the Stooges. It's hard to believe that any band could be considered more rock 'n' roll than KISS, but ABBA is probably the last one that anyone would expect.

  2. The Moody Blues

    The British band of the '60s and '70s had seven albums that broke into the top 25 in the U.S., four of which made it into the top 10. Seventh Sojourn even climbed to No. 1 in 1972. The band helped develop the psychedelic rock genre and was innovative in fusing rock music with classical music? It even used the London Festival Orchestra in its second album. Many attribute The Moody Blues' exclusion from the Hall of Fame (as well as the denial of many other bands) to the opinion of Rolling Stone magazine, which gave the band's albums disastrous reviews that clearly didn't reflect public opinion. Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner is the founder of the Hall of Fame, and many fans and bands claim he controls the selection process.

  3. The Cure

    One of the deserving bands nominated recently for induction in 2012, The Cure revolutionized post-punk rock music and laid down the roots for gothic rock. The band started out in the wake of the British punk movement and released songs that would be classified as New Wave in the late '70s. By the early '80s, they'd moved into darker themes, laying ground work for goth and emo music and modern bands like My Chemical Romance. The Cure changed sounds again by the late '80s and included a pop vibe in their music, allowing them to gain mass popularity. People who know nothing about rock 'n' roll still know the 1992 hit "Friday I'm in Love." Even if The Cure hadn't produced progressive, interesting sounds (which it did), it should be inducted based on the sheer fact that it successfully evolved to find a home in the music scenes of the '70s, '80s, and '90s.

  4. Bon Jovi

    Apparently the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has no interest in the fame of the inductees at all. Bon Jovi became eligible for nomination in 2009 and has only been nominated once (unsuccessfully and not this year). The band dominated the '80s rock genre and continues to fill stadiums on tour, with an impressive 130 million records sold worldwide. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame selection committee seems to think that Bon Jovi doesn't have the musical chops to be named among rock's greatest players, but lots of other committees disagree. The band was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, two members got into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009, and the group received the Award of Merit at the 2004 American Music Awards.

  5. Guns N' Roses

    It's inevitable that Guns N' Roses will be part of the Hall of Fame someday, so it's not surprising that they've been nominated to be part of the class of 2012. Only eligible for a couple of years, Guns N' Roses is a relatively young band that most would agree definitely falls under the rock 'n' roll category. Since the Hall of Fame has extended its invitations to more and more non-rockers (like hip-hop, rap, and folk artists), the induction of Guns N' Roses would help restore the public's faith in the selection committee. Everyone knows GNR songs like "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Sweet Child O' Mine," but no one would accuse the band of selling out or giving up solid music for popularity.

  6. Chicago

    How can a band that once boasted the favorite guitarist of Jimi Hendrix not be in the Hall of Fame? Lead guitarist, Terry Kath, who was rumored to be top on Hendrix's list, helped the band gain huge fame before his death in 1978. Even without Kath, though, Chicago's fusion of rock 'n' roll with horns gave the band a totally unique sound, influencing rockers for decades to come. With impressive ballads and multiple decades of popularity, Chicago is one of the top U.S. bands in terms of Billboard success, with five No. 1 albums and more than 20 top-10 songs. Based on musicality and innovation, Chicago should've been in the Hall of Fame years ago.

  7. Red Hot Chili Peppers

    Nominated for the second time in its three years of eligibility, the Red Hot Chili Peppers deserves to be inducted this time around. Though they are youngsters compared to some who have been waiting more than a decade for the honor, this band borrows from other genres to produce a style of rock that is all their own. The members' near-naked performances certainly helped them gain exposure, as well. With seven Grammy awards to their name and a new album out this year, the Red Hot Chili Peppers members probably aren't aching to get into the Hall of Fame, but the Hall of Fame would be doing itself a favor by letting them in.

  8. Rush

    Every year when the nominations for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are revealed, Internet discussion boards burst into furious rants over Rush's repeated exclusion from the list. But there are more valid reasons for the band to be given the honor besides the fact that comment moderators online want fans to calm down. The Canadian group has covered a range of musical styles from heavy metal to progressive rock during its career and has a devoted fan base for its music's social messages, as well as sci-fi themes. Rush's denial into the rock legend's Hall of Fame seems to stem from a lack of respect for progressive rock artists. The genre was often seen as too far removed from rock 'n' roll to be included, but now that rappers and hip-hop artists are being embraced, it's time for Rush to get its due.

  9. Heart

    With a strong female lead singer (not to mention a female guitarist), Heart provided a new sound to the 1970s and to the traditional boys' world of rock 'n' roll. Earning a hard-earned nomination this year, Heart has been shredding and singing for four decades, playing hard rock, metal, and folk rock. Most recently the band has returned to its hard rock and acoustic rock roots. Heart has had albums in Billboard's top 10 charts and chart singles in the '70s, '80s, '90s, and 2010, an amazing feat considering the constantly changing climate of American music. The Hall of Fame should recognize the band for its enduring success ? and ask the members their secrets for achieving such long-lived popularity.

  10. Depeche Mode

    The synthesizer used by Depeche Mode has gotten more recognition from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame than the band itself. The instrument is displayed in the museum part of the hall, but ground-breaking group Depeche Mode has yet to be inducted into the elite clan. Often hailed as the most successful electronic band of all time, Depeche Mode has sold over 100 million albums and singles around the globe. The band's style and consistency in pushing the boundaries of popular music led to the development of techno music, the inspiration for the rock music of bands such as The Killers and Franz Ferdinand, and lasting tunes that DJs still remix and play today.

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